Chapter Four #2
“Do you think this is done, or more will come?” I ask him because all I can think about is Rowan. I can’t lose my heart. So, we need to make sure it’s all taken care of.
Damian’s tired eyes look at me. I feel like he’s looking through me.
“I want to say this is done, but I honestly don’t know, Luca.
With Briggs now gone, who will keep it going?
We cut off the head of the beast. The fraternity has been burned to the ground.
The new and upcoming players are dead, so maybe it is,” he says hopefully.
I want to think so too, but with people like them, you never know.
“We’ll monitor the situation. I want Brigg’s house to be gone—nothing but rubble and ash.
Our guards aren’t going down because once they do, that’s when shit happens.
I pat his leg. “I love you, brother,” I say before exiting the room.
Pulling out my cell phone, I text Matteo.
*Meet me in the kitchen.
He doesn’t respond, but I head there anyway.
Entering, Thomas is still at the table with a big plate of food in front of him.
I can’t help but shake my head. He looks like he’s scared I’m going to steal it from him.
“Hey, it’s all yours.” I hold out my hand as I sit in the chair across from him.
He purses his lips up at me and continues to eat.
We sit in silence. Thomas and I don’t need conversation.
We’re comfortable in each other’s silence.
There is no need to fill it up with voided words.
That’s one thing that drew me to Thomas.
Becoming his coach at Hard Knocks, I saw something more in him than just the fighter.
He had a heart of gold and was always there to help.
I didn’t initially tell him what I did for a living besides Hard Knocks.
You have to be careful about who you let into your circle.
So, it took me over a year. I expected he would freak the fuck out, but his reaction was the total opposite.
And that day, I hired Thomas as an employee, and he’s become one of my best friends.
Matteo’s entrance pulls me out of my thoughts as he saunters in.
Now, Matteo, you need someone like him on your side. Perfect ally for someone who needs to get rid of bodies.
Matteo is more closed off and keeps everything close to his chest. An Italian whose family immigrated from Italy, he takes his business and family seriously.
He stands with his back to the counter, crossing his ankles, waiting for me to speak.
“We need to burn the house down that they were at.”
I look at both Matteo and Thomas, and they just nod their heads.
“Okay, when?” Matteo silkily asks.
“I’m ready whenever you two are.”
Pushing off the counter, I say, “It’ll be dark soon, let's get set up and head out.” I watch as a small smile comes to his face, but I don’t ask him what’s up.
“Meet in thirty,” he throws over his shoulder.
“Ahh, man,” Thomas groans.
Scrunching up my face, I ask, “What?”
“I wanted to have dessert too.”
I can’t help but laugh. I know he’s trying to make everything seem normal. “Shut the fuck up. I’ll buy you a sundae; I know how much you like those.”
“With gummy bears.” He raises his eyebrows up and down.
One of my favorite memories will always be Rowan bringing all these men to our table, and each of us making our own sundaes. It was so normal, so needed. Such a pivotal moment for all of us in different ways. Grown men forgetting about what lay outside of that house, just for a short time.
“Yes, with gummy bears.” I pat him on his back, heading out of the kitchen to tell Rowan our plans.
It takes me a while to find her. And she’s in the last place I would have expected.
In the quiet room of the Hall of Remembrance, I spot Rowan sitting in the front pew of the empty room.
I don’t want to startle her, because no matter what she says, Rowan is still healing from her trauma. I am unsure if she will ever heal, but regardless, I will always be by her side.
The dome light above bounces off her dark hair. I slowly walk to her, my hands touching each of the pews, before I get to her. Clearing my throat. “Baby?”
She turns around fast, her eyes a bit red, but other than that, I don’t see any telltale signs that she’s been crying. She stands up fast as I get to her pew.
My face must look like I want to question her, and before I can say anything, she speaks. “You think this room would be heavy from all the emotions, but it’s not.” She walks toward me, kissing my lips, not giving me the chance to ask her if she’s okay.
“The guys and I are going to head out for a bit; monitor Damian. I’m sure Niko will be around if you need him.”
Her eyebrows crease together at my mention of Niko. “I’d rather drink hot oil than mess with him.”
Niko is someone I haven’t been able to crack.
He’s dark, quiet, and something about him sends chills up my spine.
Fuck, he put Catherine in the cremation chamber.
There is no telling what else he has done to her, but I honestly don’t care, as long as she’s kept watched by him.
