Chapter Thirty-Seven
Today is the last day to get everything in order for the club opening tomorrow.
Hawkins and I have picked out all the staff, most of whom work for us on different levels. One of Hawkins’ Leads is going to be managing the club. He wants to step away from the danger because his wife is expecting their first child. While my men can never leave the mob, I’m happy to find them a job that still benefits me and their family.
We are currently at the Inn where Jeremy is staying. He’s been bouncing between the Inn and my house, wanting to stay close to Bianca in case Manzo strikes again.
I have decided to do things differently when it comes to turning Jeremy into a made man. Usually, we go to a warehouse or even the casino and invite over two hundred people, but since Jeremy has been working with Lincoln every day for the past three months and is already being considered for the position of Lead, I decided to do a less official induction.
All the men who live at the Inn will bear witness instead of the businessmen who typically like to stake that claim. Hawkins also brought a few of the men that Jeremy and Nolan have been working with in the training center.
I glance down at my watch, checking the time for the hundredth time. Jeremy and Vivian are running late, as usual. Since Manzo has made it clear that Vivian is a target, I’ve been keeping men on her at all times. If it’s not Lincoln or me, then Jeremy, Nolan, and Ace take turns staying with her at the dorms.
Bianca grabs a cup from the stack next to me, leaning over to grab the two-liter of Sprite. I inhale her coconut scent, closing my eyes and relaxing my shoulders.
When I open my eyes, I find her watching me. A smirk plays on her lips as she sips her drink.
Last night, when we tried to have sex, she freaked out. I can feel her pulling away, even before last night. The past few days have felt like she wasn’t even here, hiding in her room, locking the door so I can’t come in, or walking out of the room when I walk in.
I wasn’t sure why she freaked out, but I could see it in her eyes. She was terrified. Of course, I would have stopped if she had asked me to. I had no idea she panicked until she ran out of the room.
This is the first time I’ve seen her since. Her blonde hair is styled in waves, her blue eyes popping from the mascara, and the tight, long-sleeved, knee-length, red dress forces me to look away. I clear my throat, taking a sip of my water.
“Ryker,” she whispers, her eyes trained on her fingers running along the rim of her cup. “I’m sorry. About yesterday.”
“Don’t ever apologize to me.”
“It’s not… I didn’t…” She takes a deep breath, gathering her thoughts, “It’s not that I didn’t want to. I did. I initiated it, it’s just…”
“Manzo.” I finish for her. Realization finally hit me.
She presses her lips into a thin line. I press her into me, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t ever be sorry. If anything like that ever happens, you let me know.” She nods slowly, “Do we need to get a safe word?” I chuckle, and she pulls back, rolling her eyes. I lean in and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before I lean in and whisper, “You don’t even know the half of what I want to do to you.” I take a step back, smirking down at her.
“Ryker, sorry I’m late, man. Your sister takes forever to get ready.” Jeremy pats me on the back, breaking my trance. Vivian runs past me in a blur, practically squealing when she sees Bianca. They disappear into the living room while Jeremy and I head down to the basement for the second step in his initiation process.
“So, who do we have here?” I ask, finding Lincoln, Hawkins, and Nolan leaning against the far wall behind the man who’s tied up and gagged.
“Meet Benny.”
I lean against the edge of the table and watch Benny. His face is streaked with tears. He looks to be in his mid-thirties, and his curly hair falls into his face. The blood drips down his neck from where Lincoln and Jeremy had their fun hours prior.
“Well?” I raise an eyebrow in question.
“He’s one of mine.” Hawkins sighs. “He was sending information to one of Manzo’s runners.”
I nod slowly, tilting my head and shrugging, not caring about why he’s here. I pull the gun from my waistband, and I wipe it down before I hand it to Jeremy. He swallows, taking the gun. Without a moment of hesitation, he pulls the trigger, putting a bullet in each of his knees before shooting him in the stomach. He slowly walks forward, placing the gun against his temple. He whispers something in his ear before pulling the trigger.
Jeremy tries to hand the gun back to me, but I shove my hands into my pockets. “That gun is yours. Welcome to the Domincio family. ”
Jeremy tucks the gun into his waistband before we head back upstairs. Stepping into the living room, I find Ace chatting with Vivian and getting his tattoo. Nolan plops down beside Vivian, putting his arm on the back of her seat. He rubs small circles on her shoulder, and she leans into his touch.
“What the–” I start to charge over there, ready to put a bullet in his skull, when someone grabs my arm.
On instinct, I whirl around, grabbing the person's throat. Bianca throws her hands up and scowls at me. “Let go,” she demands, and I do as I’m ordered. Looking around, I find everyone watching us. I grab her upper arm and drag her into the backyard.
