The phone rang and woke both of them up, well it woke him up; she seemed content to just snuggle into him as she moved her head from one cheek to the other. Carson usually liked to be in a bed when he slept, and that was probably a product of not always having a bed growing up, but with Kelli stretched out on his chest, he was fine but disoriented. It was almost like a dream having her in his arms, and he almost had to shake his head a little because he wasn’t sappy, and those were some sappy ass thoughts.

 

When the phone stopped ringing in the most jarring ring tone he’d ever heard, he breathed a sigh of relief but it didn’t last long, because the phone started ringing again almost immediately.

 

“Someone wants to get in touch with you,” he said shaking her a little. Picking up the phone and looking at the caller ID told him the person on the other line was The Devil. “You may want to get this.”

 

She reached for the device and looked at the screen. “It’s my Papa, and I don’t want to answer it.”

 

“You’re going to need to talk to him, Kelli. You’re a grown woman, and you don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to go, but this man has arms and eyes all over the city. You need to know what he wants.”

 

She didn’t agree or disagree, but she did put the phone on speaker. “Yes, Papa?”

 

“Where the fuck are you? I knew I shouldn’t have let you out of my sight.” The leader of the local underworld sounded pissed, and Carson moved Kelli off his lap so he could make a call of his own.

 

“I don’t have to do what you say. You took away my money, my home, and my career so you could control me, but no more.”

 

“So you ran to the man who killed Argo for protection? He’s only using you to get to me.” The man calmed down quickly when he found out her little girl wasn’t playing around and had found a way out of the jail he’d made for her.

 

“I got a copy of a tape that I was told you knew about. Would you know anything about it? It was a tape of the way Argo was killed. It hurt me to my heart to watch it, but it showed that Carson didn’t kill Argo and that he was trying to save him. Argo was also telling him to go so he didn’t get killed by his men that were on the way.” She waited to hear what he’d say. Kelli looked like she really wanted him to confess what he really knew, but Carson could tell that would be hard for the proud man he’d met a few weeks ago. This was a man who liked having control, having everything go his way with little to no questions.

 

“Everything isn’t what it seems, little girl.” Her father played the ‘you don’t know what I know’ card perfectly, but the look on Kelli’s face said she wasn’t going for it.

 

“I’m not coming back. I had some resources stashed away in my office, and I’m thankful that you let me get it, but no one deserves to be treated like this.”

 

“I know where you are and who you’re with. Let’s see if I’m in a good mood to listen to this nonsense from you or Mr. Hale when I get there.” The phone disconnected, and Kelli looked scared.

 

“They’re coming for us. My Papa says he knows where we are.”

 

Carson didn’t like watching her get so upset, but there wasn’t anything he could do to calm her right now. “Get dressed. We’re getting out of here.”

 

He watched her throw on her clothes, and he called Beast.

 

“Yo,” answered the man who rarely ever had a greeting for someone who called.

 

“Beast, it’s me, Carson.”

 

“Yeah, I know or I wouldn’t have said anything. What’s up?”

 

“I’m here with Kelli. We met up to talk about what happened, and now her father is coming to get us.”

 

“Fuck! Carson didn’t I tell you that I didn’t want to have to cross paths with him. He’s pissed at us for the mark we had on his right hand man. I really wanted to make a name for ourselves here and then attempt to join forces.”

 

“Well I’m sorry to fuck up your plans, but I’m going to need some assistance. Where is everyone?” Carson had everything he needed; he just wanted to make sure he knew where his back up was.

 

“They’re all right here. Are you at your apartment?” Beast sounded like he was getting up and walking around. Carson was grateful that this was working out the way it did because if he’d have been in town alone, who knew how this would have played out? The last thing he wanted was to have her dad shoot him with her present.

 

“Yes,” Carson said knowing that he was going to get shit for that one.

 

“Well that’s stupid. He probably knows exactly where you are.”

 

“I get that. We are on our way out the door now.” Carson gathered his keys and motioned for Kelli to come on.

 

“All right then, head over to the Round House Bar, and we’ll meet you there. Be very careful. I think you have the makings of a time bomb on your hands, and the detonator has just been lit.” Beast hung up as soon as the last word left his mouth.

