“My knife would sink beautifully between those shoulder blades,” I can’t help but say, making her stop in her tracks.

  “I was taught to never turn my back on an enemy,” she replies as she looks at me over her shoulder. “Are we enemies, Delia?”

  “Our friendship would’ve been murky for me a few days ago,” I inform her as I walk backward toward my room. “It’s hard to tell the difference between a friend and foe when you’re covered in blood.”

  “Don’t I know it.” She pulls open the basement door and tosses me another look. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  After changing into a pair of black leggings and a matching sports bra, I make my way downstairs to find Genni running on the treadmill. Her cheeks are flushed and her mouth hangs open as she sucks in air.

  “You were never any good at cardio.” I snicker as I sit at the leg press, setting my feet under the bar.

  “Fuck it,” she growls and turns off the machine. “Let’s cut the crap. I hate cardio and I didn’t call you down here to fucking workout.”

  I begin my leg presses as I watch her with a brow raised. She’s always been crabby after having to run. “I didn’t think so. Why are we here?”

  “What did you find out and who is he?” She crosses her arms over her chest as she watches me.

  “His name is Gionni DeRucci and he’s a mole inside The Knights’ compound.” I hiss the air through my teeth as I press my legs upward again. “He decided to grab the wrong woman one day and made the mistake of not killing her right away. Her name is Loralee and she’s an investigative reporter who’s been digging up dirt on the crime family for years.”

  “She’s the one you rescued?” she asks as she stands in front of my machine, her hands on her hips as her chest heaves with each breath.

  “Yeah.” I drop the weight and ease my feet out of the bar. “I don’t know where she found her intel because I can’t find anything on Gionni. It’s as if he doesn’t fucking exist.” Genni is my first true girl friend, and even though I want to work alone, I know I can trust her with anything.

  “When you have enough money, you can make anything disappear.” She sits on the weight bench beside me and shakes her head. “Where is Loralee now?”

  “She’s been staying with the Dientes in Nevada.” I make a mental note to call her when I’m done talking with Genni. “She’s tough. Even though he roughed her up a bit and tied her up in a basement, she’s still ready to continue her investigation until she brings them all down.”

  “Tell her she can come here and stay with us. We’ll make sure she’s protected,” Genni offers, making my chest warm with her sentiment. She’s always so ready to help those who need it. As much as she wants to help me too, I need The Beast’s death to be dealt by my own hand.

  “Thank you. I’ll let her know.”

  She stands and stretches her arms over her head. “I need to get back to the compound. Can you do me a favor?” I nod for her to continue as she gives me a stern look. “If you leave again, can you at least keep in touch with me? I’ll support you in catching this bastard and torturing him however you see fit, but don’t shut me out.”

  “It’s hard to make that promise,” I reveal as I stand, knowing that keeping contact with anyone while I’m on a mission is difficult. “I’m not Delia when I go on these missions, and now that it’s so personal, I lose all restraint.”

  She breathes out a long exhale as she shakes her head. “Then I’ll have to go with you.”

  “What?” I tip my head to the side as a confused grin skates across my mouth. “You can’t leave behind two clubs.”

  “Technically, I only have one club. Jaeger runs the March. You saved me from Tazo, Delia, there’s no way I’d leave you to handle this on your own. Especially knowing you may not be able to communicate with me.” She runs her fingers through her long hair as she frowns. “You’re my family.”

  Would it be so bad to have Genni with me? She’s trained, and if I’m being honest, she can fight better than me most days. “Why not?” I throw my hands up as her eyes widen. “When I leave again, I’ll let you come along, but don’t let my brother or Ajani know that.”

  “Fuck yes!” she says as she fists the air. “How are you and Ajani? You came home with Cruz last night, looking freshly fucked. Not that I blame you. That man is fucking delicious. If Jaeger would play nice, I’d have already asked to bring him into the fold.”

  “Shut up.” I chuckle as I follow her to the basement stairs. “You would not. You already have your hands full.”

