Page 28 of Mason

Storm shot her a wry look. “Nothing. I’m here to talk business with your club president, and you know I’ll be needing a clear head for that shit, Ms. Lucy.”

She chuckled. “Smart man.” Bringing one finger up, she tapped it against her temple. “Steel has a sharp mind. He’s the best thing that ever happened to this club.”

Storm smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that, Lucy. He’s worlds better than his predecessor.”

“Damn straight he is.” She gestured to a man wearing an eye patch on the far side of the bar. “Do you need someone to show you the way to his office?”

“God damn, I didn’t see you there, Orb. How the hell has life been treating you?” Storm said, a little shocked.

The other man smothered back a smile. “Being VP turned out to suit me, I suppose. Glad we’re not gunning for each other anymore. You’re a fucking wily adversary.”

“So are you. Never seen a man shoot straighter than you when the battle heats up. I’d prefer to have you as an ally anytime.”

“Speaking of which, Steel’s expecting you.” He started to get up, but Storm waved him back down.

“I’ve slid into your roadhouse a time or two, so I know the way. Thanks for offering.”

The man’s eye patch shifted slightly when he grinned. “Let us know if you need anything. Don’t forget to leave your phones.” He gestured toward a steel box on the table in front of him. As we all placed our devices in the box, I realized that I’d underestimated Twisted Metal, while they might have looked chaotic on the surface, they were on the ball as far as security went.

“Hacker’s got our phones locked down tight. Ain’t no listening software getting on these things on his watch.” Storm said.

“Doesn’t hurt to be careful.” Orb responded and locked the box.

“True, true.” Storm clapped him on the back, before heading toward Steel’s office.

It occurred to me that Storm could be extremely outgoing and diplomatic when he wanted to be. Or maybe he had problems just like the rest of us but was good at holding it together under pressure. That was clearly a skill I needed to master.

Steel was sitting with his legs propped up on the desk and a laptop balanced on his thighs when Storm knocked at the open door. He immediately shifted his legs down as he snapped his laptop closed. “Come on in, Storm. I see you brought unnecessary complications with you today.” A frown creased his brow. “You know I don’t fucking like surprises.”

Storm strolled into the room and dropped down in one of the chairs in front of Steel’s desk. “Trust me, you’re gonna love this surprise.”

“I don’t need another woman, Storm. Women are flocking to us these days. I’m having to throw them out of the roadhouse.”

Mason guided me to the other chair and pulled over another for himself. Storm snagged my left hand and held it up for Steel to see.

“Nice rock. Where did you get it?” Steel asked.

“My grandmother, may she rest in peace, called it the Russo family diamond when Nicco’s grandmother wore it.”

“Fucking hell, you’re Nicco Russo’s fiancée?”

“Yeah, I’m here to help him drag our current don out of the big chair. I guess once that’s done, Nicco, Diego, and Lucas will have to arm wrestle each other over who gets to be the new don. And the rock is fake. Nicco is not the kind of man to let me run around the badlands with his family heirloom.”

A slow grin spread over Steel’s face. “I’m starting to like you. What did you say your name was?”

“Aprilia Agazzi. Pleased to meet you.” Glancing behind me, I added, “This is my protector, Mason.”

Steel shot Storm an amused look. “She’s a bold one. What I want to know is how she fits into our plan.”

Storm began repeating all the nonsense Nicco and Diego had told him about why they were sending me to Griffinsford. When Storm was finished, Steel rubbed his chin as he thought it over. “So, the brothers think their phones are bugged.”

Storm gave him a curt nod. “Either their phones or their homes and offices.”

Steel’s eyes drifted over to me, as if expecting me to chime in, so I did. “I wouldn’t be surprised to find out it was true. Mobsters are a paranoid bunch, always worried someone is going to get the jump on them. Spying on each other is a way of life.” Considering he’d had our phones locked away before this meeting, it wasn’t just mobsters who were paranoid, but I wasn’t going to be the one to tell Steel that.

“It makes sense they’re wary of each other. Regardless of what people say, there’s no honor among thieves,” Mason added.

Steel frowned at him, clearly assuming that Mason was referring to him as well since he ran an outlaw biker club. His chin came up in a defiant gesture. “That’s just the kind of thinking I’ve come to expect from the Slayers. You’ve got the cuts, bikes, clubhouse, and all the trappings of an MC, but at the end of the day you’re all just a bunch of fucking judgmental boy scouts.”

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