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This girl is so damn dramatic and predictable.
I really don’t want her touching him. And by the glare in my eye, he fucking knows it as he looks at me with apology and concern for the bitch's safety in his eyes. I look back at Gunner, whose eyes are narrowed as he watches Taz and my interaction. I smirk, but say nothing about it. We need to get this over with. A bitch is tired.
“As I was saying. The contract is in effect. My mother has been watching everything play out and has had us on assignment for the last three months. Our job is to ensure she...” pointing to Princess over my shoulder, still clutching onto Taz, “don't get picked up. Mom realized Beverly would allow it from the correspondence we've acquired. She will let this happen without your knowledge or any warning to you. It’s all about self-preservation for her at this point. From our understanding, if it doesn't happen, it's the family's last straw. The Rossi family will not give a third chance. If it doesn't go through, Beverly’s new husband, Alessandro Ferrari, and the Berlusconi family will lose everything, whether through a takeover or power transfer facilitated by the five families. To Ferrari’s, she is of no consequence to them. Sacrificing one to benefit the family is worth it.” My words are calm and matter-of-fact.
Gunner takes a few breaths as he looks at each of us. I can see the fight in him, the anger for his daughter, and the betrayal of what his ex-wife is allowing to happen. “So, what's the plan with you being here? I assume it’s to prevent it from happening?” Defeat, concern-lacing voice, and understanding in his eyes.
“My brother will go over logistics, upgrades, and protections. I warn you now. He isn't like me. He can't separate his hatred and the job. Stay out of his way and give him time.” I hear a scoff from behind me, knowing it is Blaze. I’m blowing smoke up Gunner's ass because there will never be enough time for my brother to forgive him.
He nods and looks over at his kids and then back at me. “I appreciate you, your mother, and your team bringing this to us. Despite everything, I do want to get to know you…” he looks past me to Blaze. “The both of you. It may be too soon. But we are family, and I'm happy to work together to resolve all this and keep Princess… safe. Even if you all don't believe she's worth it. Even if my acting the way I have puts you off wanting to know me. I’m a part of the reason for this, so I’ll do what needs to be done, and I welcome your help.”
Blaze steps forward and growls out, “I get it. Your appreciation is noted. My sister has been through enough for one day. She needs to rest. This situation is a ticking time bomb and will be difficult for all of us. I'll get with you or whoever to discuss logistics. The Rossi’s already have people on the ground; we know she is being watched. We know they want this resolved quickly. So I suggest you lock your daughter down.” Blaze stares into Gunner's eyes, nodding at one another.
I stand. Blaze grabs me by my shoulders, turning me and leading me out the door. He stops before we exit the room. “If anyone else in this club disrespects my sister or mother again, I will slit their throat and not feel an ounce of remorse. Don’t test me… or do. Check your daughter and her mouth. Chase, you’re forgiven. I get you were being protective of your family, so I’ll let that shit slide from earlier.” Bull's eyes widened. “Yeah, brother, I’m always watching and am never far from her.” Chase and Blaze, like with Gunner earlier, stare at one another and come to some silent understanding.
And with that, we leave and return to our hotel because I have had enough of these people. I don’t even look back to see her in his arms. I hear my name being called, but I need to get the fuck out of her.
It has been one hell of a fucking day.
Eighteen
TAZ
?
For a long while, Prez silently pensively at the door his eldest twins went out of. Only when I asked for the room did Vex and Bull peel Princess off me to give me time to talk to Prez. They knew, as well as I do, that he needed time to process shit. But they also understood by the set in my jaw that I had some shit to say. I respect my Prez. So, I won’t disrespect him by questioning him or getting into his ass in front of his kids. I also know he was out of pocket with how he came at this situation. The past they share is fucked up. I get that. And I got this shit came out of nowhere. His actions and attitude made him look like a fucking fool, which I know he isn’t. But I’m not willing to sit back and let him be a prick because he’s fucked up in the head.
“Prez, what the actual fuck was that?” I whirl around after closing the door.
Slumping back in his chair, he looks at me like he wants to punch the shit out of my ass for the bass in my voice. He’ll have to get over that shit. It’s a dirty job being his right hand and VP, and I’m more than willing to go a few rounds in to knock some sense into his ass. I've never seen him be so out of line in the sixteen years I’ve known him. Not even in situations dealing with rivals or club issues. He's the one to keep his cool and remain level-headed. Always one to get the facts before reacting until tonight.
