Chapter 44
Blast from the Past
Valentina
I stand in the viewing gallery of the training facility. DJ and one of the trainees are sparring. I wince as DJ catches him in the throat and he stumbles back.
I’m in more awe of this chick the more I see her in action. She’s skilled in combat and will clear a target course with one hand behind her back. If those two demons are with her, forget it.
I love watching them work. With them helping me train the other ladies, I’ll have the army we need.
“Hello, Val.”
I turn, ready to fight. My mouth falls open when I see who’s standing in the room with me. There were certain skills my uncle didn’t feel he was the right fit to train me for. That’s when I met this woman.
“Onyx? What? Wait … you’re her mother. That’s why I’m having trouble finding you for her. Helen Walsh doesn’t exist,” I breathe as it all clicks into place.
“She did once. That is who my daughter knows me as.”
“So she doesn’t know about what you do?”
“No. You look good, Val. I’ve heard a lot about you and what you’ve become.”
“I can’t say the same about you. You disappeared after training me.”
“I did Valentine a favor. I was out of the business,” she says as she comes to stand beside me to look down at Deja in the ring.
“Look at her. She’s good. I couldn’t have trained her better myself.”
“She moves like you. I couldn’t put my finger on it before. She has some of your facial features, but I couldn’t put it together.”
“That’s probably for the best.”
“Why are you here now? You’re not going to let her know, are you?”
“I’m here for you. The kid says it’s not time for her to know I’m here.”
I close my eyes and groan. Sammy. What is that kid seeing now?
“Me? Why me?”
“The Bellas are your idea, right? Ian wanted me to train an army for his grandsons. I’m here to help you do that.”
“How do we do that without her knowing?”
“You leave that to me.”
She pats me on the back and turns to leave as quietly as she entered. I stand with my mind reeling. Then a smile comes to my face.
My girls are going to be lethal. The Bellas. I like that.
Brooklyn
As I stand by the bar at Walsh’s, I put my shades on while reading over a text on my phone. It’s time for me to head out. I drove DJ to the pub, but I can’t hang around like I normally do.
Jamie is here working on the POS system and teaching DJ all the shit it does regarding the family and family business that goes beyond the pub itself. I have a lot on my plate today. Since Orla’s death and the black box she left for the Alliance, there’s been a lot of movement.
LaSalle will soon be announced as Don, and Logan has officially taken his place at the head of the Black clan. I’m finally settling in as the head of the O’Brien clan in Ireland, and DJ has signed over her assets to the Alliance.
“Hey, you heading out?” DJ asks as she comes to a stop in front of me.
“Yeah, I have to go,” I reply and place a hand on her hip as I lean in to peck her lips.
Her soft lips entice me to deepen the kiss. I slide my hand to her ass and devour her mouth as I knead her sexy curves. Breaking the kiss, I peck her lips a few times and then place a kiss to her forehead.
“Be good. No fighting the delivery guy this week,” I say and chuckle.
“He’s clumsy. I’m not going to keep losing stock because he has two left feet and promises a discount that I never receive.” She scowls.
“I have a new vendor for you. She starts next week.”
“Thank you. Will I see you here tonight?”
“I’ll try. I can’t promise anything at the moment. I already have a ton of shit on my plate today.”
“Okay, don’t let me hold you up. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby. See you at home,” I murmur and kiss her lips before I tap my hand against her ass and leave.
I step out of the pub with my phone in my hand as another text comes in. When I look up, I frown and scoff. I’m not in the mood for this shit today.
“You three have to be the dumbest motherfuckers on earth,” I say as I look between these assholes.
Detectives Vargus, Baker, and Strong have become a thorn in my side. They’ve been warned, but they don’t listen. Because of the Alliance, they are all on the verge of losing their badges.
Fucking with me, it’s about to be their lives. I’m losing my patience. Standing here in front of DJ’s pub is a different kind of dumb.
“Don’t worry, we’re not here for your corrupt ass. We have some questions for the owner of this bar,” Detective Baker says.
I snort and rock my jaw. “You have the audacity to call me corrupt?” I pause to reel my temper in. “Nah, fuck what you’re talking about. You have a warrant?”
“We only have questions for now. Are you the owner?” Detective Strong says, cutting Baker off before he can speak again.
“The only owner you’ll be talking to. What the fuck do you want?”
“We have a body and a book of matches from this place was in the vic’s pocket.”
I shrug. “What does that have to do with me?”
“The name Deja was written on the inside flap. Word is that’s your lady and she’s the owner of this place.”
I keep my calm and remain expressionless. Inside, I’m ready to burn down everything moving. Someone is playing a game of fuck around, and I know they don’t want to find out.
I take off my shades to look them in the eyes. “You boys have seen firsthand what playing with me and mine gets you. You come to me when you find the problem, not with the problem.
“And now, if this becomes my problem, it’s going to be yours. You feel me? You boys have a good day and stay the fuck out of this establishment.
“Go near my woman and all the grace that has been given goes up in smoke. I hate repeating myself and you three have brought me to my quota of words for you this century. Have I made myself clear?”
“Whatever, fuck this asshole and his bitch. Let them Russians put a bullet in her head,” Detective Baker grumbles and turns to head for their car.
I pull my gun and cock it. “You want to repeat that?”
Vargus jumps in front of me and holds his hands up. Strong restrains Baker as I glare him down.
“This is the shit we have to deal with now? He can pull a fucking gun on me in broad daylight and we’re not going to cuff him?”
“Not if we want to keep our badges. We shouldn’t even be within a hundred feet of him in the first place,” Strong barks.
“Fuck this shit, they can have my badge.”
“Listen, we didn’t come here to start any shit. We got a lead and came to talk to Deja. If you won’t allow us to speak with her, keep an eye on her at least.”
“My baby is always good, but thanks,” I say as I pat his cheek. I think I’m going to like this alliance. The NYPD has needed some checks and balances for a while.
I hop in my car and call Logan and LaSalle. They should know about the mention of the Russians. I’m not sleeping on that.