Chapter 28
Five Days Later
I’d been thinking about it for days…
The look in his eyes.
The words he said.
‘I can’t stop it this time.’
I didn’t understand what it meant. More than that, I couldn’t let it go. It was like a nagging realization not yet fully formed in the back of my mind, trapped in my confusion. It didn’t make sense—my brother helping the Stallions.
Unless a piece of my best friend was still in there.
Maybe the Copper Kings hadn’t swallowed him whole after all.
Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to hang my hopes on it; but it gave me enough gumption to work up the nerve to seek him out. The fact that it was his birthday gave me all the excuse I needed to plan a trip to the King compound.
In the days following the Stallion’s last visit, things had calmed down a bit.
The Kings and their whores weren’t trying to turn tricks outside of their territory, and Route 66 had returned to business as usual.
Or, almost—Max still laying low with her aunt in North Dakota, at Nighthawk’s insistence.
No one was assuming things would simply go back to normal after the latest confrontation, but the lack of escalation implied the Kings didn’t have a death wish.
All that said, it meant I was still pulling doubles a couple days a week for Viv, which only left me with a free morning to pay my brother a visit.
I was up earlier than usual, but still not early enough to catch Riley and Reaper before his workout.
I was dressed for the day and in the process of making my coffee when I heard them return through the back door.
I smiled, hopeful he didn’t come home empty handed.
“Did you bring me something good?” I asked, not bothering to turn around.
My smile developed into a quiet chuckle when I felt him at my back. He extended an arm on either side of me, propping himself up against the counter as he brought his lips to my ear and muttered, “I’m always a good time.”
He reeked of sweat, but the heat of him wrapped around me was stupidly comforting, so I didn’t repel from the scent of him.
“You know what I mean,” I replied, pushing my backside into him playfully. “Not sure I have time for much more than breakfast if you’ve got any.”
“Where you goin’ this early?”
No longer feeling quite so playful, positive he wouldn’t like my response, I cleared my throat before I admitted, “It’s Carmy’s birthday.”
I felt him stiffen.
“So?”
“I just want to talk to him, baby. I—”
He didn’t let me finish, taking hold of my shoulders in order to spin me around to face him.
He was in a muscle shirt, the front still clinging to his soaked chest, while his massive arms were out on full display.
I almost forgot what we were talking about, distracted by the damp curls drooping across his forehead.
He sort of needed a haircut, but I really hoped he wouldn’t. Not yet.
“Angel,” he began, his scowl bringing me back to the conversation at hand. “Tell me you’re not thinkin’ of crossin’ into King territory.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, unwilling to lie to his face.
“No.”
“No?”
“No—you’re not goin’.”
I blew out a sigh, understanding he needed more words to come around to my plan. “Look, I get that things are tense, but he’s still my brother. My showing up can’t possibly be considered a threat. And it’s his birthday.”
“Don’t give a fuck what day it is—”
“He helped us, remember?” It was my turn to interrupt.
“He didn’t have to, but he did. I want to know why.
I need to know why. The thought of him being one of them—being the kind of man who would not just condone but participate in the selling of women into sexual slavery?
It kills me. But if there’s even a little chance that’s not who he is, that he’s still the man I thought he was deep down, I have to know.
It might not change anything, but I still need to know. ”
Riley stared at me for a few deep breaths, and I found myself holding mine in anticipation of his response.
“You’re not crossin’ into King territory on your own.”
My eyes danced across his face, searching for evidence he was saying what I thought he was saying. Except, his expression had not softened in the slightest.
“Does that mean—does that mean you’re going with me?”
“This is not a good idea, Ly,” was all he said in reply.
I pinched the front of his shirt, taking a step closer as I murmured, “I already sent him a text letting him know I’d stop by.”
“Did he respond?”
Dropping my eyes to avoid his gaze, I reminded him, “He might have helped us save Max, but he’s still an asshole.”
“So, no.”
“I have to know,” I whispered.
Riley pulled away from me, mumbling something under his breath as he made his way out of the kitchen and toward the bedroom.
I stood frozen, wondering if we’d come to an agreement or not.
When I heard the shower turn on, I reached for my coffee and hoped for the best. Ten minutes later, he was back and dressed in a pair of jeans, a white tee that fit him like a glove, and his kutte.
He smelled as good as he looked—his curls now damp and clean.
He only stopped when he reached the back door. He twisted his neck, pointed at me, and warned, “I even smell trouble when we roll up, we’re turnin’ around. You hear me?”
I flashed him a grin then raced to grab my purse.
Twenty minutes later, we were pulling onto the Kings’ compound. I knew there was no way Riley would let me walk into the clubhouse, so I hoped Carmine would answer me when we parked and I gave him a call to let him know I arrived.
To my surprise, when we came to a stop, I found he was already outside, propped up against the side of the building, waiting.
It was stupid—so epically stupid—but that filled me with more hope than I previously let myself have.
As I dismounted, Carmine began to make his way toward us.
He stopped halfway between the clubhouse and Riley’s Road King, silently indicating that was as far as he was willing to come.
I nodded to myself, then glanced at Riley.
He dismounted and stood with his arms folded across his chest, obviously intent on standing guard.
I nodded again, understanding the situation, then started for Carmine.
I was just about halfway between the two of them when Riley called out, “That’s close enough.”
Carmine rolled his eyes, and I frowned as I looked back at my man from over my shoulder. “Baby, he’s—”
“Still a King, angel,” he finished.
