Page 112 of Pieces of Heaven

“Austin,” Urick mumbles as he reaches for Peter’s hand.

I notice how the eldest Halvorson son recoils at this father’s touch. No love lost there. Urick’s hired muscle flashes a dirty look at Peter, clearly taking sides. Loyalty is good and all, but Urick won’t be around much longer. The hired muscle better start kissing the ass of the new guy in charge.

“Urick thinks the assholes have gone to Austin?” Ruin asks when Peter doesn’t acknowledge his father’s comment.

Peter runs a hand through his blond hair, brushing it out of his eyes. He’s dressed for a brunch with friends rather than to project power against the men in this room.

“Mack,” he says and gestures toward his family’s muscle, “was able to grab one of the men who attacked our ranch. We learned the surviving plotters might be moving against my sister, Austen. She lives up north.”

As I recall Urick Halvorson’s daughter from back in the day, Ruin doesn’t hesitate before asking, “Why her?”

“Because they missed their shot at us.”

“Not completely,” Ruin replies, likely meaning Erik. I assume that’s what his nasty grin is about. “What’s your play on this if they’ve gone north to kill your sister?”

“We can’t trust anyone,” Peter explains and steps away from his father. “Most of our men are compromised. Our enemies know we’ve been hit and are on our heels. Hiring someone to protect Austen isn’t an option, when we don’t know if an adversary has outbid us to grab her.”

“I’m not interested in keeping your sister alive. The concern we have,” Ruin says and gestures toward the sheriff and Todd Rogers’s representatives, “is if these assholes will come back here looking for round two.”

Peter crosses his arms and exhales deeply. “They know they’re on borrowed time. Many don’t have anything to live for, and they still want us to suffer. They’ll be back.”

Ruin suggests, “Maybe they’ll be satisfied after putting your brother in a wheelchair and your sister in the ground.”

Peter takes the bait, losing his temper in the face of Ruin’s nasty tone. “They didn’t hit you by accident. Your big dick moves that day kept them from taking their friend to the hospital. That’s why you’ve got men suffering today. We’re both on the hook. Right now, they’re regrouping. Based on the info we got, they’re planning to grab Austen.”

“Grab or kill?”

“He said grab, but I can’t imagine she’ll go quietly. They’ll probably kill her,” Peter says, pausing when his father makes a pained noise. “That doesn’t matter to you. However, they’ll come back here once they’re done with her. If they’ve decided to attack our women, what makes you think they won’t do the same with yours?”

Ruin’s expression doesn’t change. If he’s worried about his wife, daughter, and sister, he doesn’t reveal a damn thing.

“Maybe the guy you grabbed didn’t say the shit you claim. Or maybe you think you can send our people to do your dirty work while you regroup and make a move against us. There’s a lot of maybes here, Peter. Mostly, I think you’re too fucking scared to go save your sister, so you want us to put our asses on the line.”

“You can see how he won’t be around much longer,” Peter grumbles and gestures at his father. “My brother won’t be a threat. You only have me. And I’m saying right now, in front of everyone here, how if you fix this problem for us, we’ll be in your club’s debt. While that might not seem like a big deal for you in your current state, one day, you’ll be like him,” he says, again gesturing at his father. “Your son might be the one calling the shots. My kids will be running our ranch. Seems like having my boys kissing your son’s ass would make Walker’s life easier, wouldn’t it?”

Ruin exhales slowly. Though he sounds bored of all this talk, he’s always got his mind on the future. Since his son came along, I bet his brain’s been downright fried with trying to plan for every scenario the kid might face.

McMurdo Valley will assume a lot about Walker Macready. There’ll be pressure for the boy to live up to his father’s reputation, just like Ruin grew up in Ed Macready’s shadow.

Meanwhile, Peter isn’t a hard man like his father. Both Halvorson sons had everything handed to them. Peter doesn’t even want to break a sweat to claim his damn throne.

Having us do his dirty work and secure his future fits his personality. I have no doubt he’ll kiss Ruin’s ring as long as the Halvorson family keeps its money and power.

Yet, I start thinking about Urick’s daughter, and if Peter isn’t smarter than his rich bitch reputation. Does he want his sister dead so she can’t claim any inheritance when the old man dies? If Peter were savvy like Ruin, I could imagine him setting up a situation where he gets rid of Erik as a threat before sending killers to his sister’s door. It would be even better if he could kill several Berserkers outside our territory while pinning it on a disposable enemy. Weakening the club now will make it easier for his boys to make a move on McMurdo Valley in the future.

If I’m considering these possibilities, Ruin is, too. I try to think like my president’s busy brain. Maybe this Austen chick will be a better ally than Peter in the long run. Recently, Ruin got in good with Todd Rogers’s daughter. Fiona’s a tiny, broken thing. No one would think she was good for much. Meanwhile, her brothers were tyrants waiting for their elderly father to kick the bucket. That tiny broken thing seems to have gotten at least one of her brothers killed and driven another to leave town. If Fiona can become our ally, why not this Halvorson chick?

“My people are banged up,” Ruin says and stretches. “Can’t imagine any of them will want to track down your sister and play bodyguard.”

“Austen,” Urick says and reaches for his son.

Peter frowns and sneers, “I’m telling them already.”

Giving up on making his son listen, Urick turns his bleary gaze toward my president. “Bring her home.”

“She won’t agree,” Peter says immediately. “That bridge was burned long ago.”

“Tell her I’m dying,” Urick squeaks out. “Tell her it’s the end.”

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