He has no idea how well I did in drama at school.
“I demand a full refund,” I say, wiping my eyes. “I can’t believe you’d use stolen car parts on my car. Who does that?”
“Can I speak to you, alone, in the office,” Riggs says, voice tight.
“Are you ashamed of what you’ve done?” the old lady asks.
“I’d like to know, too,” a man growls from the seat outside the front doors.
“I’m not ashamed of anything, there has clearly been a misunderstanding,” Riggs says through gritted teeth. “I don’t use stolen parts and I’ll show you, if you’d like to see them in packages, from the company we purchased them from. Perhaps this was something put on by someone else, and the blame is being directed at me.”
“If that’s the case,” I say, swiping my eyes. “Why did you threaten me?”
“I didn’t fuckin’ threaten you,” Riggs growls.
“Sir,” the lady gasps, “how dare you speak to her like this! I won’t be bringing my car here again, terrible business.”
And there it is, all I need to put doubt in people’s minds about Cash Riggs and his business.
I give him a look that shows him just how pleased I am about this, and he looks like he’s about to explode.
“I need to go,” I say, exhaling sadly. “I have to find a mechanic to help me now. I hope you do better. I really do.”
With that, I turn on my heel and get into my car, driving out. I go around the block once more before parking in my apartment and getting out. By the time I reach the front door, the pounding from someone outside echoes through my living space.
“Open this fuckin’ door, you psycho bitch!”
He’s angry.
Oh, yes, he’s angry.
He should join the club.
I walk over and swing the door open to see a very angry, very red biker standing in my doorway. I cross my arms and raise my brows.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he roars. “That’s my business.”
“Your business?” I laugh bitterly. “What about my business? The one you sent a god damned inspector to and is now closed for onwards of two fucking days? What about that?”
He glares at me.
I glare right back.
“You want a war, you’ve fuckin’ got one. I was playin’ nice until now, I won’t be any more.”
“If this is a war, we need rules,” I say, crossing my arms. “You want me gone, I want you gone. Whoever wins leaves, but we don’t play dirty anymore.”
He narrows his eyes. “I’m not up for fuckin’ games.”
“Then leave, take your business, and go somewhere else. I don’t want you here. This has been my space for a long time, and I’ve worked hard for it. I don’t need you and your garage bringing that down, and it does. You’re loud, you’re rude, and I want you gone.”
He crosses his arms too. “Took me fuckin’ years to find a good space, I just moved my entire club and life here, I’m not leavin’. I’m also not changin’ the way I do things. We’re a club, we are what we are, we have a right to be there.”
“At the expense of everyone else’s sanity? I don’t think so. You want to stay, then keep it down, be respectful, and understand that you don’t own the god damned town.”
He leans in close, with a wild grin. “But I do, darlin’. That’s the problem.”
I want to slap that smirk right off his face.
“Then I’ll fight you, I’ll fight you every step of the way.”
“I’m not leavin’, so you want this little match, you got it. Name the rules.”
I didn’t think he’d actually go for it, I thought for sure after today he’d consider leaving. I was wrong.
“Fine, let’s do this,” I say, holding my head up high. “No damage to the other person’s business or customers. That means nothing that can affect their income, their status, or the people that come in. Fair?”
He nods. “Fair.”
“No personal or bodily harm.”
He nods again.
“When does it end?” he asks.
“When one person decides they’ve had enough, and they will decide they’ve had enough because it can’t go on forever. If that doesn’t happen after a few months, then we battle it out, winner takes all.”
“And how will we do that?”
“I haven’t decided yet, but I don’t think we’ll get to that. I’ll drive you so crazy you’ll wish you never moved in next to me.”
He grins again and leans in close so close I can smell his ridiculously masculine scent. “Bring it on.”
“It’s on, it’s so on. It’s like a brand new light switch on.”
He nods and then turns, walking away.
We just officially declared war.
Let the games begin.
“YOU DECLARED WAR WITH the bikers next door?” Dom asks over dinner at our parents’ house a few nights later. “Are you mad?”
“She’s mad.” Stefano nods. “She obviously wants to get sold on the black market.”
“Stefan!” Mom scoffs. “Don’t say things like that.”
“That’s what happens. Don’t you know that they are the sort of people who will make people disappear? Just because they’re on their best behavior when they’re in town doesn’t mean they don’t do bad things, they’re just smart about it.”
“They’re not selling me anywhere,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Riggs and I have an agreement.”
Mom shakes her head and Dad gives me a look of displeasure.
“Your brother is right, Eve, it’s dangerous,” he informs me, in his Dad voice.
“It’s fine, Daddy. I swear.”
“Is Ramona in on this?” Mom asks. “She always seems to be behind these things.”
I scoff. “Mom, she’s practically your daughter. How could you say that?”
“Because I know exactly what she gets up to.”
“Ramona is an angel, I’m not sure why you’re being so mean.”
Mom gives me a look.
I grin.
“What about you, big brother? Popped the question
