Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“So, why don’t you catch me up to speed and do it quickly?” Ivan rested his elbow on the arm of the couch, and then placed his head on the tips of his fingers. One leg was crossed over the other. He looked bored.
And Rage started to talk.
He already told me the details over the phone. One, Hank Belafonte had paid him a visit at the Evil Savages MC. They wanted to partner up, and according to Hank, he had backing. So far, those details were not new to me.
“He claimed the cartel are in on it,” Rage said.
“Well, the cartel would explain the girls from Ive’s territory. They have since been taken back, and are secured. As for the cartel, they have been attempting a takeover of this city, as well as many of my other cities, for many, many years. None of them have been successful.”
“Which is why they reached out to me.”
Ivan clucked his tongue. “No, they’re wanting power and numbers.” Ivan ran a finger across his lips. “I do find this interesting.”
“What do you find interesting?” Rage asked.
I needed whiskey.
Ivan was treating this like a game, and I didn’t have time for games. I had to squash Hank, Benjamin, and the cartel immediately. This was my fucking territory, and I wasn’t giving it up for anyone or anything.
“Well, I’ve had several run-ins with the cartel. It never ends well for them, but I didn’t take this city, nor any other city from them. Each territory I owned was controlled by someone else.” Ivan turned his gaze to me. “Do you remember who owned this territory before we took it?”
“The Irish,” I said.
“Exactly. They had deals in place with the cartel before, as well as the Italians and the Spanish, but it was the Irish who had the main control.” Ivan ran his hand down his thigh. “Hank Belafonte may think he’s working for the cartel, but there are bigger fish here, and the Irish have stayed strangely silent in all of this. Haven’t you noticed that?” Ivan asked.
I had noticed that, which was why I kept coming back to them. Everyone else had played their cards when it came to the rumor of Ivan’s death, but not the Irish.
Ivan clucked his tongue.
“So, Rage, were you tempted to sway your loyalty?” Ivan asked.
“You know I wouldn’t.”
“Charlotte is no longer your responsibility. She won’t pay for you or your club’s crimes. She is Volkov now.”
I looked toward Ivan and was surprised. I’m used to Ivan needing a lot more from the women than just a few words and a couple of meetings, but so far, that seemed to be all it had taken.
“I suggest we arrange a meeting with Hank Belafonte,” Ivan said. “I’d like to talk to him personally.”
****
Lottie
“Do you know why Rage has come?” I asked, watching the men disappear into Ive’s office.
“Work, what do you think? Something is going down, but I don’t have a clue.”
“You don’t?” This did surprise me. Cassie was used to people talking to her about all the comings and goings at the MC club.
“There have been a lot of changes. I know Rage had to prove so many times that he is fit to lead.”
“That’s always a risk. They’re loyal to Dad, right?”
Cassie shook her head. “No, that’s not even it. Rage cleaned shop after that bad shit went down. A lot of people didn’t like how Dad treated you, nor what he was doing to the club. Going against Ivan Volkov was a bad move. This is different. Ivan put Rage in place, but even though he was the VP, they needed to know he had what it took.”
“They all know he has what it takes.”
“We all know that, but now they’re making him work for it, and it’s kind of hard to watch.”
“He’s won, though, right?”
“Yeah, he has, but I don’t know, shit is going down. It’s kind of … scary, you know.”
“I get it.” Nibbling my lip, I look down at my lap and stare at the engagement ring and wedding band. A lot of stuff happened all the time.
“Hey, we’ve got to stop talking about the bad stuff,” Cassie said, reaching for my hand. “And tell me about the good stuff. You’re a married woman now, and I have to say, Ive is hot.”
This made me blush, I couldn’t help it.
Cassie giggled. “Come on, you have to tell me all about it. You have to tell me what he’s like in bed, or what it’s like being married to one of the most powerful men in the world.”
This made me laugh. “Ive Yahontov is not the most powerful man in the world.”
“But he is in your world, in our world. Come on, spill the details.”
There’s not a lot to spill. I wanted to laugh and giggle, and do the whole girly routine, but there was nothing for me to say, so I shrugged.