Savage Fire (Savage Angels MC #2) (11 page)

“And you think my sister is crazy?”

“Your sister is crazy. I’m seeing the Savage Angels in about an hour. I’ll ring you after. Ok?”

“Yeah and, Sal, be careful. I don’t understand why the Family wants you to do this alone. Doesn’t make sense. Watch your back.”

“Agreed, doesn’t make sense. Maybe it’s a test from the old man. I’ve heard rumors that he wants to expand. Maybe he’s seeing if I can handle myself,” I reply.

“Everyone fucking knows you can handle yourself, Boss. You have been proving that since you were fifteen‐fucking‐years‐old,” he says and hangs up.

He’s right. It doesn’t make sense for me to be out alone. I’m a Captain in this family, I’ve killed, I’ve beaten, and I’ve taken. I have already proved myself. I should call the old man. I turn and see Emily with the sales assistant, laughing as she tries on shoes. She is different. I like this woman. I haven’t liked a woman this much in a long, long time. She sees me looking through the window and motions me to come inside. I push open the door and hear her laughter; it goes through me and stirs up long forgotten feelings.

“Sal! Bianca is unbelievable! She thinks I need all of these shoes! I don’t have room in my closet for all of these!”

“Bianca?” She looks at me and nods. “Pack them all up, she will have them all.” Both women stop their laughter and stare at me.

“Oh, I was having some fun, sir. She doesn’t have to buy all of these. I was just having a joke!” says Bianca as her mouth hangs open.

“No, Sal! I couldn’t possibly buy ten pairs of shoes!” says Emily.

“Actually, there’s twelve,” corrects Bianca.

“Pack them up, Bianca, and have them delivered to room five at The Country Inn.” I hold Emily’s gaze as she shakes her head. I smile at her; I understand why she wouldn’t want me to buy her things. Since she doesn’t want anything from me and has no idea who I am, what’s the harm? I have more money than I can spend and the few hundred dollars on clothes and shoes will not break my bank balance. I have been careful with my money, I have planned, and I have invested. I own property all over; I do not need to work if I don’t want to but I like being in charge. I like having power over my enemies; I like control, in everything, including my women.

“No! I can’t afford that many pairs of shoes and dresses! Sal, it will take me forever to pay you back!” She has her hands on her hips and her eyes are ablaze.

“Emily, please, it is my pleasure to do this for you. Now come, we have much to discuss before our meeting.” At the sound of her name, she relaxes. Her eyes still blaze but she slowly nods her head.

“Wow, do you have a brother?” asks Bianca.

I laugh at her and say, “Yes, but he’s doing a stint for murder. He is not as smart as me.” Both women look shocked and are unsure if I am being serious. I walk to the cash register and look at Bianca. “Time to pay, yes?”

Bianca rushes to the counter and gives me a tentative smile. “Is that cash or credit?”

***

W
e are seated in Betties Café; as usual, I am facing the front door. Emily has been quiet since we left the shoe store. We have given our orders to Rosie and the silence is beginning to become deafening.

When she blurts out, “Your brother killed someone?” Her voice is slightly raised and she looks alarmed.

“Ahhh, my brother, this is why you are quiet. Yes, he killed a man who would have eventually killed him. It is a long story and I do not want to talk about it just now. I need to know about you, Emily; I need to why you are here and what you intend to do.”

“Sal, I’ve told you why I’m here. I came to see... no, to hurt Dane. I wasn’t thinking clearly. My father was a...difficult man. When he died, I thought of Dane; he’s my only living relative but I haven’t seen him since I was a kid. I have no idea what I was thinking.” She sighs and fiddles with her dress.

“Your mother, where is she?” I ask.

“My mother was gunned down in a stupid robbery; the kid didn’t even think the gun was loaded. She was telling him to think about what he was doing and he panicked, pointed the gun at her and pulled the trigger.” Tears well up in her eyes. “People talk about the right to bear arms but when they lose someone to a senseless murder let’s see how much they believe in it. If gun control was tougher, my mother would still be alive.”

I lower my head, reach across the table and grab her hand. “I am sorry, Amare. How long ago?” I feel a deep sense of loss for her. If she knew that running guns was part of my business...would she still be interested in me?

