Buttons and Grace (Buttons 6)

They were ruthless, merciless, and terrifying. “I wouldn’t fuck with them, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“They want the business. It sounds like they aren’t going to stop until they get it.”

“Again, I don’t see the point of this.”

“They are exactly what we need right now, Cane. They have the means to get this done. They probably have all the men, and they obviously have the weapons. They could be the leverage we need.”

“They wouldn’t help me, Pearl. They aren’t the kind of crew that does favors.”

“You wouldn’t ask them for a favor, Cane. You would make an exchange with them. Crow’s life for the business.”

I felt the bomb explode inside my chest once she made the suggestion. It was a great idea, but something I didn’t want to do. Crow and I had argued about this a few times. He wanted to give up the business and live a quiet life. It wasn’t worth the war the Skull Kings would bring on us. But it was all I had, my life’s work. My father ran the business his whole life until we inherited it. The woman I loved didn’t love me back, so I had nothing else to commit my life to. The business wasn’t just about money. It was about identity.

“Cane?”

I heard her voice even though my mind was spinning at a million miles an hour.

“What are you thinking?”

“Um…” I didn’t know what I was thinking. I felt like an ass for hesitating at all.

“Are you going to contact them?”

There should be no doubt in my mind. Our father’s legacy didn’t matter anymore. All we had was each other. That was the important thing. I could live without my work, but I couldn’t live without my brother. “I’ll call them now.”

Chapter 5

Crow

Any minute now, I would be rescued.

Cane would storm the compound with our men, kill Tristan, and release the ropes that bound my wrists together. I would see my wife again, meet my son or daughter. I would hold Button until she finally stopped crying. When I retrieved her from Greece, I might stay for a few weeks—take an extended vacation.

I just had to hold on a little longer.

Dried blood was caked down my face, my head was still pounding, my gut screamed from the internal injuries I suffered.

But I was high—knowing this would end soon.

Cane was a genius when he called me. He figured out a way to get the information he needed without having my tracker. He didn’t give up on me. At any moment, he would risk his life to get me out of there.

The door opened, and Tristan walked inside, his sneer now raised into a smile. One of his men set the chair in front of me so he could take a seat. “You want to know what your brother’s biggest flaw is?”

I stared at him, only one eye functioning.

“Arrogance. He thinks no one can outsmart him. And you know what? You’re arrogant too.”

I stayed silent, knowing a conversation was pointless. Sometime in the next few hours, Tristan would be dead. I’d be the one looking down at his corpse—and spitting on it.

“You think I don’t know what that conversation was really about.”

The high I felt suddenly evaporated like a drop of water in a hot pan. I did my best to control my reaction, and the only reason I was successful was from years of practice. I had the best poker face in the business, but my skills were seriously being tested in that moment.

“You think I underestimated the Barsetti bond?” he asked. “I knew Cane was full of shit. I knew he was just trying to figure out where you were. I’m glad. Because he’s going to roll in here with a few men—while I have a hundred. I’m gonna blow that asshole to hell. Once I’m done with him, I’ll kill you. Adelina will be easy to track down, and eventually, I’ll find that gorgeous wife of yours.”

Adrenaline spiked in my blood, and I wondered if I had enough rage to break through the ropes and chains that bound me. I wanted to rip his chair in half then beat him to death with it. But there was still a possibility that he thought Cane was telling the truth, so I didn’t change my reaction. I swallowed my anger and hoped I’d get my revenge somehow. Cane was smart. I just hoped he was smart enough to realize he was walking into a trap. He had to stay alive. He had to protect Adelina as well as my wife—and my future child.

Now I was scared of losing Pearl all over again.

She was safe in Greece, protected by my best men. She had the paperwork to keep her in hiding as long as she wanted. But if Tristan didn’t give up, he might find her one day. She might be stupid and take a trip to the mall alone. Tristan might look at her kid and realize how similar it looked to me. Thankfully, no one knew she was pregnant besides Cane, Lars, and me.