Blood & Fists: Bare-knuckle Series #1

by Marie Deveraux

  “Can I get ye a drink?”

  “No, thank you Roisin, this won’t take long.”

  Ronan took a seat next to his mother, keeping his unblinking eyes on Olivia. Olivia glanced over to him, taking in his stiff posture and clenched jaw.

  Olivia’s steel blue eyes met Roisin’s, “I’m here to offer you half of Sawyer’s territory to absorb into yours. The other half will be offered to Dmitri.”

  Ronan sniffed. Roisin folded her hands and nodded.

  “Ye don’t want it?”

  “No, I don’t. I figured you and Dmitri could change that area for the better. I have too much on my plate as is. Besides, for as much as Sawyer was stealing from you, think of this as part of repayment.” Roisin pursed her lips. Ronan sucked in a breath and shrugged, drawing the attention of Olivia.

  “Why should we believe this is a sincere offer? Ye … Ye been lying to us since the day ye got here. I don’t … ye broke his heart …”

  Roisin’s head snapped towards Ronan, her eyes ablaze. She’d taught her sons never to bring in personal grudges into a business deal. Shaking her head, Olivia stared down Ronan.

  A click at the front pub door made Roisin’s eyes look towards the door. The door swung open and Peter stepped in. He sensed the tension right away. He’d done his best not to look disheveled, dressing in a black shirt and jeans, but his messy hair and the dark circles under his eyes told Olivia everything she needed to know. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. He moved to the bar, leaning against it. His body was calm yet alert.

  Olivia’s eyes drew back to Ronan. Resting her chin in her palm, she leaned in.

  “You really want to do this here, Ronan? This is a business meeting. Last time I checked, the matter between your brother and I is a personal one and not a business one. I suggest you stay out of it.”

  “Or what, ye kill me?” Ronan sniped.

  Peter’s jaw clenched and Roisin was about to speak, without taking her eyes from Ronan, Olivia raised her hand to silence her. Peeking out of her rolled up flannel shirt was Olivia’s new Japanese black and emerald green tattoo. Peter noticed the swirling design around the symbols and the redness on her arm around it. By the redness, it’d been recently done.

  Olivia’s lip twitched at the corner of her mouth. The silence stretched out a few seconds before Olivia’s eyes swept towards Andreia with her headphones in, near the kitchen door and sweeping the floor. Everyone’s eyes turned towards Andreia who was oblivious to what was happening. Drawing her eyes back to Ronan, “I could hit you where it hurts, boy.”

  Olivia’s cold eyes flicked between Roisin and Peter before returning to Ronan, “Son or brother, understand that I will not hesitate if anyone disrespects me.”

  “As I told you the last time we were here Ronan,” Peter jerked, looking between Olivia and his brother, “you don’t have to like me and you certainly don’t have to trust me.”

  Olivia tilted her head towards Roisin, “Only she does. And she takes orders from me.”

  Peter clenched his fists, his knuckles popping. Roisin growled, “Ronan, leave this table right now before I kill ye myself.”

  In a flash, Peter had yanked Ronan from his chair and was dragging him towards the back storage room. Peter threw his brother in and slammed the door behind him. Eito heard the sounds of cans bouncing on the wooden floor along with several bottles breaking. Ronan was getting the ass kicking of his life.

  “My apologies. My son can be … protective and emotional. ‘specially when it comes to Peter.”

  Olivia waved a hand and smiled, “Don’t worry about it. I’d have killed to have had an overprotective brother like Ronan. I understand why he’s upset.”

  Roisin relaxed, “Dmitri speaks highly of ye so I have no doubt yer offer is legitimate. However, if Clan Driscoll accepts, I’m worried we wouldn’t have enough people to set up business in and defend that territory. Sawyer’s partners and the South Side will be itching to get a piece of that vacant territory.”

  Olivia steepled her fingers and nodded, “I’ve been thinking about that.”

  Roisin nodded, “I’m all ears.”

  “Dux and Batista, along with my man,” she pointed behind her, “Eito, should be able to cover that territory. If need be, I can send for a few of my most trusted men in Tokyo to help.”

