“Not fucking happening. The bullet that hit me could have hit Maggie. I could have let all this shit go before. Now—fuck no. I’m in until this mess is cleaned up and Paulie is six feet under, preferably buried with Lane next to him,” I tell him, and he jerks his head once in agreement then heads for the door.
As soon as we reach the club floor, Aye slides off his barstool. “Are we heading back to the house?” he asks while tucking his gun into the back of his jeans.
“We are. I’ll fill you in on what’s going down when we get there,” Kai tells him, and he nods following him out.
“I’ll ride with you,” Justin tells Lane as we step outside. “We need to stop so I can pick up my bike before we head back to the house.”
“Sure,” Lane replies with a nod, following him across the lot.
“It’ll be over soon,” Kenton says, and I pull my eyes from Lane’s back and look at him as I move to the passenger side door of the Suburban, opening it up and settling myself inside.
“Yeah,” I rumble, slamming the door closed.
“Soon,” he repeats.
“Not soon enough.” I pull out my cell and reply to a text from Ace, letting him know my lawyer will be in contact tomorrow with the contracts for the club.
“I didn’t want to come back,” he mutters, backing out of the parking space, and my eyes move to him. “I sure as fuck didn’t want Autumn to be here, but I knew I couldn’t leave her in Tennessee and risk someone going after her there.”
“I wanted to send Maggie away, but didn’t for the same reason,” I agree, shoving my cell into my pocket.
“Never thought I’d see the day you’d crash and burn over a woman.” He laughs, pulling out onto the main road. “I don’t know anyone who thought you’d settle.”
“I didn’t plan for her.” I run my hands down my face.
“You deserve to have that. To have her,” he says quietly, stopping at a red light and looks at me. “I’m glad for you, man.”
I jerk up my chin, and he shakes his head then pulls off when the light changes to green.
*
“I thought we were meeting alone,” Aedan says, taking a seat on the couch in my office with his eyes moving from Kai to Justin. “You know I don’t like surprises,” he informs him, raising a brow.
“I have a feeling you’re gonna like this one,” Justin says, sitting on the edge of the coffee table across from him. Having never met Aedan, I didn’t expect to see a thirty-something man dressed like a biker walk into my club. Most made men in Vegas dress just like what they are, men of money and power. Aedan, in jeans, a white shirt, and black motorcycle boots, doesn’t look like he fits in with any of them.
“That’s doubtful,” he mutters then waves his hand around. “Let’s get this over with. I have shit to do.”
“First, what’s your relationship with Paulie?” Kai asks from the middle of the room, where he planted himself with his arms crossed over his chest as soon as we all settled in.
“Not sure why that’s any of your fucking business, Hawaii,” Aedan replies, looking at Kai, his body alert.
Kai looks at Justin for a moment before moving his eyes back to Aedan. “Ok, let’s do this. I know Paulie’s been making moves to take you out,” he says, and Aedan’s glare moves to Justin.
“You tell him that shit?” he asks, sitting forward, pinning Justin in place with his gaze.
“You know I didn’t have to tell anyone shit,” Justin replies quietly with an edge to his tone. “Everyone knows Paulie’s got a hard-on for you. It’s no secret.”
“Fuck Paulie,” Aedan says, pulling his eyes from Justin to scan the room. “I took this meeting out of respect, but now I’m getting pissed. Tell me what this is about. I don’t have time to play twenty-questions or feel like I’m being interrogated.”
“All we need to know is where your relationships stands with Paulie.” I stand and his attention moves to me. “I don’t have time for bullshit. Justin here believes you want Paulie gone. Is that true or not?” I ask, and his eyes narrow on me.
“Paulie’s a piece of shit, just like his son was. No one’s sad the world he’s built is slipping through his fingers, and more than a few are waiting for him to fall,” he says and then stands. “Like I said, I came here out of respect, but like you, I don’t have time for bullshit” he says, walking toward the door but then stops when Kai speaks.