“It was five years ago. My father was always a drunk but Ma kept him in line, most of the time.” She looks down at the table and a single tear escapes her eye and runs down her face. Before I can say anything she continues, “You see, I didn’t have anyone, he was all I knew. I tried to leave, I went to college, I tried. But there was no one to look after him, what was I supposed to do?” Her eyes look at me pleadingly. “He was a hard man. The cancer that took him, I’ve wondered if it was because he was so mean and if it was the bad that was coming out of him or turning back on him....does that make any sense?”

More tears escape her eyes and I understand. There was a time I thought I had to stay, but I took control of my own destiny and carved a path for myself. She needs to do the same; she needs to find her own way. I pass her a napkin to wipe her tears away.

“I understand, Emily, I do. My father was a difficult man as well and unlike your mother, mine was...weak.”

“Why are you here, Salvatore?” she asks.

Suddenly, I feel ashamed of my business. It is one of many but it is profitable and brings the family much wealth. “Your brother is infringing on one of my businesses, I was sent to sort it out. I am a Captain in the Abruzzi Family, do you know of them?”

“Abruzzi Family? No, I’ve never heard of them. What’s a Captain?”

I sigh and run both hands through my hair. I am about to respond when Rosie appears with food. She places it in front of us and asks, “Do you two want pie later? You look like you could use pie; we have a really good apple pie.” Before either of us can respond she continues, “I’m going to get you both some with ice cream, in a bit.” She winks at me and walks away.

“Emily,—”

“I think I like it better when you call me Amare,” she says with a smile.

“Amare, a Captain means I am high up in the Abruzzi Family. We are organized. We run most of the East Coast.”

“What does that mean, you run most of the East Coast? It sounds like a gang.” She nervously laughs.

“Not a gang, a family.” I pause and grab both her hands. “Organized crime, Amare. We have a hand in a

lot of pies. Not drugs, we are forbidden to become involved in narcotics, but we have a hand in everything else.”

“Guns?” she asks.

“It is the reason I am here. Your brother is interfering in my business and we need to know why.” Shock quickly spreads across her features.

“Guns?” She repeats her question.

“Yes.” At this moment, I wish I were a different man. The choices I have made helped to carve me into the person I am today, but this person may not be someone she will want to be with.

“Do you have to sell guns? Could you not do something else?” she asks.

“I do many other things; it is just one of the many.” Her face scrunches up and she appears to be lost in her own thoughts. “I feel a connection with you, one I have not had with anyone else in a long time. Take some time; think about what you know, think about how you feel about me and what I do. For now, let’s eat.”

She slowly stands. “No, I need to clear my head. Please, do not follow me. I need time to process this. You are not who I thought you were.” She sighs, her disappointment in me obvious. “I have to go see Dane, to sort out that relationship.” She turns and walks out of the café.

It should not matter to me what this woman thinks. I have only just met her. I have rescued her twice and intervened in her family affairs. She would not fit into my world. As I eat my meal, I can’t help but wish that perhaps she could fit or at the very least, I could fit into her life. Now that she knows the truth about me, I can't help but feel that she would be better off without me.

Dane

I
t’s time for Church; all of the brothers that are in or around Tourmaline are here. It’s unusual, but three nomads have arrived in town: Kade, JJ and Zeke. They are practically a small MC in themselves. One can rarely be found without the other two.

“Prez, we heard Church had been called, so here we are,” Kade speaks for all them. He would make a good President of another Chapter

“Kade, brother, it’s been a while.” I smile and grab his hand.

“Sounds like you’ve got trouble, Prez,” says Kade, while JJ and Zeke nod in agreement.

“It’s Fith. He hasn’t divulged what he’s done, but he’s asked for leniency, which means he’s fucked over the club in some way.” Kade’s eyes widen and I say, “Judge sent through these photos he took of two guys in Pearl; you recognize them?”

Kade shakes his head and hands my phone to JJ, who shakes his head in the negative but Zeke looks at Kade, eyebrows raised. “What?” I growl out.

His eyes move to me. “That’s Guido Lamberti; he’s the enforcer for the Abruzzi Family. He’s a fucking killer, Prez.”

“Fuck.” I sigh. Running my hand through my hair, I say, “Do you know who the other one is?” He shakes his head no. “Let’s go sit down and hear what Fith has to say. Today, you three are allowed to vote.” It’s not normal to let nomads have a say in club business but I might need the votes and they’ve always been loyal to me and Tourmaline.

