Page 73 of Declan's Dove

“And no one ever reported this fuck?” Mack growls. “Who the hell is he that the law he works for won’t even reprimand him? He’s meant to protect and serve, not abuse and torture.”

“Easy, Mack,” Gabe urges. “He’ll get his dues, but first we need to make sure Violet and the kid are safe and taken care of.”

“I’ve got that covered,” I assure them.

Gabe smiles at me. “I’m sure you do, but they’re family now, which means she’ll be getting a whole lot more than just your big ass watching over her.”

The room fills with chuckles and whispered comments.

“So, what do we know about the guy who broke in?” I turn the conversation back to Hawk. I need to know who I’m hunting.

“Not much. He seems more like a stalker or admirer than a robber. He was touching her things like they were precious to him. Smelling her perfume. Sniffing her undergarments.” A deep growl rumbles in my chest.

“Looks like I’m killing two fuckers.” I mean to say it to myself, but Caleb hears me and chuckles.

“How about we don’t start counting body bags just yet, huh? You might scare the poor girl away if she sees this side of you too soon,” he says.

“She could try to run. But I’d find her ass and drag her back,” I tell him, my voice like steel. “I’m not letting them go. Violet and Carter are mine. End of.”

“Is there anyone else who could be looking for her? What about the bikers from Baron’s Edge? Do we have an ID on them yet?” Gabe’s putting it all out there for my brothers. All the shit I’ve been keeping to myself. I can feel the air thicken as they all stare at me for explanations. We’ve had a lot of secrets come to light here lately, and I’m sure finding out I’ve been keeping shit to myself will not go over well.

“Fuck.” I breathe. “I don’t have a definite answer, no, but I have an idea.”

“Go on, share with the class,” Jameson taunts.

“Violet said Swanson was working for someone else. Someone higher up. They wanted to frame Parisi to get him out of the way. Then Violet’s doctor friend and Kayce were working to shut down a trafficking ring. Kayce intercepts cargo containers full of women and young children, and the doctor helps fix them up and get them settled,” I explain. “A group of bikers roughed up the doctor to send a message to Kayce to stop fucking with their business.”

“And you think this is all connected … how?” Ethan asks, his eyes bouncing between me and Pres. Pres nods, giving me the go ahead to voice what we’ve discussed.

“I think it’s all connected to Marco Cusenza.” No sooner do the words leave my mouth, the room erupts in people shouting.

“Fuck!”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

“How? What’s the connection?”

Everyone’s voices sound off at the same time with questions and curses, all pissed off and ready to tear shit apart.

Gabe slams the gavel against the table shouting at everyone, “Calm the fuck down.”

We’re all settling back into our seats when Pres’s phone rings. He pulls it from his pocket and checks the screen. Normally we wouldn’t pay attention to our phones in church, but with everyone on high alert and Thomas on the loose, it could be one of the prospects or Garrison with pertinent information.

Gabe puts the call on speaker.

“Yeah,” He answers.

“Gabriel.” Vincenzo Parisi’s voice comes over the line and everyone in the room goes still.

“Speak of the devil and he will appear,” Hawk mumbles quietly. Gabe glares at him, telling him to shut up. Hawk shrugs, not fazed by Gabe’s irritation.

“Vincenzo,” Gabe says, his tone flat. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Vincenzo chuckles on the line. “Hmm. Not sure you would consider a call from me a pleasure, but I figured since you were less than pleased last time I came to see you and didn’t announce my intentions, I would give you the slight courtesy this time.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m going to be at your gate in five minutes. Instruct your men to let me through. We have important matters to discuss.” That’s all he says, then hangs up.

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