  “It’s true.” She laughs as we walk together to my room. I grab my burner phone out of my pocket and swipe it open. “We have your cell phone at the March compound. Jones has been all through it, so I hope you didn’t have any nudes on there.”

  “I cleared that phone out long before I left,” I confess as I scroll for Loralee’s contact. She bought a new phone in Nevada and texted me the details because she told me The Beast had taken hers when he trapped her. “Everything was planned for a while, Genni. That’s why I can’t stop now.”

  “I get it.” She sits on my bed as I hit call and bring my phone to my ear.

  “Hello?” Loralee’s voice coats my eardrum.

  “Hey, it’s me.” I lean back against my dresser as Genni watches me closely. “How are you?”

  “I need out of this place,” she whispers as my brows fall.

  “Why? Is everything okay?” I stand up straight as my heart begins to pound. I’ll kill those sharp teeth motherfuckers if they’ve done anything to her.

  “Yeah. Everyone’s really nice, but they’re all fucking lunatics.” I hear a door close on the other end as I begin to laugh, my body relaxing. “It’s not funny! How did you keep a straight face when they introduced themselves?”

  “They’re great guys,” I stress as I continue to snicker. “Despite the crazy names.”

  “I’ve been given a guard.” She huffs out a breath. “He’s an enforcer. Do you know what they call him?” I know who she’s talking about before she even says his name. “Chad.”

  “I know—”

  “Why is his name normal? Why not Machine Gun or Thick Legs? How about Big Arm Who Shoots Gun So Good?” Her shrill tone has me bending over at the waist as I cackle with laughter. When I met Chad, I was slightly confused too.

  “He likes his birth name,” I explain as my laughter dies down and Genni gives me a quizzical look.

  “You had the nerve to ask him? These guys freak me out more than the fucking DeRuccis!” Her voice drops as she continues talking. “I don’t know how much longer I can stay here.”

  “How about you come to Arizona and hang out with me and my family?” I suggest, hoping she agrees. If she’s still investigating the DeRuccis, then I want her here so I can see exactly what she finds out.

  “I’m booking my flight now. I’ll send you the info so you can pick me up.” She hangs up the phone as I look at Genni.

  “Looks like she accepted your offer.”

  I can sense her before I even see her. The air slips along the back of my neck as the compound door opens and her presence makes every hair on my arms stand. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since I’ve seen her last, and yet, my heart begins to pound through my chest.

  When I turn my face from the pool game in front of me, it’s not the sight of Delia that nearly takes out my fucking knees. It’s my sister beside her. Genevieve Varga and I share the same mother, a woman who was used by both of our fathers and discarded. I grew up being told my mother was nothing but a Club Bunny, a whore who ran after I was born, but when I finally found out the truth, my guilt ate me alive.

  My fingers slip into my cut pocket to brush the worn, sealed envelope as Genni’s eyes meet mine. My mother’s letter weighs heavily on me each day I carry it, but the weight of my sister’s gaze could crush my fucking spine. There’s no animosity in their depths, nothing that should make my stomach flip the way it does, but I can’t control the urge to run. It’s been like this since I found out we share the same mother.

  The air rushes out of my lungs as she gives me a nod and heads to the bar with Delia, the motion doing nothing to calm me down. Rockz pours them each a drink as they lean in close to speak.

  “Davis.” My head snaps back around to Chains as he grins maniacally. “We know the little assassin lady is sexy, but we’re in the middle of a fucking game.”

  I shrug, letting him believe it was Delia who snagged my attention. “Whatever, asshole.”

  “My little sister works at the bar in town,” one of the Prospects says as he leans on the pool table. “She said she saw a March brother and a hot girl with curly hair start a fight last night before disappearing.”

  So that’s what she and Cruz got up to last night when they didn’t come inside. My jaw cracks as I grind my teeth together with irritation. If she causes any trouble between Ajani and Cruz, I will fucking lose it.

  “Sounds like The Viper sunk her teeth into our pretty boy.” Chains snorts as Cruz appears, his hair wet from a shower. His eyes find mine as he saunters over, wisely choosing not to look toward the bar.