As we are about to enter the clubhouse, Kat’s Mustang pulls in with three bikes following. I motion for the nomads to go ahead and I go meet Kat.

As she climbs out of the car I grab her and say, “Darlin’, sorry to cut your shopping short. I’ll make it up to you.”

“It’s ok, babe, I can shop any day. So, can you tell me what’s up?”

I shake my head and say, “Maybe later. I need you to go hang at the garage for a bit. I’d appreciate it if you stayed in the Compound, ok?”

“Ok, I can do that, there’s probably a mountain of paperwork to file." She smiles but I can tell she isn’t happy.

“Darlin’, what if when we are finished I ask some of the boys to drop you at your home? That way you can supervise all the rework you have going on there.” Her smile brightens and she nods her head excitedly.

“That would be better! Thank you, babe.” She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. I push her up against the car and deepen the kiss and then I hear wolf whistles. I stop, look at her and grin. She is not a piece of ass to show off; she is mine, only mine.

“Go to the garage. Stay there, yes?” It sounds like an order and in true Kat fashion she lets me know she’s not impressed.

“Ok, babe, going to the garage.” She salutes me and walks across the lot. Judge stands there, openly watching her ass and grinning.

I clear my throat and he looks at me. “Prez, she has a nice walk.” His cheeky assed grin grows bigger. I know he’s trying to get a rise out of me and it’s working.

“How about you keep your eyes off her ass, or I’ll have them removed.” I growl at him.

He laughs, walks towards me and says, “Aw, Prez, you have to know I like Kat, but I don’t like Kat. She does have a great ass, though.” I glare at him and he holds up his hands. “I do understand your point and I’ll rein it in.”

I nod and we both head for the clubhouse doors.

I sit at the head of the table and have Jonas to my left, Dirt—my Sergeant at Arms—to my right and next to him is Bear. On the other side, next to Jonas, is Keg and he is our Treasurer/Secretary. Fith sits at the other end of our table. All of the patched in members, nomads and prospects are gathered around the room. Those that can’t sit at the table stand on either side of it, behind a brother.

“You are all here to listen to the wrong that Fith has brought down on the club. I do not know all of his deceit, only that he withheld information regarding a Captain in the Abruzzi crime Family. I have also discovered that Guido Lamberti is in town.”

All eyes go to Fith; he stands and looks around the room. “I’ve been in this club since I was nineteen. I’m the guy you go to whenever you want something done and can’t or won’t do it.” His gaze settles on me. “I am the keeper of many secrets; I know where all the bodies are buried, I know who we’ve fucked with and who we continue to fuck with.”

Dirt stands and says, “Are you fucking threatening us, you motherfucker?” He slams his fist down on the table, spittle spraying from his mouth. His eyes are bulging and the scar that runs from his temple looks like it’s pulsing.

“No, brother, I’m not, I’m explaining that I have been loyal. I’m trying to say I made a mistake. That once it started I didn’t know how to stop it and I couldn’t go back.” Fith’s voice is almost a whisper as he stares at Dirt and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was hurt. Not likely, I’ve seen him go from killer to best friend too many times to count.

“What have you done?” Dirt asks as he takes his seat again.

The whole clubhouse is quiet. “It wasn’t me who started it. It was Ms. Saunders.” A rumble goes around the room. Ms. Saunders was Kat’s Ma; she owned the depot—Grinders Transport. When she died, she left the depot to me. The club acts as security for the trucks, to make sure they have safe passage, and I pay them for it but the rest of the money earned by the depot belongs to me.

“Explain yourself, Fith. What did Ms. Saunders start?” I ask in an authoritative tone.

“Do you remember when the Sheriff did raids on the clubhouse and the transport company?” I nod. “The day before the raid, Ms. Saunders came and did a clean of the clubhouse with a couple of workers from the depot. She found guns, smack and a DVD in my room.” He looks nervous as he looks at Jonas. “I recorded the interrogation of that guy, and I liked watching it.” Jonas stands up so quickly that his chair flies into the brother who stands behind him and he strides towards Fith. He grabs him by his wifebeater and walks him backwards, straight into a wall.

“You stupid fucking bastard! Where is it? Where the fuck is it?” Jonas is more than angry; I’ve never seen him lose his control like this. Fith has his hands up and isn’t fighting back as Jonas continues to slam him against the wall.