Chapter 7 Luca
Luca
Walking into the club, I seek out Angel. The fucker is sat with Rudi by the bar, leaning into one another sharing tender looks. I cut across the bar and clear my throat. Angel leans back in his chair and gives me his full attention.
“How did Ford get on?” he asks.
“I want you to keep an eye on his mom. He said it went well but I don’t know her, and I don’t like what I don’t know.”
“Fair enough. I’ll make sure she doesn’t give us trouble.”
I slap him on the shoulder in thanks and leave him to his old lady. I’m more than glad Ford is home, but he’s got a lot of shit to sort out and I don’t want any blowback on the club.
“Luc! There’s someone here to see you,” Konan hollers.
Before I head outside to see who the visitor is, I ask King, “Has Tor been down yet?”
“Yeah, she came down about an hour ago, made River a bottle, and then went back up to your room.”
I nod and walk outside to see who’s here. A sleek black town car is parked at the curb and as I make myself known, the driver of said town car gets out and opens the back door. A guy I’ve never met before climbs out, sharply suited, reminding me a little of the Haywards.
“Luca Jackson?”
“Who’s asking?” I grunt.
“I’m the Mayor. Gene Green.”
Gene Green, is this fucker serious?
“And I’m here because you’ve upset the natural order in our fine city.”
“Have I now?”
He is here either for money or a new deal with my club. Either way, I’m five seconds away from ending this conversation.
“I had an agreement with Ms Rathbone, and it’s come to my attention that that agreement is now void.”
I shrug. “It doesn’t sound like my problem.”
“I disagree.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
This is really starting to bore me.
“This city runs in a certain way. Your presence is messing with the order I have created over a number of years.”
I take a step closer to him, glad to see that he’s taken back by it.
“Why don’t you tell me what you want and stop wasting my time.”
“To have power in this city, you need friends.”
I snort. “I’m not a friends kinda guy. Fuck off.”
I turn to walk back into the bar when the Mayor calls out, “I can make life extremely difficult for you.”
I laugh. “The only person who has that pleasure is my wife. Anyone else is just a game for me to play and win.”
“You’re making a mistake,” he warns much to my amusement.
“Funny, I don’t think I am.”
I walk inside and wait till I hear his car drive away. Digging out my phone, I call Jamie Boy.
“What can I do for you, Luca?”
Rolling my eyes, I tell him about the Mayor’s visit.
“He just showed up at your clubhouse in broad daylight?”
“Yeah, stood out on the street. Didn’t seem to me that he cared if we were seen or not.”
The line goes quiet, and I wait for his lordship to let me know what he intends to do.
“I’ll deal with the Mayor.”
Then he hangs up and I put my phone away. Fucking asshole.
“If anyone else shows up, tell them I’m out,” I say to no one in particular and head up the stairs.
My boy is kicking away at the air as he lies on a playmat, toys dangling over him that he can barely reach with outstretched arms.
I close the door and Tor’s getting dressed.
“Where are you off to?” I ask.
“I’ve got a dental appointment.”
“You want me to come with you?”
“For a dental appointment?” Her laughter grows. “Rudi said she’ll come with me. You get the honor of spending time with your son. He was fed an hour ago. He’s been bathed and dressed. All have you have to do is keep him happy.”
I’m more than capable of feeding, and changing, and dressing him, but I’m glad it’s already been done.
“We’re gonna shop first so I’m leaving...” She glances at her watch and tells me, “Now.”
She crosses our room and presses her lips to mine. I wind my arm around her and hold her flush against me. I deepen the kiss, and my dick begins to throb.
She’s the one who has to break away first and I reluctantly let her.
“I won’t be long.”
“You better not be,” I growl.
Her laughter follows her out of the room and down the stairs as she goes.
“Now your mommy is gone, what are we gonna do?” I ask my son as I lean over and pick him up.
“You’re gettin’ bigger, my boy. You’re gonna be strong, ain’t ya.”
I take him down to the bar and Angel stubs out his cigarette.
“I’m taking him outside. Follow me.”
