Page 62 of Dangerous Love

“Yeah, little brother?”

“No matter what happens, I’m glad I got you back.”

He took a deep breath, emotions briefly running over his features before he swung the door wide. “I won’t let anything happen.”

When the soundproof doors opened, my ears filled with nightclub-worthy ruckus, women and alcohol sprawled around everywhere. A bunch of new guys lifted their heads, their hands on their holsters as soon as we barged in. The same angry snake inked their shoulders.The Kingscliff’s crest.

As soon as Black Tulip and Fish, Hal’s regular security, shook their heads at the new recruits, they dropped their hands and closed their jackets again.

“Trigger happy much?” Trey mocked as we passed them.

“Fuck off, kid,” an older guy with a long white beard yelled. When Hal appeared from behind him and forced Trey into a bear hug, the guy froze, the colour draining from his face.

“These are my sons,” Hal hollered. “Anything you wanna retract before I retract your fucking throat?”

The guy blanched, his eyes going from Hal to us, then from us to Hal’s enforcers moving closer. “Sorry. Sorry, boss.”

“Good,” Hal snapped, before he led Trey and me to a back room. As soon as we were alone, Hal let go of my brother, his face hardening. “Glad you boys came to your senses.” He narrowed his eyes, his chin thrusting towards me. “Have you got this one back under control?”

He nodded. “We’re good.”

“Good,” Hal mimicked, his pupils darkening. “I’d hate to lose another one of my sons.”

I clenched my jaw, my fingers shaking behind my back as my hand begged for the opportunity to put a bullet in his pathetic brain. Rage pumped my heart, my whole body electrified by my hatred for the man.

What are we even doing here?If it wasn’t to protect my family, I’d have either moved to the other side of the world or suicide-bombed his goddamn club. “You know I’m right here, right?” I hissed, before I slumped on the couch. At least with my gun stuck between the cushion and my spine, I’d be less likely to blow his dead heart to pieces.

Trey settled next to me, both of them ignoring my comment. “So, what’s up with the merge, Pops?”

Hal settled behind a high-back chair, his hands laced over his fat stomach. “It’s all about opportunities, son. Pete’s riddled with cancer, not long to go, so he’s looking for ways to keep his crib alive from his grave.”

Pete was the head of the Kingscliff branch. I’d met him a couple of times, though after a while, all of my father’s associates blended into one category. Deadbeats. “That sucks,” I said. “Hope you’re getting your yearly prostate checks, Hal, or you could be next.”

Trey almost choked on his own spit as he forced the grin off his face. He ran a hand over his hair and shook his head in disbelief.

“No one’s running a fucking finger up my ass, and you’ll bloody be sure that when I cark it, you’ll be answering to that one.” He pointed towards Trey.

Trey paled, his eyes widening. “What the fuck?”

“You heard me.”

“You want me to take over the club?” My brother’s voice grew thin. He glanced towards me, his face unreadable.

That’s Hal’s angle. He’s gonna split us up until he has Trey back on his side.

Jarryd’s voice screamed in my head:Nothing good ever comes from playing with Cooper. You can’t win against the devil.I was in deeper than I thought.

Like Trey could read me, he sent me a comforting smile, one that only he and I could read. I hoped that my brother wouldn’t be swayed by Hal’s empty promises and manipulative mind games.

“Well, that’s something, Pops. But you ain’t dying, right?”

Hal rolled his eyes. “Nope. Fit as a fiddle.”

“So, what’s the plan for you and this place then?” Trey whistled.

Hal swung on his chair, the leather creaking with his weight. “Once we merge, and Pete’s dead, I’ll head both branches. That’s an extra forty-odd cops, prosecutors, and three judges under my belt. I mean…” He tilted his head my way. “…imagine how hard it would be to blackmail me after that?”

No.Thatwas Hal’s angle. My blood iced. Once he’d taken over the Snakes, whatever Avery had against my father would be useless. We could never compete against that. My heart sunk as the magnitude of his plan whacked me in the head.

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