  “Let’s go for a smoke.” He claps me on the back as I straighten, tossing the pool cue onto the table. “It’s getting a little crowded in here.” I look over my shoulder toward the bar, finding Ajani standing next to Delia as he speaks to Genni.

  “Don’t cause any trouble,” I warn him as I throw open the door and lean against the brick wall of the compound. “She’s been Ajani’s girl for years.”

  “Then why was she coming around my dick last night?” he snipes as he grabs a pack of smokes out of his pocket, holding it out to me.

  I grab a smoke and slip my hand into my own cut to grab my lighter—right next to the letter. “Because Delia is loyal only to herself. You need to remember that.” His declaration has my teeth nearly crushing the cigarette as I put it between my lips to light up.

  “She’s a lot of woman for just one man,” he continues with his idiocy as he takes a drag of his smoke. “Maybe Ajani is the sharing type.”

  “Are you willing to bet every bone in your body on that?”

  Before he can reply, the gates are opening and a Steel Dragon van comes rolling through. It’s still taking some time to get used to seeing their bikes, cuts, and vans around here. “Who is that?” Cruz squints through his cigarette smoke toward the van. The van pulls into an empty parking spot and the front door opens to reveal a tawny head of hair. “It’s Chip!” Cruz exclaims as he holds his hand up and exhales a plume of smoke.

  “Hey, guys!” Chip calls back as the passenger door opens. “I rescued someone from the Knights’ lair.”

  A cane hits the ground before a pair of combat boots, then Robby’s head appears above the door. “He didn’t rescue shit. I escaped and he picked me up at the coffee shop I was waiting for him at,” Robby huffs as he hobbles over to us.

  “How’s the leg?” Cruz smirks as he takes another drag of his smoke.

  “Delia maimed me,” Robby groans as he stops in front of us and shifts his weight onto the cane. “At least the Knights’ doctor knew what he was doing.”

  “She’s inside if you want to tell her off,” I suggest as Robby’s face pales.

  “Take me back!” he screams to Chip as the Dragons’ bartender strolls toward us and shakes his head.

  “I’m on strict orders from the big boss to get your ass inside and get you checked out by Ajani.” He puts his hands on Robby’s shoulders and directs his hobbling ass toward the door. Robby goes willingly, knowing this is his home and he has nowhere else to go.

  Both Cruz and I flick our cigarettes out toward the lot and turn to follow them inside, neither of us wanting to miss any of the action. Everyone falls quiet inside the club when we step in, and both Genni and Delia turn to look at us.

  “Looks like you’ve been hit by a Mack Truck,” Delia says as she slips off her stool and comes to stand in front of Robby. Chip chuckles as he spots Chains and heads his way.

  “If the Mack Truck’s name is The Viper, then yeah,” Robby mumbles as she reaches out and pats his pale cheek. He leans back with a wince, her nearness making him uncomfortable.

  “Thank you for your help that day and I’m sorry for the leg.” Shock courses through me at the sincere expression on her face and even Robby shifts from one foot to the other. Delia isn’t one to show appreciation because she’s always working alone.

  “I’m just glad you’re okay,” he responds as Delia leans in and kisses his cheek. The urge to grab her by the hair and drag her away from my brother is strong, but I fight it as I dig my fists into my cut pockets.

  “Robby!” We all turn to find Jaeger standing at the doorway to Hell, his expression grim. “Let’s have a chat. Genni,” Jaeger’s voice softens, “come join us.”

  Genni gets off the stool, but instead of going to our Prez, she comes toward me, making my next breath feel like a million needles stabbing into my chest. My feet remain frozen to the floor, ignoring my need to get away.

  “Can we talk after?” she murmurs quietly as she stands in front of me.

  “Yeah,” I croak out as she smiles, then she turns to follow Robby into Hell.

  Cruz seems to have a death wish as he moves toward Ajani sitting at the bar, leaving me alone with a scowling Delia. “Don’t you hurt her any more than you already have,” she warns as I roll my eyes and move around her.

