Page 52 of Beautiful Sinners

“You’re on,” Tristan agrees.

“Are they seriously betting on us?” Liam’s breaths are coming hard and fast.

I grunt in answer and jump out of the way when the slight dip of his right arm signals that he’s about to strike. Twisting under and around, I use the heel of my foot to kick out his knee.

Fingers pinched together and held between his teeth, Keane shrills an ear-splitting whistle.

“That’s enough.”

“Aww, come on! I had a hundred on the line,” Rafe complains.

Liam holds out a fist, and I bump it. It’s that simple. Fight’s done and no hard feelings.

Jax walks over with two hand towels. He tosses one at Liam’s head but holds the other out for me.

“Good to see the rumors aren’t just bullshit—Death.”

I want to roll my damn eyes. Can’t stand that godforsaken name, but coming from him, it’s a compliment. A show of respect.

I take the towel he offers and mop the sweat from my face. Tristan and Keane are deep in discussion when I exit the boxing square and grab my shirt. The T-shirt sticks uncomfortably to the sweat on my back when I slip it over my head and take a seat on the elevated platform of the ring next to Rafe.

“Your business is with Declan, so I don’t know why you wanted to meet with me.”

“My father wants access to the ports you control here.”

We don’t even know if Francesco is alive. If not, Tristan just inherited the entire Amato empire.

Keane crosses his arms over his chest. “The answer is no.”

Tristan bristles. No isn’t a word he’s used to hearing. “Shouldn’t this be something you want to discuss with Andie and Declan first?”

Keane cocks his brow at Jax as if saying,“Did you hear what this asshole just said to me?”

“There’s something else we need to clear up. I can’t let your woman’s problems be a distraction for Andie. We’ve got our own shit to deal with and Sarah to look after.”

“Not asking for your help, Agosti. And that woman’s name is Aoife. You have no fucking clue what she’s been through. I don’t give a fuck about your problems or your mob war. I only care about her, and if Aoife wants to try and build a relationship with Andie, youwill notget in her way.”

Keane shoves into Tristan’s personal space, thumping chests and getting up in his face. “That so?”

I prepare to jump in, but Rafe beats me to it and shoves Keane away from Tristan.

“Aoife’s family now. She deserves a chance to get to know Andie and Declan. And you damn well know that Andie wants the same thing.”

Keane drags a hand across the dark stubble of his jaw. “We can’t get involved in their civil war. So goddamn stupid. A bunch of rich assholes with nothing better to do than fight over who is top dog of a secret society that doesn’t mean shit.”

Tristan’s spine goes ramrod straight at Keane’s slight. “Like you’re any better. The mob is nothing more than thugs with guns. At least we’re discriminating about who we kill. I heard about what you did in New York, all the families you slaughtered.”

Keane jabs a threatening finger at Tristan. “You don’t know a damn thing.”

“Whatever, jackass. I’d like to see my sister now.”

There’s a bell-like ding, and Jax reaches down to snatch a phone off the floor. His blond brows scrunch behind his glasses as he looks at the screen.

“That may not be possible since Andie, Aoife, and your sister just left the building.”

CHAPTER 18

I’m stuck in a baffled disposition as I watch Tristan and Constantine leave with Keane.

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