Some of the wounds were so deep, you could see his organs beneath. TheIfor example. I could see his heart pounding away nicely in there. Although it was getting weaker, and weaker.
“Bring him down,” I repeated.
“He’s on his way,” Pivot said.
It wasn’t more than a minute before the retreating footsteps returned, accompanied by one more set of solid boots.
“Nico,” I grinned, turning around with his Rider’s severed dick in my hand. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Chapter 60
Dante
I wiped my hands on the cut of the dead Rider, keeping my eyes on Nico as he descended the stairs into the basement.
His eyes widened as he took in the state of the body next to me, the brief flicker of shock the only emotion he had before he turned to me with a brilliant poker face.
But then his eyes fell on what I was using to clean myself off with, and I felt the anger seething from him, making me grin.
“Problem?” I asked, knowing I was committing the ultimate mark of disrespect.
“You know what the fucking problem is. I’ve done a show of faith arriving here alone, knowing we had a truce—”
“A truce?” I laughed. “Is that what we were having when you sent your men to attack my old lady and then violate my Church?”
He shrugged at me. “The men sometimes attack of their own accord.”
“Cut the shit, Nico. Had it remained just the attack on my old lady, I might have believed that. I wouldn’t have been happy, and the men would have ended up in my playroom here,” Isaid, gesturing behind me at the broken man. “But my old lady knows how to take care of herself, and they’re already dead. Byherhand. Attacking us during Church wasn’t a random attack. Especially when they used one of my prospects as bait. So how about a bit of truth, before I publicly sever the truce right here, right now, and charge you for the crime of being on our territory?”
“I didn’t tell them to attack. I—”
“Oh, but you did. You see, we’ve heard all about the deal you made with the chief of police. What was it again? They’ll turn a blind eye for… How long?”
“So what do you plan on doing about it?” He asked, narrowing his eyes at me.
“That’s up to you. The attackers are all dead, so as far as I’m concerned, that’s the end of it. I would like to continue this truce, Nico. It’s been a peaceful few years, and I’d like it to remain that way.”
“I knew it,” he laughed. “Crash would have retaliated by now. You’re soft. And I don’t respect soft.”
“Crash would have blind reacted, yes. And it would have led to dozens of your members dying, as well as their families. And then you would have responded to our response, and we’re right back at square one. If that’s how you want to continue this dance, that’s fine. You won’t be leaving this room. I’m sure killing the president is enough to kick-start the war you’re so desperately seeking.”
“You’re going to leave this unchallenged?” He asked, raising his eyebrow at his dead club member behind me.
“I’ve dealt with it. What I propose is a new truce between you and me, starting now. Same conditions as before, with one or two amendments.”
“What amendments?”
“Your men put my vice in the hospital. I think the least you can do is offer him weekly updates on Gabriella.”
“Go fuck yourself,” he laughed. “Here’s an amendment: tell your vice to stop trying to contact her.”
“I can’t do that, I’m afraid.”
“Then the truce is over, and war continues.”
I narrowed my eyes as I saw his hand go to his waist, within reach of his gun.
“Let’s try a different angle,” I said. “We want updates on Gabriella. You know the history there—”
