Chapter One #3
Fair enough. That would be an affirmative.
The Underground was a joint collaboration with separate entities.
Oz had his business and deals. Trey and Rogue had theirs.
But in the end, they worked and ruled as one united front.
A solid organization. Sometimes deals were made involving all three kings.
This was one of them. Caine had little intel on the situation, just that he, Ridge, and Cyrus were being brought in for a detail involving Inez.
Nash peered into the windows of the club, and Caine followed his stare. The Bowery wasn’t open for operation at four in the afternoon, but he caught staff milling around. He’d only been to this club a handful of times. Never for pleasure.
“I spoke to Trey earlier giving him a brief summary.” Nash snorted. “He didn’t seem as confident as I’d hoped that this would run smoothly with Rogue. He’ll die on the cross of his hatred for Killcreek.” Nash shook his head and muttered under his breath, “Asshole.”
Caine steeled his features, not giving in to a smile. Though he was tempted. Caine didn’t have all the details relating to Rogue’s detestation for the MC, but it was alive, strong, and unwavering. However, this deal wasn’t a favor to the club. It had a higher authority.
“A direct order from Inez carries a lot more weight than Killcreek. This is her deal. He’ll recognize that,” Caine countered.
Nash glanced over at him, and Caine arched his brow. “But I’m sure you’ll have to remind him first.”
“No doubt of that.” Nash released a heavy sigh in conjunction with a laugh. “Let’s go.”
They walked inside and started through the club.
The Bowery had a similar set up as the X-Lounge, though not on the same scale.
Or décor. He glanced around and shuddered slightly.
Rogue’s taste leaned more toward eclectic.
Not my style. Caine kept his eyes straightforward, but he didn’t miss the flash of red from the corner of his eye.
It could’ve been anyone, but he sensed it was the particular redheaded menace who’d invaded his thoughts too often in the last month.
Fuck me.
Unbeknownst to anyone, and shocking to himself, he’d looked into her.
Keely Cartwright. Charley’s friend. That’s all she was.
Until she became a little something more.
For Caine. A few interactions and he found himself digging deeper into her life.
There wasn’t much to find. Keely was as average as they came.
His description wasn’t an insult. In his world, average had a whole different meaning.
A decent civilian. Keely didn’t have a police record.
No priors, though it seemed like she was trying to set a record for the most parking tickets on a city street.
Is she trying to get a fucking bench warrant?
She’d extended her two-year college into a six-year endeavor, with no plans of graduation in the near future.
Her credit was shit, which explained her shack of an apartment she shared with three other roommates.
At twenty-four, she had zero assets except a car on its last leg, and according to her credit card statements, mounting debt and a shoe collection that could fill his entire closet.
Champagne tastes on a Mad Dog 20/20 budget.
Had no one taught this woman financial planning 101? Apparently not.
By the time he was her age, eight years ago, Caine had enough saved to buy a house, a sports car, and most of the possessions he’d always wanted and could never afford.
Unlike her, he didn’t indulge. Caine saw the true value of his cash after suffering an entire childhood and early adulthood without any.
They weren’t the same. Not even fucking close.
Comparing himself to Keely was like looking at different worlds.
Two completely opposite hemispheres. And they weren’t meant to collide. It’d be catastrophic.
He kept his focus on Nash, speaking briefly with Trey and Rogue’s head of security, Jared.
Caine didn’t even look over when Keely greeted Nash.
But the sound of her voice was reminiscent of their last run in at Elodie’s store.
It was high-pitched and extremely feminine with a playful, teasing tone he hadn’t heard often.
It pretty much summed up her life, if he had to guess. The opposite of Caine’s.
Nash acknowledged her greeting and continued toward the stairs leading up to the balcony. All the while, Caine kept his focus on his job. There was no room for distraction. Until…
“Hi Caine.”
His glide faltered momentarily, as did his reaction. His shoulders tightened, and he clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth. Her voice, saying his name, had an unnatural effect on him. This fucking woman. He forced himself not to react as molten heat raced through his veins.
On paper, Keely Cartwright was an absolute fucking mess.
In person, she’d slowly become Caine’s Achilles heel.
