“What the fuck does it look like?” He chuckles but it quickly stops when he sees the mood I’m in. Grinder pulls up a chair and sits across from me, eyeing me.
“What happened?”
“You ever been fucking lied to about something that was important?”
“I don’t like getting that close to people. This about one of the brothers?” he asks, cocking his head to study me as I shake my head.
“No, not the guys. I just found out some shit about Toni that shocked me.”
“She’s been lying to you?”
“Who’s been lying to who?” We both turn when we hear Phoenix’s voice.
“What the hell are you doing here? Kenna okay?” I ask, shoving to my feet.
“She’s fine. Just resting. I needed a break. Come in the office,” he says walking past us and down the hall. I grab the bottle that Grinder had in his hand and flip him off as I walk toward the office.
As I walk in, I see Phoenix already pouring a glass of whatever he had in his desk drawer.
“You good, Prez?” I ask.
“Yeah. Everything’s good. What’s with the suit?” he asks nodding toward my attire. I grin and take a seat across from him in the chair.
“Went to meet Toni’s mom with her.”
“No shit? What’s she like?”
“A fucking mob boss.”
“No way!”
“I shit you not. She seems to have her shit together. Nice lady for a mafia boss,” I chuckle before taking a drink from the bottle.
“Then what’s the issue?”
“Toni’s dad. She never told me who he was. Her mom let her street name slip. Shocked the fucking hell out of me.”
“Her street name? What’s her street name?” he asks.
“Ant.”
“Ant? As in Edge’s daughter?” I can see him connecting the dots in his head. “She’s been here?” I nod my head feeling like a complete asshole for letting her in to begin with.
“She’s been here.”
“How the fuck didn’t we know this? What is she after? Did he plant her here?” I know he has a million questions and hell, I do too, but this is all on me. This is all my fault.
“It’s a little more complicated than that,” I tell him as I run my hand through my hair.
“How so? You fucking her?” He chuckles until he sees I’m not laughing along. “You are?”
“It’s a little more complicated, Phoenix.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake! You like her?” He asks, leaning his elbows on his desk in front of him.
“Yeah, I do. She calmed the storm in me, brother. I liked having her around but she’s Edge’s daughter!” I scrub my hand over my face as I let it all sink in. This shouldn’t be happening. I shouldn’t be sitting here thinking about her the way I am but I can’t stop myself.
“That complicates things, Leo.”
“No shit. You think I don’t know that?”
“Where is she now?”
“I don’t know. I left her with her mom at the restaurant. I needed out of there,” I admit.
“What are you going to do? You can’t just walk away from her if you have feelings for her,” he tells me. Like hell I can’t. Who does he think he’s talking to right now?
“I would never do anything to risk this club, Prez. She’s risking the club!” Phoenix tilts his head to the side, studying me.
“Is she?”
“She came here for a reason! There’s no way that shit was coincidence,” I roar.
“Did you ask her that? It might have been. Maybe she just needed a break. You don’t know the reason behind her being here and I’m sure you were too fucking stubborn to ask her,” he adds with a slight grin.
“I just stormed out of there. I didn’t ask her anything.”
“Figures. You’re a hothead when you want to be. You need to talk to her.”
“I don’t know if that’s the best idea,” I say softly.
“This isn’t you, Leo. You don’t hide from shit. Sure as fuck not from a woman. I wouldn’t have left you in charge if I didn’t think you could handle this club and keep everyone safe. I trust you. The guys trust you. Talk to her.” I shake my head and run my hand over my face unsure of what to do. I could talk to her, I suppose. I could let her explain her side of things.
“Why are you even here?” I ask, changing the subject.
“I was suffocating in that house, brother. Kenna’s too sick to do anything. The girl hangs over the toilet most of the day,” he tells me.
“Damn. I didn’t know it was that bad.”
“Yeah. The doc said morning sickness can be hard on her and he wasn’t lying.”
“Sorry to hear that.” He nods his head and shoves out of his chair before walking around toward me. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he says, “Me too but talk to your girl, Leo. Don’t let shit end like this. I trust you with the club, brother.” With that he walks out of the office.
I sit here for what seems like forever just thinking. She lied to me. That’s a huge no go on my end. I don’t like lies. But maybe she had her reasons for not telling me. Not that I’d know, I didn’t even give her the chance to explain. Blowing out a breath, I decide I’ll talk to her tomorrow, give us both the night to cool off.
Chapter Seventeen
Antonia
As much as I wanted to head over to the club last night, I didn’t. I mean, I did almost get there after an Uber took me home. I hopped in my car and drove over to the club, determined to speak to him, but I turned my ass around and went back to my apartment. I knew he needed time to breathe, to process what I didn’t tell him, and going to see him would only make things worse. And then on top of it I needed to process what I did by not telling him. God, I fucked with his trust in me and I know that. And I’d be a fool to think this is something we can resolve super quickly. I’ll need to show him I’m sorry and continue to make up for it. Which is exactly what I’m doing right now. Leo doesn’t know it yet, but I’m walking through the doors of the Aces of Night MC, ready to tell my father I’m done being his pawn.
