Page 55 of Ruin

He was mine.

Chapter Fifteen

Wolf

It wasn’t protocol, but I no longer cared what my uncles thought. So Ruin walked beside me into the meeting that consisted of close cousins who oversaw the guns and drugs trade for me, and my two uncles. All men, of course.

Even if they hated Ruin was there, he would stay. I needed him close. He was my air in that moment and probably many more to come.

“What is the meaning of this?” Jiro demanded as he stood, his sons at his back. “He should not be in here.”

I didn’t reply until I was at the head of the table. “I don’t have to explain my ways to you, Jiro,” I told him. I stayed standing, eyeing the others around me. My cousins, who had moved to Australia because my aunts had wanted a better life for them, didn’t waver from my gaze. It was only my uncles who refused to keep my eyes. “As most of you would have heard already, my father passed early this morning. The funeral will take place in three days. I hope you will give the respect to my mother, sister, and me to take those days to mourn his loss.”

They didn’t need to know, but I had already grieved, so wouldn’t need more time. I refused to let any more hurt take hold of me over that man. But my mother would need it. She would want peace until the time came for the funeral without any family dramas arising.

“Kick him out, and I won’t cause any trouble,” Jiro snarled, crossing his arms over his chest.

“No,” I stated. “I am tired of you trying to give me orders, Jiro. This is your last warning.”

Jiro laughed. “My last warning?”

“That is what I said.”

“Jiro.” Akio stood. “Now is not the time. Our brother just passed. Have some respect.”

“Respect?” Jiro spat. “The family head should have some respect and not dishonour us by bringing his whore into afamilymeeting.”

Josh chuckled beside me as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Jiro’s gaze snapped to him. “Get out. Get the fuck out, now.”

Josh laughed once again. “You ever think you’re against men who like men because deep down you do?”

Shit. If I didn’t think Jiro would kill Josh for those words, I would have laughed, but I feared for Josh’s life. I placed a hand on Josh’s shoulder, but Jiro pulled a gun before I could say anything.

“No one disrespects me, especially not scum like you.”

Josh quickly flicked his arm out, his own gun raised and pointed at Jiro. “I’m gettin’ tired of you, old man.”

“You cannot shoot me,” Jiro said with a smirk.

“He can, if I give him permission to,” I added. “But for now, I want everyone to behave. Father just passed; did you have no respect for him?” I demanded.

Jiro ground his teeth together and lowered his weapon. “Your time to rule is coming to an end.”

“That a threat?” Josh snarled, clicking off the safety.

I moved my hand down to Josh’s arm and squeezed, but he either ignored it or didn’t feel it beneath the anger I saw burning in his eyes.

“You better rethink everythin’, old man, because it seems you’re forgettin’ your place and who backs Wolf. Not only does he have his men, but now he has the Hawks MC, and we don’t let anyone fuck with us.”

My heart gave a hard thunk in my chest. Josh offered his brothers as protection, and I knew he would call them if he thought I wasn’t safe. Emotions tightened inside me.

But didn’t the fool know I would do the same for him? I would protect him with anything and everything I had. Even from my own family. The Hawks MC was a clean club; my family wasn’t. Did he understand that? Did he know that being at my side could make him dirty by association? It was something I needed to make sure he understood.

But then, if I did, would I lose him?

Was it a risk I could take?

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