My eyes don’t leave his as I watch him work through shit in his head. His focus shifts to the closed door leading out of his office. His face softens, and he lets out a breath and sags further into his chair, and I see it now… he looks lost, stricken, angry, overwhelmed, and frustrated as he should.
“Listen, brother. I know them showing up...” pointing to the door, “and filling you in on everything is a lot. But the way you treated that girl, what you said to her, was fucked up, and you damn well know it.” I plop down in the chair in front of his desk. Never taking my eyes off him. “You may have tampered shit down by the end there, but the damage has been done,” I say. My eyes trail behind at the bonfire still going. My head shakes as I let out a frustrated sigh.
A sharp intake of breath pulls my attention back to him. We sit and stare at each other for a while. He needs to work out in his where the fuck he went wrong and whether he wants to fix it. He damn well should because, like it or not. We need all the information we can get to keep Princess protected. And he needs to fix shit with his other kids because I won’t have his shit affect me and my tornado. Granted, he has no idea, but with the way shit went down, I don’t think she’ll be strutting her fine ass back into the clubhouse anytime soon, and that won’t fucking do.
“FUCK!”
Prez shouts, flinging a mug off his desk, causing it to shatter on the floor. He slumps back into his chair as he looks up at the ceiling. I knew he’d eventually recognize his fuck up. His eyes snap to mine when he hears my chuckle and my following words.
“Yeah, brother, never have I seen you lose your cool on anyone like that, especially a woman. Not even with Bev when she was being a bitch. Hell, Princess has done some wild shit, as has Vex. You are on his ass damn near daily. And yet, you've never been that reckless at the mouth.” He stares at me and shakes his head. But I will keep going because that's my job as his VP. I need him... for us to figure his shit out.
Anguish mars his face as he continues to take in my words. Pushing forward, his elbows go to his desk, and his thumbs push into his eyes. He lets out a long sigh before looking back up at me.
“Brother, when Vex came in here with Princess, I saw her face all battered and fucked up. She was sobbing, saying Bellamy had attacked her. I saw red. No one... and you know this, no one touches my kids.” My eyes narrow on him as he takes a deep breath. I stay silent even though I want to be anything but. “She came in here saying that Bellamy attacked her, telling me that Bellamy was spewing shit, saying that Beverly was a whore, that she ruined her family, and she deserved what was coming to her...” I can hear the waver in his voice. Most likely because he realizes he was played.
I'm not shocked. I know Princess and know how convincing she can be. But I was also out there and knew for damn sure Bellamy didn't start shit. Even then, she let Princess run her mouth and didn’t say much, even after a drink was poured on her. Princess, that lying fucking cunt. She’s just like her fucking lyin’, manipulating, and entitled ass mother.
“Prez…”
He stares and raises a brow at me. I need to tread carefully, but fuck it. I’m sick of Princess doing this shit. She uses her father's love for to get whatever the fuck she wants. This isn’t the first time she’s lied about someone to suit her needs. The bitch is compulsive.
“I find it hard to believe that Vex, who was there, wouldn't speak up about what went down. What really went down?” My brow raises at him.
His reaction is not one I’d typically get from him, shame and embarrassment, but with his raw emotions, he can’t hide behind the steely impassiveness he’s known for. I also know the answer before I ask, “Did you get Vex’s side of the story? Did he tell you what went down? Or did Princess drive the train and turn on her tears?”
My eyes narrow on my Prez. He looks at me like I'm the asshole for questioning him. But my question is valid, and he knows it. He treated Bellamy like shit, and all on the word of his youngest daughter, whom he knows for a fact, does anything and everything to put herself in the winning position. Even when no one else is playing her fucked up games. I know he's tried to rein Princess in after he divorced Beverly, his ex-ol’ lady, and kicked her ass out of the club. But damn, if that girl hasn't gotten better with the shit she pulls. She pulled a fast one on him tonight. She sucked him into her bullshit without remorse or thought of the consequences. The look on his face tells me everything I need to know; he took her word for it without a second thought.
