Page 23 of Saint
Without another word, she guided Oya through the crowds of brothers and club whores to the back patio. I’d already explained before we got here the things she might see. But I saw herlooking around at all the shit the boys were involved in, and I have no doubt we’d have a long conversation about it when we left. It was just another day at the clubhouse. Half-naked women. People fucking, drinking, and smoking. It was the usual thing that happened here. It was something she’d be around whenever we were here, and I’d be around when here alone. I thought she could handle it, but it would take some time to get used to.
When they stepped outside and closed the door behind them, I pushed open the door to King’s office. I didn’t know what to expect but it wasn’t this. He was going berserk. Right at that moment realization hit me. Alana Robinson meant a hell of a lot to my big brother probably more than he knew. We didn’t get along. It had been a long time since we understood each other but watching him destroy his office because of a woman told me all I needed to know about the impact she had on him.
“HEY! Dylan!”
He was so enraged he didn’t even know I’d come into the room. When he looked up at me, he tossed the binder in his hand on the desk, then dropped into the chair.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked, picking up some of his papers from the floor and tossing them on the desk in front of him. “We can hear you two yelling through the whole damn clubhouse.”
“She’s driving me fucking nuts.” He ran his hand through his hair. “She’s trying to get herself fucking killed.”
I sighed and sat in the only chair he hadn’t broken. “This about her disappearing?”
My fucking heart sunk when I realized Alana had slipped out the back exit that some of my celebrity clients used whenever they were at the shop. No one had come in and taken her so that left the only other option– she slipped out the back of her own free will.
I was mad as hell. And my brother had every right to be furious too. She was under our protection, and no one had any clue what happened to her. Leaving me with no other choice but to call King and let him know she was missing.
“It’s more than that. She met with Messina’s brother.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding.”
No wonder he was losing his shit. If Oya went to meet with her ex-husband and I knew absolutely nothing about it, I’d lose my fucking mind. I’d tear this city apart looking for her because the men both these women were dealing with were dangerous, whether they recognized the threat or not.
“I wish I was.”
“What the hell was she thinking?”
I couldn’t imagine why she thought anything good would come from putting herself in danger. If anything would have happened to her, she would have started a war between the mafia and the Sinners. Many people would have died or ended up in jail.
“I have no fucking clue. He wants to use her as bait.”
“Bait?”
“So, he can kill his brother.”
“And she actually believes him?” I scoffed, shaking my head. “If it’s true, that’s one fucked up family.”
We had a fucked-up family. And as much as I bumped heads with both my brothers there was no way in hell, I’d ever harm them. I’d die for them before I killed them.
“Tell me about it.” He sighed. “I’m so ready for all this shit to be over. I’m getting too old for all this bullshit.”
He leaned back in his chair, then propped his feet up on his desk. This was the first time in a long time, I’d seen my brother stressed the fuck out over this club. He ran it with an iron fist, and it seemed to come naturally. I’d never seen him lose hisshit like this until today. I guessed that was what a man in love looked like when his woman put everyone else’s safety above their own.
“We got to deal with Savage Order, possibly your woman’s ex, and the damn Bianchi’s. For once I’d like to have a day when we’re not dealing with bullshit.”
I hated to break the news to him but that definitely wasn’t going to happen when you’re a part of this world. But he already knew that, and I learned that lesson early on. There was always an issue with something. And as Prez, it was up to him to deal with it.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I know you’re not here to listen to me bitch about shit that’s not going to change. What’s up?”
“Oya’s here.”
“Are you sure about this woman, little brother?”
I frowned. I’d tried to maintain my composure when he or Reaper questioned what the hell I was doing with my life. They still treated me like I was a kid even though I’d lived a hard life. Seven years in fucking prison wasn’t a cakewalk. I knew when I wanted something. I wasn’t perfect by no means but goddamn it, I wasn’t a child who was thinking with his dick instead of my fucking brain.
He threw up his hand stopping me before I could respond. “I’m not questioning your decision, Gavin.” He heaved a sigh. “I just want you to be prepared for what’s coming. If this is the woman you want, I’ll back you. But be sure because not only does this relationship affect you, but it also affects this club whether you believe it or not.”
“I want her, Dylan.” I shrugged.
