Saving Blu (Kings Reapers MC #4) - Nicola Jane Page 0,38

businesses there are looked after.”

“About that,” I begin but then Vinn makes an announcement that the cars have arrived and so I slip from under his arm and head outside.

“It was a beautiful service,” says Anna, gently rubbing my arm. I smile weakly. It’s supposed to be a celebration of life, but this feels worse than the funeral. People are speaking quietly and I keep overhearing words like ‘murder’ and ‘left for dead’. I rub at my tired face. “Maybe you should get your head down,” she suggests and Leia nods her head in agreement.

“I can’t sleep,” I say. I haven’t slept for more than an hour a night since I learnt of his death.

“So many people turned out to pay their respects,” says Raven. “He was loved so much.”

“He was well respected,” says Eva. “And he was a lovely man.”

I feel tears threatening to fall again. I didn’t know it was possible to cry so much. “I’m sorry,” I begin, sucking in a breath. “I just need five,” I add, rushing off towards the kitchen. I head straight out the back door and breathe in the cool afternoon air. The sun is starting to set and there’s a calmness out here that I love this time of the day.

“Doesn’t seem right, does it?” Blu’s husky voice fills the air and he steps out from behind a tree. “All these people hanging around when all you really want to do is lock yourself away and ignore the world.” He holds out a silver hip flask and I move towards him, needing to take the edge off the day with whatever that flask contains. I unscrew it and take a mouthful, wincing at the burn as it fills my mouth and then coats my throat. “You didn’t take my calls,” he accuses. Trust Blu to sound offended by that at a time like this.

“Sorry, I was dealing with my dad's death,” I say dryly and he smiles at me.

“And you couldn’t press that ‘accept call’ button?” he asks.

“I could have, but I didn’t want to, just like I didn’t want any of the other calls I got.” I take another mouthful to swallow the lie. I wanted to answer his calls because out of everyone around me, it was his voice I needed to hear. But I was scared where it would lead.

“You wound me with your lies,” he says, covering his heart with his hand and snatching the hip flask back with the other. He takes a swig of the liquid and hands it back. “He was a great man,” he adds more seriously and I lean against the tree, sliding down until my bum hits the damp grass. Blu joins me.

“Have you found out what happened?” I ask.

He glances at the house and then down at the ground. “We’re close.”

“I have a right to know about my dad’s death,” I mutter.

“I know, Gia. Riggs and Vinn are keeping things on the low because we’re not sure who to trust right now. Vinn will tell you whatever he can.”

“I’m asking you, not Vinn,” I snap. “If you know something, you should tell me.”

“You know I can’t do that,” he mutters.

“How’s your pregnant girlfriend?” I snap childishly and he smirks.

“She’s good. Still at the club. I think she’s enjoying the club life.”

Hearing this makes my heart ache more. If she’s loving life there, will she ever want to leave it? Blu’s charms could win his family back. As if he reads my mind, he takes my hand in his and smiles. “Not happening. I meant what I said. I only have eyes for you, Gia.”

“Ricardo is home from Italy. He’s been putting things in place for his move to London,” I say.

“But that doesn’t affect you, baby, because you’re mine,” he says confidently.

“Since Dad . . .” I pause to gather myself. “Since he died, I can’t think about weddings or being happy. I can’t set a date or even think about leaving this house. Leaving Mum and Vinn to be with a man who I don’t even know. Who I don’t love.” Tears begin to fall again. Everything feels like such a mess.

“We’ll sort it,” says Blu. “Let us sort this shit storm out first and then we’ll tell them all about us,” he says.

I shake my head, taking another drink. “I told you before, there is no us. You’re making it all more complicated. I can’t even get my head around any of it and all you talk about