  Her feet stomp behind me as she follows me to my room, and I grin as I imagine stepping inside before slamming the door in her fucking face. She may be The Viper, but to me, she’s nothing more than the annoying Delia Montez. I open my room door and spin on her, catching her mid-stride as she slams into my chest and stumbles back a step.

  “Go away,” I grunt as I turn to enter my room.

  “Oh, no you don’t. You think you can hide in here and avoid Genni again? I won’t let you—” I grab her by her hair, just like I wanted to earlier, cutting off her words as I drag her into my room and slam her against the wall.

  Blocking her fist, I press my body to hers, stopping any other attacks, and glare down into her eyes. “It’s none of your fucking business, snake.”

  I can’t help my cock’s reaction to being this close to her, the scent of her filling my lungs, and her breath coming out in short pants. Instead of pulling away, I press my hips into her further and chuckle when her eyes widen. “It is my business, Davis. She’s been through enough family drama.” She spits each word out from between her teeth, trying her best to remain unaffected by my nearness, but the softening of her body around mine says otherwise. I can’t help but like that I still have this effect on her.

  “It’s. None. Of. Your. Business,” I reiterate before her hand comes up and slaps me across the face. The moment her palm connects with my cheek, everything turns red around me.

  “The only thing you know how to do is avoid,” she accuses as I grab her face in my hand, my fingers digging into her cheeks as her eyes grow hooded. Nothing has changed between us. We fight, we get aroused, and then we don’t speak a word to each other for months.

  “That’s rich coming from you,” I growl as I tighten my hold on her face and step back from her warm body, every muscle fighting to step back into her. “That’s the only thing you’ve done since you decided I wasn’t worth your time.”

  I release her face and she slumps against the wall, her eyes filling with fire as desire and rage war in their depths. “Are you frustrated?” She grins as her eyes coast over me from head to toe, then slowly slip back up to my face. “Is this your way of asking me to let you fuck me senseless one last time?”

  My traitorous cock jerks with the suggestion as her knowing smile grows. I refuse to be ashamed of my reaction to her, it would be pointless. She knows exactly what she does to me. “Are you making a list?” I tip my head to the side as her smile falters and her brows come together. “How many have you got on there so far? Should we call it your trip to Hell?”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Her cheeks are coated with red as she purses those delectable lips. Lips I remember looking perfect around my cock.

  “Me, Ajani, and now Cruz? Sounds like you’re ready to fuck all of the March.” I know what’s coming and I don’t bother to block her fist this time as it collides with my mouth. Blood coats my tongue as I jab it into my bottom lip, relishing in the throb.

  “Fuck you,” she snarls, her body tensing as she gears up for another hit.

  My hand tangles in her hair again as I haul her off the wall and shove her back out into the hallway. “Never again, snake.” Then I slam the door in her face as satisfaction rolls through me.

  It was as good as I imagined it would be.

  Delia comes storming out of the dorms, her face a mask of rage as her wild curls bounce around her head. Each step has the soles of her boots crushing into the floor as her shoulders remain straight with anger. Danger rolls off her in thick waves but it does nothing to thwart Chip as he intercepts her.

  My hand tightens on the towel as I place the glass back onto the counter before I throw it across the room at his head. I know how possessive I’m being and there’s no point in fighting it any longer. Chip has wormed his way inside of my heart and settled there. He’s mine now.

  “You should blink. I heard men your age can get glaucoma from dry eyes.” Cruz snickers as I flick my gaze to him, wishing I still had the glass in my hand to smash into his smug face.

  “You’re an idiot,” I retort instead and hit him with the towel.

  “Don’t be worried. He’s into you, right? Besides, Delia’s got her hands full.” He waggles his eyebrows with suggestion as I lean on the bar, bringing my face closer to his.

  “If you’re suggesting your dick is anything more than a handful then I know you’re lying.” I hit him again with the towel as he laughs, drawing the attention of the man with sun-kissed hair.

  Chip wraps his arm around Delia’s shoulders, his eyes still on mine as he guides her toward the set of couches in the corner.

 

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