“I’m assuming you know the story of my wife and the property she owns in Vegas.” My eyes go to him, but his are on Aedan, and I know he’s referring to the property Myla’s parents left to her before their deaths, properties worth millions, maybe even billions. Paulie’s son, before his death, planned to kidnap and marry Myla in order to gain control of that property, and Kai was almost killed because of it.
“I’ve heard about it,” Aedan confirms, turning to face him, crossing his arms over his chest.
“It’s yours,” Kai says quietly, and the room starts to buzz with an undercurrent of energy.
“What?” Aedan asks with his brows pulled together.
“That property and the land it’s on is yours…with one condition.”
“What the fuck, Kai?” Kenton asks, looking at him.
“I don’t need it, and Myla doesn’t need it. That land killed her family, and it’s about time she got something good from it. She wants to live free, and I want that for her, my son, and our unborn child.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, staring at Kai.
“What’s your condition?” Aedan questions.
“You help us remove Paulie.” He pauses then rumbles, “Permanently. No one can know the men in this room were involved in his removal, and if there is ever any backlash, that shit’s on you.”
“Why the fuck don’t you just take him out and keep your property?” Aedan asks the question I want to ask for myself.
“I told you—that property is a guarantee you’ll hold up your end of the bargain. I know you have honor. I just don’t know how deep it runs, and if someone is questioning your worth, thinking of taking you out, let’s just say that land will give you the power you need to hold onto your position,” Kai says, and Aedan moves back into the room and takes a seat on the couch once more, looking confused and a little shocked.
“There are easier ways than this,” he says rubbing his jaw. “I’ve been in talks with a few of Paulie’s associates. A lot of them are looking to cut ties,” he adds, looking around the room and ending on Kai. “I’m not sure if you know Rauel,”
“I know of him,” Kai confirms.
“Then you know he controls most of the drugs that come into the United States. Paulie’s been one of the only people Rauel will deal with. He trusts no one. He’s paranoid and cautious. That was, until Rauel found out Paulie’s son was skimming off the top. You see, Rauel had a son around Paulie’s son’s age, and when Rauel found out his son was stealing from him, he killed him himself, with no remorse. Rauel lost respect for Paulie when he didn’t personally deal with his son. If you want a takeover, I have no doubt Rauel would follow you faster than anyone.”
“That isn’t
my life anymore,” Kai says quietly, studying Aedan. “I made a promise years ago to my great-grandfather that I would put our family on a path to redemption, and I intend to keep that promise.”
“You’re giving me something for a job I was going to do anyway,” Aedan replies just as quietly. “Paulie’s son raped my sister; then, he beat the shit out of her and left her for dead,” he says, and the room goes silent. No one even breathes. “Paulie didn’t give a fuck when I brought what happened to his attention, and unluckily for me, someone got to his son before I did. I don’t need your property. I’ll help you no marker needed.”
“Aubrey,” Kenton rumbles with his eyes on Justin, and my eyes go to him, seeing him looking at his lap with his hands fisted tightly and his jaw hard. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me this shit?” Kenton asks, and Justin lifts his head to look at him.
“You know I couldn’t do that,” he whispers harshly.
“I wanted her to have an abortion,” Aedan says, looking at Kenton. “He fucking raped her. She never even had a boyfriend, and he fucking raped her and put his kid in her. My sister ran away. I did that. I pushed her too hard, and when Justin found out there were people looking for her, he contacted me, and I told him to keep who she is to himself. Aubrey’s safe. No one knows she exists, and I want to keep it that way. My sister has too much heart for this life, and she’s happy where she is and has made it clear she’s not leaving Justin. Not that I’m happy about that part, but I want her to have what she wants. She deserves to be happy.”
My eyes move to Justin, wondering what the fuck is really going on and who the fuck Aubrey is to him.
“You know I’ll always take care of her,” Justin assures, looking at Aedan.
“I know,” he mutters then looks around the room. “Paulie knows people are gunning for him. He’s not stupid, and ending him won’t be easy. Since his son’s death, his security has doubled and he’s no longer taking meetings.”
“We have an in,” Justin says, and Aedan’s eyes move to him.
“It seems there’s a lot you haven’t shared,” he says quietly, studying Justin.