  “What ‘bout police and the Feds, they’re bound to notice all this activity.”

  Olivia gave a half-smile, “I thought you have Chicago PD taken care of due to Peter’s … connection?”

  Roisin’s eyes widened. Olivia tucked a few strands of her blonde hair behind her ear, “Pillow talk. He is very chatty in bed.”

  Roisin laughed, “Glad I’m not the only one who has that problem with her man. I was beginning to think I was alone.” Olivia chuckled and continued, “The big thing will be if the Feds decide to start watching Peter and Ronan again.”

  “Ye know about that?”

  The corners of Olivia’s mouth quirked up, “I’ve been watching Clan Driscoll for a few years now, just to make sure I was making the right choice in alliances. The Feds aren't exactly secretive of their tailing or surveillance. Even when I arrived, they stuck out like a sore thumb.”

  Roisin ran her hand through her hair and shook her head.

  “In order for the events to fall into place and for order for Sawyer’s men to grab you, I needed to make sure zero Feds were around. Sorry about that by the way, you getting nabbed by Sawyer’s men. Clan Driscoll was never in any true danger with Sawyer at the warehouse or your townhome, my men were always nearby. And of course, Dmitri was very insistent that he have men on standby as well.”

  “I appreciate that. I really do. I’m curious, did ye kill the Feds?”

  Olivia shook her head once, “I anonymously gave them some information on the Italians and cartels that was enough to divert their attention away from us. For awhile, at least.”

  “I have to ask, why? Why go through all that when ...”

  Olivia looked down at her fingers as Roisin realized the answer.

  “Peter?”

  Olivia gave a small nod, “Aye.”

  Roisin reached across the table and touched Olivia’s hand. For a few minutes, the two women sat in silence. Olivia felt a lump grow in her throat as she stared down at Roisin’s hand on hers. Olivia cleared her throat, “Do you miss your mother?”

  Roisin chuckled, “Did he tell ye that story in bed as well?”

  Olivia flashed a grin, “No. You’d be surprised at what my father told me for bedtime stories.”

  Roisin shook her head, laugh lines appearing around her eyes “God bless that man. Sounds like he had plans for ye from the beginning. Since ye know the story, I’ll just say that I do miss me mother, ‘specially when I’m working here at the bar. I’ll see a flitter out of the corner of me eye and think its her. I like to think that it is.”

  Olivia nodded and squeezed her eyes shut. Roisin wiped a tear from her eye, “They’re always with us, ye know.”

  Olivia opened her eyes and nodded. Roisin cleared her throat and smiled, “I like that idea ye suggested and yer offer very much. Give me a few days to think it over?”

  Olivia removed her hand from Roisin’s, straightening her back. Olivia stood, giving Roisin a smile, “Of course. If you think of anything or need to get ahold of me, I’ll be at the Peninsula downtown.”

  26

  Peter folded Livvy’s clothes without even realizing it. He would forget that Livvy was gone and not in the next room, curled up on the couch and reading from his Kindle. Setting down the laundry basket on their bed, he started putting his clothes away. He hated how cold and silent the apartment had become. He opened her drawer, his eyes falling on jeans, lacy underwear, and a couple of her black tank tops.

  “Fuck,” he breathed. Looking down at his hands, he had grabbed her clothes to put away without even registering what he was doing. He dropped her clothes on the floor and slammed her drawer closed. Peter jabbed his f
ist into the black drawer and kicked it for good measure.

  Flexing his injured hand he growled, “Well, at least I know I still feel pain.”

  Huffing out a breath, he sat on the edge of their bed. Peter shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes. He figured it was time to talk to her. His eyes stung with tears as he lifted his green eyes heavenwards.

  Peter gave a weak smile, “Hey kid. Sorry we haven’t talked in awhile. As you’ve seen, I’ve been a little busy.” Massaging his pained hand, Peter let the tears fall down his face, soaking into his beard, “These past few weeks have been rough and I’m at a loss on what to do. Figured, I’d ask you for some advice since you always set me straight when I was lost.”

