Page 36 of Saving You Losing Me

“And Riley?”

Diesel pitches in. “Apparently, he uses D’Angelo to collect his debts. Not officially, but Dan told me he was working late one night and Emilio pushed past him into the back office and left Dan’s boss with a broken nose and half his weekly takings.’

“I heard he was into security and imports.” Billy adds. “We all know what that means.”

“Drugs and intimidation, probably prostitution. So Santobello is in the mob.”

I stare at them thoughtfully. “We must do some digging and discover exactly what Charles and Michael Santobello are involved in. Any ideas?”

“Google?” Diesel grins and we laugh out loud, the earlier tension lessening slightly.

“I doubt even Google is up to speed on their business.” I shrug. “Keep your eyes and ears open. I don’t trust any of them and if shit does go down, it won’t work in our favor.”

We chuck back more coffee than the human body can stand. Drinking and driving is not an option for any of us; the risks of losing our licenses, paying hefty fines, or even facing jail time are simply too high, especially when we’re just starting out.

My mind is focused on setting up my club and business with my woman by my side and the moment I have them within easy reach, some creep comes to town and threatens to derail my best laid plans.

It will happen over his dead body.

A few hours later,I collect Clara from Joes and my heart settles when I’m greeted with a huge smile on her face.

“I missed you.” She slides in front of me on the bike and kisses me deeply, not caring who sees us. I’m not complaining and as we make out in full view of Easy Joes, I don’t give a fuck who is watching either. She pulls back and her flushed skin and bright eyes bring a smile to my face and I whisper, “I named my club after you.”

Her eyes widen. “I don’t understand.”

“The Dark Angels.”

I rest my forehead against hers and whisper huskily, “When I first saw you, it was the only way to describe you. You had dark thick curls that framed the most beautiful face I had ever seen along with the face of a goddess. You were my dark angel, and I knew I only wanted you.”

“No you didn’t.”

She blushes and I ease my thumb down her face and across her lips and say hoarsely, “You were so innocent, with a dark edge to your soul. I loved the furious way you glanced at any guy who called out and the dismissive toss of your head when they approached and the cutting stare you directed their way if they dared to speak to you. You were an ice princess, but so beautiful it blinded me to anyone else. I fell in love with you the moment I saw you; the dark angel who captured my heart.”

“Atom.” Her eyes shine with tears and the soft expression of love she directs my way crushes my heart in a vise. She touches my lips lightly and the scent of flowers from her perfume fills my senses as she kisses me softly, lovingly and it’s as if I’m dreaming. She pulls back and whispers, “When I first saw you, I had to keep staring. Not that I made it obvious, of course.”

Her loaded wink causes me to chuckle softly. “You were so dangerous even back then. Unlike any of the guys that surrounded me in my friendship group. You were a bad boy inyour battered leather jacket with your unruly hair. Your dark eyes burned with sexy intention, and I couldn’t breathe when you were around. I wanted you even when it was impossible and I listened out for any evidence you had your eyes on one of the girls. I never did, which fascinated me because you had your choice of any girl in the school.”

She inches closer. “My friends are jealous, even now.”

“You told them?”

I raise my eyes and she grins an impish smile.

“Of course. I’m hiding nothing because I am proud to ride with you, Atom, in every sense of the word.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” I wink and she nods, lust blazing from her eyes as she swings behind me and clutches me tightly. “Ride hard Atom because we are wasting time.”

“Any time spent with you, no matter how much or how little, is worth days of time with anyone else.”

She rewards me with a gentle kiss on the back of my neck and the time for talking is gone. She’s right. We’re wasting time and if I wasn’t in such a rush to drag her to my bed, I would stop and have a word with the driver of the black SUV who has been photographing us for the last five minutes.

CHAPTER 19

CLARA

Atom finally drops me home after ten, and as I head through the door, my father is waiting.

His expression is furious and his eyes flash as he hisses through gritted teeth, “You have some explaining to do.”

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