Savage Fire (Savage Angels MC #2) (8 page)

“A stranger, who just happens to be headed here and just happens to want to know about our business. Not fucking likely, man. Come on, let’s go into town.”

I feel like I’ve let him down, like I’ve been played. I didn’t become VP by being nice or being lied to by a pretty fucking face. If she’s done that, she’ll regret coming here—sister or not.

Fith

F
uck
. As I walk into Betties, I see Salvatore Agostino, Captain in the Abruzzi Family. I am fucked. The club never new Ms. Saunders ran guns and when she passed, it seemed like a good idea to keep it going. It was easy money for me and the club unknowingly guards every shipment. I expanded her business, as she had no interests on the East Coast—seemed stupid to me—and they were eager for product. Supply and demand, that’s what Ms. Saunders used to say. It’s a business like any other. I probably should have told the club, especially Dane, but the money was too good. I’ve now got a nice little nest egg.

I stroll up to the counter and Rosie walks towards me. She doesn’t smile at me or give me any pleasantries; it’s as if she can sense what I’m really like. She came to one of the club’s parties once and I cornered her in one of the rooms. The fear came off her in waves, and I liked it; I liked how it felt to have someone so scared of me. She’s not bad on the eyes. Kind of a boy figure, no real ass or tits but she has other attributes. I had her pinned in a corner, one arm on each side of her. I didn’t say anything to her; I just stared at her and began to undo my jeans. I smiled at her and she looked even more scared, then I leaned in and rubbed my face against hers and she pushed herself further into the wall and whimpered. Then fucking Bear walked in and as I turned, she ducked under my arms and ran. I lied to Jonas when I said I eat here all the time. I don’t. She knew what I was going to do to her. She knew what I was going to take from her.

Now she stands in front of me and she almost shouts, “What can I get you?” The whole café turns and looks at me.

I give her my best death smile and as she shrinks away from me I say, “Coffee and apple pie please,
Rosie
.” I drawl her name out. She nods and goes into the kitchen. She doesn’t come back out but Howie, the cook, does and he glares at me. I smile at him and he falters in his step. Yes, he knows how dangerous I am.

“Here’s your pie and coffee,” he says.

“What no ice cream?” I try to sound jovial but he knows I’m a threat.

He grabs my pie, walks out the back, returns and practically slams it down in front of me. I look up at him and sarcastically say, “Thank you, Howie, I’ve always admired those who work here.” I give him a leering look, and he’s visibly shaken as he takes two steps away from me.

From behind me I hear, “Is there a problem?”

I turn and fucking Salvatore Agostino stands behind me.

“Problem, why would you think there is a problem?” Old habits die hard and I stand up and get in his face, fucking Captain or not, I’m no pussy. I’m slightly taller than him but the guy is built. We are probably the same size but my height might give me that extra advantage

He looks me up and down then smirks. “I think you should leave.” He opens his jacket and I can see a glimpse of a gun. He’s letting me know he’s not afraid to use it; he’s trying to scare me.

I start to laugh, really laugh. No one has gone head to head with me in a while. I slowly stop then hold his gaze and let my inner demons take over as I stare at him. I’m ready. He may be a Captain in the Abruzzi Family, but here in Tourmaline, we rule and he can go fuck himself.

He cocks his head to the side and I’m about to go on the attack when Dane’s sister stands between us, putting both her hands on his chest.

“Salvatore, let’s go, please. I just remembered I was supposed to go see Doc Jordan. It would be rude of me not to.” He looks down at her and then gives me a hard stare. “Please, Sal, can we go, please?” It sounds like a plea even to my ears. He looks at Emily and he relinquishes.

He lets her take his hand but as he passes me he says, “I will not forget this, another time?” I stare after him as he walks out onto the street and then he’s gone.

I heard he had balls of steel. I think it’s time I left Tourmaline. If Dane finds out what I’ve been up to, and the fact that I haven’t shared it with the club, I’m as good as dead. I grab my phone out of my jeans and dial Bear.

“Yo, Bear, it’s Fith.”

“Fith, what’s up man?” he says.

“Jonas asked me to keep an eye on Emily but I think I overstayed my welcome with her...could you come babysit?”

Everyone knows the women of Tourmaline give me a wide berth; except for the whores, they don’t have a choice. I pay them and they earn their money with me.

