Savage Fire (Savage Angels MC #2) (2 page)

“Guido, how’s things?” I smile and walk towards him with my arms open.

He envelops me in a quick hug. “Sal, same fucking shit, different day.” We break apart and he says, “Dominic sends his best.”

Fuck
, he’s letting me know he’s there on business. Instead of reacting to him, I say, “You must give Dominic my best; it’s been too long since we’ve had a sit down.” I clap him on the shoulder, look down at his shoes and play with my pinkie ring. Then I slowly lift my eyes to his.

“He’s concerned about the East Side. Business has dropped?” He makes it a question but we both know he already knows it has.

I smile and say, “I have it covered. Tell Dominic things will be back to normal and as business has dropped, I’d be happy to make up the lost funds, plus three percent.”

“Eight percent and he wants you to handle all of it yourself.” He smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I’ve fucked up big time, and if the family is sending Guido, I’m in over my head. Something bigger must be going on.

“Five percent and we have a deal.”

I hold out my hand to Guido who smiles, grabs my hand and says, “Seven.”

I nod as we shake. “Seven it is. I’ll send Tony to fix this....” My voice trails off as Guido shakes his head.

“No, Salvatore, the old man wants you to fix this personally and...alone.”

He holds my stare and I raise my eyebrows at him. “Personally and alone? Okay, Guido, what gives? I am a Captain in this family and I don’t do errands.” My voice is controlled and my hands are at my side but internally, I want to rip this fucker’s face off.

“Just telling you what the old man said. He doesn’t want those bikers stealing anymore of our business. He wants it controlled and he wants someone he trusts to do it, or he’ll send me.” The threat is clear. If he sends Guido, I’m as good as dead.

“Fine, I’ll do it and I’ll go alone. Tell the old man I have it covered.” I pause and look around the warehouse. “Perhaps next time, if you find out who’s undercutting us, you could possibly share that information so it’s handled more efficiently.” My voice has gone icy, my intentions clear. I didn’t get to be a Captain in this family by being a pushover. I am deadly and Guido knows this.

He holds up his hand in a placating manner. “Sal! You know how this family works and you got the information, yes? So, it’s all good! I’ll tell the old man you have it covered, and that you’re paying him seven percent, then all will be good...so long as it gets fixed.”

He holds out his hand and smiles at me. Guido is Dominic’s right-hand man. He is a cold‐blooded killer who only cares about one thing—money. He does the family’s dirty work and they trust him completely.

I grab his hand and move into him. I am slightly taller so I look down on him. “Yes, Guido, tell the old man I will fix it. Could you also tell him I don’t like being threatened over my own business deals and I did indeed have it... covered.” My voice is steely and my gaze says I’m not to be fucked with but I’m playing a dangerous game as Guido is above me in the family and deserves respect.

He holds my gaze then throws his head back in laughter. “Fucking balls of steel! I’ll let the old man know. He wants it done fast; here’s my number, let me know when it’s done.” He has a business card in his other hand and holds it out.

He lets my hand go, I grab the card and he heads for the door of the warehouse. He stops at the door, looks at me, shakes his head and then does a two-finger wave and is gone.

Fuck.

The fucking Savage Angels must be moving in on our other businesses. I stand in the warehouse for a moment, not moving. I rub my hand over my face, letting out a little frustration.

“Boss, you okay?” It’s Tony, the look on his face and in his eyes is sheer concern. He knows the dangers of being in this family.

“Yeah, Tony, I’m good. Did you hear?” He nods at me. “I’ll be going out of town for a while. Take care of operations here while I’m gone. You need help you contact Carmine. Do not go to Guido, do you understand?”

“Yes, Boss, I understand. What I don’t understand is why you have to do this alone? Makes no sense. What if you get killed? You need protection, Sal; it’s been a long time since you’ve been out on your own.” Tony is a loyal soldier. I place my hand on his shoulder. He’s right, it has been a long time since I have been out on my own, but I’m no pussy.

“I can still fucking look after myself, Tony, but you are right, it has been a long time. I can handle myself.”

“Don’t like the idea of you being out there alone. The Balotelli family has been making threats; you’d be making it easy for them, going out on your own.” He slips his hands into the pockets of his khaki and blood splattered trousers. “I don’t like this, Sal.”

