Cruel Vows

The bar is heavingwith scum as I push my way through to the front, noticing that there’s a new girl behind it, along with the girl Paisley had been with the night I took her.

Paisley’s replacement. She’s not half as beautiful as my wife.

I clear my throat and speak to the other girl. “Can you tell Axel that Massimo is here to see him?”

Her eyes widen and she nods. “Of course, sir.” She rushes into the back and quickly returns, nodding for me to follow.

I adjust my tie and walk into the backroom. The same room where I bargained for Paisley.

“Massimo!” Axel exclaims, walking toward me. “To what do I owe this unexpected surprise?”

“I’ve got some business to discuss with you.” I rub a hand across the back of my neck as my eyes connect with Paisley’s brothers. He glares at me with a dark, burning hatred. “Do you have a moment?”

“Sure, take a seat.”

I shake my head. “In private.”

Axel falters and then nods. “Sure, follow me.” He leads me further back into the ramshackle building to a rickety staircase and up into a living quarters above.

It stinks like stale sweat and booze and mold.

“Have a seat,” he says, signaling toward an old dusty looking sofa.

“I’m good standing, thanks.” I cross my arms over my chest. “The family might need your help sooner than we ever expected.”

“Help?”

I nod. “There’s a plot being cooked up by the Estrada Cartel.”

“Really?” he says, lighting a joint of weed and sitting down on a wooden chair, leaning back. “And what do you want from me?”

“If the time comes and we need more men, I want your allegiance.”

“Allegiance?” He chuckles. “Do you really think the Devil’s Alpha MC gives allegiance to anyone?”

“If you want your drugs to keep flowing, then you’ll help with this, Axel.”

His brow furrows. “That wasn’t part of our negotiations.”

“It’s expected. Anyone who is in business with us backs us up.”

Axel nods. “Well, I don’t like the Cartel. They’re bastards who wouldn’t even give us the time of day.” He rubs a hand over his unruly beard. “Deal.”

“Good. I’ll be in touch if we need your help.” I tilt my head. “I assume the product is to your satisfaction.”

He smirks. “Yeah, it’s good fucking shit.”

I notice the lines on the table nearby. Most of the club are druggies, whether it’s weed, heroin, cocaine or meth. They’re all on something.

“Great, I’ve got to get going.”

“How is she?” he asks, surprising me.

“Paisley?” I confirm.

“Yeah, who else, smartass?”

I clench my jaw. “She’s fine, and she’s my wife now.” I hold my hand up, showing him the ring.

His brow furrows. “I’ll give it to you. I respect a guy who knows what he wants and takes it, no matter the costs.”

I don’t need his respect. All I need is his cooperation. “I’ll tell her you said hi.” I turn to walk out of the bar.

“Give her a kiss from me. I always intended to fuck that beauty, but you got in before me.”

Rage floods my veins and I race back toward him and grab him by the front of his jacket. “Don’t ever fucking talk about my wife like that again, do you understand?” I loom over him, knowing that if I’m not careful, I’m going to fuck up everything. “I don’t even want you to think of her in that way.”

Axel’s brow raises. “Wow, possessive much? Let me down, Massimo.” He glares at me.

I release him. “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth in the future. Got it?”

He nods. “Yeah, got it.”