 

“We have to get going,” he said to Kelli whose face was pale as a sheet.

 

“If I would have known I would could get you killed, I wouldn’t have met up with you. I was so excited to see you, I didn’t think about how this would play out.”

 

“Don’t worry about that now. Let’s just try to work our way through this.” He pulled her along after him as he took her down the stairs and out the exit in the back of the building. His motorcycle was right where he’d left it, and he gave her a helmet to put on as he put his on. Then they jumped on, and he took off. There was no other way to go but by the front of the building, and he saw the same cars that had come to pick Kelli up from the cabin. He counted seven, but there could have been more.

 

She squeezed him a bit tighter because he knew she heard the man yell “There they are,” just like he did. They had the benefit of being on a motorcycle, and he used his skills and the ability to get through tight spaces to his advantage.

 

He could hear them as they started to follow them, and he wondered how many of them were on their way up to his apartment. This was the closest call he’d ever had, but he was thankful her father got mad and told her he was coming to get her because it gave them time to make a plan and get out of there. Her father must have been heated when he figured out he’d been duped by his daughter, but Carson knew that he would be the one that would get the burn for it.

 

Carson knew his way around the city, and that was a bonus. The men must have split up and tried to get him from different sides. The only thing that was saving him from being blown off this bike was the precious cargo he was carrying on the back. He turned the corner a bit quickly, and she held on for dear life. He wished he had time to comfort her, but he was trying to save both of their lives. His was more literal, but she was in danger as well. They weren’t far from the check point where he was supposed to meet the guys, but the car was closing in on them. The red light would put them right next to them, so he moved all the way over to the right lane so he could go through the light.

 

The loud honking behind him made him almost smug… almost, but it was when he saw the motorcycles coming toward him the other way, he got a bit shaken. These weren’t the guys he was waiting for; they were not known to him. He’d surrender if they were going to do something to hurt Kelli. Carson could have pulled out his weapon, but that would only have led to there being more weapons aimed at them.

 

Slowing before he got to the next intersection, he took a turn down an alley that was a cross street to the bar he was attempting to make it to. He could see his boys on the ready when he came out of the alley. He got a call in his head set from Beast on their helmet walkie talkies. Carson thought it was the dumbest thing to invest money in at the time, but now he wanted to award the genius of whoever created and implemented the use of such a helpful item.

 

“We got a lock on a warehouse a few blocks from here on Hepburn Way. You know where that is?”

 

He pushed the button on the side of his helmet. “I do. Follow me.” Carson really never thought past finding his guys to help out, but now that he thought about it, there was going to have to be some sort of face off, and he didn’t even want to think about how that would play out.

 

Looking into his mirror, Carson could see that the whole group had joined together and there were Satan’s Ravens mixed in with the friends of Picerno and huge cars that were probably filled with gun-toting men who were ready to battle. When he turned the corner closest to the warehouse, he kicked in the turbo boost on his bike because he wanted Kelli to be somewhere safe when the shit hit the fan because it was looking like it was going to be one hell of a mess.

 

“Where the fuck are you?” Beast yelled in his ears.

 

“I’m going to put Kelli somewhere so she doesn’t get hurt.”

 

“We’re too close. Don’t take off running with her or you’ll get shot. Just stand there. I think her being with you is safer for all of us than putting her somewhere.”

 

Carson thought that on the drive over, but the hostility in the air wasn’t going to be healthy for anyone, and he’d hate for the peace loving woman she wanted to be deep in her heart damaged from all the violence. He had time to put his bike against the wall and then secure their helmets. She grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it.

 

“I can tell that you wanted me to be somewhere safe, but I’m staying with you. All these people are coming together because of us, and no one is going to get hurt if I can help it.” She looked so determined, he hoped her father didn’t disappoint her any more than he has been.

 

“Just stand behind me. There are a lot of people behind out there I don’t know.”

 

The smile she gave him matched that billion dollar bracelet, and as much as he’d like the kiss that he knew would accompany that, it wasn’t the time or the place. The gangsters were lined up against the bikers, and Carson moved to stand in front of his men while Kelli’s father got out of the car with the tinted windows. It was difficult to make Kelli stand back, but she hung on to his hand with both of hers not letting him go.

