Page 86 of Dangerous Love

“Oh, Riley,” I repeated as I launched myself into his arms. “I love you. I love you so much. This is beautiful.”

Our lips met, passion sealing our new beginning. Riley and I had a rough start as we edged the wobbly line of our dangerous love, but when he held me tight, my eyes studying my name permanently etched on his flesh, I knew there was no other man for me.

Our story might not have followed the easiest path, but it sure as hell was worth it.

The End

Sinful Redemption

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Trey

My brother Riley’s face dropped when my hotshot lawyer tossed the file on the table. The middle-aged man shook his head like we were two little kids finding out Santa wasn’t real.

“What do you mean that’s the best you can do?” Riley snapped, his frown growing larger than my criminal record. “You got Jarryd, April, and me free on more than one occasion, Eddie. What’s the problem?”

I smirked at my little brother, his naivety a mix of comical and cute. “Still being on parole from my last incarceration doesn’t help.”

Eddie Harper, the Williams’ family lawyer nodded. “The fact that your father’s presumed dead is making the judge cautious.” He unbuttoned his Armani suit and settled on the executive chair behind the table. “Are you boys gonna spit out what actually happened? I’m your lawyer for the love of God.”

Riley swallowed hard, but before he had a chance to open his mouth, I shut him down, just as I had for the last three months. “What can I say, Eddie? No body, no murder.” I poured myself some cold water, the metal jug a stern reminder of what my next chapter would be once I was back inside. “He’s probably on a yacht in the middle of the Bahamas.”

The lawyer scoffed. “And if he were, Trey, you wouldn’t be taking the wrap for his leftover drug deals. So, the way I look at it, the sooner you tell me what happened to the bastard, the sooner I can try to wave my magic wand and keep you out.”

I laughed, the irony not lost on anyone. “Sure. It’s either some dodgy-as-fuck charge to close the loop on the Cooper drug ring, or a murder trial. Let me get back to you on that one.”

Riley’s head fell into his hands, his voice low. “If someone came clean about Hal, are you saying that you could get Trey off the hook?”

Eddie glanced in our direction, his eyes narrowing. “As long as he wasn’t the lucky prick who did the deed.”

I cleared my throat, my head shaking slightly. “Could we have a minute?” I asked, my mind ten steps ahead of my brother’s. As much as Riley was a kind soul, the kid needed to learn to put his noble quests aside, because it wouldn’t achieve anything when he got done in for a double murder. God help the man who would have to deal with his girlfriend if that happened. EvenIwas a little scared of Sienna Curtis these days. As soon as we were alone, I sighed. “Riley, we’ve gone through this before. At worst, I’ll get six months. Most likely three on good behaviour. You need to keep it together and let it go.”

My brother clenched his jaw, his unmet sense of justice drowning in his innocent pupils. “It’s not right. You had nothing to do with these goddamn drugs.”

I placed my hand on his shoulder. “What’s the alternative, bro? Tell them we were redecorating the warehouse with brain juice? It’s public knowledge that Dad had me running for him for years. My last conviction was for a major interstate drug bust.” I chuckled, the irony amusing. “And thatwasme, so this is the simplest way to put this all behind us.”

“Then I’ll tell them they were mine.” The lines on Riley’s forehead dug into his flesh. “I won’t let you go down because of me.”

Jesus Almighty…As much as I loved my brother, having been raised by the pretty-boy doctor had softened him a little too much. Right now, I had bigger fish to fry than mollycoddling the boy and his existential crisis. “Mate, I’m grateful Williams lent me his lawyer and all, but dead set, he’s turned you into a wimp. You need to harden up.”

“Fuck off, bro.” Riley’s lips curled as he gave me the finger.

Finally…“That’s a bit better.” I slapped his back. “Here’s what’s gonna happen. I’m gonna take the plea bargain Eddie swung for me. I’ll do a few months, you’ll come visit and bring me fresh oranges, and I’ll get out in no time. Easy peasy.”

My mind flitted through the complications of life on the inside now that I was officially the head of both my father’s gang and the Snakes’ club. In some respect, I’d cruise with guaranteed security. On the other, there were a few people who wouldn’t be happy about this turn of events. And howthatpanned out once I was stuck between bars was anyone’s guess.

“How are Pete’s nephews behaving since the old man carked it last week?” Riley asked.

“The younger one took off. I hear he’s living the life in Europe. As forMichael?He didn’t appreciate his throne getting swept out from under him, nor how his family’s legacy dismantled faster than his fling with Sienna.”

Riley crossed his arms over his puffed-up chest. “Why the hell do you take pleasure in reminding me?”

“‘Cause that’s what big brothers do,” I teased, before I exhaled the deep breath of truth. “And because I don’t want you to ever forget how far some people are willing to go when I’m gone.”

“I won’t. I’ve got freaking Avery on my back every day. And he’s worse than you are.”

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