  He swiped at his tears and laughed, “Yeah, I know. Of course. I love her. Very much.” Peter stretched out on his bed and crossed his legs. His phone vibrated on his nightstand, Peter reached over and glanced down at the text message.

  His eyebrows wiggled at the ceiling, “I know you weren’t a big believer in miracles and shit, but I’m blaming that one on you.”

  Eito had met Peter in the lobby of the Peninsula and rode with him up the elevator. Peter sucked in a nervous breath. Eito gave a small smile. Peter straightened and restraightened his tie and kept smoothing the sleeves of his blue Armani suit. Wearing the same suit he’d worn when he met her was intentional. He doubt she’d notice but it was one of his favorites. Eito shook his head at Peter’s fidgeting.

  “Relax, Pete. She’s not going to kill you.”

  Peter picked lint from his jacket sleeve, “That’s not what I’m nervous about.”

  A smile danced on Eito’s lips, “Then, what are you so nervous about?”

  Peter gave Eito a disparaging look and shook his head. The elevator door opened and Eito pointed to a glass door to the right that lead out onto a terrace roof that was dotted with plush chairs and tables. Eito moved to stand guard at the door and gave Peter a wink before watching Peter open the glass door and step out into the warm evening. He squeezed his hands into fists, looking across the skyline at the setting sun. He took a few steps and looked down at the street below, resting his hands on the metal railing. The terrace roof was empty.

  Movement from the far right caught his eye and he looked towards it. There she was. Her blonde hair was pulled to one side of her head and loosely braided. Their eyes met. Peter and that goddamn suit. Olivia gestured with her eyes for him to sit across from her. He walked towards her but slowed as his eyes swept down her body. He sucked in a breath, she was in a sleeveless dress with stilettos. Not just any dress, a curve-hugging black satin dress that reached just above her knees. Her legs were crossed so the dress rode up just enough for him to desire a better view.

  She watched him take her in, enjoying all his physical responses to her in a dress. Unbuttoning his jacket, he sat. Peter scratched his beard, “You look … wow ...”

  Olivia picked up a glass filled with rose wine and took a sip. As she took a sip, her eyes flicked down to his knuckles, a few tiny cuts from Peter decking Ronan were still visible. She didn’t know how to respond to his compliment.

  “I’m assuming since you’re here, that your mother told you everything.”

  Peter looked down at his hands that were resting on his knees, “Yes.”

  She waited for him to meet her eyes, when he did, she asked, “Ok, so what are you doing here?”

  He cleared his throat, “I wanted to apologize for Ronan being an overprotective asshole. I had no idea he’d, well, question you when I was gone.”

  Olivia pressed her lips together, “It’s fine. I get where he’s coming from. I don’t blame him or you for having suspicions about me. If our roles were reversed, I’d react the same way … well, almost. I would’ve done a few things different.” Peter lifted an eyebrow.

  Olivia’s eyes sparkled, “You should’ve killed me on the jet when I slipped up.”

  Peter ran a hand over his face, “Yeah, well, I wasn’t really thinking with my head, ya know.”

  Olivia’s eyes glittered, “I know. Neither was I.”

  Peter looked out at the buildings as he spoke, “Still, I’m sorry. It’s …”

  “So fucked up?”

  Peter nodded in silence.

  Olivia swallowed and cleared her throat, “You understand why I did what I did right?”

  Peter looked back at her, “I do. But still have some questions …”

  “I’m sure you have a million. Please, ask them.”

  “First, why are you in a dress?”

  Olivia lips curled, “I have a date.”

  Tapping his fingers on the table, “With whom?”

  “You.”

  A smile tugged at Peter’s lips. Tracing the lines on his left palm with his right index finger, “Did you know who I was the night I hit on you?”

  Olivia’s expression softened, remembering.

  “I knew of you. I didn’t know what you looked like. I knew Ronan and your mother by sight, but you, no. Not until I started watching you looking around in the arena.”

  Smiling, Peter ran a hand over his face, “So that means you didn’t fuck a bunch of Yakuza to get information on me?” Olivia downed the rest of her wine and shook her head, “Nope. I never mixed business with pleasure. You’re my only exception, blondie.”

