Page 117 of Full Throttle

Always had been, ever since she stepped foot into this city. I gave him a single nod. “Anyone who fucks with her fucks with me.”

“And vice versa,” Nik added.

I looked down to her, my nostrils flaring.

“Fucking hell.”

We both looked back to our family to find Dean pulling out his wallet as he walked over to Leon, slapping a few bills into the street racer’s open hand. Dontell muttered something, doing the same. When that was done, Leon counted the bills with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Pleasure, gentlemen,” he muttered as he tucked the money into his wallet before putting it in his back pocket.

“You bet on us?” Nik asked in disbelief, her voice soft.

His eyes landed on hers. “From the minute you rode into Oasis, sweetheart.” Then his eyes landed on me, and he gave me a single nod.

That’s all he had to do.

He understood me, and I, him.

Dontell moved then, coming up to Nik. She held his dark gaze for a few seconds, still holding my hand. “That’s not all the protection you have now. Remember that, Nikki,” he told her, his voice soft but firm.

He was talking about Oasis and the Crew.

“I know,” she rasped. “Right back at ya.”

D’s face transformed as he gave her a wide smile before looking at me. “You have our protection too, pretty boy, but if you hurt my girl, I get to break that handsome face.”

I nodded, concealing my smirk. “Understood.”

He shot us both a wink as Mina came to join him. She looked at Nik for a second before focusing on me, her cinnamon eyes gleaming with pride. “You couldn’t help yourself, could you?”

I raised a brow and tipped my head to her man. “You’re one to talk.”

She smiled and looked at Nik, jerking her thumb to me. “I’m happy he got his head out of his ass.”

My clover girl started laughing, Mina joining her. Dontell and I shared a look.

“Don’t fucking ask me,” he muttered, turning her to the table.

My hand tightened around Nik’s, and we followed.

There was no turning back now.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nikki

“Your brother will meet you in Seattle,” Collin said.

We’d just taken our seats after spending the last few minutes having everyone congratulate us. Then, we got the run down on everything that’s happening.

Dean and Gwen’s daughter was doing well at home until this shit was done.

Ex-Mayor Gellings was sentenced to life in prison, having had a speedy trail. Watterson’s trial was still ongoing. For the last week, Amara, with Agent Roosevelt, had been bouncing back and forth between the courthouse, the hospital where Officer Bryce was, and the rehabilitation center where Carrie Hale, the mayor’s daughter, was. There was no change in Bryce’s condition, but his rock star brother hadn’t left his side in over a month, canceling tour dates and refunding tickets. Carrie Hale was the same as well, not wanting to eat or drink—not wanting to live. No one could blame her, not after the nightmare she’d lived.

Dontell had successfully transferred all of Oasis’ assets to different banks, including multiple offshore accounts. He started this process months ago after Nik’s attack and finally completed the process earlier today after leaving Ivan to die. The process had to be slow and inconspicuous for the protection of everyone here. Oasis stopped all transport of guns and drugs in January, and until this was over, business was put on hold. The assets we had in the accounts were all we had—for now.

Collin and his men were spread out all over the country, taking out various members of the Bratva. His men were on the ground and slithering their way into Kavi’s local watering holes. With Ivan out of the way, the Bratva’s ranks were scrambling. According to the Mafia leader, we had thirty Bratvas in some brothel in Moscow, waiting the kill order.

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