“You promised,” she hissed. “You and him both promised me he would stay out of the dangerous stuff. What is it that I’m hearing? Oh, yeah. He’s going to become a Lead ?!” She whisper-yells the last word.
“It’s up to him on what he wants to do.”
She raises her brows, crossing her arms over her chest. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
I run a hand through my hair, my anger slowly rising. “What can I do here, Bianca? Huh? Whether you like it or not, he’s a part of this life. He was the moment I saved him.”
“Why did you? What purpose did you have to send him to a life in hell?”
I scoff, “What? You would rather him be dead?”
“MAYBE!” She yells, throwing her hands up in the air. “He deserves so much more than this.” She gestures to the Inn. “I’ve been saying that from the beginning.”
I laugh sinisterly, “I saved him for you .” I step into her, forcing her to take a step back and bump into the wall. I raise my arm, bracing against the wall as I tower over her. “Everything I’ve done since the moment I met “Sophie” at that damn bar has been for you .” I scoff, “I don’t understand it; hell, I wish it would disappear. Saving Maggie, this war, everything has been for you ! These past few days have been killing me. Not sleeping in the same bed, not getting to hold you, or fuck that sweet pussy until that sassy mouth of yours is moaning my name.”
She lifts her chin. “You broke your promise.”
“Would it make you feel better if I put him on protective duty? Just until the war is over?” I ask, gripping her chin and smiling softly down at her, the anger slowly disappearing as I stare into those baby blues.
“What do you mean?” She whispers, keeping her voice low. “I need you to have some trust in me.”
“Of course, I trust you…” She pauses, her eyes becoming doe- eyed as she looks up at me. She runs her hand from my shoulder down to my hand. “Ryker, I-”
“Joey!” A kid's voice breaks the trance we're in. Bianca pulls her hand away, taking a step back, the look of hurt plastered on her face. I furrow my brows, trying to read the unspoken answers to my unspoken questions.
“Joey!” The kid calls again, grabbing Bianca’s attention. “Miles Reiley!” Her face brightens, but the sorrow is etched too
deep within her eyes to be believable. “How are you kiddo!” Bianca
looks around, confused momentarily, before bending down to his level. “What are you doing here?”
“My dad works for him.” The kid points to me and shrugs, “When my mom told Marcus about what happened at the fountain, he was really mad. I’ve never seen anyone that mad before. ”
Bianca looks up to me, wide-eyed. “ Marcus , Marcus? The Marcus that…”
I nod, stopping her so she doesn’t reveal to the kid that his stepfather Marcus is the same Marcus that tortured her.
“Well, your stepfather is brave for working for him.” Bianca laughs, the sound rich. I close my eyes, basking in the sound.
Miles looks over his shoulder, a big toothy grin on his face. “Marcus told me that you’re a Princess. Is that true? You’re a real- life princess?”
Bianca stiffens and slowly stands. “She is,” I say, walking up behind her and wrapping my arms around her. “And one day, she will be the Queen of New York.”
“Don’t confuse him,” Bianca rolls her eyes. “What he means to say is that, in a way, I’m a Princess—just like Vivian—and Ryker here is a prince."
“Oh! So you guys are going to get married and that's how you will become Queen?”
I laugh, startling Bianca. She looks over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes. “That's the plan, kid. One day, she will be my wife.”
Her jaw drops, and I can’t help the pride that wells up inside me. “Come on,” I say, smirking, “They should be about done.”
I take them both into the living room, where everyone is hanging out. A few of the boys are playing a video game while the others are watching Jeremy get his tattoo, and the rest are gawking at Ace’s finished one .
“Ready for your first assignment?” I say, getting everyone’s attention. Jeremy, Ace, and Nolan all perk up in their seats. “Jeremy and Nolan will take Vivian to a safe house. You will stay there until you are given further orders.”
“What?” Vivian says, standing, anger rippling off her in waves. “You said I had a choice!”
“You did. But I got word that there will be an attack. Since we don’t have a date and time and you are one of his targets, you will disappear for a few weeks.”
Vivian looks at Bianca, hurt and betrayal plastered on her face. “Vivian…”
“How could you? You told him?”
“Told me what?” I look between the two women, and Vivian’s hands are clenched at her side.
“I came to you in confidence, and you barely lasted twenty-four hours before telling him?”
“Vivian, I didn’t…” Before Bianca can finish her sentence, Vivian storms out of the room, slamming the front door behind her. Bianca lets out a soft, frustrated sigh.
“Ace,” I begin, trying to distract everyone from the scene. “Find me after; I have a special project for you.” He nods.
“Thank you.” Bianca says, leaning into me and resting her head on my shoulder.”
I wrap an arm around her waist, tugging her into me more. “All you have to do is ask Angel.”