by Faith Gibson
Her mother had been a nurse, and Rocky used to sit for hours and listen to her mom go on and on about helping people. Rocky had wanted to help people, too, but then life got in the way. Actually, it was death that got in the way. Her mother’s battle with ovarian cancer had lasted a couple of years. Rocky had been young, but her mother had been truthful with her during the whole ordeal, so when her mom passed away, it hadn’t been a complete shock. Her father’s heart attack soon after had been sudden, and Rocky figured it was because his heart was broken. Uncle Ray’s passing was sudden like her father’s, and he’d also died of a heart attack.
Rocky’s plans to follow in her mom’s footsteps were shot all to hell when her parents died and she’d had to go live with her aunt. She’d started off well with the bar, but things had taken a nosedive when she met him. Blake Stansbury, aka Satan, had charmed the pants off Rocky. He’d had a little help, though. First, he slipped her Rohypnol. Next, he roofied her and got her to snort coke. Next came the heroin. He was smooth in the way he eased her into getting hooked. It was so subtle she didn’t even realize it was happening. It wasn’t long until she was begging for her next fix, and Blake was just the one to supply it. If it hadn’t been for Bridget being such a wonderful bar manager, RC’s would have fallen apart completely. She was an excellent manager as well as friend, and the woman kept things going as long as she could. As long as Rocky wasn’t taking all the profits and shooting them up in her arm.
By the time Vivian managed to get Rocky the help she needed, the damage had been done. Rocky was up to her hairline in debt, and there was no other choice but to sell. She could go back to dancing for Blake, but she would just as soon slit her wrists first. She had no idea what she was going to do for money once the bar was no longer hers, but she would figure something out. Hopefully.
Drago remained hidden in an alcove as several Unholy scanned the street. He’d spent most of the previous weeks observing the freaks trying to determine who their leader was. As of yet, he’d been unsuccessful. There was no rhyme or reason as to where and when they moved about at night. There was also no one Drago could ascertain to be in charge.
When Crane had gone rogue and kidnapped Desmond Rothchild, Drago had thought long and hard about returning to Greece, but facing the wrath of Alistair Gianopoulos was not high on his list of things to do. He preferred his head where it was – attached to his shoulders. Even though Kallisto had been released, she had yet to reach out to him. Sergei was still being held in the New Atlanta pen, so Drago decided to bide his time in the southern city in case Sergei was let go, too. Besides, with Julian Stone and Achilles monitoring security cameras for Drago’s whereabouts, he didn’t have many options of places to go without being identified.
When he first caught sight of the Unholy moving about, Drago got an idea of blending in with them, even though he appeared human whereas the lab experiments gone wrong did not. Now, after nearly three weeks, he was ready to use his Gargoyle strength to infiltrate the local group and take over. Once he had them under his command, he would formulate a plan to get Sergei out of prison if he wasn’t released beforehand. Stepping out from under the covered alcove, Drago moved in behind the Unholy, ready to put phase one into motion.
Chapter Two
Rocky was shaking by the time she stepped into Joel Warren’s office. How did she tell her uncle’s partner she had squandered away his legacy? Rocky had never been more ashamed in her life.
“Rocky, how are you?” the older gentleman asked. By the bags under his eyes, Joel hadn’t fared much better lately than she had.
“I’ve been better, but I’ve also been a lot worse. May we sit? I don’t think I can get this out if I have to stand.”
“Of course, dear.” Instead of sitting behind his desk, Joel led Rocky to the small sofa that centered the far wall.
Rocky didn’t know where to start so she blurted out, “I’m in trouble. Not as much trouble as I was in, but I’ve made some really bad choices these past three years, and I need to sell the bar. I should have come to you sooner, but I couldn’t face you. I was ashamed. I am ashamed.”
Joel didn’t ask what those choices had been. “Are you certain selling is your only option?”
“That or bankruptcy, and I’d rather not have the employees go through that kind of downtime. If I sell, it will hopefully be a smooth transition between owners. That’s why I’m here – I want you to draw up the paperwork and include a clause stipulating my employees retain their jobs.”
