“Michael wants you to meet with him.”
My head shakes. “If I see him, I’ll kill him,” is my only reply.
The guy wipes at his forehead. “Well, he’s waiting out front for you.”
I can feel my blood boil. I literally seethe, like an angry abscess about to burst open. His words feel like a branding iron, and they’re sizzling their way through my skin.
“Don’t, Boss. Remember what you’re avoiding,” Quinn says.
But if he’s the only one that can contact Antonio, then Michael is who I have to see, I think to myself.
My feet move before I even have time to contemplate a smarter move. Michael’s leaning against my car when I walk out, waiting for me to leave. He’s dressed in his MC get-up as usual, but no smile touches his face as he glares at me. My feet take me to him then my hand slams into his face, over and over again until we’re both on the floor rolling around. He gets a few punches in, but they don’t register as the bubbling anger and adrenaline take over, and my fist keeps moving.
“Ryken,” Cane calls my name or yells it, I’m not sure. Either way, we don’t stop until we’re pulled apart. Cane has his hands under my arms, pulling me back, as the guy who showed me the photograph is pulling Michael back. Quinn’s just standing there smiling which pisses Cane off more. “Why the fuck aren’t you helping?”
Quinn shrugs, and I pull myself free from Cane who swears at me. “If he wants to beat the guy who got his woman taken away, who the fuck am I to stop him?”
“Ryken did that. He did that the moment he saw her. He doomed her, not Michael.” Cane’s words are true. Doesn’t make it any easier to hear, though.
“Maybe you should watch your mouth,” states Quinn.
“How did you get that photograph?” I ask, ignoring them and looking at Michael.
“He keeps me updated. Did you look at the other photos?”
I squeeze my eyebrows together and shake my head. Michael pulls his cell out to show me. Saskia is in the pictures, sleeping on the floor. She’s in the clothes she left in but doesn’t appear to be awake.
“She was asleep for days. They stopped checking on her after the second day,” Michael says.
Quinn swears. We all turn to look at him. “I slipped her a little something.”
Everyone’s silent.
“What do you mean?” Michael asks.
“To calm her down. And unless she was on something else, it should have done just that,” Quinn says.
“I’m not even going to say anything to you about that.” I turn back to look at Michael. “Where is she?”
Michael looks to the ground then back to me because he doesn’t know. I knew he wouldn’t, it’s the only reason I haven’t paid him a visit and cracked his fucking skull open.
“That picture came through tonight. I think I know that place, though,” Michael says. He passes his cell to Quinn who nods his head.
“That’s his place,” Quinn confirms. “It’s his underground club. It’s where he mingles with his shadiest of clients.”
“That’s what I thought.” I turn to look at Michael. “Why do you care? You were the one who took her.”
Michael gnaws at his lip. “You killed one of my men, Ryken. Because of her. You knew that for every action there’s a reaction.”
“You could have taken me.”
He laughs at my words. “You? I’m sure your men would ‘just’…” he uses air quotes, “… allow us to take you. You also knew if we took you, you wouldn’t live. Your head has the highest bounty now your father isn’t here. Antonio knows that, too. He wants your rights. He’s pushing to take over relationships, too. He even offered me a deal to cut you out.”
I laugh at his words. “There wouldn’t be a you, or him for that matter, if it weren’t for my family.”
He knows I’m right. But there also wouldn’t be buyers if it weren’t for me. Yes, that’s Antonio’s job, and it was set up by my father. He’s just taken a hold of it and extended it. He’s good at it. Plus, it’s one less way to be connected back to me. But I secure the girls. We hand pick them, then they do the rest. We are known for our taste and excellence in our choosing.
“You aren’t bringing in enough product, Ryken. Your father was always on time.”
I shake my head. “His men are owned by me. They’re paid by me. If I cut him off, they won’t make a fucking penny.”
“He’s the prince of the underworld there now, your father was once the quiet king.”
Everyone’s quiet. Yes, the products have been slow. But that’s about to change. Turning to Quinn, he waits for my orders. I get now why my father trusted him so much. He’s the best and most loyal I’ve ever known.