“You son of a bitch!”Xavier’s voice joined mine, his own fury matching the rage burning through my veins.His jumping to Nadine’s defense wasn’t unexpected.His woman, Tillie, was pregnant and Nadine was the best mother hen, making her comfortable and always being there to help calm her fears.While all the old ladies in the club seemed to have formed their own club within the club, Nadine and Tillie were exceptionally tight.
Roscoe turned his attention to us with obvious amusement.“Failure to comply with lawful orders.I could go on.”He shrugged like it was nothing.“Sometimes civilians get caught in the crossfire when gangs are involved.”He stared down at Nadine, a cruel smirk on his face.Then he squeezed the trigger on his Taser with its second, and last, discharge.
Her body stiffened where she lay on the pavement in the fetal position.The image would be one that would forever be seared into my mind.I heard an animal roar off in the distance, only to realize I was the one making the noise.The raw brutality in that roar was bloodcurdling.Someone was about to die, and I hoped to bloody Christ on the fucking cross it was that motherfucker, Roscoe.
The next thing I knew, there were men on top of me, dragging me through the gravel while in front of me, Nadine’s body had gone limp.Her eyes were open and her hair was in her face and over one eye, but the other eye was open, staring at me.
Weakly, she reached her hand out to me.“Pain…” My name was whispered, and her hand shook with the effort she was using to hold it out to me.“Don’t…”
“Hold it together for a couple more minutes, Pain.Cavalry’s on the way.”Was that Knuckles?I looked to my left where someone gripped my shoulder.I have no idea why I focused on that touch rather than the two or three men holding me to the gravel, but it was Knuckles who commanded my attention.It was why he was president of the Goddamned club.
My breath came in deep, heavy gasps and I realized I was fighting for air because of the heavy weight on top of me.I went limp, my gaze locked on Knuckles.I wanted to look back at Nadine, but my president commanded my attention.The second I surrendered all the pain in my body came surging forward.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
“You’re back with us.”Knuckles sounded almost like a proud father, but his gaze shifted to the front gate and a black SUV pulling up.“Almost done.”
“What’s happening?”I was still on the ground, but the pressure pinning had eased significantly.
“You gonna lose your Goddamned mind again, or can I get you up and cut those fuckin’ zips off you?”
“Nope.I’m good.”
“Uh-huh.”Knuckles knew better but got someone to help him get me on my feet before cutting my hands free.
The SUV stopped in the middle of our little party.The driver stepped out of the vehicle but stayed close.The passenger buttoned his suit jacket before stepping away from the vehicle and toward the police chief.They exchanged quiet words, Chief Roscoe getting angrier by the second if his body language was anything to go by.He was tense, his shoulders back, and he wouldn’t meet the gaze of the man speaking to him.
It kind of looked like Chief Roscoe told the suit to go fuck himself, but what did I know?The suit shrugged as if to say, “Suit yourself” before striding back to the SUV and opening the back door.
Even though I’d never met the man, I knew I was looking at Antonio Miles.And he wasnothappy.
Antonio Miles had the kind of presence that made even hardened men straighten their spines.His tailored suit couldn’t hide the power in his frame, and his dark eyes took in everything with calculated precision.The moment he stepped fully out of the SUV, the entire atmosphere shifted.
My gaze darted back to Nadine.She was trying to sit up now, her movements shaky and uncoordinated.Tillie had made it to her side, followed closely by Hannah and Violet, with Caleb hovering like a guard dog.Violet and Hannah helped Nadine sit, murmuring something I couldn’t hear.Relief flooded through me when Nadine’s gaze found mine again, though her eyes were still glazed with pain.
“Benjamin.”Antonio’s voice was deceptively calm.“I don’t believe this is a place you really want to be.”
Roscoe’s face flushed an ugly red.“This is a police matter, Miles.You have no authority here.This ain’t your property.”
Antonio smiled, the expression never reaching his eyes.“Authority?No.Influence?That’s another matter entirely.”He casually adjusted his cufflinks.“The mayor would be disappointed to learn about this unauthorized raid.Especially since I just left his office.”He half turned before adding, “And you’re wrong.Thisismy property.These men are here at my insistence.They work for me.In the future, I’d appreciate it if you directed any questions regarding this property or the people in it to my office.”
I took advantage of the distraction to move toward Nadine, but one of the remaining officers stepped into my path, his hand moving to his weapon.I froze, every muscle in my body coiled tight, ready to tear this fucker apart if he so much as breathed wrong.
“Not a good choice, officer.”Antonio didn’t so much as glance in the officer’s direction.“Getting between a male and his injured mate?It tends not to work out so well.”
The officer looked between Antonio and Roscoe, uncertainty flickering across his face.Roscoe’s jaw worked furiously, but he gave a sharp nod.The officer stepped aside, and I immediately went to Nadine, dropping to my knees beside her.
“Baby, look at me.”I cupped her face gently, my thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone.Her skin was still pale from the trauma of the electrical shock, and I could see the fear lingering in her gray eyes.“You’re OK.I’ve got you.I’ll make sure you’re OK.”
She leaned into my touch, her hand coming up to cover mine.“I’m sorry,” she whispered.“I couldn’t just stand there and watch them --”
“Don’t you dare apologize.”My voice came out rougher than I intended.“This ain’t your fault and I won’t have you thinking it is.”
Antonio’s voice carried across the compound as he continued his conversation with Roscoe.“I think we understand each other now.Any further issues you have with my associates will come through my assistant, and I’ll deal with them.On any charges.”
Roscoe’s face was a mask of barely controlled fury, but he knew he was beaten.The political weight Antonio carried in this city was undeniable, because Antonio and his familyownedNashville.This was their city, and they controlled business done within it with an iron fist.“This isn’t over,” Roscoe snarled, but he was already signaling his men to pack up.
“Oh, but it is.”Antonio’s smile was razor-sharp.“At least for today.And Benjamin?The woman you assaulted?She’s under the Miles family’s protection along with everyone else inside this place.I’d suggest you remember that.”