  Peter grinned, “I really hate you.”

  Olivia simpered, “And I really hate you.”

  A question that he’d asked her on the jet from Japan popped into his head. He knew what her answer would be, he was terrified to hear it. Olivia’s blue eyes watched him as he stood and sat next to her. She hesitated, she wasn’t expecting this. She didn’t look at him when he sat down.

  He gazed at her as she studied the nearby buildings.

  “Livvy … where is home for you?”

  Her eyes filled with tears and she squeezed them shut, letting the tears fall.

  She swallowed and looked over at him, “With you, Peter.”

  He stood and offered her his hand. She looked up at him before taking it. He turned her around so she was pressed against him, looking at the last rays of the sun disappearing under the horizon.

  Linking his hands around her waist, he kissed her neck and whispered, “There’s something that I’ve been wanting to ask you …”

  Olivia tensed and held her breath.

  “What’s your preferred method of killing? I gotta admit, you seem like a piano wire type of girl.”

  She giggled and pushed against him, “Piano wire is so old school! I’m a poisons gal through and through. I find guns to be too messy, so I usually settle on a knife or--”

  “Fuck. This is your idea of foreplay isn’t it?”

  She nodded as his hands moved downwards.

  “New flash: it’s fucking working.”

  She turned her head towards his. Peter turned her to face him, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. Her body tingled with desire as they held each other for a few moments. Olivia pulled his lips to hers. Peter cupped her chin when his tongue parted her lips and teased her. His hands traced down her back.

  Resting her forehead against his, Peter asked, “I like the new tattoo by the way. The colors match mine.”

  “I know, it was intentional.”

  “What … what does it say?”

  “Japanese saying: One life. One encounter. I’ve been thinking of getting it since those first few weeks with you.”

  “Livvy … you ...”

  She pressed her fingers to his lips and smiled, shaking her head. He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

  “Let’s go home.”

  Epilogue

  “You sure you want me to come in with you?” Peter asked.

  Olivia looked over at him and smiled, taking his hand. The airport was crowded even this late at night. They weaved their way through clusters of people with luggage and boarding passes towards a small area away from the pedestrian traffic. Olivia remembered this walk like it was yesterday. Oliv
ia let go of Peter’s hand as they stepped into an alcove lined with lock boxes and lockers. She stopped and closed her eyes.

  “Visual memory, this is the only way I remember where it’s at.”

  Peter waited and watched.

  Opening her eyes, Olivia reached out her hand and touched the first row of lockers and took five steps before turning down a second row of lockboxes. Peter followed her and watched as she counted five rows down and five rows deep. She had a thing for the number five. She motioned for Peter to come. Reaching in her pocket, she pulled out the key that Noriko had given back to her.

  “Do you have a pen?”

  Peter looked at her confused, “Yeah, I do.”

  He reached into his suit pocket and handed her a pen. Olivia slid the key in and waited, “If I remember correctly, I booby trapped this. Nothing insane, but best to be cautious.”

  She turned the key and cracked open the lockbox. She saw a small white piece of string hanging between the locking mechanism attached to something inside. She took Peter’s pen and yanked the string out, disabling the trap. Opening the lockbox door wider, Peter and Olivia peered into the dark metal box. She reached in and pulled a few pieces of paper out.

  “Birth certificate, insurance,” she reached in and pulled out her passport and handed it to Peter. Curious, he flipped to her passport photo and stifled a laugh. Olivia put the papers into a small bag she’d brought with them.

  “You never told me you had a goth phase.”

  He bit his lip, unable to stop a burst of laughter from escaping.

  Olivia smirked at him, “What?! You didn’t?”

  She reached in and pulled out a stack of cards. Expired credit cards, student ID cards, business cards, two old burner phones, and her driver’s license. She held it up to Peter.

  “I also went through a short hair phase.”

  Peter grinned at the photo, “Awww, you look fucking adorable.”

  Tossing those items into the bag she’d brought, Olivia reached in and pulled the last item out. It was a crinkled up plastic grocery bag, with various papers and a stack of photos. Olivia didn’t look in. She knew what was in there.