Joel didn’t respond straight away. He clasped his hands together with his forearms on his thighs. “Please say something,” Rocky whispered.
He finally leaned back, and the tears in his eyes made Rocky feel a hundred times worse than she already did. “I failed you. I failed Ray, and I failed you.” He wiped a tear away that had escaped from the corner of his eye.
“No, you didn’t. I failed us all. One date with the wrong man turned into a life filled with drugs and other things I don’t care to mention. This is all on me and no one else. If it wasn’t for my best friend, I probably wouldn’t even be here.” Rocky grasped the older man’s hand. “What’s done can’t be undone, and no amount of tears or regret will change things now. I’ve learned a hard lesson, but I’m clean, and I intend to stay that way. I should’ve come to you earlier, but I didn’t. Will you help me now? Please?”
“Of course I will.” Mr. Warren pulled Rocky to him in a fatherly hug. They held on to each other for a few minutes, and when they pulled back, they got down to business. Rocky stood from the sofa and opened the messenger bag she’d brought with her. She laid out the paperwork the attorney needed to help her in selling what should have been her life’s work. She prayed her cousin Tommy didn’t catch wind of her downfall. She wouldn’t be able to stand seeing him gloat.
An hour later, Rocky walked into RC’s feeling better than she had in three years. She would be the one to vet the new owner, and unless she felt good about whose hands her employees were being handed over to, she wouldn’t sell. Joel had assured her he would help her stay afloat until the bar sold to the right person. She refused to take a handout but promised to pay him back with interest. Instead of going to her office, Rocky stepped behind the bar. She needed to keep busy, and slinging drinks was just the way to do it.
Sinclair leaned back in his office chair and clasped his hands behind his head as Rafael filled him in on the latest happenings in New Atlanta.
“We’ve beefed up security at all of our jobsites, but so far, there haven’t been any incidents.”
“What was the point of breaking into your office if whoever is responsible wasn’t going to use the information in some way against you?” Sin asked his brother.
“That’s the million-dollar question. Either they’re biding their time for something, or it was a diversionary tactic.”
“Or a ‘fuck you’ to Julian from his hacker buddy.”
“It seems his hacker buddy, as you put it, has disappeared. There have been no further incidents, not since Katherine Fox’s life was thrown into turmoil,” Rafe said. “Still, we’re not letting our guard down.”
“How is Julian holding up with his mate in prison?”
“About as well as any of us would be – he’s not. He still won’t go see her, but I’m trying to get Nikolas to help change his mind about that. He can’t focus on what we need him to with her sitting there. He’s spending most of his time trying to figure out how to undo everything that was put into place that landed his mate in jail.”
Sin couldn’t imagine what his cousin was going through. If it were his mate in jail, he’d probably be sitting in the cell with her. That or he’d break her out. “Landon Roxburgh is good with computers. If you need his assistance, let me know. I’ll get him to concentrate on the things Julian should be doing so he can clear his mate’s name.”
“Thanks, Brother. I was going to ask if you had someone skilled enough to help. Why don’t you go ahead and ask for his assistance.�
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“I will do that as soon as we hang up.”
“Very good. Now, how are things there? Have Urijah and Banyan called a truce?”
Sin thought back to his conversation with the Goyle earlier. “Banyan says they have. I’ve not been called in to mediate any fights yet. Still, I have a feeling they will eventually come to blows, one way or another.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning there is pent-up sexual tension between them. If my instincts are correct, those two are mates.”
“Now that’s interesting. Sixx had thought Finley was the one Uri had his sights set on,” Rafael said.
“He may have, but Finley is too much of a Goyle whore to only have one partner. He has slacked off his late-night activities since Uri has been in town, but he is still seeing the ladies when he can.”
“Shit. I need Uri focused on weapons, not his friend’s dick.”
“I will do my best to keep him on task.” Sin had an idea, but it could very well backfire. “How is our Prince doing?”
