Chapter Thirty-Nine
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
THE SUN WAS dipping low on the horizon, casting a golden light over the clubhouse lot, but my mind wasn’t on the sunset. It had been a week since we’d taken James out of the picture, and things were finally starting to settle. Fiona was healing— slowly —but at least she wasn’t looking over her shoulder every second of the day.
That should have been enough.
But there was a nagging feeling deep in my gut, something that told me this wasn’t over. That James hadn’t worked only with Barbie. Maybe it was just paranoia, but the guy didn’t have the brains to pull all of this off by himself. And Barbie sure as hell wasn’t smart enough to play puppet master.
Something else was going on. I could feel it.
Thunder came out of the clubhouse, his face tight. “Devil wants us in the war room.”
I didn’t ask why. Just nodded and followed him inside. The others were already there by the time we reached the back room. Devil stood at the head of the table, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes sharp as he watched us file in. Everyone was already seated, and I took my spot next to Chain.
“What’s goin’ on?” I asked, already knowing it wasn’t good. The look on Devil’s face said as much.
“We got a problem,” Devil said, his voice low and hard. “Just got a tip from one of our guys in the city. Drago’s been making some more moves.”
“He’s one bold motherfucker,” Chain muttered, leaning back in his chair.
Devil’s gaze flicked to me, and the knot in my stomach tightened. “Word is, Drago’s been talking to someone—someone who’s got a grudge against us. And it’s not about territory.”
I felt my blood run cold. “You’re saying Drago was working with a civilian?”
“Well, that I don’t know,” Devil said. “Drago’s been keeping quiet lately, laying low, but that doesn’t mean he’s not making plans. James had been creeping around here for weeks, I’m guessing, and listening. He could’ve been the leak, and we just didn’t know it. That could explain the large amount of cash we found in the hotel.”
A sick feeling churned in my gut. James was bad enough, but Drago was a whole other kind of problem. Dragon Fire was ruthless, and if James had approached Drago, that meant Fiona was still in danger. Maybe more than before, especially since we haven’t been able to track them to their hideout.
“We need to put better security around our perimeter,” Thunder growled, his fist slamming against the table. “It’s a damn shame. Never needed it before that fucking James started lurkin’ around.”
“Nature isn’t enough anymore,” Devil agreed.
“My gut says James was a rat?” I said, my jaw clenched tight.
“Gatsby’s working on more intel,” Devil said, pointing at him.
“I’m going to snoop into James’s money situation. See what I can find,” Gatsby said. “If James took money from Drago, he won’t let that shit go.”
“How would James even find Drago?” I asked, leaning forward in my chair to look around the table.
“They have their ears to the ground just like we do,” Spinner said. “How do you think they got to me? They had to be tipped off, someone from that bar I was at in town was a snitch.”
I nodded, and replied, “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Should we warn Fiona?”
“We’re still not sure this has anything to do with her,” Devil said. “But you can warn her to keep her eyes open and be aware of her surroundings.”
“Just don’t scare her, Bolt,” Chain said. “She don’t need that so soon after what just happened.”
“I’ll try not to,” I replied, thinking that wasn’t going to be easy.
“Keep your ears to the ground,” Devil said, his eyes sweeping over the table. “We don’t move until we know more, but I want every man ready, like always.”
The meeting broke up, but as the others filed out, I stayed behind for a moment, my mind spinning with everything we’d just learned. The idea of Drago coming after Fiona made my blood run cold, filling me with dread. I had told her it was all over and now it looks as if I fucking lied.
I SAT IN the common room looking around and gave a contented sigh; it was starting to feel like home. I never thought I’d be able to say that, but the sense of safety it brought was something I clung to. The voices, the laughter, the men with all their unique personalities meant there was never a dull moment.
Bolt walked in, and I knew something was wrong. His face was hard, his eyes focused but distant, and the way he moved—the tension in his shoulders—told me whatever was coming next wasn’t good.
“Hey,” I said softly as he sat down next to me. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t answer right away. Just stared at the floor for a long moment, like he was trying to figure out how to say what he needed to say.
“I don’t wanna scare you, but we may have a problem,” he finally said, and I could tell he was worried.
My heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”
“Drago,” Bolt said, and seeing my confused expression, explained, “President of Dragon Fire. We think he might have been working with James.”
“James is gone, though. So... what does that mean?”
Bolt’s hand covered mine, his grip firm. “It means Drago might be picking up where James left off. We don’t know for sure yet, but there’s been chatter. And if he’s comin’ after you, then you need to be ready.”
Coming after me? After everything I’d been through, after thinking it was finally over... it wasn’t. There was still danger out there. Still someone who wanted to hurt me. And this time, it wasn’t just about James.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why would Drago care about me? Why would he want to keep going if James is gone?”
“Because it’s not just about you,” Bolt said quietly. “It’s about control. Drago’s been after our territory for months, and somehow, we think James was helpin’ him, giving him an opening. You’re just part of it. A piece of the game.”
My chest tightened, fear twisting inside me like a knot. I thought I’d escaped this. I thought I was free. But now... now it felt like the walls were closing in all over again.
“Fiona,” Bolt said softly, his voice pulling me back from the edge of panic. “Don’t panic, we may be wrong. But in the meantime, just keep your eyes open and don’t go anywhere alone.”
I looked into his eyes, and I could see this worried him and I didn’t want that, so I replied, “I won’t, and I know you’ll protect me.”
“You got that right,” he said, pulling me to my feet. “Let’s go for a ride to the beach and get you out of here for a bit.”
That’s why I loved Bolt so much. He always knew what I needed and was more than willing to give it to me.