One problem we don’t have to worry about.
I can’t help but laugh. “I feel ya.”
“Where are you going?” Do I tell her? Rowan has a way of wanting to be a part of the plans, but I gave her what she wanted and needed: J.C. Grant and Colt. Her time of being in harm's way is done. My hand involuntarily fixes any wayward hairs in my beard, and her eyes squint at me.
“Luca.” She stops in her place, hand on her hip. Looking sexy, not intimidating as she’s trying to be.
“We’re going to get rid of Briggs' house.”
“I-” she starts, and I cut her off.
“You’re not going. And you can get pissed at me all you want, but you’re staying here where I know you’re safe, Rowan.” My words come out clipped, but I need her to understand. I can’t have her constantly wanting to put herself where she shouldn’t be, especially with the job I have.
I can see her breathing getting rapid, and I know she’s pissed at me, and that’s fine.
“I’m not a fucking damsel in distress, Luca. I want to help.”
“Helping me is staying here and keeping an eye on Damian. Helping me is knowing you’re safe. Helping me, Rowan is fucking listening to me.” I’ve never raised my voice to her, but I need her to understand.
Her face transforms in front of me. “Fuck you.” She turns away and leaves me standing in the middle of the pews.
“Fuck,” I groan out as I stretch my head back and look at the ceiling. “Give me the patience with her,” I pray to whoever.
I can’t leave like this. I can’t go into the unknown with us fighting.
As I turn out of the Hall of Remembrance, I see her turning the corner to the hall at the back of the funeral home.
“Rowan,” I call out her name.
She doesn’t stop, only walks faster, her hair moving with each of her steps.
My shoes announce each step I take to get to her, and she just walks even faster, her steps quiet from her bare feet.
Rowan turns around on her heel. Her face is red, her eyes watery, and she closes the distance between us.
Her finger pokes into my chest with each word she says, and I just stand there and let her.
“If you ever speak to me again like that, I promise on everything I will cut your dick off and shove it down your throat, like I should have done to Colt.” She’s seething.
My eyes travel to her mouth, back to her eyes, and then rest on her pouty lips.
“Do you understand me, Luca? Men have used and abused me, and baby, you will not do the same as them.”
“Are you serious? I would fucking burn the world down for you, Rowan, and you know that. I want you to be safe. I need you to be safe. Without you, there is no me. And I need you to be safe.” Those last seven words come out as a whisper, because I can’t lose another person. I can’t.
Her face becomes softer, her furrowed brows uncreased as she steps a little closer to me, closing the space between us. Her hands clasp both sides of my face. “We are a team, but you don’t get to make the decisions for me, Luca.”
Looking down on her, she’s small and fierce, but so fucking hardheaded.
“This is a relationship, isn’t it? We’re in this together, right?
So, understand that it’s not just you alone anymore; it’s us.
And with that, we have to make decisions that are best for one another, and mine is keeping you safe.
You can be as angry with me as you like, but at least I know I'm keeping you safe and away from the dangers that lurk in my life.” Before she can even open her mouth to argue with me, I steal her lips.
We become fervent, a push-and-pull between us.
Hoping to show me she’s in charge and me pulling, letting her know she can think she is, but at the end of the day, what I say goes.
I push her to the wall, entrapping her with my body, as I place my knee between her legs and she starts slowly moving her jean-clad pussy over my knee, liking the friction as I eat down her little moans of approval.
My hand travels up her arm, feeling her skin engulfed with chill bumps, over her neck, caressing her face, and wraps around her hair, pushing her mouth into mine even harder.
I’ve let her rule the show since the beginning with us, but now it’s my turn.
I’ve shown her I’m gentle, trusting, and patient; now I also need to show her that side I’ve kept tucked away until I knew it was time for it to come out and play, and it’s time.
Pulling her hair, her mouth inches away from mine, I watch her hooded eyes glaze over with arousal.
Sucking on her bottom lip, I pull it, adding a little teeth, making her whine.
Releasing her hair, my nose traces her face, and my hand remains in her locks.
“I’m going to fuck some sense into you,” I growl at her, and she moans, liking the way I’m speaking to her.
I massage her head where I was pulling, pecking her lips before stepping away from her, leaving her gasping against the wall. Wanting. Needing.
“This isn’t over.” I walk away from her and exit the back corridor.