“I love your positivity.” I smile. “Maybe now’s the time to go freelance like you always wanted.”
“Maybe,” he says. “I’ll think about it. I have enough savings for now, so I’m not worried about getting another job in a hurry.”
“Maybe come and see Gia. Surely, she uses photographers for the weddings she organises. Maybe she can put you on her books. I can send you the address. It’s called Giazilla. You must have heard of it.”
The line goes silent, and for a second, I think I’ve lost the connection. “Does Riggs know you work there?” he asks.
“He knows I have a new job, but I didn’t really talk about it. Why?”
“The owner is the daughter of some underworld boss. I wouldn’t have thought Riggs would want you involved.”
The news shocks me. Gia is so nice and she speaks so highly of her dad. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Michelle knew him. I remember her telling me about him when the shop opened.”
“I don’t see how it impacts me. Anyway, I love it, so I’m not worrying about minor details.”
I pick up the lunch bags and head back. Gia is chatting in her office with a man in a suit. He has such a stern expression for a man who looks to be in his late twenties. I get on with moving the files around on the computer, and when they come out of the office, the man breezes past me without a second look. I hand Gia the lunch bag and she takes it gratefully while flopping down in the chair next to my desk. “Things okay?” I ask, glancing up from my computer.
“Yeah.” She sighs. “Overprotective brother. He drives me nuts.”
I smile knowingly. “I have a boyfriend a little like that.”
“I’m twenty-six years old. I’m capable of choosing my own dates. He likes me to be chaperoned. I mean, it’s two-thousand and twenty. Who takes a chaperone on a date?”
“Wow,” I cringe.
“Exactly. I’ll never find a man. I know why he’s doing it—he wants to choose a husband for me, but that will never happen. I’d rather stay single forever.”
I laugh. “My friend, Leia, she’s nineteen and her brother is the same. She’s part of an MC club. Her brother’s the president and so she not only has him on her back but all the members too.”
Gia sits up slightly, her interest suddenly peaked. “Which MC?”
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t meant to name drop because I totally did. I have to know what the club is to her dad. “Kings Reapers,” I say, watching her closely for a reaction.
She stands suddenly, her face shocked. “No freaking way!”
“You know them?” I ask lightly.
“You have to be shitting me. This was meant to be. You were sent to me to help.”
“I was?” I ask warily.
“Do you know the guys?” she asks. I nod. “Blade?” she adds, and I nod again. She throws her arms around me. “Then you were definitely sent to help me.”
“Okay, I’m confused. Explain.”
“Blade did some work for my brother and dad. I’m crazy about him. You have to make him notice me.”
I laugh. Blade is self-absorbed. “And how am I supposed to do that?”
“We’ll come up with a plan.” She smiles conspiringly, and she reminds me of Anna when she wants something—determined and headstrong.
Cree
I hold out a glass of water for Riggs and he downs it. He’s drunk and we have a meeting to get to. Chains shakes his head, then says, “Look, why don’t we go, say he’s been held up?”
“We might have to. Damn it, Riggs, what the hell is wrong with you?” I growl.
“She left,” he mumbles, resting his head on the desk and groaning.
“Then go get her back, dumbass.”
“She trapped me,” he whines.
“Fuck me,” I groan. “How can she trap you when you’re already together? You each have a kid. We’ve been over this. Pull yourself together!”
The meeting is about forming a new alliance with the men who are stepping up into the role that Anna’s ex filled. Reggie’s been gone for a few months now, leaving the gap open to run his former streets. Vinn is the son of an Italian mafia boss, Enzo. Having just moved to the area, we’re all interested in keeping the peace and working together.
I follow Chains into a small Italian restaurant. It’s quaint and somewhere that Eva would love. I’ll bring her here if business goes well. A small grey-haired Italian woman leads us through the restaurant to a back room where Vinn sits counting money. He looks up and grins, standing to shake out hands.
“Welcome,” he greets us. “Please,” he adds, pointing to two chairs.
“Where’s Riggs?” asks Enzo as he joins us.
“He was called away at the last minute. He sends his apologies, but he’ll catch up with you as soon as he can,” says Chains.
“Let’s get down to business,” I say to steer them away from the conversation about Riggs.
“We plan on working with the club,” says Enzo. “I’m not in the business of upsetting people.”
“That’s good to hear,” I say. “Riggs is happy for you to use the docks, but times and schedules will need to be looked at. The cut we take depends on whether you need our men.”
Enzo glances at Vinn, who shakes his head. “Apparently, we don’t.”
“Then the cut will be forty percent,” says Chains.
Vinn laughs. “Try thirty.”
“It’s not up for discussion, Vinn,” I say, then sigh. “But as we want to remain on good terms, as a goodwill gesture, we’ll accept thirty-five.”
The door opens and a female walks through, singing out of tune and looking down at her cell. “Gia,” snaps Vinn, but she doesn’t hear because her earbuds are firmly in place. I snigger as she continues to sing, then glance at Chains, who stares open-mouthed at the girl. I roll my eyes. It’s the same look he gives Leia. “Gia,” Vinn snaps again and she glances up. When