“Sure, man, where is she?” he asks.

“She’s headed for Doc Jordan’s,” I say.

“I’m on it!”

“Thanks, man.” I hang up. I give Rosie my best smile and stride for the door. Time to pack my things, grab my bike and head out of town.

Dane

I
t’s been a long time since I’ve seen Emily; she was only a little kid when I was thrown out. Contact between us has been difficult because of Dad. She rang when he first got sick and I could tell by her voice that I had let her down when I refused to come to his bedside. The damage that man inflicted on me haunted me for years. I made wrong choices but I did my best not to become like him. He would drink and  he would beat my mother. When she fell pregnant with Emily, I would try to protect her, but I was only seven. I tried to stand between them but he didn’t care, he would beat a seven year old as easily as he would beat a pregnant woman. I remember one night when Emily was only little and I must have been about ten, we all slept in bed with Ma and I had a knife under my pillow. We slept huddled together waiting for him to come home but that night he didn’t. Things changed when I turned thirteen and had a growth spurt. Although I couldn’t fight him, I could be more of a shield for my mother. Eventually, though, I began to hit back and at fifteen, and I managed to knock him to the ground. He didn’t like that. He didn’t like having someone who could fight for themselves, who could stand up to him. One night he threw me out. He got into a drunken rage and started in on my mother so I defended her with my fists, the way he taught me. I broke his nose and he threw me out. I can still see my mother’s face that night when I pleaded with her to throw him out, to make a stand. She grabbed Emily and walked away, leaving me in the night with the clothes on my back. Alone.

That was the last time I saw them all together. I wanted to have a relationship with Emily and I did keep tabs on her, but I was not getting wrapped up in that family again while he was there. In a way, it was the best thing that happened to me because I found the MC. They, unlike my real family, protected me, encouraged me and in them, I found out what the word family actually means. Now I have Kat, and with her, I will create my own family.

I wanted to go see Emily when our mother died; she was gunned down in a robbery gone wrong. With my connections in the MC, I tracked down those responsible for her death and they paid with their lives.

I am on my bike and headed for town. If Emily is associated with this stranger, I need to know why.

I pull into the Compound and park my bike. I stalk across the lot and am headed into town when I see Fith about to climb on his bike.

“Fith! Thought you were given a job to do in town?” I growl at him.

He looks at his bike, then at me. He slowly walks towards me. “Hey Prez! Yeah, I was watching your sister but got into it with that fucker Sal. So, I asked Bear to keep an eye on her.”

“Sal?” I ask

He looks at me and nods; something flashes across his face that I can’t decipher. “Yeah, Salvatore Agostino, he’s a Captain in the Abruzzi Family.”

“How the fuck do you know that? Did he tell you?” I ask.

“I’ve seen him around, when I was with the East Coast Chapter. He’s a ruthless fucker, Prez.”

I stare at Fith and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was lying or nervous. He is loyal, he’s proved that, but I can see he’s got his bike all packed up for a ride and we don’t have one planned. Could he be scared of this Salvatore  Agostino?

“I can see you’re planning a ride but, man, you aren’t leaving town ‘cause some fucker with the Abruzzi Family has come to visit. So, unpack.” I motion towards his bike and he nods. “I’m going to find Emily and when I come back, you and I are going to have a sit down, yeah?”

“Ok, Prez. We’re good, yeah?” he asks.

“We’re good, man, so long as you don’t leave. You are an integral part of this MC and whatever this fucker wants we’ll sort it together.”

He nods at me and walks back into the clubhouse. Something’s not right.

“You ok, Dane?” Jonas has come to stand beside me.

“He was preparing to leave. He says the stranger is Salvatore Agostino, Captain in the Abruzzi Family. What would make Fith so scared that he’d pack up?”

I look at Jonas who responds, “Did he ask this Agostino who he was? I told him to watch, not interact.”

I look at Jonas quizzically. “No, he said he recognized him from earlier dealings when he was with the East Coast Chapter. Didn’t he mention it?”

“No, Fith was in the clubhouse when the guy came in and I sent him to keep an eye on him and Emily. He didn’t say anything about knowing him.”

I look at him then look back at the clubhouse and shake my head from side to side. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I run a hand over my face and through my hair. “Can you keep an eye on him while I go find Emily?”

