Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
COBALT
When I received the call that Gino wanted to see me in person, I almost told him to pound sand up his ass because I really wasn’t all that thrilled to leave Julie yet again.
She finally fell into a deep sleep and I, for one, didn’t want to disturb her but also wanted to end this shit with the Mob.
I instructed everyone in the club to keep what Incubus was doing quiet, and if she asked to tell her I’d explain when I returned.
Thank God Psycho came with me, along with Mammoth, because this could have turned bad real quick like.
Why does money make people do crazy-as-fuck shit?
I repeatedly told Gino the money Stash and Julie had discovered didn’t exist for the Mob, but did he listen?
No, he didn’t. Just like Salvatore and Tony, this motherfucker thought he could threaten, bully, and imply the brother-sister team weren’t safe until the money was out of their hands.
He generously offered to take it and said he’d do good with it.
When I asked what that was, he shrugged his shoulders but didn’t have any answers.
I’m beyond grateful I listened to Mammoth and Psycho when they insisted on coming with me because if I was alone, I’m sure Gino would have instructed the men with him to put me down as a warning.
Problem was, his two guys were no threat to any of us, so that went south fast. When I had Gino against the wall, I spoke clearly and slowly so he could understand my words.
“Motherfucker, listen closely, Julie and Stash do not exist for you any longer. The money also doesn’t matter to you, it’s gone.
You never knew about it or, if you did, you didn’t stop that maniac from doing what he was doing, so fuck off.
Like I explained on the phone, we are done.
Two more jobs and we will be going our separate ways.
I’ve had enough of the Mob to last me the rest of my goddamn life.
We made a good team, Gino, until you all got too hungry for more which made you greedy.
Our club is going in a different direction so just know, no matter what you offer the answer will always be fuck no. ”
After a little physical persuasion, he agreed to let everything be done and over.
As soon as he did, I turned to leave, but he shocked the ever-lovin’ fuck outta me when he asked if I wanted to bring someone back with me.
Then he implied it might be beneficial because it would give me something to keep Incubus in line.
That instantly tells me who it is, and I tell him there is no way that bitch is fuckin’ coming back with me.
He laughs, asking me if Incubus has any say so.
I lose my cool and almost kill the motherfucker.
When he can catch his breath, he explains that she is causing all kinds of trouble, and he can’t have that.
Also, his wife and her family found out that he was helping to keep her hidden and available for Salvatore, which has her father threatening to feed him to the alligators down at the Florida compound.
Gino actually looks a bit scared. He further explains his father-in-law is friends with Salvatore’s father-in-law so it’s a matter of having a friend’s back.
Gino immediately starts trying to think of ways to remove her from his protection without killing her because he doesn’t want Incubus to get wind of it and come after him.
I think to myself, I was right when that all went down I should have just put a bullet in her head.
Again, I let the fact that she was a woman cloud my better judgment.
Now once again, she’s surfacing to cause my brother more trouble.
Thinking for a quick second after looking at Psycho and Mammoth, both of their faces looking like they were sucking on lemons, I glance at Gino and his men.
“Okay, give me a day or so to talk this over with my brother. Gino, no, shut your goddamn mouth. If you would have controlled Salvatore neither of us would be having to deal with this fuckin’ headache yet again.
She’s like a bad nightmare; she never goes away completely.
If Incubus says no then she stays where she is and is your problem to deal with, you hear me? Now, are we done?”
He just stands there glaring at me then slowly nods.
The three of us turn and walk to and out the door.
I personally am hoping and praying I never have to see that jagoff ever again.
If, and that’s a long stretch, my brother gives the okay, a couple of our brothers will be coming here to pick the bitch up and bring her back, but I’m thinking this time the odds are against her.
I hope Incubus has learned his lesson because I don’t think our club can handle another one of her outbursts.
The last one almost got Incubus killed. That is the thought I have as we get on our bikes and head out back to the clubhouse. For me that’s back to Julie.
* * *
After getting an update on the special job Incubus is working on, and I’ve checked in on Rocket and Holy Joe, I quietly make my way into my room, smirk as I put my Bond hand out opening the door.
When I’m in, I again use my hand to lock the door behind me.
Moving without making a sound, I bend over to remove my boots then drop my jeans on the floor.
Then careful as ever, I remove my kutte, hanging it on the hook besides the door.
Pulling my T-shirt off, I strip my socks as I walk toward the bed, seeing the lump on my side.
My girl is sleeping where I do and hope that’s because she feels safer there.
Carefully I shift her over and get my ass in bed, pulling the covers over both of us.
Julie instantly moves closer to me, her hand going on my stomach as one of her legs shifts between mine before she settles again.
I glance down and her purple head rests on my chest. Finally, I feel that I can breathe.
This last meeting seems to have gone in our favor and if everything goes as planned, we are finally free of the Mob.
But we have contingencies in case they aren’t feeling like honoring their word.
I have Stash to thank for that part of the plan.
He worked his ass off and was able to find some things we are sure the Mob does not want out there for the world to see.
It gives us the upper hand and that’s all I want.
Need to keep moving the club toward the light and outta the dark.
Running my hands up and down Julie’s back, the tightness that has been in my chest is finally starting to loosen up.
Her smell and the feel of her body next to mine has me reacting, but I’m not gonna go there tonight.
All I want for now is to keep holding on to her tightly and sleep together peacefully.
I’m sure some other bullshit will find its way to us soon enough.
Plus, I have to figure out a way to address this other shit with Incubus.
On the way back we stopped at a diner to talk about the what-ifs.
Mammoth wants me to skip Incubus and just let Gino deal with it, while Psycho said it has to be Incubus’s decision as it affects him the most. I agree with them both, so gonna think on it for a bit before I have that conversation.
For now, I have my ol’ lady in my arms, my club is safe, none of my brothers are dead, and those who were injured are starting to heal.
Have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but tonight I feel like I have everything important right here in my arms. With that I slowly relax and fall into a restful sleep with Julie right beside me.
Something wakes me up, so I trust my instincts and start to get up while feeling everything is pounding in me.
My heart pounding like crazy. Looking to my side I see Julie curled up, her hand reaching across the bed, probably touching my back.
Trying to be quiet, I leave the bed and move to where I dropped my jeans earlier.
Pulling out my phone, I see I have over ten instant messages.
What the fuck? is the first thing that comes to mind, right before Now what?
Opening up the message I almost fall to my knees when I see the picture being displayed.
I close my eyes and almost jump outta my skin when Julie wraps her hands around me.
She instantly can feel something in the room.
“Liam, what’s wrong? Please don’t keep anything from me, I’m not a wilting daisy. Maybe I can help but you have to let down your walls and talk to me.”