“Colin,” I acknowledge, sitting across from him.

He doesn’t say anything. His cold steel eyes look me over. Everything about this motherfucker sets off alarm bells in my head.

“You have five minutes,” he says, and my hands shake from the need to end the motherfucker.

“I need to know why you and Matthew called an end to our truce.”

“We had no truce. You were merely inconsequential,” he says, leaning back in his chair.

“Fuck that. Matthew and I brokered a truce and it’s been pretty fucking effective the last few years. Then you and the Saints decide to come into my territory and make a fucking declaration of war. I demand to know why,” I tell him, my voice hard. I’m not toying with the asshole. I don’t care who he is.

“Matthew’s not in charge anymore, chico,” he says, the slur rolling off his tongue… a tongue I make a vow to cut off someday soon. Very soon.

“Does Matthew know he’s not in charge?”

“My brother does not concern you. You’re running out of time.”

“And you did not answer my question satisfactorily. If you want war, believe me asshole, I can give it to you. I would rather not see the shedding of blood if it is not necessary.”

“Are you afraid?” the cocky bastard asks, taking a drink from his glass. There’s an empty glass in front of me and an aged bottle of scotch, but I don’t trust the motherfucker not to have it drugged, so I ignore it.

“Not in the least. Enough of the song and dance, Colin. We both know you wouldn’t strike without a reason, however fucked up it is. So tell me, what the fuck does this come down to? Or, we can both get the fuck out of here and war can begin. I got warm pussy waiting for me at home. I much prefer that to looking at you.”

His lips curl in distaste. My fist clenches under the table so no one can see it. I keep my face impassive.

“Beth.”

He says my woman’s name and my insides freeze. My brain doesn’t comprehend it at first. How does he know her name? Why is he bringing her up? What the fuck is going on?

“Excuse me?” I ask, feeling my way in the fucking dark and vowing to have a word with Beth when I get back. I planned on learning her secrets… but fuck me sideways, not like this.

“You think you can touch my property? You bought yourself a world of trouble, and the only blood that will be spilled… is yours. And that is a promise. This meeting is done.”

“Your property?” I ask, my voice laced in ice.

“Mine,” he states, and it takes all I have not to tear him apart with my bare hands.

“Does she know that? Because I don’t remember her saying your name when she was begging for my cock.”

Shock comes over Colin’s face, then jealousy. I see it clearly before he locks it down.

“You’re lying.”

“She’s got the sweetest pussy I’ve ever been inside of. Drains a man dry and begs for more. Too bad you didn’t get a taste when you could, Colin, because she’s mine now, and unlike you, motherfucker, I protect my property.” I stand up. “Now this meeting’s finished.”

“Return her back to me and I might let you live, Skull.”

“I’ll see you in hell first,” I tell him, not bothering to turn around. “Let’s go boys,” I call to Torch and Sabre. My mouth got away from me. I know there will be blood flowing in this fucking war, but I can’t stop it. The son of a bitch is never getting his hands on my woman. She is mine, even if I’m going to fucking make sure she can’t sit down for a week.

“Jesus, when you get serious over a woman, you make sure it’s not simple, ese,” Diesel says, following us out. I don’t answer him. There’s nothing I can say because he’s absolutely fucking right.