Page 98 of Unchained

“Gianna Sterling, actually,” she corrects him, and my heart jumps. A possessiveness crashes through me.

That was a fuckin’ statement. And I’ve never been more proud to hear my last name.

He turns his attention to me. “And you… You’re a Sterling, right? You’ve all got that look about you.”

“Colten,” I grunt.

This guy seems like a money grabbing shit bag. We get them hovering around us all the time.

He glances back at Gianna and nods. “Well, this is quite a change of play, Gianna,” he says, looking up at the sky.

“You want to discuss drug routes in Arizona and Vegas? I brought you a man that actually has authority to speak on the matter.”

His nostrils flare. “That—” He stops himself, glaring at me.

I scoff. “That wasn’t part of the plan, was it? You wanted to try and get Gianna to help you take my routes, not negotiate on them. Am I right?”

He scratches his beard. “I ain’t gotta admit nothing to you.”

“Hmm. Well, can we end this discussion now? I’ll go back to my bosses and tell them there's a threat that has to be squashed. Will be the end of all of this,” I say flatly.

Enzo would flatten this biker club in less than a day. And I’m sure Mikhail would get great joy in stringing them up in Vegas.

He grits his teeth. “Let’s talk.”

“Thought so,” I mutter.

As we head inside the barn, I nod to Xavier. Since Paulie died, Xavier has taken over most of the work on the ranch, leading the guys, just like Paulie did.

There is no deal to make, but now I’m aware of what could be our next enemy, and I can size them up and work out how to eliminate them before they become an issue.

All thanks to my wife being honest.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Gianna

I’ve yet to see fear in Levi’s eyes until Colten threatened to end him. And that threat was real. The Sterlings have that power. Anyone in the crime world knows that.

We stand on our side, the bikers the other, and quite frankly, I can still smell their sweaty body odor from here.

I nudge Colten’s side, and he looks down at me.

“You think they could have stopped off for a shower somewhere?” I whisper.

He grins. “Heat and leathers ain’t a good mix.”

Levi clears his throat, stepping forward. “So, who is in charge here?” he asks.

Colt pushes me forward. He’s going to pay for that later.

“You wanted a meeting with me, so that’s what you’ve got. Colten is here to listen,” I assert.

Levi nods. “Alright. Your father told me you could get me in with the cowboys. I’m shipping your drugs from LA to Oregon and Washington. But the cut ain’t big enough. I either need more money, or more areas to cover. You promised me expansion, and in two years I ain’t seen shit except you lot being murdered.”

My fist clenches at my side. “You should be lucky my father partners with you at all. Who do you think you are making demands to expand?”

He grins, shoving a hand through his greasy hair. “I want Vegas.”