Page 13 of A New Era

I fight to relax my jaw and snatch up the package. This isn’t the first time she’s sent a drone out here, but it better be the last.

Yanking on the twine, it occurs to me I should be handling it with care but for the life of me, I can’t find it in me to give a shit.

Placing it on the kitchen island, I open it up and white mesh is crammed inside. No, not white mesh, a wedding veil. With what looks like red lipstick stained across it. I’m guessing I’m meant to believe it’s blood. A note is attached.

Leo,

I’ll let you into a little secret. I wasn’t happy about taking over the family business, but over the last couple of years, I’ve come to enjoy our game of cat and mouse – me being the cat and you, Leo Jackson, being my little mouse. I sleep like a baby each and every night watching you chase your tail, failing to find me, let alone catch me. So I’m going to make it easy for you. I’ll meet you at the diner in Roseville, tomorrow at noon. I would advise you not to do anything stupid, and you have my word, that you’ll walk out alive. It’s time you heard and accepted my deal.

P.S. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. Meet me tomorrow and you’ll live long enough to see your bride-to-be walk up the aisle.

My phone rings as I read the last word and Luca’s name fills the screen. I don’t hesitate to answer and press the phone to my ear.

“Brother?”

“I just got home, and a package was waiting for me. A blue teddy for River with its beady eyes ripped off and a note.”

“Don’t tell me, it’s from Effie and she wants to meet tomorrow?”

“You got one too?”

“Yes, but I got a wedding veil with my note.”

A thud fills the line and I ask, “What was that?”

His laughter is cold. “I just stabbed the teddy to the wall above the bar.”

Rolling my eyes, I should’ve known it was something like that with him.

“How do you want to respond, brother?” he asks. “Cause I still owe her for killing Ford and I’m losing patience.”

I had numerous chances to hear her offer and take her deal while I was in prison, but I rejected them all. It should have me questioning if I should’ve heard her out, but whether I did or not, I can’t have her dropping packages off at our club whenever she wants.

“We’ll meet with her, and see what she wants.” I take a deep breath and add, “You’re gonna need to keep your cool. If we’re gonna meet her, you need to put the issue with Ford to the side… for now.”

Knowing my brother, he’s going to need a minute to process what I’ve said and need another minute or two to agree. I hope the day I need to pull rank on him never comes, but I will if I have to.

“All about the future, huh?” he sarcastically mutters.

“Exactly. Bring two brothers with you, and I’ll bring two with me. We’ll hear her out and make moves from there.”

“I can do that as long as I get to kill her one day.”

He hangs up and I toss the phone on the counter and screw up the note. Footsteps creep down the stairs and I shove the stained veil into the trash.

“Do you plan on keeping me waiting much longer?” Holly asks, appearing in the doorway.

Planting a smile on my face, I say, “I’ll just take the trash out and I’ll be up.”

She frowns. “The trash can wait till morning.”

I can’t help but watch her too-short of a shirt drop just above her ass as she heads for the stairs. Ripping the trash bag from the can, I take it out and dump it with the rest. Inside, I unscrew the note and fold it, pocketing it to show the brothers tomorrow.

* * *

As Zach closes the door, brothers in their seats, I slam the gavel down and slide Effie’s note into the middle of the table.

JJ is the first to reach out and read it. His brow arches and he passes it along to Zach. While the brothers read on, JJ asks, “You’re not considering it, are you? I mean you ain’t heard her out yet, why would you now?”

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