I sit River on my lap when I sit down, and Angel pulls the chair out opposite mine.
“Who was outside?” Angel asks.
“You’d never guess,” I grunt. “The Mayor.”
His brow arches. “No fuckin’ way. Is the city looking to honor you or something?” He laughs.
“Nah, he wanted to let me know that he used to have a special relationship with Effie and that I should stick to the natural order in how the city’s run.”
Angel is quiet then says, “I bet you weren’t too accommodating.”
“I told him to fuck off. I called Jamie Boy, he said he’ll deal with him. It’s their city after all.”
“Talking of Effie, what are we doing with her? Now Ford’s back, I thought he would’ve taken her out by now.”
“I wanna see how he plays it. He’s still gotta deal with his mom. We’ll give him time to deal with all the shit he’s going through.”
“How nice of you, sweetheart,” he mocks.
“Fuck you,” I spit.
“All I’m saying is you’re lookin’ soft right now. We can’t have her here for much longer, it’s a risk we don’t need to be taking.”
“Angel, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you afraid.”
His smirk could cut through ice. He leans over and tugs on one of River’s fingers playfully.
“You wanna see your daddy get knocked out, little man?”
I snort. “As if that would ever happen.”
He leans back in his chair and huffs, “If you’re giving him time, the rest of us need to know what he’s thinking. If it’s putting me on edge, it’ll be putting the others on edge too.” He arches his brow and states, “I’m surprised this isn’t putting you on edge.”
I wonder why it isn’t either. Perhaps it’s my faith in the club I’m building and the brothers that wears its patch. If we can’t hold down one woman in our own clubhouse, then we don’t deserve to call it ours.
But to keep the peace, keep the balance that my father was so good at treading, I say, “Track down Ford and we’ll see where his head’s at.”
Angel disappears and I rise from the chair, keeping my son firmly in my arms.
“Time to do business, son.”
By the time I walk into the bar, Angel has found Ford and we all head for the stairs. Reaching the top, I stop and turn.
“It’s time to deal with Effie.”
I don’t say anything else and pull out the key to her room from my pocket. She’s on her back and shoots up onto her ass as we enter. Her weary gaze lands on Ford and flits between me and Angel.
I draw my gun, and her eyes widen before she stammers out, “Y-you’re not going to s-shoot me in front of the baby, surely.”
“Of course I’m not gonna do that.” I pass the gun to Ford. “He’s gonna do it just after I take my son out. You think I’d let a gun shot damage his precious ears?”
A flash back to Tor in Mercy, blood pouring from her ears. Her screams reaching the fucking stars. That’s never happening to her again, or to my son.
Ford releases the safety and steps closer to Effie. She shuffles back, hoping to find somewhere bullet proof but all she finds is the wall.
“How long would you have left me locked up, alone, and waiting on food?” he asks her.
She graces him with the truth. “Months, years, I don’t know. You would’ve been there as long as it benefitted me.”
His shoulders rise with a deep breath. “I want nothing more than to put a bullet between your eyes, but that would be too easy for you. So…” He trails the gun down her cheek and across her lips.
“You’re gonna stay in here for every day I spent under your lock and key.
No one’s gonna talk to you, you’ll get food and water when I say you do, and you’re gonna find out just how lonely your own mind can be.
” He puts the safety back on and unloads the clip.
He places one bullet on the floor next to her.
“And when you can’t stand it any longer, you’re gonna hand me this bullet and you’re gonna beg me to use it. ”
He stands to full height, glares down at her, then leaves.
“I’d say it’s your lucky day, but that shit’s dark. Enjoy.”
Angel locks up after we’ve left her and pulls me back once Ford is out of sight.
“She had him for months. He can’t be serious keeping her here for that long.”
“You wanted to know where his head was at, and now you know. This is what he needs, this is what we’ll give him.”
“Luc…”
I cut him off, “If it was you, you’d want to do shit your own way. You can’t take that away from him.”
He has no more to add and I notice River has fallen asleep. I take him up and gently lay him in his crib.
There’s no argument to be had when it comes to a brother getting his vengeance.