Page 66 of Dangerous Love

“How do you know it’s not just a phase?” Avery countered, his eyes narrowed. “Let’s be honest here, it’s not like Sienna is easy to live with.”

“Dude, none of us are. But she’s so goddamn strong. Stubborn.” I’d loved her since I’d met her years ago. “If I didn’t feel so noble back then, we would have got together anyway and that would have been the end of it.”

Minus Hal and his threats.

Perhaps now was as good a time as any to brief Avery on the gang’s updates. I swallowed hard. “Avery, I swore to be honest with you guys moving forward. I want to tell you what I know, but I also don’t know how much to say.” I tossed another rock. “I don’t want to worry everyone for nothing. Not until I know more and—”

“Kid, just spill it. We’re in this together,” Avery interrupted me, his eyes locked on an invisible spot in the distance.

“I know what Hal’s up to.”

He spun towards me. “Go on?”

“He’s taking over the Kingscliff’s Snakes.”

He cocked a brow. “Is that any worse than what he’s got now?”

I scoffed. “The Snakes are all in law enforcement or justice essentially. He’s wiping whatever we have against him for good.”

“Fuck,” he hissed. “How long do we have?”

I did a quick count in my head, the answer even worse than I’d hoped. “Months. If that. Maybe less.”

“Awesome.” He brought his knees up, his palms resting on his thighs. “Does Jarryd know?”

I shook my head.

“What do you think his angle is?”

That, I knew. Hal Cooper had an ego the size of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The narcissistic injury we’d caused him would never heal until he had me bowing down to him as my father again. And I picked his club, one way or another. “He’ll never stop until I’ve surrendered to him. To punish me. To punish Jarryd…”

“To grow his balls.”

“Pretty much.” I studied my forearm, my hand running over the clean skin. “He wants his ink on me, and if I don’t, I’ll blow my cover.”

Avery frowned, the lines on his forehead digging along his skull. “Kid, I thought we’d all agreed you’d stay away to protect your family?”

I clenched my jaw. “That’s exactly why I can’t stay away. Last time I tried, he lost his shit. I don’t want him snooping around April or the kids.”

“Sounds like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.” He exhaled, his hand running over his buzz cut. “But you keep forgetting I’m here. I’ve been dealing with your old man for almost as long as you have. I know his game.”

“Don’t call him my old man, Avery. If I knew how to purge his DNA from mine, I’d do it. He’s nothing to me.”

He gave me a small smile, something flickering in his eyes. “Sorry, mate. I wasn’t thinking. I know Jarryd has been your father for what matters. He and April love you like Grace and I love Sienna.”

“Exactly. I want to think I’m a Williams. The Cooper in me is dead.”

Air filled his lungs, and he exhaled a second long breath, the cords in his neck softening. “You’re nothing like that fuckwit. I know him. I know how he plays. Riley, Cooper ain’t no choir boy. I just don’t want you in a position where it’s you or him, you know, because I’m not sure whether you’d make the same choice I would.”

A creepy smile manifested inside my head. It was like hearing Trey all over again. “Trust me. If I get the chance…”

“All right.” Avery slapped his legs. “Enough of this heavy bullshit. What are you going to do about my sister? I think she needs to hear that I’m no fake Cupid.”

“Ha.” I closed my eyes, picturing all that I would tell her if I’d only got her in my arms one more time. “You know what? You’re right. I’m not giving up. I’ll try her again, and if she ignores me, I’ll just turn up. She already thinks I’m a psycho anyway.”

Avery nodded, a grin growing on his face. “I’m sorry I ever thought you weren’t good enough for her. It was shitty, and I know you’d protect her with your life if it ever came to that.”

My heart pumped as I envisioned what I’d do for this woman. I’d go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. All I had to do was make sure Hal was out of the picture when that happened. “Thanks, Avery,” I said as I shook his hand.

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