Wrapped in Chains - Nicola Jane Page 0,23

only quiet ones in here are me and Leia. She keeps her eyes downcast as the cereal in her bowl turns soggy. “Enforcer, get in here,” yells Cree from Riggs’ office. All eyes fall to me as I rise to my feet and head in his direction. I’d been waiting anxiously for him to call me in after I walked in ten minutes ago to see him already on a call. I’m praying it wasn’t to Riggs.

I step into the office and he’s pacing. “VP,” I mutter.

His fist connects with my jaw and I shake it off. “You piece of crap,” he hisses, hitting me again with his right hook. “I should slit your fuckin’ throat,” he yells. The blows keep coming and I shake each one off until my eyes go fuzzy. “Go down,” he growls. “Have the decency to fuckin’ go down like the snake you are.”

The next blow gets me on the temple and I have no choice but to hit the floor. “You’ll lose your badge for this. Riggs made you enforcer because he trusts you with his life. We’re like blood, man, and you do this to him!” His boot connects with my stomach and I cough until my lungs hurt. “You ain’t got nothing to say, brother?” he yells. “How long’s it been going on?”

“Sorry,” I cough. “I’m fuckin’ sorry for fallin’ for her, but I couldn’t stop. Last night was the only time. It was a one-off. A stupid fuck-up. I was drunk, and it seemed like a good idea.”

My confession brings another round of blows, and I take them because fighting my VP will get me killed. When he’s exhausted, he falls into Riggs’ chair. I bring myself to sit as he points a finger at me. “Don’t fuckin’ get up. You get up and I’ll stick a blade in you.”

I stay sitting on the floor. Blood coats my mouth, nose, and eyebrow, and I watch it drip into a pool between my legs. “I’ll go,” I utter. “Leia knows there’s nothing between us. I’ve got a thing with Dolly,” I lie. “I made it clear this morning that it’ll never happen again. I was drunk, she was needy. I let shit get outta hand and I made it crystal that it’s over before it even began.”

“Damn right you’ll leave,” he snarls. “If you have any sense, you’ll go before Riggs gets back. If he finds out, he’ll want your blood.”

I nod, my heart heavy that I’ll not only lose the club that I love but also the girl. “Today,” I confirm. “I’ll go today.”

“Where to?” he snaps. He’s mad as hell, but we have a bond and he wants to know I’ll be okay.

I shrug. “Maybe I’ll follow the road. Take a leaf out the Pres’s book and see where it takes me.”

“You can’t ever come back here, Chains. I won’t lie to Riggs if he asks, but I won’t go out of my way to tell him either. But you ever come back here and I’ll tell him everything. You know he’ll kill you and burn that club badge right off your back,” he warns. It’s only right that Riggs would burn off the patch tattooed into my skin—I deserve it.

“Can I explain to Leia at least?” I mutter. “I treated her real bad in the panic.”

“No. Get your shit packed and go. Stay the hell away from her or I’ll have no choice but to put you in that basement and call Riggs back. I’m letting you off lightly, brother. Trust me.” I nod in agreement. “Take Dolly with you. Do us all a favour and make her your ol’ lady. Forget about Leia.”

“I don’t want an ol’ lady.” I sigh and Cree narrows his eyes.

“Did it sound like I was asking you, brother? Head to the Kings in Manchester. I’ll tell the charter you’re heading that way. Fresh start is what you need.”

“What about Enzo? The job we took on needs me and he trusts me.”

“I’ll speak to Enzo and make up some bullshit. I’ll fill in for you until Riggs gets back.”

I nod and push to my feet. Pain rips through my ribs and I wonder how the hell I’m gonna ride out today if I’ve cracked them.

“Why did you come into Leia’s room this morning?” I ask.

“I was looking for Eva. We argued and she stormed off. Unlucky for you, hey,” he mutters with a look of pure disgust on his face. “If I hadn’t come