The smile on Peter’s face disappeared. “This is what this is about? Rosie?”
“Yes. You don’t need her money, nor do you care about her.”
“You can’t tell me what I want.”
“Actually, I can. You’ve put Rosie in a bad spot with regards to her loan. Those men who stole from her, they certainly made your life a little easier.”
“I saw an opportunity, and please, books are outdated. I’ve got another plan, and Rosie doesn’t have the money to deal with me.”
“This isn’t about money,” Pops said.
In the past few hours he’d done his research, and knew without a doubt what Peter had planned for Rosie’s shop. It wasn’t going to happen, not on his watch.
“You’re not getting Rosie’s shop,” he said.
Peter made to stand. “This is useless. I won’t be taking that, and I will be getting her shop. It’s mine.”
“Sit down.” Pops spoke so that he knew not to fuck with him.
“I don’t have to listen to this shit!”
Marshall slammed his fist into one guard, and the other, he rammed him against the wall. Both men passed out, leaving them alone with Peter.
Pops stayed seated as his friend gripped Peter’s shoulder.
“I’d sit if I was you.”
Once Peter was shoved back in his chair, Pops stared at him. “You want to walk out of here, you’re going to take that money, and you’re going to back off Rosie. You’ve not got a chance of getting her building.”
“If I don’t?”
“I’ve got a nice patch of earth outside. Three holes nicely dug, and no one will miss your ass, Peter. In case you didn’t know, you’re not exactly well liked.”
Peter went pale. “You’d never get away with it.”
“I’d like to think that I can take my chances. I’m good with the law, what about you? Last I heard you were not even on good terms. What are you going to do?”
Marshall’s hold on his shoulder tightened. “What do you want me to do, boss?”
“It’s up to him.” He stared at Peter, waiting.
There was no real choice here. They both knew it.
Tick tock.
Tick tock.
Pops would never allow anyone to hurt his woman. Rosie was their woman, even if she wasn’t ready to accept them. It didn’t stop them all loving her.
He knew what he felt, and had been open with the rest of the men. Billy, Marshall, and Ethan wanted the same as he did. Gavin, he was fighting it, but it was only because he was afraid of getting hurt.
Rosie wasn’t like any other woman.
She was different.
They all saw it.
Even today when they’d told her what they wanted, she’d had every right to run away, but she hadn’t. She’d taken his card, and left.