“Growing stronger every day. He woke me up last night kicking. Kaya’s convinced he’s going to be a soccer player.”
Sinclair was truly happy for his brother as well as their Clan. Now that the mates were getting pregnant, the Di Pietro line as well as the Gargoyles as a whole would continue to be, even if they were half-bloods. Still, he was ready to be mated, so his happiness for his King and Queen was somewhat bittersweet. “I am sure Mother is thrilled at the prospect of becoming a grandmother again.” Even though Connor wasn’t Dante’s biological son, Athena claimed him all the same.
“I haven’t spoken to her in a while, which is odd. She was calling for regular updates. I need to reach out to her.”
“Let me know when you contact her. I know she walked out on us, but she is still our mother. Anyway, give Kaya my best.”
“Will do. And Sin? You will get your family, too,” Rafe promised.
“I hope you are right, Brother.” Sin disconnected without saying goodbye. He hated the word. Sin wasn’t necessarily superstitious, but he was afraid if he said the word, it was giving the cosmos permission to take away the person he was talking to – like his father. Edmondo had been not only a great King, but also a wonderful friend to Sin and his brothers throughout the years. The last time Sin had uttered the word goodbye had been to his Papa right before he was slain. Maybe it was a little superstitious, but Sinclair refused to say it ever again.
Sin placed the call to Landon asking him to come by the next day to discuss his new role within the Clan. He would send the Goyle to New Atlanta since that’s where the high-tech equipment was. Sin returned his attention to the computer. One of the things he did was to make sure all the West Coast Goyles had jobs they enjoyed. As Clan members moved around, positions came open, but not all males had the same interests.
Banyan had been in California for several months, and he was helping his Brothers in much the same way Sixx did by investing their money. It didn’t take up much of his time, and he had mentioned how he would like to own a bar or restaurant like he had in New Orleans. So, Sin was keeping his eye out for businesses for sale. From what little time he’d been around Banyan, Sin gleaned from their conversations that the Goyle missed his life in the bayou. Sin visited the port city on occasion and enjoyed his time there, but he preferred the mild climate of California over the humid heat of Louisiana.
When he didn’t see anything lucrative, Sin shut off the computer and went to see what delicious meal Ingrid had prepared for him and his guests. Finley liked to get right down to playing when they shared women, but Sin preferred to wine and dine them first. He was quite a bit more selective in who he allowed in his bed. If the women didn’t pass muster during their initial conversations, Sin would possibly call it an early evening. Chemistry wasn’t essential to fucking, but it was needed in the way he preferred to play when more than two people were involved.
Once Sin was satisfied with the menu, he excused Ingrid to her section of the house. The human was no stranger to Sinclair and his “guests”, even though it had been a while since he had invited Finley over. Sin and Lorenzo had shared women over the last thirty years, and when he moved to New Atlanta, Sin thought his threesome days were over. Color him surprised when Fin suggested a “party” soon after he arrived on the West Coast.
The only thing Sin could figure out was Lor and Finley had discussed Lorenzo’s life in California, including his after-hours activities with Sin. It also surprised Sin, because Urijah was all Fin talked about. Maybe he was using the women as a way to forget his best friend, but it would be hard to forget someone who was practically living with you. Sin didn’t try to figure out their relationship. He was glad Finley agreed to the night’s activities, because he needed to get lost in a soft female body. Or two.
Remembering his vow to Rafael, Sin shot Urijah a text stating if he could get away from the armory later to swing by for a small get-together. Either the Goyle would join in or he’d be so pissed off he’d never speak to Sin or Finley again. If that was the case, sparring sure would be interesting from there on out.
When seven o’clock rolled around, Sin was wound up more tightly than he had been that morning. His shifter hearing alerted him to Finley’s car pulling down the drive. He checked the food and champagne one more time before meeting his guests at the front door. If Fin had been alone, he’d have come around back to the pool area. Since the women were with him, Sin preferred the use of the formal entrance. Rarely did Sin allow strangers into the less formal areas of his home, and never did he allow anyone, not even Fin, into his bedroom. Besides Rafael, the only ones to have ever seen his sanctuary were his three wives. Not even Ingrid was allowed in the top floor where his bedroom was located.
