Page 87 of Riding Dirty

“It’s a good day,” he announces. “Enjoy your evening. The Iron Flame and the Perov Bratva are working together. Who would have thought?”

As much as I want to tell him that he is wrong, because there’s no way in fuck we’re working together, especially since Dare’s woman is pregnant with one of their kids, I decide it’s not in my best interest to mention that… ever.

Standing, I reach out to shake his hand, my grasp not as hard this go-around, and I decide that I’m going to change the plan a little. “The guys are more than happy to take you up on your offer, but I was wondering if I could stay here for the rest of the meeting?”

His brows snap together, and then his lips slowly curve up into a smile that I can only describe as completely menacing.

Fuck me, but this guy is more than a little scary. I can see now how he became the leader of this group. I can feel not only the alpha but also the angry energy rolling off him in waves. This guy isn’t to be fucked with, and that’s okay with me, because I don’t plan on fucking with him, especially when I’m completely unarmed.

“You like to see things through,” Viktor mutters. “I like that.”

And that is how I am a witness to the way the Perov Bratva deals with its traitors. It’s definitely more gruesome than the way we do it, but also, mad respect. I feel as if I’m in the presence of some bad motherfuckers who take no shit.

Not that we’re slouches, but we typically don’t use much violence unless we absolutely need to. And that’s when I realize for certain that I do not want to go to war with them at all whatsoever.

“Riley,” Viktor calls out.

He hasn’t even got a speck of blood on him, more content to give the orders and watch. Jerking my chin toward him, I slide my gaze from the bleeding, limp woman on the chair to him.

“I respect you and your people for this. I just wanted to let you know, you are welcome any time at the Zoloto Dollar.”

I don’t tell him that I have no desire to be at the Zoloto Dollar; that would be rude. Instead, I give him a smirk and dip my head slightly. Thanking him, I leave and make my way toward the VIP room, even if I don’t want to be there. But I’m not walking out of this club without my brothers. And tomorrow, I’ll be home and in my own bed, with my woman at my side, and that’s all I give a fuck about right now.

Coming out of this virtually unscathed was icing on the fucking cake of this situation. We didn’t make any money, but we’re untouched by the Perovs and by the situation at hand. Hopefully, we can stay on their good side, nobody any the wiser about Chassis.

CHAPTER

SIXTY-SIX

ELODIE

I have a love-hate relationship with the building I’m standing in front of. I love it because it’s part of Coast. I hate it because it’s part of Coast. I think most of the reason is that he’s not here. He’s still in Vegas, and I wish he were back already.

The clubhouse.

“You ready to tackle this place?” Alex asks.

“Not really.”

He snorts. “Let’s clean up some cum stains. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

And those words make me laugh because he is not wrong there. I walk around to the back of my car, pop the trunk, and both of us gather our shit and carry it into the quiet clubhouse.

I prefer coming here fairly early, not only because it takes a full day to clean but also because of that woman. Velvet… or whatever the fuck her name is. She loves to corner me and make me feel like I’m the smallest woman in the world.

I’m not someone who enjoys confrontation. I don’t like to be around people who do. And this girl does, or maybe she just wants Coast for herself that badly. If he wanted her, he could have her, and I’m sure he already has plenty of times, and yet, he doesn’t want to keep her, so there is that.

But also, I’m not going to fight over a man or anyone. I’ve seen my mom do it so much over the years that it’s not anything I want to be part of.

Alex lifts his hand to me as he walks toward the back of the bedroom area, and I move to start in the kitchen. I’ll do the bar next, then the bathrooms. It’s a good routine we have now, and it doesn’t take nearly as long as it did for the first deep clean. At this point, we’re maintaining.

I’m moving through the job. The kitchen doesn’t take too long, and I’m mopping the floor to finish up before I turn around to see her standing in the doorway. I don’t know how long she’s been there, but I brace because I know she’s going to come at me with some bullshit.

“What do you want?” I ask with a heavy sigh.

She tilts her head to the side, pressing her lips together and making a kissing-type face. I almost roll my eyes, but I want this done, and getting into any kind of argument with this woman would be counterproductive.

“You know they went to Vegas, right?” she asks, her voice coming out smooth, almost as if she’s purring.