Page 51 of Kneeling to Candy

Prez mentioning Lorenzo’s brothel reminds me of the trauma my woman endured. My fists clench on top of the conference table, cracking under the pressure.

Always ready to be in my business, Ziggy sees the change in my demeanor. He subtly slides his chair closer to mine, possibly worried I’ll have an outburst and wanting to be near to stop it from happening. I ignore him, too pissed to care if he needs to be my bouncer.

Nothing misses the don’s attention. Piero cocks his head at me before turning back to Atlas. “Wouldn’t these questions be better asked of those who worked for my cousin?”

As if they have the same person in mind, Atlas and Piero focus on Tank on the other side of the table—a previous Bianchi mob security specialist under Lorenzo. Tank flipped to our side when he befriended Jo. He now works security for our MC and is one of two bodyguards for Prez’s wife.

The six-eight giant notices he’s being singled out. His blue eyes dart between Atlas and Piero, widening with alarm.

Tank shakes his big head, waving his hands—palms out in front of him. “No, no, no, no. Don’t ask me shit about Lorenzo’s flesh trade business dealings. My job was head of security in the underground casinos. I didn’t know a brothel existed, nor did I see Butch’s woman around Lorenzo.”

“Butch’s woman?” Piero muses aloud, his brows pinched together in confusion.

Tank points at me. “Yeah, Butch. His woman is Candy—an MC woman in our club.”

How fucking dare he!

I sit forward in my chair, ready to strangle the muscle head for bringing my woman into this conversation. I don’t give a shit how big the former marine is—the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

“Shut your damn hole, or I’ll do it for you,” I hiss at Tank, ready to jump across the table and make good on my threat.

My biker brother realizes his mistake. “Sorry, Butch,” Tank mutters, with chagrin.

Piero turns his quizzical gaze on me. “How was your Candy affiliated with my cousin?”

A growl rumbles in my chest, detest for Piero’s cousin surfacing. “Your shit-stain of a cousin trafficked my woman. Five goddamn years she suffered at his hand.”

Piero’s eyebrows rise to his hairline. He looks at Atlas with surprise. “You mean you have an inside source and you aren’t questioning her?”

Atlas mood darkens. His face hardens as he says, “Candy is off limits.”

Damn right she is!

“We don’t subject our women to questioning, especially when it involves their abusive past,” Gauge adds bitingly. The VP is probably thinking of what his wife went through. Back when her abuser was alive, questioning Opal about him would’ve set her back on her healing journey. Gauge seems to not want Candy to endure it either.

“She may have vital intel for our case,” Piero says, flabbergasted with our reasoning.

Atlas balks. “Our case?”

“Yes. Ours. You honestly think I’m not getting involved with this investigation when women are disappearing from my city under my watch? What does that say to others scouting my territory? That I’m a doormat to be taken advantage of? If I don’t intervene, I’ll have other crime syndicates breathing down my neck. I have no choice but to be involved.”

Piero turns to his bodyguard on his right. “Tell Angelo to clear my schedule for the week. I’m needed here.”

“Yes, Boss,” the bodyguard says with a slight bow of his head, pulling out his phone to call Piero’s personal assistant.

“Now wait a goddamn minute,” Atlas interjects. “You can’t get involved with our investigation, Piero. You could compromise our position.”

“Compromise it how? As far as everyone in law enforcement and the underworld is concerned, I’m a dirty crook. I may as well play the part to figure out who’s behind abducting people in our state. My position could help your team penetrate circles otherwise inaccessible to your crew.”

“He’s got a point,” Gauge murmurs to Atlas. “We could get in faster with his connections.”

The don agrees, nodding. “You pulled me into this mess when you questioned me. I’m here now. Let me work my magic. I’ll put out some feelers and see who bites.”

Atlas scowls but doesn’t dismiss Piero’s involvement again.

“You would be foolish not to ask Butch’s woman what she knows,” Piero insists.

“Not my place,” Atlas says sternly to the don before turning to me with a deadpan stare.

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