“I asked him to come to the beach house this weekend. We could wait and see if he comes.”
The sound of Marco’s voice had him slipping onto the second floor from the stairwell, making it impossible for him to hear the rest of the conversation. He gauged the distance to the elevator and the door, wondering how many were with Marco and what their plan was. Shit, he shouldn’t be surprised they were planning to take him out, but fuck, he didn’t think they’d actually have the balls to show up at his place. If he took the elevator, they’d beat him to his floor. He had a couple choices. Go up after them, and...shit, he couldn’t fucking have a shootout or whatever they planned in his damn hallway. There’d be too many witnesses, or dead bodies ‘cause he knew his neighbors were home at this time of night.
He waited until they made their way past him, their loud footfalls sounded like a herd of damn elephants instead of stealthy killers. Once he was sure they’d hit his floor, he slipped out and went down to the bottom level, keyed the code in only residents have to the basement level, making sure the door closed securely behind him. It galled him to run like a damn pussy, but sometimes the better part of valor was living to fight another day. In this instance, if he was to go and face them up on the fifth floor, or in his apartment, shit would be loud, and cops would be called. That was something he didn’t want or need. As he unlocked the door to his garage, he pulled his phone out, dialing Keys.
“What’s up, Archer? You missing us already?” Keys asked.
“Like jock itch. That’s not why I’m calling though. Groot’s cousin and a couple other guys just tried, or rather were going to try, to take me out.” He settled the helmet on his head and eased his bike out of the unit. I’m heading back to the clubhouse unless you think it’s too dangerous?” He didn’t start the bike, waiting until he was ready to go up the ramp, gambling that he’d beat them out.
“Where are you now?” Keys asked, the sound of him tapping away at his keyboard could be heard.
Mick told him, hearing Keys talking to someone in the background.
“Head this way. You’ll have some friends with you shortly. Watch your six and don’t get dead.” Keys disconnected.
“I ain’t got no plans to die just yet,” he muttered as he fired his bike up, then twisted his wrist and let off the brake. At the top of the ramp, he leaned right and hit the road. When he didn’t hear a gun or feel a bullet hit him, he let the breath he’d been holding out.
The saying about good and bad days to die were fucking bullshit. There wasn’t a good day to die in his mind. When he was old and barely able to get it up, he might start thinking about a pine box, but not a moment before. Sheot, when he went, he wanted to be cremated and his ashes released over the ocean or some shit.
Chapter Five
Tiana’s stomach growled, reminding her she’d missed dinner, which wasn’t all that unusual for her. She got up and headed toward the kitchen for a snack, stopping in her tracks at the sound of King’s angry growl, her heart pounding with fear. She waited to hear what they were saying about Mick. She wouldn’t admit it, but she’d secretly been hoping he’d come around looking for her, maybe thinking to ask King for a chance to—what she didn’t know. He was the only man who made her heart pound and her body tremble. Not in fear, but in need.
“How many brothers are near that can escort him back here?” King asked.
His question drew her up short. Why would King need brothers to escort Mick back to the clubhouse? Sweat began to roll down her back and her stomach rolled with nausea.
Whatever was said on the other end was obviously good because King exhaled loudly.
“That’s good. I’ll be up and waiting. I want to know where that little bastard is, and who the fuck he had with him. Mick is a brother. You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us. We’ll make sure that is a message they hear loud and clear. Each and every one of those assholes. Feel me?” King slammed his hand onto the table after he finished.
She flinched, fearing whatever was going to happen would put them in danger.
A hand covered her mouth, freezing her in place.
“Ssh, it’s me, Ayesha. Come on, you don’t need to hear any more.”
Her sister slid her hand away from her lips, then grabbed her arm, tugging her back down the hall. Tiana didn’t think to protest. Any hunger she’d had vanished, knowing Mick was in danger.
Ayesha led her to the master suite. The newly redone room was now light and airy instead of the dark mancave like when they’d first come to live with King. She went over where Legend was sleeping peacefully, his chubby little hand curled up under one cheek as if he knew his world was protected by the big bad MC leader he had as a daddy.
“T, you shouldn’t have been eavesdropping on King’s conversation,” Ayesha whispered.
“What’s going on, Sis?” Tiana looked over her shoulder toward the closed door.
Ayesha shrugged as she patted the chair next to her. Tiana let out a huff of air before marching over to where her sister sat. “You know I hate when you get all lordess of the manor acting.”
“That would be Lady of The Manor, and I do not get that way.” Ayesha sat up straighter, putting her finger over her lips when Legend began to move.
Once he settled back down, they both let out a sigh. She didn’t speak first, feeling her world was about to change.
“Keys called because one of the brothers had a possible attempt on his life. They don’t know if this is related to what happened earlier to King or...something else. For now, we’re all on high alert, and he’s wanting to stop being the ones on the receiving end and start being ahead of the game.” Ayesha’s voice broke.
“Someone tried to kill Mick? Is he okay?” She jumped up, her first thought to head to where she’d heard King talking.
“Tiana, sit back down. King will handle the situation, and if you go out there, he’ll muzzle the both of us and what we know. You don’t want that, do you?”
Her sister moved in front of her, blocking the door while she spoke, yet she never raised her voice. She didn’t understand how Ayesha could be so calm. Like talking about people trying to kill their men was—Tiana stopped her train of thought. Mick wasn’t hers, never would be. He’d told her that in so many ways, but tonight he’d made it abundantly clear in no uncertain terms.
“Ayesha I can’t stay here anymore. I love you, and I love Legend, and King, but I...I can’t move on with my life with everyone treating me like the girl who was damaged. Don’t—"she whispered, seeing Ayesha’s instant denial.
She was nineteen, not a little girl who needed to be coddled. Thank fuck they didn’t know the true extent of what had happened to her, or how truly stupid she’d been, what she’d allowed to happen to her. Tiana slammed the door on the shit that was always right there, for the past several years, ready to drown her. She squared her shoulders before she broke down into a puddle of tears in front of Ayesha. If she wanted her sister to agree and let her go, she needed to show her she was strong enough, and god help her, she needed to keep herself together.
“Where do you plan to go, T?” This time, Ayesha held her hand out, asking instead of taking.