“The Balotelli thing is under control. I’ve negotiated a deal; it’ll be fine. Now, what car do I take? Might as well get on the road.” I take in a deep breath and hold it as I glance around the room. “Minimal bloodshed,” I mutter as I let out the breath I was holding in a frustrated sigh.

“Take the Escalade, the black one. I have hidden gun compartments in it. You run into any problems you will have enough firepower to get yourself out.” He doesn’t sound happy but he knows I have to go.

“Thanks, Tony. I’ll see you when I get back. I will call if there is a problem, okay?” He nods and I head for the Escalade. I’m in for a long fucking drive.

Emily

I
’ve been driving for three days. I haven’t slept in over a week. I still have another day of driving before I get to Tourmaline. I have stopped along the way and picked up coffee and energy drinks to keep me awake, but it’s my anger that keeps me going. Dane left me when I was eight years old. He was my everything. He was the closest thing I had to a father and he just left.

I suddenly have a pressing need to pee, so I pull into the nearest gas station and get out of my car. My whole body feels stiff and sore from the drive and my movements are slow and clumsy. I stumble awkwardly into the store and head for the counter.

As I get there, a man steps in front of me and throws a bag of chips at the cashier. A gasp escapes me but he does not turn around. “This, a bottle of water and pump number three.”

I shake my head at this man but he doesn’t even notice me. He’s taller than me, by about a foot; I’m five foot four and tiny compared to him. He pays the cashier and gives me a cursory glance as he goes back to his car.

I look at the cashier and shrug and he gives me a smile. “How can I help you, Ma’am?”

“Could I please have the key to the toilets?” I ask.

“Here you go. They’re out back. It’s well lit but be careful, yeah?” He smiles again and hands over the keys.

I roll my eyes. Great. It’s well lit but be careful? A little redundant doesn’t he think? I tentatively make my way around to the bathroom. I don’t see anyone but I hurry in and lock the door behind me. I check the three stalls to make sure no one is lurking about. I take a deep breath—I’m safe. I do what I have to do, wash my hands and make my way back to the front of the gas station. As soon as I round the corner, a man comes towards me. He grabs my arms and walks me backwards towards the bathroom again.

“Now, blondie, I’m horny and I don’t have much time.” He pushes me up against the wall and breathes into my face. His overpowering stench makes me gag. Stale beer and body odor invade my nostrils as he leans into me. “You can do this one of two ways, a blow job or I’ll just fuck you from behind. Your choice.”

He pushes up against me and I am unable to move, unable to fight. I am frozen in place, my legs threatening to give out.

A clearing of a throat interrupts my assault. “Excuse me. Which one of you has the toilet key?” I glance up and it’s the guy who so rudely pushed his way in front of me inside the store.

My attacker lets me go and steps away from me; I look at my savior, give him the key and run for my car. I am in it with the door shut and locked in record time. I tear out of the gas station in a cloud of smoke and don’t look back. That is the last time I stop at night. I’m going to drive straight through to Tourmaline.

Salvatore

T
he female has run for her life and disappeared. What the fuck was she thinking coming back here by herself at night?

The trucker glares at me and says, “You scared my fun away you fucker. I’ll get you for that!”  “Go sleep it off. Real men don’t force women.” I lean into him. “You’re lucky I’m feeling charitable, otherwise you’d find yourself sucking breakfast through a straw or in a shallow grave,” I sneer. He backs down immediately but his anger rolls off him in waves.

He wants to kick my ass. Bring it fucker, I dare you. He wouldn’t stand a chance. I’d have my fist in his mouth and through the back of his head in a heartbeat.

“I was just going to play with her for a bit. Ten minutes, fifteen tops. Now, thanks to you, shithead, I’ll have to use my hand.”

I growl at him and he backs away from me and heads for his rig. “Life’s hard,” I mutter. I keep him in my sights as he climbs into the cab of his eighteen‐wheeler; I then head for the toilets.

I walk back to the service counter and hand the key over to the cashier. He smiles at me and says, “Don’t know what you did to that trucker but he left you a present.”

I look at him quizzically and he motions towards my car. Son‐of‐a‐motherfucker, that asshole has slashed my fucking tires! I now have two flat tires.
Fuck
. No good deed goes unpunished.

