Page 62 of Filthy Savage
“Are you talking about anything to do with Giovanni?” I demand.
Victor doesn’t nod, but he doesn’t shake his head either. Only his eyebrows raise. The hairs raise on my neck and a whole new wave of rage comes over me. But it’s nothing compared to the hell Silas will raise when he finds out that the bastard who had Sabrina under lock and key, the fucker who was responsible for burning down half of our clubhouse, he happens to be the guy whose family is behind all this?
“Giovanni? What the fuck does that motherfucker have to do with it? Look, I don’t care if it takes all night or all week. Tell me everything.”
“It’s not just him. It’s his family. And look at you, you’re tired as hell. There’s really no short version I can give you that’d make any sense.”
“Come on. Just try.”
“Let’s just say that a certain European head of state who passed away on US soil in the late sixties… didn’t die of natural causes. You’re going to have to trust me on the rest of the minutia. Just know that the front lines aren’t what you see during primetime news. Wars are being waged right this moment, and the world knows nothing about it. Battles are won and lost behind closed doors and in the dark of night, and maybe sometimes there are the odd soundbites that make it to headline news. Those aren’t usually the whole truth. You should know that, but let’s get back to the point about Giovanni.”
“What point? That we should’ve killed that smug son of a bitch when we had the chance? You had to either flash money, threaten to expose some juicy secrets, or have one of your people hold someone at gunpoint with your goddamned arsenal of weapons. And now like magic, Angel, Nancy, the kids, and Kade’s family are all safe. That’s what you’re telling me? Don’t expect me to believe that.”
“You made it here in one piece and didn’t have to confront or fight a soul, correct?”
“True.” I rake frustrated fingers through my hair. Every cell in my body is still on alert, wanting and needing to fight. This anti-climactic resolution courtesy of Vincent and his connections may have eliminated the threat, but I’m not satisfied. “What about Nance and the kids? Are you sure they’re safe?”
“They are.”
I shake my head. What I want to do is turn back time and make all of this go away. “I hope so… if anything happens to the kids, it’ll destroy her.”
“I won’t let that happen. We won’t.”
“Are you sure it’s over? What about Giovanni? We already know what kind of out of control bastard he is. Has someone put a leash on him too? I swear, if that man comes anywhere near me or anyone I care about, I’ll personally put him down. I don’t care who his dead mafia ex-boss father was, or how much fucking cred he’s racked up. He’s done enough to Sabrina and Silas, then Tate, and the Saints. Fuck, he was even behind the Los Diablos who kidnapped Jordan and locked him down for months like some insignificant nobody. The kid is Governor Bain’s son, for fuck’s sake, and that still didn’t stop Giovanni. Look, all I’m saying is if he comes around again, he’s going down permanently. Fuck the consequences. He needs to pay for his part. And someone in his family needs to pay for everything that’s happened. For Mom and Dad, for Kade’s father, for what we’ve had to deal with. Even for Angel.”
“People have paid, Axe. Rest assured that they have, but don’t ask me for details.”
“What’s with you tonight, and all this talking in code?”
“Honestly? I’m protecting your ass. The less you know, the better.”
“So you’re protecting me, huh? And what about Angel? You know I’m no stranger to violence and being caught up in dangerous shit. But it’s not the same for Angel. She may be taking things in stride, but this ain’t the kind of life she’s had up to now.”
I catch sight of Vincent narrowing his eyes as he studies me carefully.
“You care about her,” Vincent says. “Wait, it’s more than that.” Then he smiles. “Silas was right. You’re fixing to get wifed up! Axe, you’re making the old man proud over here, son. Are congratulations in order?”
“Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you and Si?” I bark. “It ain’t like that.”
“Like hell it ain’t.” Vincent raises his eyebrows and his lips curl up in a grin. “What do you kids call falling in love these days? Let me see if I remember. Oh, right. Whipped AF, right? Who’s the best man? I should mention I haven’t been one for a while…since Reagan was President.”
I shoot him a glare. “I’m serious. She’s not even remotely interested in signing up for all this…baggage. But anyway, getting back to the point, we need Giovanni off our ass for good.”
“He’d have to be crazy to defy us again.”
“That fucker lives for crazy, but you’re telling me he’s under control. It’s all over?”
Vincent picks up the cell phone on his desk and throws it over at me. “Phone your sister. Talk to Kade. Call Silas. They’ll confirm.”
“All right, fine. I’ll pass on phoning them. You know I trust you. I just hope you’re right.” I stand up and start for the door.
“Where are you going?” Vincent asks. “I’m not done yet.”
I wave my hand above my head and turn around, but keep walking backward out of the room. “Tell me in the morning. I’m beat. By the way, I’m crashing in my old room, if that’s okay with you.”
“It’s exactly the way you left it,” Vincent answers, smiling. “But Axe?”
“Yeah?”
