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— GRACY —
Loud cheers cause me to stare at the floor all shy as my hands fiddle with the leather of the cut I’m wearing. A squeal rips from my throat when I’m being grabbed and lifted into the air.
“Look at that, pretty girl, you’re officially off-limits with this cut showing everyone who you belong to,” Yates bellows loud as he places my feet back on the floor.
“Then why are your fucking hands all over my woman?” Eddie growls and it makes me smile.
“Because she’s ours to protect too, Pres,” Yates says and he smacks him on the back.
“Congrats man, babies are the next step, you know that, right? Knock her up so she’s slow and easy to catch if she runs off.”
Eddie grabs Yates’ cut. “Knocked up or not, she’s not running, not now, not ever.”
“Overbearing weirdos,” I mutter to myself and check my watch.
Normally I’d go to my boat a few times a week but if I won’t be there for a long time, I make sure to double check everything and lock up properly. I’m positive I didn’t double check and lock everything up the last time I left, when Eddie was with me. My mind was occupied with other things at the time. I’m not even sure if I locked up at all.
“When does Clemente get here? I really need to check my boat. Maybe I could go to and from the marina myself real quick. I’ll be back within half an hour.”
This gets me a stare from all the guys around me as if I’m the insane one.
“What?” I question.
“Rush is still out there, even if Clemente has eyes on him. You can’t head out by yourself without protection,” Eddie says and is now checking the time himself. “We will go together. I’m expecting him within half an hour so we would have to leave now and put a rush on it.”
“Want me to tag along?” Yates asks.
“Nah, stay here and keep Clemente busy if he’s early. We’ll be right back,” Eddie says as he places his hand on my lower back to usher me out of the clubhouse.
It’s a quick ten-minute drive to the marina and when I step onto the boat I immediately feel something is off. The smell of gasoline enters my nose and I’m about to turn and tell Eddie, but a guy appears behind him, smacking him on his head with the butt of a gun and knocking him out as he crumbles onto the deck.
“Don’t move,” the guy grunts and I recognize him as Maxton, one of the guys who is working with Rush.
When Eddie was visiting Clemente, Rooney showed me pictures of all the guys and told me their names. He also mentioned Maxton, Banjo, and Den, pointing them out to me to make sure I’d stay away if I ever saw them. I guess it’s too late now.
“Get off the boat, and no sudden moves,” the other guy standing next to him says and I recognize him as Banjo.
Are Den and Rush somewhere too? No, wait, didn’t Eddie mention something about Clemente having eyes on Rush? My mind is trying to comprehend what’s going on while all I can think about is Eddie, how hard did that asshole hit him? He passed out, that’s bad, right?
“Move, cunt!” Maxton snaps and grabs me by my cut to drag me off the boat.
I try to kick and scream but Banjo places the gun against my forehead and says, “Maxton and Rush might think you’re worth more alive, but make no mistake, I have a trigger-happy finger and would love to see you headbutt a bullet. Now calm down and be a good cunt. We’re all going to take a little drive together.”
“Not all of us, Banjo,” Maxton chuckles and aims his gun toward my boat, fires once and makes the whole thing instantly blow up in flames.
“Nooooooo!” I scream with my whole heart.
This can’t be happening. I just found the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with. There’s no coming back from being in a sea of flames. My whole boat is gone. I couldn’t care less about the boat, but Eddie is irreplaceable. I feel as if my heart was just ripped out of my chest and I can’t breathe.
Another cry rips from my mouth and Maxton smacks a flat hand across my face, making me taste my own blood. I don’t care about the blood or the taste. I don’t even care if Banjo tries to make me headbutt a damn bullet, I want them to feel the pain coursing through my body.
Both assholes are smiling at the sky-high flames as I simultaneously kick Maxton and give Banjo a shove. Neither of them are expecting me to lash out as they stumble back. I try to think of what to do next when suddenly Eddie launches out from the water, grabs Maxton by his leg and takes him back into the water with him.
They disappear underneath the surface together. I rush over to see what’s happening but Banjo grabs me, wraps his arm around my neck, and aims his gun at the place Eddie and Maxton just disappeared into.
He fires off two rounds and I elbow the idiot in the stomach. “Stop it, you could shoot either one, you idiot.”