“Hey, Ant.” One of the guys comments, eyeing me up and down like a meal. At my father’s club I’ve never been given respect. They only look at me as a glorified clubwhore and that’s all I’ll ever be to them. Even my father doesn’t give a damn, which makes it all worse. At the end of the day I should’ve never believed him when he proposed this grand plan. He wouldn’t have ever passed the gavel to me and I see that now. Clearly, he’s going to be the same rotten, double-crossing bastard he’s always been.
“Hey,” I comment back, weaving my way through the club until I’m at my father’s office. Typically I knock, since you know, it’s respectful, but tonight I don’t give a flying fuck.
Pushing the door open, I make my presence known. “Antonia, what the hell?!” His tone is chastising, but I could care less.
I stare right into his eyes and tell him exactly what’s happening right now. “I’m not going to keep being your little bitch who runs around and does the hard work for you. If you want intel on the Devil’s Ash MC, you can do it your damn self.” I turn on my heel and start to walk out when his words cause me to stop right in my tracks.
“Don’t you want the club when I step down?” Well, what a fucking question.
I turn to face him and glare, “You wouldn’t have given me this club even if I was the last person on earth. Don’t try to fuck with my head, Dad, ‘cause I’m fucking over it. There isn’t a day where you’ll ever pass the gavel to me, or another woman for that matter.”
A devious smirk pulls at his lips, “I can see you’ve been speaking to your mother.”
I can’t hold back rolling my eyes, “Don’t you dare pull that shit with me! I don’t even have to fucking speak to her to see what you are. I only wish I’d seen it earlier, before I got my fucking hopes up and you dragged me into another one of your bullshit missions. I’m done.” I start to walk out of his office again, yet he speaks up in
another attempt to stop me.
“If you keep walkin’, Antonia, you’ll never have this club. I’ll give it to someone else. Someone far more willing.”
“Fuck you for dangling this in front of my face. I’m not a fool. Can’t you see that? Don’t you realize I’m not going to be your little toy anymore? God dammit.” I shake my head and take in a deep breath.
“Jimmy told me you’ve been getting rather close to that Leo. This have anything to do with your erratic behavior?”
Wow. Just like him to give a damn when it involves something he wants. “Since when have you ever given a flying fuck about my behavior? Go choke on a dick. I’m done with you.”
“And I’m done with you, Antonia DeGrossi, if you walk out that fucking door!” He roars so loudly I can practically hear an echo in the club. “You won’t ever get this club!”
I glance back and cock a brow with a devious smirk tugging at my lips, “Who needs your shitty little club when I’ll have Roma?”
If he wants to play a chess game, we’re going to fucking play. What he’s failed to realize is that I’m the one with the king, not him.
I left the Aces of Night’s clubhouse and came straight over to Leo’s club, ready to grovel, apologize, and do anything I need to make this up to him. I didn’t want to admit this to myself, but I like the guy. I couldn’t pinpoint it at first, but I’ve come to realize I like the way he makes me feel. When Leo looks at me, he makes me feel like I’m the hottest bitch on the planet and that I’m untouchable. I feel more power than I’ve ever felt with another man, but more than that, I feel craved. He’s an addict and I’m the drug, and if he could he’d devour me in one hit, but instead he keeps coming back for more.
Grinder, one of his brothers, is at the door, eyeing me up and down as I approach. “Not sure I should let you in, all things considered.”
I cock a brow, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let me in. Leo will tear you a new asshole if you don’t.”
“Oh really? I have a feelin’ he doesn’t really wanna see you right now.”
I look right at him and know he’s trying to fuck with me. “I’m sure he’ll wanna see me when I tell him my father placed a rat here in the club, and I know who the fucker is.”
Grinder cackles and wipes his hand over his jaw, “Well, shit. Wasn’t expectin’ you to come at me with somethin’ like that. Come on in, girl. Let’s start some shit, shall we?” Damn, he’s so amused with this. If I were him, I’d be ready to break some necks, not cackling over someone sneaking in the club under their noses.
He opens the door and we head inside, walk past the bar and I see Jimmy sitting at a table with two of the other guys in the club. Meanwhile, Leo comes walking over to me with purpose. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Proving my loyalty,” I declare.
“What?” He seems so confused.
“Showing you, I wasn’t fucking using you”.”
He doesn’t say a word.
“Telling you, that despite what happened, you don’t know everything and I’m prepared to tell you every detail.”
Leo shuts his eyes and shakes his head. I’m not sure if he’s processing what I’m saying to him, or if he’s about to tell me to get the fuck out. Though, I hope he gives me a chance. I just need one shot at this. One opportunity to show him I’m not like the rest.
“Can you get to the point? I got shit to do.” He grits, clenching his jaw. Yep. He’s pissed.
“My father sent one of his boys to start prospecting for your club in an attempt to give them intel. When his plan wasn’t working, he tricked me into believing if I gave him the information he wanted, he’d hand the gavel over when the time came. I realized this was nothing but a charade in order to get me to fall into line,” I feel stares on me from around the room, and a quick glance confirms everyone is listening to my words.