His kryptonite. Petite yet stacked, a body most men would imagine naked and get aroused instantly.
Caine wasn’t immune to her allure. Long, thick, curly, bright red hair.
It wasn’t smooth in perfectly coiled curls.
It was wild and untamed. Caine fisted his hand, almost envisioning her long locks wrapped around it.
Fuck!
Her skin was so pale, it was almost translucent.
A touch too long under the sun, she’d be a hostage to aloe and surrendering to milk baths.
So fucking beautiful. Freckles covered her face with no distinctive pattern.
Again, wild with a mind of their own. And those fucking eyes.
He hadn’t quite understood the term “smiling eyes” until her catlike green gaze landed on him.
Caine had been around breathtaking women before, but none like her.
Settle the fuck down.
Caine felt Nash’s stare but didn’t react or respond. When Nash started up the stairs, Caine followed. It took great control, but he didn’t look over at her. Even knowing she was staring at him. He felt it.
He’d sacrificed a lot in his life for the station and position he’d earned. He wasn’t about to give anything up for a woman he couldn’t have. Nor would he entertain the prospect. Again, they lived in two different worlds.
When they reached the landing of the balcony, Trey was posted near the bar with security lining the perimeter.
He gestured to his men, dismissing them, and Caine watched them file past the bar and through the curtain into the back hall.
This meeting required the utmost privacy.
Not all members of the Underground were privy to this deal.
“Waiting on Rogue,” Trey said.
“We heard.” Nash walked across the balcony to the table in the corner. “Did he know what time we’d be arriving?”
Trey snorted, resting his hand on Caine’s back and urging him forward toward the table. Of all the Kings, Trey had always been the most relatable, without any airs about him. Much like Nash, he had a more personal relationship with security.
“Of course he did. But as you know, Rogue works on Rogue’s time.”
Trey rounded the table, taking a seat across from Nash, and Caine positioned himself about six feet away near the balcony railing.
Nash and Trey made small talk, and he’d semi-zoned out when he heard Keely’s voice.
High-pitched but something was off. There was a bite in her hushed tone.
He couldn’t make out the words, but there was no missing her anger.
Caine rolled his shoulders, trying to banish all thoughts of her.
Thankfully, he got a distraction.
“What the fuck did I miss?” Rogue asked, stalking through the room toward the table and snapping his fingers at the woman behind the bar.
Caine moved to the left, allowing a clear path for Rogue to pass.
Rogue was frugal with his greetings, but he looked at Caine and jerked his chin.
Caine had been part of the Underground for almost two decades, but he hadn’t been acknowledged by Rogue until about five years ago.
It was all about respect, and Caine had earned his.
He shifted his gaze to the corner of the balcony. The woman at the bar quickly grabbed a glass and a bottle off the shelf. The drink was made in record time, and she rushed over to the table, placing the napkin under the glass. She had barely straightened when Rogue pointed to the exit.
“Go.”
Without hesitation, she turned and made her way to the stairs, disappearing from sight. They may have all been Kings, but Trey and Oz handled themselves and their staff very differently from Rogue.
Nash lifted his hand, waving Caine closer.
He followed the direction, stopping two feet from the table.
Sitting in a meeting with Trey and Rogue wasn’t unheard of while serving as security.
This was a little different. He was actually being included as an active and participating member of the meeting.
When the plan went into effect, Caine would serve as the lead over the entire security team.
Nash settled in his seat. “It came to Inez’s attention that a deal she was making with Anders had gone bad. He refused to take what she was offering for transport and quantity.”
“Yeah.” Rogue scoffed, grabbing his glass. “’Cause she was probably trying to rake his ass with a lowball deal. So, he didn’t fucking take it. What’s the problem? Inez ain’t losing sleep over it.”
Nash clasped his hands and rested his elbows on the table. “Actually, she is. Inez got word of a backdoor deal he’s making with a manufacturer out of state.”
“How’d she hear about it?”
“Directly from the source. He got suspicious when Anders mentioned transporting through the southern region of our state and made a call to Inez wanting to confirm the legitimacy.” Nash sighed. “No one wants to be on her bad side.”
