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“Then who gives a fuck about blood?”
“True. Blood never did me any good in that household. What do I need to do about Millar?”
“Be alert. If you see anything, call Riley. He’ll drop you his number. You’ll not see much of him; he’s been told to stay in the shadows. Unless you’re in danger, and then he knows to protect you. For now, carry on as if you are oblivious. My men and I will track down Millar’s guys and send a warning. And by the way, thank ye for a sweet deal. We earned some cash from your tip-off,” Derek said with a wink. He stood up and straightened his pants.
It was then I noticed he was in a 1920s suit.
“I intended to join the VIP list unless you have a problem?”
“No issue, but… Derek, I’m going to need some time to get my head around all of this. You dropped a bomb on me that I never imagined being possible,” I whispered.
“Ah, lass, I get it. Take your time, but ye have six brothers who’d dote upon ye if ye let them,” Derek said and walked to the door. “Will ye sign me up,deirfiúr?”
Sister in Irish. I liked that. Loved it a whole damn lot.
As we exited my office, two men fell into step behind us. Both of them, I recognised as Derek’s personal bodyguards. They were cousins of his. Kylian and Callahan. Kylian stared at me impassively, but Callahan sent me a wink before resuming his ‘don’t fuck with me’ face. After I signed them up, I left Brandy hosting the Parlour and returned to my office. Below me, people gyrated to the music fitting in with the 20s era, but they were a mere backdrop to my thoughts.
I had another brother, one older than Jere, who proclaimed to care for me. I didn’t know much about Derek and the McKenzies, except they were the apex family. Not even Oscar crossed their lines. Idiots like Millar tested them and got slapped back promptly. The McKenzies had a rumoured kill list to rival even the greatest mob lord. But there was one rule the family enforced above all others. Family, women, and children were off-limits. Only one man had made that mistake. He had killed the only sister-in-law Derek had.
By the time the McKenzies had finished, not a drop of his blood remained. Nobody mentioned his name again in front of the McKenzies for fear of drawing their attention. Derek and our brothers made a statement that sent the entire underworld rocking. Our brothers, Jesus, I was a McKenzie. The youngest one, too. And worse, I’d sprung from my mother being raped. Not a calming thought, to say the least. No wonder she’d barely had much to do with me. Her focus had been Jere. But my father had most definitely loved her, my father, no, Oscar.
My mind awhirl, I settled in my chair to understand what had just happened.
Levi
“She serious about these monkey suits?” Big Al bellowed at Chance.
Levi hid a smirk as Big Al yanked his tie, and Tati slapped his hand for the fifth time.
“Yeah, Wraith reported several people have been turned away. Even Drake and Rage are wearing them,” Rooster replied.
“Fuck me!” Big Al complained.
“I think you all look freaking amazing,” Clio stated. Chance glowered, but it faded at the heated stare Clio sent him.
“Honestly?” Pyro asked.
“Baby, if we didn’t have to attend, I’d be showing you just how hot you are. Like real-life gangsters,” Janey said.
Pyro smiled slightly, and even that was a miracle considering how miserable a fuck he usually was.
“Your auras and those suits. Total badass. All you need are tommy guns,” Thalia added, and Levi twisted his head to see her practically drooling over Bear. Chey was eyeing Celt like he was her favourite dish on the menu, and Alice was plastered to Diesel’s mouth as her hands roamed freely. Well then, no more to be said on that subject. Levi’s gaze caught sight of Sallie-Anne running her fingers down Banshee’s butt and squeezing. Damn it, these suits clearly made every single old lady horny.
Levi hoped Madisen would have the same reaction when she saw him. Despite him not knowing if he wanted her or not, he did want a reaction. Levi had come to terms with the fact he was seriously attracted to her and not just Madisen’s curvy body. He liked her humour and straight way of talking.
“Can we go? Phoe has been there for a couple of hours, and she said it is freaking amazing. The food is to die for!” Thalia asked, and all of Levi’s brothers perked up.
“They serve food?” Big Al rumbled as he hooked Thalia into his side.
“Yes, Phoe said it’s themed food to fit in with the atmosphere. She thinks Rage are trying to empty the kitchen because they keep ordering shit,” Clio answered, glancing at her phone. She snuck closer to Chance and glanced at him for reassurance. Chance reached out and hauled her into him.
Levi noticed that Clio seemed to be reverting to her pre-Hellfire state. Ever since Dax had been ripped from her stomach and Clio nearly died, Clio had become uncertain and tentative. That horrific day had scarred all of them; some clearly, like Rooster with his missing leg, but some were internal, like Clios. Levi had disappeared for a month, painting his nightmares before returning clearer-headed. The beast had been tamed.
But that day stayed with them all. Fanatic had changed the most. The funny, smiling guy had gone, and in his place was a grim reaper. Fanatic nearly died twice, once in the bombing and then again in the surgery where he needed a new liver. Luckily, there’d been two matches, almost unheard of, but Klutz and Drake had matched the prospect. Klutz had won the battle to donate, as Drake was needed to run the MCs while Chance recovered from what had happened to Clio and watched over Dax.
A year had nearly passed, but the wounds were still as fresh as yesterday. And now Fury was amping up his shit. Something big was coming, but we didn’t know what. These stupid skirmishes were just that, tests to see how we handled them. Fury wanted Rage with a burning desire and for the rest of us to fall at his feet. That wasn’t gonna happen, but we were all alert, and the incident the other day had been another asshole test.
Levi knew that Chance was worried about Clio. It had been a year now, but she was weakening instead of getting better. None of Hellfire knew what was going to happen, but they wanted Clio to be strong. Tati was carrying most of Clio’s weight, but Clio needed to get her head back in the game. Of course, nobody could tell Chance that. He’d tear them limb from limb if he thought we were denigrating his precious wife.
