Ava tensed up. “Oh, is that the only reason you wanted to have a coffee?”
Raven cursed. “I didn’t mean it like that. It was a joke. I happen to like you, which is pretty big news. I don’t like a whole lot of people. Ignore what I said. I’m used to the whores who stick around at the club begging for attention. You know how fucked up that can be.” Raven sighed. “They hate your guts.”
“What did I do?”
“You got Smokey’s attention. It makes you enemy number one in their book.”
Ava thanked the waitress for the coffee and looked at Raven. “Did he sleep with a lot of the women?”
“Don’t go there,” Raven said.
“Sorry.”
Raven reached out, touching her hand. “I’m the kind of woman who says what went on before you guys met, it doesn’t count. It’s what happens during and after. Smokey hasn’t looked at another woman since you came on the scene. You really need to stop worrying. Smokey’s not going anywhere.”
“I’m not worried. It’s not like that.” Was it, though? She wasn’t sure.
The other women were nice to her. She’d accepted long ago that she seemed to be the kind of person no one particularly liked. No one had a bad word to say about her, but she didn’t mesh with others. It wasn’t without a lack of trying either. People simply didn’t like her.
She sipped at her coffee.
“I didn’t mean to sound like a bitch before.”
Ava waved her hand in the air. “It’s fine.”
“You really need to stop doing that,” Raven said.
“What?”
“Acting like you’re not hurt when you clearly are. Don’t hide your feelings, and don’t make others think they can get away with hurting you. I’m sorry for being a bitch.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“I’m starting to think I need to approach you with my bitch radar.”
Ava burst out laughing.
“Are we going to get something to eat, or what?”
“Why are you here and not with the guys?” Ava asked.
“They need someone to handle the fort. That’s me. I’m the chick who makes sure all the prospects and bitches stay in line.” Raven shrugged.
“How did you become a member?”
Raven put down her menu. “Why do you want to know?”
Ava pulled back. “I was just curious.”
“Is this about Smokey again?”
She chuckled. “When is it not about Smokey?”
“Babe, listen, the club life, you don’t have what it takes.” Raven licked her lips. “I’ll level with you, okay. Shit gets mean at the club. It gets hard. I’ve got scars on my body from the hits I’ve taken. We’re not a fairytale. It’s hardcore. Don’t get me wrong, there are harder MCs out there. Smokey, though, he knows his shit and he keeps us all safe.” Raven sat back. “The way he looks at you. He doesn’t want you anywhere near the fucking club. He likes that you’re … you.”
“How did you manage to make that sound like an insult?” She tilted her head to the side and laughed.
“I’m downright fucking talented.” Raven winked. “Now, let’s eat. I’m starving and these curves will not feed themselves. Believe me.”
****
“Why the fuck would I want to align myself with you guys again?” Smokey asked, staring across the table at Sebastian Drago.
He didn’t want to have this meeting.
Ryan was currently under the mafia’s protection, and that pissed Smokey off. The lying piece of shit had been in the mafia and the Twisted Bastards MC’s pocket. Big Dick had discovered the fucker’s location. He hadn’t gone for extraction because Smokey had told him not to. He wasn’t going to risk anyone else’s life for Ryan.
Heads were going to roll when he was through.
Sebastian sighed, and his gaze wandered to Ugly Beast.
Smokey slammed his hand on the table. “This is my meeting. Not his. I don’t have time for this bullshit.”
“We have product. It needs moving, and so far, it has only ended in bloodshed.”
“So, I told you last time. My time with the mafia is done. You guys are fucking hypocrites. The way you kept a perv in power, and you guys think I’m an animal. I don’t get my nuts off screwing underage girls.”
Sebastian tensed up. “There are rules to follow.”
“Yeah, well, I follow the main rules which say those who want to fuck little girls need to die.”
Smokey glared at Sebastian.
“If you won’t consider a connection with the mafia again, why did you come?” Sebastian asked.
“Curiosity. I don’t see why The Boss sent you and didn’t come himself.” Smokey smirked at Sebastian, tilting his head to the side. “Unless you are the big man himself.”
“I don’t want that role. You know who I think is suited to it.” Again, Sebastian looked toward Ugly Beast.
Smokey glanced back at his sergeant at arms. Ugly’s past wasn’t pretty. Born Umberto Garofalo. The bastard child to an underage girl at the hands of the previous mafia boss, Nico Garofalo.
Ugly had been left for dead until Sebastian Drago made something of him. Not many people knew the full history. Smokey was one of the few who did.
With Nico’s death, the true heir to the mafia throne was Umberto. Ugly Beast didn’t want it. Smokey had talked to him, even tried to reason with the man, but he wouldn’t be talked into anything.
The only place in the world he wanted was by his side.
“Now, you being the underboss, which is kind of like the boss in waiting, why didn’t you take the job?” Smokey asked.
“Because he didn’t want it.” The hard voice came from the corner, and Sebastian shook his head.
Smokey smiled as the true boss made his appearance.
“And who are you?” Smokey asked.
“I’m sure you’re aware of who I am.”
“Carlos Santigo. The brand-new boss of the mafia. You’ve got one of the worst reputations in your entire outfit, if my memory serves me well. You’re not married. No bastards that people know of. Rumor has it that you kill them. I doubt it. Any kid is better than no kid when it comes to your kind.”
“My kind?” Carlos asked.
Sebastian tensed up. “Don’t, Smokey. Do not disrespect him.”
Smokey stood, sending the chair back with a clatter. “He should count himself lucky that the only thing I’m doing is disrespecting him after the insult I’ve had to deal with. You’re all supposed to be men of your word. Your word means absolute shit.” He pointed his finger in Sebastian’s face. “You’re housing a man responsible for hurting one of my men. I want him back.”
“I’m under the impression you wish to have power,” Carlos said, coming forward.
Smokey eyed the man who was now the new boss. He knew a monster when he saw one. After all, he didn’t become the president of the Hell’s Bastards MC because he knew how to play with dolls. “You’ve got nothing I want.”
“But you see, I do, Smokey,” Carlos said. “I want to come to some arrangement.”