Nothing in this world came for free; that much he knew.
He’d existed beyond the radar for a long time, mixing with the likes of the Diablos without them knowing who he truly was.
And it was being threatened to come to light by a skinny-assed bitch who had intel in her memories of the crime he’d committed.
Why hadn’t she confessed already? Before long, she’d realize what she knew and spill her guts. He’d spill her damn guts on the floor before she splintered his world in half.
Family was at the heart of his decisions.
Greed, too.
He was no saint, and he’d already tried to scare the woman off, but now she had Splice involved—the MC, too.
He stubbed out the cigar and watched them from afar. They were sitting close on a park bench, and she was smiling at something Splice was saying.
He could leave her alone, let her live her life.
But that wasn’t his way. No loose ends left behind.
There were bigger things at stake here than just money, just his reputation, or connections. He could easily remake himself from the ground up if he lost those.
But this concerned his son and he wouldn’t lose him.
His fucking son.
Not that. Never.
She knew too much,even if she didn’t know what she knewor who it affected; that info was with that bitch with the innocent face.
He thought scaring her would do the trick again. If only she’d taken the warnings he’d sent already—to leave for good. He would have let her remain alive.
He slid back into his car and headed out of town.
By the end of the week, this problem would be permanently solved. Then his life could go back to the successful deception he had carefully crafted.
He wasn’t an island.
He was a burning rock. An asteroid within a calm atmosphere.
He lived alongside those he’d wronged the most, and he did it smiling, without guilt in his heart. Only lies on his tongue.
Every. Single. Day.
And he would let no one take that from him.
TWENTY-TWO
Splice
Lisa had yet to say anything, because an old couple with two little Yorkies were passing by their bench, and Splice was about to combust.
Someone had threatened Lisa ten years ago to make her leave him. She said that, right?
Splice, who was known for his short fuse temper, was fit to kill with only that minimal info, but he kept his jaw tight and watched Lisa, clasping her fingers together. Looking nervous.
Expecting the old folks to walk by with no fuss, Splice’s irritation spiked when he saw the guy giving him the once-over, noticing his MC insignia jacket, no doubt. Wary side glances and scrutiny were familiar to him. However, today was not the day to offend him.
Just as they were about to go, the couple paused, and the guy looked back.