“I just came from the Aces of Night’s clubhouse, where I told my father to go choke on a cock because I’m not going to be his little bitch anymore. Nor will I be anyone’s bitch,” I look right at Leo, hoping he believes the truth.
“Who’s the rat?” He speaks with a gravelly tone.
“My mother taught me to never give information away, Leo. I want something.”
“You fuckin’ want something?” He snarls, taking a few steps toward me until he’s right in my face. With bloodshot eyes and a curled lip, he spits as he speaks. “You lied to me, deceived me in front of all my brothers, and you think you’re in the position to demand shit?”
I nod, “I do, because I have something you want.”
“God dammit!” He snaps.
“Give me fifteen minutes with you, where we can talk in private after I give you his name.”
“Five,” he counters back.
“Seven,” I reply.
“Six.”
“Seven it is, take it or leave it.” Back in high school, I found out a lot could be accomplished in seven minutes. I can only hope the same is true for a woman in her twenties.
“Give me the name.” He grumbles while his nostrils flare.
I glance behind me and look directly at my ex. “Jimmy, this is the part when you run.”
Chapter Eighteen
Leo
I can’t believe she’s here, telling me this. I can’t believe that she actually came back. I wanted to stay pissed at her, but there’s a sincerity in her eyes that I can’t ignore.
“Don’t let that motherfucker out of here!” I roar pointing at Jimmy as the guys all move. In seconds they have him ripped from his chair and hauling him toward the basement. I turn my gaze to Toni and glare at her. “You got seven minutes. Get in the office.” She turns on her heel keeping her head held high as she walks. I force myself to take a deep breath before following her.
“Leo, I’m sorry,” she begins but I cut her off.
“I don’t want to hear sorry, Toni. Do you know how many times I’ve heard that word in my life? Hundreds, if not thousands.”
“I don’t know what to say. It was a mistake. I should have known that before but I wanted that club so badly,” she says.
“My mother was a drug addict. She used to forget to pick me up from school. Every day would be the same. She would always say, ‘I’m sorry, Leo. I should have been there’ but she wasn’t. Then it would happen the next day and the next. I got so used to hearin’ I’m sorry that it didn’t mean anything to me anymore.” Toni shakes her head, not knowing what to say and I can’t blame her.
“I messed up, Leo. I didn’t mean to hurt you in the process.” I nod my head and run my hand through my hair.
“So, it’s Jimmy?” I ask.
“I didn’t know about him at first. I thought it was only going to be me.”
“You realize what you did by telling me about him, yeah?”
“Jimmy deserves what he gets. I’m not concerned about him,” she adds.
“What are you concerned about?” I need her to say us. I want her to say us. I don’t know why I feel so strongly about her but I do and I’m not ready to let that go yet.
“I’m worried about how we left things,” she admits and my chest tightens. Not exactly what I wanted to hear but it’s close enough.
“We left things? Don’t you mean you left things?” I’m being an asshole. I know I am but there’s a part of me that needs her to understand the hell that I’ve lived through and why her lies hurt so damn much.
“You’re right. I should have told you but how would that conversation have gone? Should I have just blurted it out? Told the truth?”
“For starters!”
“I didn’t come here to find a man, Leo! I came here to carry out a job that I was given. I didn’t know I’d like you. I didn’t know that I would have feelings for you. I don’t know what else you want me to say here,” she yells angrily. I walk around the desk and grab the first bottle I can find. Popping the top off, I drink straight from the bottle. This is too much. I didn’t sign up for this shit
, to have feelings and all that shit. My head is a mess. I want to be mad at her, I want to scream at her, shake her but I can’t do that. She’s here, admitting to what she did wrong.
“I’m going to handle Jimmy but what about your dad?”
“What about him? He isn’t an issue.”
“Isn’t he?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. “He sent you here for intel, yeah? That means something, Toni. He’s looking at my club for a reason.”
“I don’t know, Leo. I didn’t have specifics. I can’t go back now to find out either. I meant what I said. I’m not going to be his little puppet any longer.” I set the bottle on the desk and walk back around to stand in front of her. We stare at each other, eye to eye. Something inside of me wants to hurt her but I can’t do that. I feel too much. I like having her around too much. So instead of hurting her, I reach up and run my finger along her cheek.
“I’m going to kill Jimmy slowly. I’m going to make him pay for coming here.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“The question is, what am I going to do with you? You did the exact same thing as Jimmy,” I tell her as I slowly slip my hand lower until it wraps around her throat. She keeps her eyes on me, never wavering.
“You do what you have to do,” she says.
“Hmm. I’m just not sure what I want to do just yet. There are so many options, isn’t there, Ant?” I see her flinch at her street name. That was the point. I want her on edge. I want her wondering what’s coming next for her.
“You don’t scare me, Leo.” I cock my head to the side and grin at her.
“Is that right? You should be scared, Toni. You think your father is a ruthless asshole but you’ve never seen me angry.” With that I release my grip on her and walk past her heading for the door. She follows behind me as we walk back out into the main room. A few heads pop up to see what we’re doing but it’s the guys’ stares that burn through me. They want to know what we’re doing to our little rat.
Sharp Edges (Full Throttle Book 2) Page 6