Page 70 of Dangerous Love

Fish was pretty tough. Not as strong as some of the other enforcers, but more determined. If Hal’s new recruits beat that, we were in deep water.

Smaller pictures came next, a string of dirty cops, all as dicey as the next. “Jesus Christ,” I hissed, “they don’t even bother taking off their uniforms. Fuck.” Three cops, one judge, and a police prosecutor smiled at the camera as Pete handed them a wad of cash and several bags of white powder.

“Guessing Pete’s into coke, but it could be heroin. Who the fuck knows?”

I leaned over and pulled out the next lot of pictures. Younger guys with the same ink on their shoulders swapped something in black bags. I pointed to the one Pete shook hands with. Blond, straight nose, buff enough, his pale-blue eyes striking. Based on the fair profile, this guy had to come from Northern Europe or something.

“Who’s the Russian lord?”

Trey took a closer look. “No. Not Russian. That’s his nephew, I think.” He pointed at the man in question, then the guy next to him. “And so is that one. They’ve just landed from Perth. Don’t have much intel on them.”

I ran my finger over their tattoos. Though they all had the same concept, Pete’s and his nephews’ ink was a tad different—unlike the other members, the snakes imprinted on their skin had red eyes. “Is that the mark of royalty or something?”

“Must be,” Trey said. “I’ll try to get more info on these bastards.”

I leaned back, my hands laced behind my head, my body hoping to trick my mind into relaxing. “Am I right in saying that all of this bullshit is about Hal making sure we can’t use what Avery and Jarryd have against him?”

He shrugged. “Pretty much. That, and making sure that we stay on the right side of his glory.”

There was a part of me that wanted nothing more than to tell Hal Cooper to screw himself, and yet, another part of me was starting to wonder whether this whole nightmare could end if my father no longer felt cornered by his own sons. “Do you think we poked the bear one too many times?”

His face hardened, deep lines digging into his forehead. “It’s different for you, little brother. You have so much to lose. A family, a career, a woman.” He swallowed hard. “I don’t have anything. I’ll never get anything else. Dad’s world is my world, and I fucking hate them both.” He lifted his head until our eyes met. “So, for me, I’ll poke the bastard until he’s bleeding at my feet.”

I lurched forward until my brother was in my arms. I bear-hugged him as I ignored the shared hatred of our father pumping through my veins. “You have plenty. You’ll get even more as you make up your own future.” I tapped his chest a couple of times. “And you definitely have me, big bro. I’m not fucking going anywhere.”

Some strange emotions passed over his features, a mix of discomfort and sadness, but in Trey’s signature fashion, he shoved at me and laughed. “All right. All right, enough of the girly talk. Your woman’s waiting for you.”

I chuckled as I checked my watch and grabbed my keys from the coffee table. “I gotta go, but I’ll see you tomorrow.” Within a few minutes, my car was in motion, my foot plastered to the floor.

I’m going to finally see her.Excitement built as I made my way to Coles, my mind not registering anything on the road but the landmarks that would get me closer to holding Sienna in my arms, even if it was just for a second. I needed to know she was okay.

I parked the car in the shade by the staff entry. Then I turned the ignition off and pushed my seat back as I waited for three to glow on the clock. I ran my hands over my face, counting to ten as I took deep breaths. Sienna was my best friend, and yet, at the thought of seeing her, my body froze, the fear of fucking this up greater than I’d expected.

You only get one shot at this.At her.Then, I saw her. From the rearview mirror. There she stood, as beautiful as ever, her red uniform on, her hair tied back, and her cheeks flush as she was talking to… another guy?

What the fuck?Shame grilled me as soon as I admitted to feeling jealous. It wasn’t like me to feel so possessive and insecure, but as he held her hand, I wanted nothing more than to get out of the car, walk over there, and make sure he knew she was mine.

You have no rights to her. It’s her choice.As quickly as those thoughts came, I shut them down. I’d hurt her. I’d betrayed her. Who the hell was I to dictate who she could be with while she healed from my betrayal? I swallowed tight, my conscience whipping me into gear. If there was one thing I’d never be, it was as controlling as my bloodline. I loved Sienna. With all my heart. But if she chose to leave me, I’d let her go.

I watched her walk to my car, my eyes glued to the mirror. With his cap and uniform on, the guy was too far for me to gage, but from the way he stormed off, it was fair to assume he was pissed. My heart buzzed when she opened the passenger door and got into my car. I turned, my breath hitching when the weight I’d carried on my shoulders for the last few weeks lifted as soon as our eyes met.

“Hey, baby girl,” I murmured, slight angst building as she stared at me for a second. No words came out of her mouth. Instead, she paled, tears welling in her eyes. My heart broke, her pain slicing at my insides. I launched myself closer, my thumbs wiping the tears falling freely down her cheeks. “No, no, no. Don’t cry. I’m right here. You’re okay.” I grabbed her and pulled her against my chest.

She gripped onto my shirt like it was a lifeline in the middle of the ocean, but instead of settling, she completely broke down into a sob. I clenched my jaw as I fought the emotions stirring through me.

You did this to her. You’re the one who broke her like this.I hated myself for what I’d done. No matter how I tried to convince my subconscious that it was for a good cause, the woman in my arms clearly didn’t think so. “Sienna, I’m so sorry. It kills me to see you like this. I love you so much. Baby girl, please look at me.”

Her hands fisted my shirt tighter, and she took a deep breath as she hiccupped between sobs. “I wish I could hate you. But I love you. You’re everywhere I look, and no matter how much I try to move on, there’s only you.”

My chest burst open at her words, my soul enveloping her to the depths of my heart. “You’re the only one for me too.” I levelled her chin with my fingers and gave her a tender smile. “Hey.”

Our eyes met, a tiny curl lifting her lips. “Hey,” she whispered as she ran her shaking fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes and lowered my forehead to hers. Her perfume soothed me, a blend of citrus and vanilla. Her skin was warm. Inviting. Like she’d never stopped being mine. When I opened my eyes, her beautiful face stared at me, hesitation holding her back.

You did this. It’s up to you to rebuild her now.

I lowered my face, slowly, as her lips parted for mine, and kissed her. As soon as my mouth touched hers, an electrical current wired me with a thousand volts of hope and possessiveness. My muscles tensed with her body heat, every atom in me wanting to claim her. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer until she was halfway across my seat. My hands travelled to the back of her neck as I nibbled at the flesh behind her ear, and when she whimpered, her spine arching, my temperature skyrocketed to the heat of the sun.

Sienna was mine, no matter what. She belonged with me. For now, and forever. Cooper or no Cooper.

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