Smokey folded his arms.
Carlos looked at the images on the screen. “How about I remove her as a problem for you?”
“Not going to happen.”
“I’m going to need protection,” Carlos said, the lie spilling from his lips, well, kind of a lie. “Our arrangement is too important to allow me to be killed.”
The glare was still in place, but he wasn’t running away. Progress.
“What if I … take Raven with me? Remove her from the equation of the Hell’s Bastards entirely, but I also make sure she doesn’t come back.”
Smokey didn’t say anything.
Carlos hated talking. “I need an heir.”
“No,” Smokey said.
“They’re trying to marry me off. I knock Raven up, and it is confirmed she is carrying my son, or even my daughter, I will marry her,” Carlos said. He hadn’t exactly thought his plan through. Marriage was permanent.
“I couldn’t do that to Raven,” Smokey said.
“But taking her patch?”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Ah, so instead, you’re going to kick her into another club where she is going to have to fight. According to my sources, Raven is the only female brother throughout your entire club,” Carlos said. “That will be a lot of fights. I never knew taking a beating for your woman to stay safe was worth such a reward.”
Smokey’s nostrils flared.
Carlos was more than happy to fight the bastard. “I’ve left my cards on the table, Smokey. It’s now up to you.”
They stared at each other.
“I won’t see you out,” Carlos said.
Smokey turned on his heel and left without another word.
Carlos turned back to his screens and wondered if it was Sebastian Drago or one of the capos.
Chapter Four
Raven winced as the paper slid down her finger.
Why did a paper cut sting so damn much?
“Shoot, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Abriana.” Raven stuck her finger in her mouth. “Why are we doing this again?”
“It’s Bella’s birthday,” Abriana said.
“And we’re sending out invitations, why?”
“Oh, don’t be so silly.” Abriana giggled. “Why else would I send out birthday invitations?”
“Because you want to see me bleed?” Raven asked.
“No, because I want Bella to know she has so many friends.”
“I hate to break it to you, but you’re sending it to the club,” Raven said. “You know as well as I do they’re all going to be happy with free booze and food. You’ve got a guaranteed rave.”
Abriana rolled her eyes. “It’s not just the club. I am also inviting a few other people.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“Like who?”
“Oh, I don’t know, I was thinking Harlow. She’s is really nice.”
Raven smiled.
“See, you like her.”
“The woman doesn’t have a filter. Also, it will be a lot of fun to see Big Dick squirming all night.”
“Do we have to call him Big Dick?” Abriana asked.
“Why? Are you curious?” Raven asked.
“Ew, no. I only have eyes for one man.” Abriana smiled, and Raven nearly vomited in her mouth. The only guy she was ever interested in was Ugly Beast. The two were made for each other.
Raven had been surprised when he’d fallen for his wife. It had started out as an arranged marriage. A way of uniting the Hell’s Bastards MC and the Garofalo mafia. It hadn’t ended well. That wasn’t correct. It hadn’t ended well for Abriana’s abusive family and Nico Garofalo, the pedophile boss, who’d been there before Carlos had taken over.
“You and Ugly were meant to be,” Raven said. She pulled her finger out of her mouth and winced at the pain.
“Here, let me,” Abriana said, getting to her feet and opening a cupboard in the kitchen.
“How many first-aid kits do you need?” Raven asked, seeing the cupboard completely exploding with them.
“Ugly Beast brings them back to me all the time. I cut myself here and there. He always jokes that there is no kit for food poisoning. I don’t mean to be such a bad cook,” Abriana said.
“I know. We all know, and your food isn’t too bad. You’re improving.” She adored Abriana, and the small lie was only meant to make her feel better.
“Do you think so? Because I’ve asked Harlow to help teach me how to bake,” Abriana said.
Raven nearly choked on a small sip of her water. “Baking. Wow, that is a big step. How come you’re not asking Ava?”
Ava owned the bakery and had been teaching Harlow the ropes to take over while she was on maternity leave.
“Smokey told me not to ask her. He feels she is under a lot of stress, and he believes—ugh, who am I kidding? He told me he didn’t want me to risk poisoning his wife.” Abriana dropped down into her seat. “I don’t mean to.”
“I know,” Raven said.
“I suck at this.”
Raven held her finger out for Abriana to make all better.
She wrapped the Band-Aid around her finger. “There, all better. Which is more than I can say for my cooking.”
“Don’t worry about it. Harlow is a great cook and baker. I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Raven said, putting a hand on Abriana’s knee.