Page 76 of Dangerous Love

“Peachy,” Trey deadpanned in a mock salute.

“Fuck off.” The enforcer took one step into the office as he waited for a reply. “Boss?”

Hal fell back on his chair, a smirk building over his fat cheeks. “My son here thinks he can come to my place of business and offer me a deal. Can you believe this?”

Alexandro let out a deep cackle as he looked me up and down. “Gutsy.”

The old man thrusted his chin towards the back of the building. “I’m tempted to remind him who calls the shots. What do you think, Lex?”

I glanced behind the door, and when I couldn’t see anything, I nodded to my brother. I couldn’t tell what my father had in store. But whatever it was, it wouldn’t involve a blood bath, as none of the other club members were here.

The enforcer’s smile died. “Ah, boss. Can I respectfully suggest we don’t?” He glanced at his watch and tapped the glass a couple of times. “Twelve hours. That’s all I’m asking for.”

Hal gave him the evil eye. “You think I need an army to keep these two dimwits in check?”

“Come on, Pops.” Trey leaned back against his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. “Take a chill pill. You can’t bury me now that you’ve officially anointed me as the next president. Club rules and all.”

In a miserable attempt to secure his legacy, Hal had formally appointed his heir. And while this was a complete joke, as per club rules, if anything happened to Hal for any reason, Trey would own both gangs and the loyalty that came with them.

Hal and his enforcer glared at each other, the air shifting as they swapped some secret message. Then, my father leaned towards his oldest son, his pupils dilating like he braced for the best time of his life. “You know what, Trey? You’re right.” When he nodded behind us, Alexandro stepped out of the office. “It’s about time you made club decisions, hey?”

My throat grew tight as my gut twisted. I didn’t like where this was going, and based on Trey’s colour, neither did he. My brother and I had come a long way through Seth’s ordeal. But as he braced to own my father’s empire, if faced with a choice, I couldn’t tell who he would pick.

CHAPTER37

Sienna

My throat stung as I tried to swallow the knot choking me. Nic and I laid against the cold concrete wall in complete darkness, my body stiff and achy. I couldn’t tell for sure, but based on the sunlight disappearing through the small window above us, a good couple of hours would have gone by since Michael had dumped me here.

“Are you okay?” I asked the nurse lying next to me.

She stirred. “Yep. You?”

I crawled to my knees, my palm pushing my body weight onto the wall until my fingers trailed the cracks around the glass. I stretched on my toes, my limbs throbbing as I tried to reach the top of the window. “It’s too high.” I sighed and dropped my arms.

I glanced around the room, looking for any form of makeshift weapon.

Nothing. There’s nothing here.I marched to the front door and banged on it with my fists. I gave up when the lock budged as much as it had the last ten times. “Hello!” I yelled through the heavy wood. “Open this damn door!”

Like I’d stroked the genie’s lamp, the wide frame rattled as someone unlocked it. I took a step back, my breath hitching as Alexandro appeared on the other side. “Looks like it’s your lucky day.” He smirked before he dug his fingers into my arm. “Boss has a surprise for you.”

“Where are you taking her?” Nic jumped to her feet and dashed to my side. “You can’t keep us locked up forever.”

If only she knew…“Let her go,” I said. “You don’t need her anymore.”

He pursed his lips, like he actually contemplated it. “She can come with us. What the boss does with the pretty little nurse is above my paygrade.”

Nic recoiled when he grabbed her. Alexandro locked us on each side of him and dragged us through the warehouse, his strides impatient. When we reached the end of the building, he knocked on the door of a smaller office. And as soon as Cooper’s voice replied, I stiffened against the enforcer.

I’d have recognized that sound anywhere. Hal Cooper had worked hard at recruiting me into his shady activities while I was just a kid. And the last time I saw him, he had me pressed into a mattress, squirming beneath one of his guys as he pointed a gun at Avery’s head. The bastard’s voice was anchored to my soul.

“Don’t say anything,” I whispered to Nic. “That lowlife preys on the weak.” Shivers crawled over my arms, my breathing increasing as Alexandro shoved me into the room. I closed my eyelids, bracing for impact, but instead, my eardrums shattered when I registered another familiar pitch, agony laced through every syllable.

“Get your hands off her.” Riley’s voice carried through the whole building as he launched himself towards me. Our eyes met and I gasped, taking in the shock frozen on his features. His pupils bulged as every muscle in his body tensed, his palms locked on Alexandro’s chest before anyone else had moved in the room. “I’ll kill you,” Riley screamed as he gripped the enforcer’s collar.

In one swift move, Hal’s goon tossed Nic and me on a small couch, my hip hitting the corner as I fell back. My heart rate skyrocketed, pain drilling into my chest as Trey jumped between the two men. He leaned in until his ear hugged Riley’s. He murmured something to his younger brother, a hand kneading his neck as they both looked in my direction. Riley’s breath slowed. He kissed his knuckle and blew it towards me, then let Trey drag him to the back of the office.

“Well, that’s an interesting turn of events, Pops,” Trey mocked. “The girl is out of bounds. Always was. Always will be.”

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