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There was a lengthy pause as Ruthless decided whether or not to respond. He watched me drive in silence for several minutes before saying, “I did when she first left. I got over it.”
I left it alone, knowing better than to expect more from him. Ruthless didn’t show much in the way of emotion these days. I wasn’t even sure if he could feel more than bitterness and stone-cold loathing.
Maybe he forgot the night he and Maven were walking back from a party when they were jumped by a street gang trying to make a name for themselves. Ruthless had protected Maven, taking a beating that left him with two black eyes, a broken nose, and a limp that lasted for a month. He’d loved her then, and Maven wasn’t the kind of woman one fell out of love with.
By the time we reached the office building Archer used as one of his legit fronts, I buzzed with adrenaline. I pulled up next to a parking meter, pausing to plug some money into it before letting myself into the building. Right away two men in the lobby intercepted us before we reached the elevator.
“Is Mr. Archer expecting you?” asked a man with glasses and curly hair sitting behind a desk.
“Tell him that Maddox Hale and Ruthless Laurier are here to see him about that little incident at the gym earlier. We just want to talk.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I waited for them to call upstairs. Archer would be an idiot to send us away.
“Fine, you can go up,” the desk guy said after making a quick call. “No weapons.”
Ruthless and I raised our hands and spread our legs, allowing the obligatory frisk. When the two men blocking the elevator were satisfied, they stepped aside and allowed us access. I didn’t need weapons to handle a man like Donovan Archer. If I had to kill him with my bare hands, I’d do it. Since I planned to make it back to Maven, it wouldn’t be today.
She’d questioned why I hadn’t killed him yet. That was my girl. Still bloodthirsty. The truth was that I’d had to stop myself several times over the years. What Maven didn’t know was that I’d saved Archer for her. Deep down I’d always known she would come home. I’d always planned for Donovan Archer to meet a horrific and bloody end. The time was almost right.
“Let’s make this fast,” Ruthless said once we were alone in the elevator. “Say whatever it is you came to say, and then leave. I mean it, Maddox. No funny shit.”
Knowing that we were on camera, I flashed a cheeky smile at the device in the upper corner of the elevator. “It’s cool. No funny shit. I promise.”
Most of the building contained office space occupied by the team of employees, accountants, and lawyers working around the clock to keep Archer’s legitimate businesses running. Archer’s office was the only thing on the top floor. The elevator opened, spilling me into the waiting area where his perky young receptionist sat at a desk filing her nails.
“Have a seat until Mr. Archer is ready for you,” she said, not sparing us so much as a glance.
“I don’t think so.” Ignoring the row of empty chairs across from her desk, I marched right by, headed for Archer’s office door.
Ruthless ambled along next to me, both hands shoved in his pockets. He nodded to the receptionist as she gaped after us.
“You can’t go in there.” She leapt up with a shout, rushing to stop us.
Too late. I was several strides ahead. Jerking open the frosted glass door, I entered the office. Archer sat at his desk across from Ryker King, president of the Dead City Zombies MC. Interesting. What were the two of them cooking up together?
“Hello, boys,” I greeted them, ignoring the weapons drawn by the four goons surrounding Archer’s desk. “I’d like a minute of your time, Donovan. I’m not waiting.”
I sat on the edge of his desk, arms crossed as I made myself at home. My gaze darted between Ryker and Donovan. I’d be keeping a closer eye on the Zombies MC going forward. It wasn’t uncommon for the MCs to strike deals with the crime families of the city. I had such a partnership myself with the Sanguine Dragons. However, this partnership was new to me, and I intended to find out all I could about it.
“You couldn’t give us five minutes to finish up, Hale?” Archer sneered in my direction. “Goddamn, you’re a rude motherfucker. What is it this time?”
“I’m a rude motherfucker?” Plucking a photo of his grandson off the desk, I pretended to study it. “You didn’t even give Maven a chance to settle in before you sent one of your thugs to scare her. It’s almost like you don’t even care about your grandkids.”
Donovan Archer knew how this game was played. He’d been playing it longer than I had. Silver haired and devil tongued, he was the same age my father would have been if he hadn’t chased the bottle into an early grave. Archer had a few kids of his own. Only one son had joined the family crime business. The other two had opted for normal lives with picket fences and college degrees. Choosing to stay out of the crime biz didn’t mean they were safe though.
“I apologize for the interruption,” Archer said to Ryker, dismissing him with a head nod. “I’ll be in touch later today.”
Ryker rose slowly, keeping everyone in his sights as he strode toward the door. Once it closed behind him, Archer turned to me with a scowl.
“Ms. Hart is fine, I presume. I gave clear instructions that she wasn’t to be harmed… much.” Archer steepled his fingers, meeting my demanding gaze while trying to keep Ruthless in view.
“It would be a shame if something happened to your family,” I said, dropping the photo frame onto the desk. It toppled over face down. “I never forgot what you did to Maven. You will pay for making her suffer. It’s up to you if I include your family in that debt.”
Donovan waved a hand, and his men put their weapons away. Leaning back in his chair, he folded both hands behind his head. An expensive suit and haircut allowed him to pretend that he was better than me. We both knew that was nothing more than window dressing.
“It goes both ways, Maddox. If you go after my family, then I go after yours, including Maven and her sweet little sister. Let’s not start something our loved ones will suffer for. I just want my delivery back.” Dark eyes gleaming with sick joy, Archer smiled. “Didn’t Maven give you the message?”
I shot off the desk and whirled to grab Archer’s tie, using it to jerk him close. “Yeah, I got the message. Unfortunately, your delivery is long gone. We sold it.”
Archer frowned, carefully prying his tie from my fingers. “Watch it, asshole. You’ll ruin the silk. You don’t have half the class your brother has, do you? I don’t know how you’re both fathered by Aaron Hale. You owe me for the stolen delivery. It was worth a quarter million.”