“I don’t fucking care, it’s Eddie. If he’s still alive then Maxton is dead by now. Don’t you fucking get it? It’s the whole reason Rush put him in jail, because no one could get close enough to kill the fucker. His defense is always up at every turn, the asshole has eyes in his fucking back and can fight like a motherfucker.”
There’s a grunt and a snap and Banjo’s body falls away from behind me. There’s a splash and when I turn, I see Banjo’s body disappear underneath the water. Eddie kicks the gun that fell onto the dock into the water and holds out his hand for me to take.
“We need to get out of here,” he grunts, water dripping everywhere.
I don’t think twice, grab his hand and follow him as he drags me to my car. He opens the trunk and kicks off his boots and throws them in the back along with his clothes until he’s only wearing his boxers. I take out Finn’s blanket I have on the backseat and give it a shake before folding it and placing it onto the passenger seat.
I get in behind the wheel and head for the clubhouse. There are no words exchanged but our fingers are laced and resting on my thigh. I need to feel him close, make sure he’s still alive and here with me.
Yates comes rushing out of the clubhouse once we’re opening the trunk. Eddie grabs his stuff and grumbles, “Don’t fucking ask.”
Yates looks stunned for a moment and glances at me, mouthing silently, “What happened?”
“Maxton and Banjo set my damn boat on fire and tried to kill Eddie along with it. They made a mistake, though, and it proves how brainless they are when even Banjo told me how Rush put Eddie in prison because no one could get close enough to kill him. But I guess we’re lucky they’re brainless because those idiots smacked him on the head with their gun instead of shooting him. They knocked Eddie out and then left him on the boat and set fire to it as they dragged me off. I mean seriously, if they know Eddie is the all-time greatest Unruly Defender...make sure he’s dead or he’ll make sure he’s the last one to strike. You can’t give that man an inch because as long as he’s breathing, he will keep fighting for what he believes is the right thing to do,” I tell Yates angrily.
“So, Maxton and Banjo are...” he trails off and raises his eyebrow at me in a request for me to finish the sentence.
“Swimming with the fishes,” I snap. “Fish food. History. Another item crossed off the to-do list. Whatever.”
I turn to head into the clubhouse but Eddie is standing in the doorway wearing a huge proud smile as he’s watching me intently.
I put my hands on my hips and glare at him. “What are you smiling about? Go take a shower and put on some clothes because Clemente is coming over and we’re not done handling things yet.”
“My woman is bloodthirsty and I like it.” Eddie grins.
I huff out a breath and murmur, “Well, you go and watch your boat being swallowed by flames, thinking the person you saw yourself spending the rest of your life with go up in a ball of fire instead, see how your state of mind can fart out sunshine and roses because all I can think of is getting even and wiping those fuckers off the face of the Earth.”
Eddie slowly shakes his head. “My circumstances might have been different, and I’ve had a twisted time-out and walked back into this life with my mind set on revenge. Yet all I was thinking when I hit the water a few seconds before the boat was swallowed by flames was the fact that my only reason for living was you. I had to live and fight for you. Yes, justice needs to prevail, but fuck...not if it costs me my life or yours, Gracy. My heart might be beating on its own but you’re the one holding it.”
Yates whistles low. “That’s some romantic shit right there. I need to remember that when I get myself an old lady.”
“I hope I’ll be there to ruin the moment like you’re butting into ours,” I growl.
Yates raises his eyebrows and glances at Eddie. “Your woman stays vicious when danger has been thrown her way.”
“You have no idea,” Eddie says proudly. “Now, as she ordered, I need a shower and a fresh set of clothes.” He turns on his heels and heads into the clubhouse, leaving me and Yates to follow him.
Yates heads for the bar and pours me a glass of rosé and places it in front of me. “Here you go, sweets, you’ve earned it.”
I don’t even care what time it is, it’s wine o’clock in my book because I need it to take the edge off. Yates glances over my shoulder and walks away from the bar. I follow his movement and see he’s opening the gates with a remote to let a limo inside. A moment later Clemente strolls into the clubhouse.
Yates smacks him on the back. “If there ever was any doubt, there’s none now. Your sister here has the thirst for blood running through her veins and from the stuff I’ve heard? She’s handling it like a damn pro. You should be fucking proud. Hell, I’m proud.”
