Taken by Her Prince

“It’s really over?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said.

And a gunshot burst out from upstairs. One single shot, stabbing through the moment.

The noise receded into nothing as Dad picked his head up and looked at me.

“Your new guy,” he said.

I nodded. “Steven. He’s a good person. I know he’s from a different crew, but…”

Dad laughed. “I don’t give a damn about the Club, or about my brother, or about any of it. You have no idea how relieved I am that you’re okay.”

Those words broke the dam inside of me. I rushed over and began to untie him. The knots were tough but I managed, and when the rope fell back, he stood with a groan. I hugged my dad tight and he hugged me back.

“Careful,” he said. “My brother is a bastard, but he’s thorough. I think he broke a couple ribs.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m so sorry dad. I never meant to get involved in all this. It was chance, it really was, Steven’s guys shot me by accident and he took me back to his place and took care of me, then Uncle Mathis thought I was on his side and I just—”

“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s okay, honey, really. I know, I know, it’s okay.” He hugged me tighter although I felt him grimace.

“I’m sorry.” I felt the tears fall down my cheeks as my father hugged me tight.

It was over. Upstairs, my uncle was no more, and the Club was in ruins. Steven would move in with his men and take over the Club businesses. All the Club territory would belong to Steven, and a new regime could rule Point Pleasant.

That thought should scare me. I knew a lot of people were going to be afraid and upset. A lot of men died tonight, and a lot of families lost brothers, fathers, sons.

I didn’t care. I didn’t give a damn. They all made their choices.

I had my father back.

And I had my Steven back.

I pulled away and wiped at my eyes. “Come on,” I said. “We should get you home.”

He laughed then winced. “I’d like that,” he said.

I went first, back up the steps. My father followed, leaning on the railing. We stepped up onto the first floor and found Steven standing in the living room. Luca was just outside the front door.

My uncle was just a bloodstain on the couch, a splatter of red gore on the wall.

“Are you Steven?” Dad asked.

Steven nodded. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

“Thank you for taking care of my daughter,” he said and shook Steven’s hand. “But please, never let her get shot ever again.”

Steven grimaced. “I promise, sir.”

“Good.” Dad laughed then looked around. “Hells, we should burn this place to the ground. But come on, I think we’ve all had enough for one night.”

Dad strode out of the house like a king, although he limped a little. I lingered back with Steven, and he grinned at me.

“Think I’ll be getting to know him better?” he asked.

“I hope so.” I took his hand and squeezed it. “Come on. Let’s take my father home, then get back to your place.”

He grinned huge at me. “Sleeping over again.”

I nodded and leaned against his shoulder. “For a while.”

He led me out the front door, down the steps, and helped me into the car.26StevenI parked the car outside of typical rowhome with a blue awning and a black front door. The window boxes were empty, but it was otherwise well kept, the sidewalk clean and swept, the front stoop and railings in good repair.

I opened the door and got out. I took a deep breath and glanced up at the sky. It was a beautiful day, just a few lazy, fluffy clouds drifting past an otherwise strong sun. I stepped up onto the sidewalk and strode to the front door. I took a moment to breathe deep in the shade of the awning, and I realized that I was nervous.

It was stupid. I shouldn’t have been nervous. I looked left then looked right, and I knew that everything I could see belonged to me. Point Breeze was mine, every square inch of it under Leone Family control.

Don Leone was happy, of course. He gave me a nice cash bonus for my trouble and added ten new guys to my crew to help run the new territory. He was already talking about adding more responsibility.

Even Dante called and wished me good luck. I thought I caught a hint of jealousy in his tone, but that didn’t matter. We were on the same side, after all.

I shook my head and knocked on the door. I waited a second until it pulled open and Colleen stood there, grinning at me. Her red hair was down around her shoulders, thick and wavy. She wore a scoop neck white t-shirt, a beige cardigan, and a pair of short jean shorts.