“How much for a new tire?” I growl at him.

“Two hundred and twenty dollars,” he says with a smile.

I lean across the counter. “How much for new tire?”

His smile falters and he says, “One hundred and ninety‐five dollars?”

I lean back grab my wallet and say, “I’ll have two.”

“Two?”

“Yes, two; I don’t want to use my spare in case I get another flat. How much to put them on the rims?”

I pin him with my gaze and he says, “I’ll ask Chuck to put them on for free. Won’t take long.”

I hand over my credit card and continue to stare at the cashier. He processes my purchase, smiles at me and says, “Thank you, sir, have a nice evening.” I nod and walk out the front to wait for Chuck. I pull my cell phone from my pocket and check for messages, but there is nothing.

It’s going to be a long night.

Emily

L
ack of sleep is catching up with me. My mind is wandering and I’m beginning to think what the hell am I doing?

The road curves sharply in places as I head up into mountain territory. I reduce my speed so that I don’t go over the edge as a vision of me crashing to my fiery death flashes through my mind and sends a shudder traveling down my spine. My mind moves back to Dane and what I am going to say to him. I don’t understand how he could have left us...left me.

As I drive, I get lost in my thoughts. Thoughts of my father, my brother, my near assault and how this will all turn out. I am so deep in my thoughts that I nearly miss something dart in front of the car. I swerve to miss it and go straight into a tree. The airbag deploys and the windshield cracks. My arms go up to shield my face from the impact. I sit, trembling in the seat, stunned. Screaming can be heard all around me and I realize it’s me.

“Deep breath, Em, deep breath,” I say to myself in an effort to calm down.

I push the airbag out of the way and open the door. I slowly climb out of the car, making sure nothing is broken. I look over at the hood of the car and one side is pushed up.

Goddamn it!

I stand and wonder what the hell I am going to do. I stare at the crumpled heap that is my car and mentally kick my own ass for not paying attention.

Headlights in the distance interrupt my ass chewing. Thank you Lord, I am saved!

As the car approaches, I wave at it frantically. It pulls up behind my crumpled car. The headlights dim, but not before I am momentarily blinded; then the driver’s door opens and a man emerges from the car.

“You.” He sounds annoyed.

“I’m sorry?” My vision is still hindered and I am unable to focus on him.

“Does trouble just follow you around or are you prone to bad decisions?” He stalks towards me in a huff, forcing me to walk backwards. I collide with my car.

He stops in front of me, sighs, then his hand goes to my face and he turns my head from side to side. “Do you have a first aid kit?” he asks.

“Yes, in the trunk. Why?” I feel startled at his touch and his obvious annoyance with me.

“You have a cut above your eye, don’t you feel it?”

My hand immediately goes to my face and I feel wetness. I stare at my fingers covered in blood, I feel dazed.

“Ok. Let’s get you into my car. You must be in shock.” He sounds authoritative. He must be over six foot tall with dark hair and brown eyes. He puts one arm around me as the other grabs my hand and he guides me towards his car. He smells amazing. As we arrive at his car, he leans me against it, opens up the rear passenger door and produces a small first aid kit. When he opens it, I see a small handgun inside. I gasp and his eyes move to mine.

“It’s for protection, nothing else. I mean you no harm. My name is Salvatore Agostino. We actually met earlier tonight at the gas station. I...saved you from that trucker.”

He places the gun on the roof of the car, pulls out a gauze pad and places it on my forehead.

“Thank you for saving me twice in one night.” I try to smile but tears form in my eyes. “It’s just that I am so tired; I haven’t slept in days and I don’t know what the hell I am doing. I have no idea what I am going to do now that I have wrecked my car,” I splutter through my sobs as tears course down my cheeks. Salvatore gives me a quizzical look as if he is waiting for me to continue. “What am I going to do?”

“Not only do you do foolish things in gas stations but you drive without sleep. Do you have a death wish? Or are you just hoping I’ll be there to help you every time you get into trouble?” He smiles at me and I feel my legs buckle; he catches me.

“Let’s put you in the car before I have to lift you into it.” Now he sounds amused as he opens the car door and helps me into it.