“Yeah, Dane. But be careful, yeah?” He looks serious. I nod at him and head into Main Street.

I pull out my phone and dial Bear, who answers on the second ring. “Yo! Prez!”

“Hey Bear, you got eyes on my sister?” I say.

“Sure do, she’s still with that guy and they look cozy. They’re in Doc Jordan’s right now.”

“Cool, man. I’m on my way.” I hang up, put my phone into my jacket and walk towards my destination. Tourmaline has everything you could want. It’s not a big town but it has everything I need. I see Bear in the distance and I’m headed towards him when I see Emily step out onto the sidewalk, hand in hand with Salvatore Agostino. He stares at her like she’s the most amazing woman he’s ever met and she looks smitten too.

I close in on them and it’s as if he senses me; he turns and puts himself in front of Emily as he faces me. Then Bear walks up behind them and I see Agostino brace, trying to decide who the biggest threat is. I nod at Bear who stops advancing towards them. Then Agostino gives me his full attention. I see Emily trying to move around him but he has his arm out stopping her.

I stop when I am about three feet away from them. “Salvatore.” I nod at him. “You have someone behind you that belongs to me, to my family. I’d appreciate it if you moved so I could greet her.” I growl at him.

He looks me up and down and says, “She can greet you from where she is and she doesn’t belong to you.”

I look past him to Emily, who looks confused. “Hello, Emily. It’s been a long time, Sis.”

Agostino turns and looks at Emily and says, “You’re his sister?”

She stares at him then looks back to me and nods. Tears form in her eyes. I take a step towards her. “Em, I’m so sorry about Dad. You should have called.”

“What?” she says with a high‐pitched voice. “I should have called?” She takes a step towards me, bridging the gap between us. I am six foot six so I tower over her. “Do you know what I went through with him? Do you know how hard it was to watch him waste away? Writhing around in pain? I fucking needed you to be there for me!” she screams the last few words at me and begins to hit me with her fists. The pain is so raw in her eyes and tears stream down her face. She yells and hits me and I let her. Bear goes to move but I signal him to stay where he is. I glance at Salvatore and he looks shocked at Emily’s outburst. Then he places both his arms around her and takes a step back as he holds her against his body. He whispers to her in Italian, trying to soothe her.

“Em, I can see you’re in pain, I can see you are mad. I understand, but you have to know I cut my ties with Dad and Mom years ago. I always wanted to have a relationship with you, Em, but he would never allow it. You know how he was, Em. I thought you’d leave; I thought you’d come find me one day and you have.”

She stops flailing about and tears stream down her face as Salvatore continues to hold her. She stares at me with eyes full of pain and shakes her head from side to side.

“Why did you leave me?” she whispers. “Why didn’t you take me with you or come back for me? Why?” She turns away from me, burying her head into Salvatore’s chest.

He looks me in the eyes and tells me, “I will bring her to you when she has calmed down.”

“No, she belongs with me.”

He looks down into her eyes, seeking a response from her. She shakes her head and I hear her whisper, “No, Sal, please.”

It feels like someone winded me. My own blood doesn’t want to be with me. I can’t let her leave without speaking with her so I say, “Em, I know you’re mad, and you have every right to be. But, Em, you don’t know the full story. You were only seven or eight when I was thrown out. I have a lot to tell you, a lot to share. Please, Em, don’t leave until we’ve talked.”

Looking up at Salvatore she whispers to him, “Just not now. Give me a minute to get myself together.”

“Give me an hour,” he says, locking eyes with mine.

I concede and give her the time she needs. 

A voice from behind me pulls me away from the intensity of the moment and asks, “Is there a problem here?” It’s Sheriff Morales.

I turn to look at him and say, “No, Sheriff, we’re all good.”

He stares past me to my sister then he asks, “Ma’am, is he bothering you?”

She turns from Agostino’s embrace to face the Sheriff, finding his hand as she does. “No, I’m fine. It’s just that our father died and I’m...” her words trail off as fresh tears form in her eyes.

“Father?” The Sheriff looks from me to her and back again. “Sympathies to you both. Sorry, Dane, didn’t realize you had family.” I give a slight nod. He returns my gesture and continues on his way. But he stops about twelve feet away and spins back around. “Salvatore Agostino. Abruzzi crime family. What are you doing here?”