“What the hell happened?” Clemente snaps and he’s standing in front of me before I can so much as blink. “Are you okay?”
“She’s fine, a little shaken-up maybe, but she’s strong,” Eddie says as his arm sneaks around my waist from behind and places a kiss on the top of my head.
His freshly showered scent along with his aftershave—sandalwood and cinnamon, along with a hint of citrus—wrap around me, making me lean into his touch. I wish all of this was behind us so we could finally do some normal things like go out to dinner or a movie.
Clemente watches me with hawk eyes before they slide back to Eddie. “Did you want to bring her along?”
“Everything is set? Handled? The part where you needed to contact your uncle about too?” Eddie questions.
Clemente winces and it’s actually the first time I’ve seen him do this. I reach out and this time I’m the one who’s asking, “Are you okay?”
“Other than the fact I’m suddenly engaged to be married, yes, all dandy.” Clemente rubs a hand over his mouth before he drops it and his face is back to its familiar all business look. “A business deal, nothing I can’t handle.”
I feel my eyes widen. Did he just say? He can’t be serious. “Are you telling me you struck a deal and your end was to marry some girl you don’t even know? What the hell, Clemente? You can’t be serious. Your own father didn’t pressure you into this part of the family traditions. You know what happened to our father and my mother.”
Clemente shrugs. “This is different. I don’t do love and it was necessary. Besides, my uncle values the tradition and so do all others of the familia. I’m the head of this familia now Gracy, I can’t ignore my responsibilities. Besides, from what I’ve heard she’s supposed to be the beauty of Italy, she’s going to look pretty on my arm.”
“She’s going to look...are you insane?” I screech and jab a finger against his chest. “Do I need to rip your brains out through your nose to check your sanity?”
His left eyebrow raises and his attention goes to Yates. “Thirst for blood and brains, eh?”
Yates grins. “She’s an Unruly Defenders’ old lady, you can’t blame her for standing up for your future wife.”
“You can pick her up from the airport in two weeks when she arrives. I was going to send the limo but maybe it’s better if you—”
I cut him right off and huff, “You didn’t just say that.” I close my eyes for a brief moment and take a gulp of air to calm down. “Please don’t tell me you’re that guy. You know, the one who’s a gloating, self-absorbed dick who is so damn impersonal that he sends a freaking limo to pick up his future wife to let her arrive all by herself to marry your insane, self-absorbed ass. Oh. My. God. Are we seriously related? Because if we are, we are going to have to spend a lot of time together so I can give you some proper advice on how to unjerk yourself, mister.”
Laughter rings out around me and I have to shoot a glare around the clubhouse because this shit isn’t funny. An arranged marriage? I can’t begin to imagine what this woman might be thinking or what she’s in for.
Clemente has always been sweet, kind, and caring to me but I’ve also seen the coldness his eyes can hold. And let’s not forget the fact he’s the head of the familia. Talk about a lot of responsibility, stress, and a status to uphold.
“I agree to have you around me a lot more, Gracy,” Clemente says, affection wrapping around each word. “It’s why I suggested you pick her up at the airport but clearly I’m going with you. But I want her to feel welcome and I hope having you with me will put her at ease in some way.”
“Nice save,” I mutter and gulp down the rest of my rosé. “And what was that about bringing me along? To do what exactly?”
“Front row seat of Rush getting arrested for murder, among other things,” Clemente casually throws out.
“Murder? He’s finally going to get arrested for killing Eddie’s father and his own? You guys leaked the evidence that implies he’s behind all of it and how those men’s death wasn’t an accident at all?” Excitement fills my veins. Finally, there’s light at the end of the tunnel to put an end to all of this.
Clemente is about to say something but Eddie’s voice thunders from behind me, “Maybe it’s best she stays here, and we need to be going, right?”
Clemente tilts his head slightly and I can see a nerve twitch underneath his left eye as he stares at Eddie. What’s that about?
“We’re going, but she’s coming with us,” Clemente states.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Eddie starts.
“It’s not up to you, it’s my decision. She’s my sister and I’m telling you she’s coming with us.”
Okay, then. I guess I’m about to find out what’s going to happen next.