Sin opened the door to Finley, Vivian, and a blonde he’d never met. Once they were inside, Fin made the introductions. “Sin, you remember Vivian. And this beauty is Dana. Dana, my friend Sinclair.”
Sin greeted each woman with a kiss to the back of her hand. “Ladies, thank you for joining us this evening. If you would follow me, my cook has prepared a special meal.”
Dana’s eyebrows shot up, but Vivian smirked and licked her lips. She had hinted more than once at getting in between Sin and Fin. If she and Dana impressed him during dinner, she’d finally get her chance. Finley kept the conversation going for the most part while Sinclair sat back and observed. Dana was reserved without being too quiet, and Vivian flirted shamelessly. She never let an innuendo pass by without glancing Sin’s way. He had met a lot of brazen women over the years, but none so much so as the curvy redhead.
Dinner was delicious, and Dana made sure to compliment Ingrid’s abilities. Vivian stated she was ready for dessert. Finley was full of talk and bluster during dinner, but in their arrangements where he and Sinclair shared women, Fin was the more submissive of the two. Theirs wasn’t the type of relationship where Sin was what the BDSM world called a dominant, but he did call the shots in the bedroom, even when they were at Fin’s house.
Instead of something sweet for dessert, Sin poured everyone a glass of champagne. When it came time to deliver a toast, he couldn’t find the words. He was looking forward to what they had planned, but something was off. It wasn’t Dana. The young woman was pretty and polite. Vivian was… Vivian. Sin didn’t have a problem with her attitude. Something he couldn’t lay claim to had him hesitating, if briefly. When he realized everyone was waiting for him to say something, Sin simply raised his glass and said, “Salute.”
Finley frowned at him before drinking his champagne down in one swallow. He raised his eyebrows, waiting for Sin to let him know whether they would proceed to the large guestroom, or if Finley would be taking the women home to his place. Exhaling a small sigh that was only audible to Finley’s shifter hearing, Sin nodded. Fin, less enthusiastic than usual, clapped his hands together. “Ladies, if you would like to follow me…” He didn’t elaborate. They both knew what was going to happen next. Sin remained in
the dining room momentarily trying to figure out what the fuck was wrong with him. The women were desirable, and he’d been looking forward to being with them all day, needing the release. Something had been off with him ever since he left the gym. He finally gave up trying to figure out what was wrong and followed his guests to the large bedroom where they would play for the next hour or so.
Urijah found it odd that Sinclair sent him a text asking him to come over. He hadn’t seen much of the Goyle since he began forging new swords at the armory. The two of them had sparred a couple of times, but other than that, Uri didn’t see anyone other than Finley. There were some nights he didn’t see his best friend. In the weeks since Sixx and Rae had found their way back to each other, Uri had done his best to stay away from their home, giving them space to become reacquainted. He either spent the night at Fin’s or stayed at the armory working on weapons.
Uri wasn’t stupid. He knew Finley went out on occasion for sex. He’d hoped once they spent more time together, Fin would see him as something more than a friend. Even though they shared the bed some nights for sleep, rarely did Uri get what he wanted. The few times they’d had sex had been good for Uri, but he knew it was nothing more than an orgasm for Fin. The Goyle had never been picky about who he got his rocks off with. That should have been a flashing neon sign to Uri that Fin would never return his feelings. Uri needed to face facts and accept he would never be happy. The thirty years he spent in New Orleans should have taught him that.
He was at a good stopping point, having finished several hilts that were now ready to be fitted to their blades, and decided to take Sin up on his offer. Even if he was only visiting California, Uri needed to spend time with his Clan. When he arrived at Sin’s home, he spoke into the security box and drove through the gate once it opened for him. Whenever he entered one of their secure locations, Uri thought about Julian and how the Goyle was faring with his mate sitting in prison.