“Like I said, if Gunnar didn’t kill you, they probably won’t either. The people who want you dead aren’t in our group. But Earl still has many supporters, especially down in Texas. They might try to kill you and Marcella. You can trust my word, I’d never betray you,” Gray muttered. “You can leave if you think I’m leading you into a trap.”
“I trust you, Gray,” I said, but I had to admit I felt a hint of wariness. Maybe it was just my general distrustful nature. “You should leave here and come with me. I can take you to Mom. She’s worried about you.”
“I won’t come with you. There’s nothing for me to return to. I’m too old to move in with Mom again.”
I didn’t point out that he was still seventeen and thus technically supposed to live with Mom. We both had hardly ever experienced a standard family life, so why start now?
“You could come with me…” I wasn’t even sure where I’d live. I didn’t have a place to stay. Living in one of Tartarus’ old hubs seemed like a bad idea. I had money now but finding an apartment in the city would still take time. And I doubted Luca would allow me to sleep in Marcella’s room. The thought almost made me smile but at the same time the realization that I actually considered living under the same roof with Marcella scared the living shit out of me. Fuck, this was getting serious in my brain. Could I really do that? Especially with the additional complication of Marcella’s family?
“I won’t get anywhere near the Italians,” Gray muttered.
“Stay out of trouble, all right?”
“I think you should listen to your own advice. More people want you dead than me.”
I grinned bitterly. “I intend to find out who they are and eliminate as many as possible.”
Gray and I headed back to the hut. Gray entered first and disappeared from view for a couple of minutes. The low rumble of mumbling carried over to me before Gray reappeared. When he gave me a nod, I followed him inside. Bean, Kurt, Richie, Roland, and Gunnar sat around a rustic wooden table, bottles of beer in front of them. All of their eyes followed me as I sank down on a vacant chair.
“You have balls coming here after what you did. And I thought the Vitiello princess has your balls in her hands,” Bean said, flashing me a grin, revealing his missing front tooth. Earl had smashed it in and forbidden Bean from having it replaced. He was supposed to keep the gap as a reminder. Shortly after, Bean had become a Nomad, maybe two years ago.
“She does on occasion,” I said with a shrug.
“You sure she hasn’t cut them off?” Richie asked.
I nodded at a full bottle. “Can I have one? Listening to bullshit talk makes me thirsty.”
Gunnar stifled a grin and handed me the bottle. “Go ahead. But we both know you aren’t here for pleasantries or rebuilding old connections, right, Mad?”
“I want to make one thing clear, I don’t have anything against anyone at this table. I’m not out for anyone’s head unless they are out for mine or Marcella’s. So if you don’t intend to hurt my woman or me, I won’t fuck you up.”
Richie put down his bottle with unnecessary force. “It’s six against one, Mad. You got a big mouth on you thinking you’d survive if you went against us. You aren’t even armed.”
“I could take you. Most of you have lived the lazy life these last few years.” I paused because I wasn’t arrogant enough to think I could really beat all of them at once. “And who says I’m alone. Remember, I work with the mob now.”
Roland chuckled. “Some of those Italians seem to want you dead too, Mad. Not sure you’ve chosen the right side.”
“And who are they? I hear you talked to the people who want me dead.”
“Not me personally. I don’t go anywhere near Vitiello’s men.”
Gunnar squinted down at his bottle. I narrowed my eyes. “You did?”
He sighed. “I ran across the giant boy a day or so after my escape. I was still not quite myself and was stupid enough to hide in one of our old warehouses. The hit on my head really messed me up.”
“Giant boy? You mean Amo?”
Gunnar nodded. “Yep. The boy caught up with me with another guy, and I was sure they’d end me right there, the little shits, but instead Amo told me about how you killed Earl and were out for more Tartarus heads.”
“And you didn’t have anything better to do than spread the word?”
Gunnar glared. “You don’t expect my loyalty, do you? I was royally pissed, especially in the first days when I had the headache of my life and didn’t know you’d made sure Gray got out alive. I only told one or two guys but it obviously spread from there. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vitiello boy told a few more bikers. He seems to hold a grudge against you.”
“He probably doesn’t like the idea of you sinking your ugly cock into his sister’s mouth and pussy,” Bean said with a laugh.
I punched him. He cried out and held his mouth. Several guns were pointed at me.
I raised my palms. “Don’t insult my woman.”
Roland shook his head. “You’re trying to make the impossible possible, Mad. Take my advice, leave the Vitiellos as long as you still can. It’s better to live with the memory of a few nights with the spoiled princess than to die the moment she loses interest in you.”
Everyone nodded.
“Maybe she enjoyed the wild ride of being with a biker but eventually she’ll pick one of her people,” Gunnar said.
“I didn’t come here for relationship advice, especially from you guys. I wanted information and I got it, so thanks.” I got up. “Are you going to rebuild Tartarus?”
Roland and Gunnar exchanged a look. “Once we find a prez.”
Gray opened his mouth but closed it again and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“Good luck then,” I said, getting up. “I should head back now.”
“Back to the Italians?” Bean asked with a scoff.
“Back to my woman.”
I squeezed Gray’s shoulder. “Call me if you need my help, all right?” Gray met my gaze then nodded. I hoped he’d really take me up on my offer. “And visit Mom now and then. She worries.”
Gunnar got up and followed me out of the hut. “You have more enemies than friends at this point, Mad. Make sure you know who’s who. You belong here. I hope it won’t take you too long to realize it. We could use a clever leader like you to build up what’s broken.”
I smiled tightly. “You’ll do fine without me.”
I turned and returned to my bike. I couldn’t deny it. I wasn’t sure if I wouldn’t miss this way of living. The sense of uninhibited freedom, the brotherhood as it used to be in the first years of me becoming a member of Tartarus. I didn’t know much about the life of the Famiglia and what I knew seemed filled with old-fashioned traditions and hypocritical rules. I wasn’t sure if I could fit in there but I would try for Marcella.
But first, before I could even think about working with the Famiglia, much less try to fit in with the Vitiellos, I needed to have a serious word with Amo fucking Vitiello.
To distract me from what had happened, Mom took me out on a girl’s spa day. She’d made last minute appointments in our favorite hair salon, nail studio, and day spa.