Reckless Temptations (Tempted #4)(76)

They could keep their fucking empire.

I was sitting at the table of a different kind of empire.

One where family mattered.

“What about it?” Jack asked.

I lifted my hips, pulling my wallet out from my back pocket and took out my license, throwing it onto the table.

Pipe reached out and lifted it up to his eyes.

“Fucking ay!” He hissed, handing it over to Jack. “Got ourselves a rich one, don’t reckon ever having one of those before,” he mused.

Jack looked at me for a moment, meeting my stare before his eyes dropped to the name on my license.

“I’ve got the money,” I repeated, causing him to lift his eyes to me. “Give me a day to pull it all out and then set up the meet with Wu.”

“You realize that you might be pissing away your daddy’s hard earned cash, don’t you? Ain’t no guarantee meeting Wu’s demands will make him go away,” Jack enlightened. “The last time the Knights and the Dragons were at war there was a whole lot of bloodshed across these streets and all the money in the world wouldn’t have made it disappear.”

“I’ve been pissing on my father since I walked away from him,” I declared, slapping my palm against the wooden table. “It’s the least I can do, man.”

Jack stared at me long and hard. He could tell me to take my money and shove it up my ass but tomorrow morning I’d go to Wu myself and pay the clubs debt off, with or without them behind me. His words rang in my ears, the promise of more shit heading our way because of my mistake, and I realized I would do whatever I had to, to keep this shit at bay.

“Fine,” he said finally. “Get the money.” He tore his eyes from me and looked at Wolf. “Get that meeting set up.”

“You got it, boss,” Wolf agreed.

“Good,” I said. “What happens next?”

“We wait,” Jack said. “This club needs to make as much money as possible to fund our asses when Wu comes calling again, and mark my words that bitch will call,” he continued. “We’re going to need all the ammo and all the allies we can get,” he added. “With Blackie still in the hospital, I will reach out to the Corrupt Bastards myself and see if we can work something out with them. They’ve carried us before, if the deal is sweet enough they’ll do it again. I’m heading up to see Vic next week, finish up this shit with Gold and feel him out for who’s got the power now. If his organization has any life left I’ll make sure they’re in our pocket, ready to roll when the storm blows through.”

“Look around, Jack, this club ain’t ready for a war. We’ve barely got a pulse right now,” Pipe cautioned. “Our vice president is on a methadone drip trying to get clean. We need more men, another charter or something. The only reason we’re still standing is because Bianci and Val’s kid pitched in with the Gold situation.”

“You think I don’t know that? You think I’m fucking blind?” Jack roared. “But I ain’t bowing down to no Dragon and neither is this club,” he spat. “So protect your interests, hold tight to those you love and make it count because we’re living on borrowed time.”

Those were his final words before he adjourned our meeting, final words that had a whole lot of meaning. One of the prospects had fixed up my bike, and I didn’t need Bones to drive me back home.

Home. What a joke.

My home was here at the Dog Pound, away from Lauren.

Where it should be.

If Jack was right, and he usually was, every moment I spent making it count was another moment I put her and Pea at risk. Jimmy took Reina partially because she meant something to Jack. That sick fuck tried to grab Jack’s daughter and would have if Blackie hadn’t of sacrificed himself.

An enemy didn’t care about the people that mattered most in your life, it wasn’t about them, they were just a pawn they took to make you suffer. I understood the concept, there was no greater torture than being helpless as someone you cared about suffered for your sins. I wouldn’t hesitate to do the same thing to one of my own enemies.

Make it count.

Borrowed time.

Jack’s words repeated over and over in my head but they didn’t stop me from going home to Kitten. His words should’ve been a wake-up call, a warning, but all they did was push me closer to finding my heart. The thing that keeps me breathing.

It was late by the time I got home and all the lights were out. Lauren was sound asleep in our bed with a book resting on her chest. I walked around the bed, glancing down at her feet curled under her and saw the socks she wore. I felt something squeeze inside of me and I brought my hand up to my chest trying to rub it away.

I carefully took the book from her chest and closed it, turning it over to see what she was reading.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

My lips curved slightly as I placed the book on top of the nightstand and my eyes wandered to her stomach.

Still no sign of Pea.

Still a chance for that kid to be spared the hell my life would inflict on him or her.

Then I looked at Lauren and remembered I promised her I’d stick around. She’d hate me if I left but she’d hate me more if something happened to her or the baby.

I turned around and walked out of the bedroom, deciding that I couldn’t walk away just yet and knowing with every fiber of my being I was doing the wrong thing. I kicked off my boots and told myself sleeping on the couch was at least putting distance between us but before I could lie down, Lauren padded into the living room.