Page 1 of Clover

Chapter 1

Phoenix

If I could scoop out Braxton Shaw's eyes with a spoon and feed them to him, I would. But I can't, so I don't. Instead, I have to allow him to treat me like his little lackey boy and make his oh so fucking precious delivery for him. I would so much rather be with Clover instead. Yet here I am in my truck with Zander driving two large duffle bags full of whatever the fuck pills Braxton put in them to Marco's. The restaurant is run by Marco Valentino III, one of the higher-up dealers in our organization. We've dealt with him before. He's not that bad, little on the sleazy side, but most dealers are.

When Braxton showed up in town over a week ago, I knew he would stir shit up. I wasn't expecting him to stir shit up with Clover. Fucking with my family and me, making us run his little errands—Sure. Hitting on my girl? Never in a fucking million years did I expect to be defending the woman that's slipped in through the cracks in my heart. The strong, quick-mouthed woman I fucking love. Yeah, I love her, and I admit it. Now, if I could only find the balls to tell her. I can run into a gun fight with a dozen coked-up wolverines in a burning explosives factory and not be afraid. Telling the girl, I love my feelings? Utterly. Fucking. Terrifying.

The last month or so she's been living with me has been eye-opening, to say the least. Clover has ruined me for all other women. I want no one and nothing but her. To be honest, it's a little distracting when I'm working. Like now, as I'm driving, I normally think about security issues, cops, possible setups, etc. Instead, I'm thinking of what position I want to fuck my girl in tonight and tomorrow. Possibly what I'll make her for breakfast. How much I enjoyed tattooing her and how I can't wait to do it again. See? Fucking distracting. And yet I can't bring myself to give a goddamn shit about anything else.

Except for her safety and what I'll do to Braxton if he tries anything. It would make the decision easier for me if he did try something because then I would have every reason in the world to fuck up his stupid cocky face. If he did try something, though, that might hurt Clover, and I don't want that, but I so want to fuck up Braxton.Shit.This is confusing. I want him to—I don't want him to. Damn it, emotions are so fucking confusing.

"You’re awfully quiet over there,” Zander calls, pulling my attention to his presence in the passenger seat. I guess I had zoned out a little bit thinking about Clover.

“I just want to get this delivery done, is all.”

“So, you can get back to Clover?”

“What? No, that’s not it. She just needs to have one of us around right now while Braxton is still lurking around town.”

“Sure. And I’m a prima ballerina. That’s not the only reason, cuz, and you know it.”

Of course, there are other reasons, but the only people who know about those are Magnus and Arrow. Pretty sure Beau knows, as well. Neither Clover, nor I, have out right told him, but he knows. It is too obvious for him not to. Zander is a good guy; he did see me carry her out of the club, and I’m sure he would love to hear that I am going steady with one woman. The whole family would love to hear that. I just can’t tell them all, not yet. Clover and me, it’s all still too new. We haven’t talked about what we are. Being a lifelong bachelor, I don’t really know how to proceed from this point. Plus, most of my focus has been on keeping dick head Braxton away from her.Andgetting into her pants as often as possible.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lie.

“Sure, you don’t. That’s why you carried her out of the club like a caveman. Why you watch her like a hawk at the bar, and why I haven’t seen you with any other woman in at least a month.”

“My sex life is none of your concern, Zander.” Since when did he watch me so carefully? Are they all watching me? Were they always watching me? Should I be concerned or flattered?

“It used to be everyone’s business. You never cared who knew about your sexual conquests before. Not until Clover moved in.”

I grunt in response. Not wanting to admit he’s right. Before, I never cared who knew about all the chicks I fucked. It never mattered because I only ever took a woman home once. None of them meant anything to me. They never did, but now when a woman throws herself into my line of sight trying to catch my attention, I don’t even notice. I only ever notice Clover. My hunger is something only she can satisfy.

“So, what’s it to you?” I honestly want to know now.

“I just want you to know that we all love Clover and completely approve of you and her. She’s a great girl, and everyone would love for you to stop whoring around and be with one woman.”

“Gee, thanks, Pop. I’m so glad you approve. I didn’t know the whole family had a meeting regarding my sex life. Maybe next time, you can invite me, and I can offer up some explicit details for discussion.”

“Joke all you want, Nix, but we can all see how much she’s changed you. We’re all happy for you. Clover is amazing, and even though you may think otherwise, you do deserve her. You deserve to be happy.”

“No, I don’t.” The words are barely audible. My family thinks way too highly of me. I don’t deserve Clover. She’s too good, too perfect. Yet, I can’t stop myself from having her. She’s mine, and I’m hers. I can only hope that she accepts me for who I am because there’s nothing in this world I want more than her. She is my hope for the future.

“Yes, you do, Nix. You’re a good man, even if you are a stubborn ass. I have a feeling if there’s any woman in the whole fucking universe who can handle you, it’s Clover.”

“Huh. Thanks, Z.” My cousin’s praise of my relationship with Clover warms my heart. Knowing my family hasn’t completely given up on me finding someone means I’m not a complete lost cause.

Zander simply grins and nods at me. He knows he’s not going to get anything else out of me tonight. I am, as he said, a stubborn ass.

We arrive at Marco’s restaurant, and I pull my vintage powder blue chevy pickup around back and park near the rear entrance. Pulling the two duffle bags from the hidden compartment in the bed, we each carry one toward the building. Although it’s prime dinner time, the parking lot of the restaurant is oddly empty. Only a few cars sit quietly in the lot.

Entering through the back entrance, used mainly for kitchen staff, it’s just as quiet on the inside as on the out. Strange, I would have thought they would be bustling at this time of night. Marco’s is usually a pretty popular restaurant. Perhaps they shut down for the night. Just for this delivery? Seems a little overkill, if you ask me. But it’s not my business to run. Not my choice to make.

Situated in the back of the building is a minimally furnished office where we find Marco sitting behind his large wooden desk. Four of his men stand around the room, acting nonchalant. Relaxing on the small couch or leaning against the wall. They don’t seem to be doing anything in particular other than waiting for our arrival.

Shooting a quick glance to Zander, he too has noticed the men and their apparent indifference. Which is a big fucking red flag in my book. Whenever a person is acting too uninterested, it usually means they areveryinterested. We both know to keep our eyes peeled for any movement from them at this point. Because the only way anyone can get a jump on us is by outnumbering us. One on one, these fuckers would go down like flies. Even two or three on one, we can mostly handle ourselves. That doesn’t mean I’d like to test my theory of who has the faster draw.

“Phoenix, Zander. So good to see you, boys, again,” Marco greets us without standing.

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