Czar had been the ten-year-old boy who had masterminded the plan to keep them all alive in the hell they’d grown up in. He’d given them hope in their darkest times. He’d driven them to perfect their abilities. Czar had always believed every human being had some small psychic talent, but they hadn’t just worked on developing them. He’d made each of them work on theirs daily for hours.
Along with sharpening their assassin skills, he’d had them practicing whatever talents they had, small or large. He’d organized them to work as a pack, much like wolves, each with his or her job, so in the end, they’d turned the tables on their brutal instructors. They’d been children, but they’d been lethal. Now, as adults, they were even more deadly.
“Czar, Steele, this is my wife, Soleil. Soleil, Czar is the president of Torpedo Ink and Steele is the vice president.”
She smiled at them both and offered her hand, again looking like a princess. She made Ice’s heart stutter.
“I understand you just got married as well,” she said to Steele.
He nodded. “My woman’s name is Breezy. She’ll be excited to meet you. She’s home at the moment with our son. He picked up a bug while we were gone. Nothing scary, just the flu, but he’s definitely uncomfortable.”
Ice knew it was a sacrifice for Steele to leave his son when he was sick, especially since Steele was a doctor. He liked both his wife and his child close if possible. He was still getting used to having to allow Breezy out of his sight.
“That’s terrible. I hope he’s better soon,” Soleil said.
Czar took her hand and smoothed his fingers over hers. Ice had seen him do that many, many times in the past. Czar was somewhat of an enigma. He had many talents, but Ice didn’t know what all of them were. He found himself tense, wanting to snatch her hand away from Czar, but the man had always been the one who led their way. Ice had no idea why he felt so protective of Soleil in that moment.
Czar looked gallant as he smiled down at Soleil. “So, you’re the woman who stole Ice’s heart.” The president of Torpedo Ink suddenly looked straight at Ice. Those eyes hit him hard. Penetrated, like an arrow, warning Ice not to ever hurt this woman. Whatever Czar could read by taking her hand, she had his approval. Ice let out the breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding. His club had his back, which meant they were all going to be vetting Soleil.
“I understand you’re in a little bit of trouble, Soleil,” Czar said. “I think we can help you with that.”
Soleil gave a slight shake of her head and took a step back. Ice’s heart dropped. All of them were rough-looking, scarred and products of their childhood. He couldn’t imagine how afraid she must be surrounded by complete strangers, all of whom looked like what they were—killers.
“I know you all think you can help me. Ice said the same thing. I really appreciate your kindness. I’ve never had anyone be so generous to me before as all of you have offered to be. It’s just that when I overheard them talking, I could tell they’d killed many times. I wasn’t going to be their first. They definitely killed my lawyer, and I have no idea how many are involved. I do know they have at least one cop and probably more than one. I tried to tell Ice, but he’s adamant that it doesn’t matter.”
She looked up at Ice, and that softness was there again. The look that said he was the only man in the room. Perfection for her. He wanted to melt at her feet. He looked over her head to Czar, hoping his president could see why he was falling for her so fast. It wasn’t all sex like they thought. Like he thought. She was getting to him, getting under his skin and twisting around his heart.
Czar’s gaze held amusement. “I can see why you’d be concerned.”
She nodded. “All of you are very nice, and I don’t want these people to find you. I have no idea what they’d do to you, but I can imagine they would manufacture evidence and throw you in jail or something.”
Czar glanced around the room. Ice followed suit. Lana and Alena looked amused, in the same way Czar had. The rest of his brothers looked shocked, the way he felt. He was beginning to know her, and he shouldn’t be surprised, but he was. His little princess was determined to protect them. Protect his entire club.
“You’re all very important to Ice. You’re his family. The last thing I want is to be responsible for any of you getting hurt,” she continued.
Ice pulled her back against his body, his arms locking around her. He dropped his chin on top of her head. He had to hold her, or he’d carry her off to one of the rooms in the clubhouse and bury himself deep in the haven of her body. In his wildest dreams, he hadn’t conjured up a woman anywhere near as good as Soleil.
“I understand your concerns,” Czar said and waved them to the chairs. “But I think we can handle this group of con artists. We’ve had a little bit of practice in that area. Since they seem to be working out of San Francisco, that even makes it easier.”
Ice got the silent message and led Soleil to the armchairs that had been set up in a loose semicircle. The other members sat as well, with the exception of Reaper and Savage, who separated and positioned themselves in the shadows near the walls where they just seemed to blend in. Maestro remained behind Steele, draping himself against the wall as well. It was no coincidence that Absinthe sat on the other side of Soleil.
Ice found himself looking around the room. There were twenty of them now, fully patched, not a big club as clubs went, but every man there had been trained from childhood in the brutal schools, as assassins. They were all looking for a new life and trying to figure out the rules of society. They knew they’d never fit perfectly, but they were doing their best.
He started the explanation, of everything Soleil had told him about meeting Winston, his trying to groom her as well as cut her off from anyone who knew her and guide her toward his approved list.
Code interrupted to ask for the names on the list and anything she could remember about their jobs. Soleil answered, her voice a little shaky, but she complied. There were several she hadn’t mentioned to Ice. A detective. A judge. An assistant police chief. A medical examiner. A highway patrolman.
The club members exchanged long looks. The ring was well set up. She gave every name easily and described each man.
Czar nodded to Absinthe, and Ice found himself tensing. He kept his gaze from traveling to Reaper. Absinthe had questioned Reaper’s woman, Anya, and it had been a disaster.
“When you answer, princess, make sure everything you say is the exact truth,” Ice said.
Soleil frowned. “Why wouldn’t I tell the truth?” She sounded genuinely puzzled.
“Soleil, why would you be able to remember these men so clearly?” Czar asked. “You say you met them at fund-raising events. The events must have been crowded.”