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I’d once asked him if there was truth to the rumours he’d killed his brute of a father at eighteen. Oscar had been horrified and raised a hand. Derek had caught it and sent Oscar a warning glare. Then Derek had turned to me and smiled.
Calmly, he’d informed me no, he hadn’t been eighteen. He’d been fifteen when he’d taken over the Irish. I knew Derek had spoken the truth. There’d been something in his eyes when he told me. He had held my gaze as Oscar spluttered apologies.
Finally, Derek had turned to him and demanded to know why Oscar was apologising for having such a diamond of a daughter. Then, in front of my father, Derek had promised me his protection should I ever call upon it.
The warning had been clear. Should Oscar retaliate against me for whatever reason, Derek would act. Oscar was one of the most powerful men in our state, but he was no match for a McKenzie brother. Especially the head.
Sadly, Jere hadn’t heeded Derek and had beaten the shit out of me a day after. As I lay recovering in hospital, I was informed by Cami that Jere had disappeared. Forty-eight hours later, he reappeared—barely breathing.
Jere had never breathed a word of who’d taken and beaten him, but Derek, arriving to bring me a bunch of flowers, made the point. As did Derek’s cut and bruised knuckles. Jere and my father had been very careful after that.
Honestly, I was surprised Oscar hadn’t tried to sell me to Derek. Instead, I’d been slated for Riccardo Conti, who really wasn’t interested in me. In fact, I thought he’d breathed a sigh of relief when Oscar died. This was because I knew Riccardo was in love with his sister’s best friend, although he had done nothing about it.
A knock sounded, and I called out for whoever it was to enter. Cami poked her head around the door with Brandy’s head above hers and Tami’s under it. I rolled my eyes and laughed as they stumbled in.
“Did you speak to him?” Brandy demanded, her arm snagging Cami as she took a chair and pulled Cami onto her lap.
“The message was sent,” I replied.
“Will Millar heed it?” Cami pressed.
I tapped my fingers as I thought about what Millar had said.
“Around you, yes. It just cost him his fifth lucrative warehouse. However, I think his interest was diverted towards me.”
“Shit!” Tami exclaimed.
“It’s not a problem. I can destroy him, and I have Derek, should I need him,” I added soothingly.
“Call Derek now,” Tami demanded.
“I’d rather not owe Derek a favour,” I replied.
“Do you think he would look for one? I always thought he had a soft spot for you,” Brandy asked.
“Maybe he does or doesn’t. The problem is, I don’t want to risk it. I can handle Millar, but should he become too much of a threat, then I shall exchange something valuable of Millar’s for a favour from Derek,” I said. That was a plan I could work with. I had a horrible feeling around Millar. Honestly, I believed Cami was safe from him, but Millar hated defiance and especially loathed it coming from a weak woman. Tonight, I’d caught his attention. That was a bad thing.
“Are you worried?” Cami asked quietly.
“No, but being on guard wouldn’t hurt any of us. Should Millar prove himself difficult and attempt to come after us, it would be stupid. But Millar, as we know, is that idiotic. So be on guard and be weaponed up at all times,” I stated.
“Not so difficult. We’ve all got our concealed licence,” Brandy agreed.
“So, how did the date go?” Tami demanded, changing the subject.
“A total disaster. A pompous, egotistical asshole,” I answered with a sigh.
“Then why were you out so late?” Cami asked.
“There might have been dessert,” I said and laughed. I’d never got Levi’s number, but no doubt we would meet again. We lived in the same town, and I owned a business opposite his. I was pretty certain we’d meet again one day soon!
Cami and Tamim both gave me a side eye while Brandy looked amused.
“Don’t tell me, you kicked asshole to the curb and then pulled another guy?” she teased.
“Maybe!” I chuckled.
Cami and Tami’s mouths fell open as their eyes widened.