I wasn’t sure if he knew how much I loved it when he called me that.
I was positive he didn’t know how much I adored his protectiveness over me—but both were true, working to his advantage.
And as much as I wanted to fight him on this, one look at his handsome face with his cocked eyebrow, and I knew there was no fighting it. No fighting him.
I sighed as I righted myself and offered Carmine a half smile. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“What is it you want?” he asked bluntly.
I hesitated, narrowing my eyes at him. He was acting the same way he always did—but there was something there, something I couldn’t ignore. He was waiting for me. Whatever his tone suggested, he couldn’t hide the sliver of him I swore I recognized.
“You—” I started and then I stopped, looking around, wishing to make sure there weren’t any of his brethren nearby. Knowing it was best to play it safe, I asked, “You’re not like them. You’re not part of it, are you?”
Carmine didn’t respond but stared at me blankly.
“Come on. Stop hiding from me!” I cried. “Stop being such a dick—for once, would you just talk to me?”
“By the time I knew the score, it was too late to back out, not without a knife to the throat. I can’t save em all, not without getting caught, but I do what I can. It’s the only solace there is to this godforsaken life.”
For what felt like the first time in more than six years, a weight I didn’t know I was carrying lifted slightly off my shoulders. I took a breath, the depth of it excruciatingly refreshing, causing my eyes to well with tears.
He was in there.
My brother.
My best friend.
He was still in there.
“Carmy—”
“Damnit, Lyla—don’t you get it? I haven’t been Carmy in a long time.”
I shook my head, causing tears to spill from my eyes. “That’s not true. You’ll always be Carmy to me. Always.”
Grabbing at his hips, he looked away from me, dismissing the notion; but I wasn’t ready to give up yet.
“I want my brother back. Not the overprotective asshole you’ve been, but the guy I can call whenever I need. My friend. My family. It doesn’t have to be like this.”
“Bettin’ you’re smart enough to know why the fuck I pushed you away so hard,” he grumbled, scowling down at me. “Didn’t want you anywhere near this life, then you went and fuckin’ married into it.”
“Carm, I get it. I mean, I don’t exactly agree with the way it all went down, and I hate how much time we’ve lost because of it, but I’m good. The Stallions are good. They might not be boy scouts, but I’m safe. I swear, I’m safe.”
“Right. Keep tellin’ yourself that,” he scoffed.
“I will! Because it’s true. Riley is not the enemy, here.
There have been exactly three men in my life who have ever made me feel as safe as I do.
Dad. You. And Riley. I love him, Carmy—that has to be enough.
I can take care of myself. You taught me how.
Now you have to trust me when I tell you, I’m good.
Would be great if I could get my brother back, too. ”
He stared at me for a long time before he shook his head. “This isn’t a fairytale, Ly,” he said softly. “It’s not that easy.”
“Our parents died when we were eight and eleven years old. When has life ever been easy for us?”
“You have no idea the things I’ve done. The things I’m capable of.”
“Maybe not,” I replied with a flippant shrug. “But I’m still here. And as much as you want to protect me, Carmy, I’m not some saint. I’ve lived life without you, too.”
“Yeah? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what I’ve done, what you’ve done—what matters is the choice we make right now. Tell me you’ll at least think about it.”
He reached up and raked his fingers through his hair. I remembered this. A tall tell sign he hadn’t made up his mind about something.
“I don’t know, Lyla.”
I perked up at his indecision and took a step away from him.
“That’s not no.” I took another small step, and another.
“Think about it,” I insisted. “If you don’t take too long, maybe I could treat you to a birthday dinner the next night I have off.
” I knew it was a long-shot, but I had to try.
“You know my number, Carmy—and I’m not going anywhere. ”
I turned my back then, not wanting to give him another chance to deny me. I didn’t know what his next move would be, but I hoped for the best.
I was inches away from Riley, on the cusp of letting him know we could get out of there, when he asked with a straight face, “Did I hear you say you loved me?”
“Oh,” I started, my eyes wide in surprise. It was a truth I’d been living with for long enough, it seemed wrong to deny it, even if the thought of saying it to his face right now, like this, didn’t feel quite right. “What if you did?”
He glowered at me, not saying anything, making me anxious. Then he dropped his arms to his sides and walked around me, headed straight for my brother. When he was in reaching distance, he held out his hand as an offering and waited. I watched, my heart racing, not at all certain how this would end.
“Shit between the Kings and the Stallions is one thing,” said Riley when Carmy didn’t move. “Peace between you and me is for her.”
It took Carmy another few seconds, but Riley’s hand held steady until my brother accepted the gesture. My jaw nearly hit the floor at the sight of them shaking hands. It lasted only a second—but it was the most precious second ever.
When they let each other go, Riley said nothing more before starting back my way. He kept his silence as he mounted his hog, extending his hand when it was my turn.
Rather than take it, I gaped at him a second longer.
“You—you didn’t have to do that,” I stammered.
“Babe, any man who claimed to love you and didn’t do the same would be a liar. Hop on. Let’s get the fuck outta here.”
“Wait,” I breathed. I then closed my eyes and shook my head in an attempt to clear it. “Did you just say you love me?”
“Ly—first time you hear me say those words will not be while I’m standin’ in King territory. Hop on.”
This time, I didn’t hesitate. I was at his back, my arms wrapped around his middle so fast. I felt rather than heard his quiet chuckle. I knew he was laughing at me, but I didn’t care.
I wanted him to take me home.
I wanted him to say the words.
I was so totally going to be late for work.