Rogue furrowed his brows. “How the fuck does Anders think he’s gonna transport through our state without taking a bullet to his fucking head?”
“Apparently, he checked out the state, finding the most vulnerable section in the south. Without notification, he might’ve gotten away with it. The cut through takes less than an hour and saves them four.” Nash paused. “He’s going to take it through Ghosttown.”
“No, he isn’t.” Trey’s tone was stern. “We personally made a deal with East that kept Ghosttown safe. Nothing goes through their territory unless we allow it.”
“Yeah, and we don’t fucking allow it,” Rogue snapped, slamming his glass on the table.
The small town in the southern region of the state was home to the Ghosttown Riders MC.
Years ago, they’d been involved with the Underground.
A deal dating back to when Sal ran things.
But they’d slowly pulled out over the years, and for the most part had gone legit, steering clear of illegal activity.
Nash nodded. “It’s our stand also. But shutting it down isn’t enough for Inez. As you can imagine, she feels slighted, and well” —Nash raised his brows— “It should come as no surprise, she’s out for vengeance.”
Rogue laughed, and even Trey cracked a smile.
“Good for her. But what the fuck does that have to do with us?”
This was the part where he and Nash braced for impact. All it took was one word to send Rogue over the edge.
“She’s asked if we’d all partner together to make it happen.”
“She asked?” Rogue snorted, rolling his eyes. “Bullshit.”
Nash ignored him and continued. “Aligning together along with Killcreek would…”
“Oh, fuck no!”
“Rogue,” Trey urged quietly.
In most interactions Caine had witnessed, Trey seemed to have a calming effect on Rogue. A way to settle him down to listen. Unless Killcreek was involved. Then the second king went off the rails.
“Oz has agreed and…”
“Good for fucking him. Hope you all enjoy that fucking alliance. But we ain’t gonna be part of it.” Rogue shook his head, his face suffusing to red. “This is Oz’s fucking deal Nash, not ours. And I want you to quote me on that shit when you report back to him.”
There was no missing the disdain in Rogue’s tone. Caine had been in the Underground long enough, and close enough to the three Kings, to know the dynamic. Most people would’ve been content in the number two position in the organization. Rogue’s not most people.
Nash held up his hand. “Inez insisted we’re all on this. A united front when it comes to Anders.”
“I don’t give a shit what she wants.”
Trey cleared his throat. “From what I understand, our personal interaction with Killcreek would be limited.”
Nash nodded. “Yes.”
“Fuck!” Rogue muttered, driving his hand through his hair.
“Inez isn’t going to let it go, Rogue. And I think we can all agree she’s earned a favor or two from all of us.” Nash paused. “If you’d like to set up a private meeting with her, I’m sure that can be arranged.”
Rogue groaned. “That’s the last fucking thing I want, Nash. How the fuck is she still alive?”
“She’ll probably outlive us all,” Trey said then turned his attention to Nash. “What exactly do you need from us?”
“Security, mainly Jared. Using Killcreek isn’t an option, so we want to send in the elite.
It’ll give the illusion of a solid deal if we’re accessing our most trusted.
We have Caine, Ridge, and Cyrus. Jared, if you’ll allow it.
And” —Nash cleared his throat— “Inez wants Jessie with them. Protecting her own investment.”
Trey smirked. “Offering up Jessie, huh? Well, at least we know Inez isn’t fucking around.”
Jessie. Often referred to as Inez’s secret weapon.
Caine had worked alongside her a handful of times years ago, but it had been ages since he’d seen her.
In a male dominated organization, Jessie exceeded most expectations.
Diabolical, highly intelligent, charming when she needed to be, and above all, ruthlessly dangerous.
Her beauty was a distraction. People underestimated her. It was usually a grave mistake.
“With everybody’s elite on board. There will be no mistakes.” Nash said.
Rogue slowly nodded, accepting fate. He may not like all the parties involved, but he usually did what was right when the Underground benefited.
“You running this operation?”
Oh fuck! Rogue’s question was directed at Nash, but Caine was confident everyone in the room tensed. Here we go…again.
“Killcreek will take the lead.”
Three, two, one …
“The fuck they are!”
Caine rolled his shoulders, folded his arms, and prepared for a long meeting.