 

“This is a fine mess you’ve gotten us all into, Kelli. How about you come back home and everyone can go home?” Angelo stood there like he was over this whole situation, and he was calling back his child like she was a runaway teenager that had gone astray.

 

“I’m not coming home, Papa. There are things you kept from me. That’s why you were being blackmailed.” Her voice was loud and carried to everyone who was listening.

 

“Did he tell you that?” The man walked a few steps toward the imaginary line that their divide had made between the two groups, and then his people all drew their weapons, making the biker side do the same.

 

“No. The person who gave me the DVD told me that. How would he know about all the horrible things you’ve told me about him?” She held up her arm and waved her sparkly bracelet in the air. “Looks like he didn’t sell it after all. Did he tell you he wanted to return it to me personally?”

 

“I want to talk to both of you privately. Everyone put your guns away. My daughter is out here.” Angelo said as he walked back to the car. His second in command followed him, and when Carson went to follow him, Beast stepped behind him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

 

“My guy isn’t going to be the only non-Picerno in the conversation. I’m the president of this organization, and we take care of our own.” Beast waited to see if there was going to be a problem. Since the guns had already been drawn and put away, there was no telling what was going to happen.

 

Angelo didn’t say anything; he just got in the limousine and waited for everyone to follow suit. Carson got in before Kelli just in case this was some ploy. Then came Beast and the guy who was now second in command since Argo died.

 

“I’m going to address you first, Kelli, because I’m tired of all your dramatics. You shack up with this guy who planned to kill your cousin.” Angelo, who was looking at Kelli, turned to Carson. “That’s a fact, isn’t it?”

 

“I told your daughter about that and was trying to get the situation resolved when Argo was shot.”

 

“By your own man? Sounds like a set up to me.” The man sat back in the seat like he was on the king’s throne with his arms crossed as if he was waiting for an answer. Carson didn’t have one for him because he wasn’t involved with that.

 

“With all due respect, sir. We are independent contractors, for lack of a better name, that handle the dirty work for people who don’t want to get their hands dirty. Carson was trying to do something that we weren’t aware of, and honestly if he’d have told me what he was doing, I probably would have handled it the same way. I’m sorry for your loss, but it was business. You can understand that.”

 

“Well aren’t you a piece of work? Sitting there all high and mighty when a man I considered like my son is dead and gone, and it’s just all in a day’s work to you?” The red of the mob boss’s face looked like he was going to stroke over any minute.

 

“There have been many families that have come to you to ask for mercy when a loved one had done something they couldn’t repay, and how did you treat them, Papa? I know for a fact it has happened at least 4 times because I’ve seen all the family members beg you, and that’s before you took the person’s life.” Kelli’s small voice of reason had the effect that she probably wanted. He was listening and considering what she was saying.

 

“We’re talking about Argo.” The gruff man didn’t seem like the drug lord now but more like a hurt man who lost someone close to him.

 

“I know, but you’ve always told me that when you live by the sword, you’ll die by the sword. I’ve never wanted that for any of us, but I can only make the decision for myself.” Kelli and her father were talking like they were the only two in the car, and Carson didn’t know about everyone else, but for him that was just fine.

 

A big, deep sigh filled the car, and Carson hoped that meant the Picerno’s were going to let all this go and let Kelli go with it. He was taking his woman home whether that be her bedroom in his house, his apartment, or if they had to run off somewhere.

 

“Carson came to me requesting a few moments to speak to you. He said he had your bracelet, but I wasn’t shown the item. I believe he said it wasn’t with him. I was a very distraught man that day, but I didn’t kill your friend, sweetheart. I should get some credit for that.”

 

“Thanks Papa,” Kelli’s tone bristled with disrespect, but since the man didn’t seem to have a problem with it, he hoped the worst was over.

 

“Don’t get sassy, young lady. He lived because I’d already seen the tape and how he tried to offer comfort to Argo at the end before he was threatened with his life. I still don’t know if I want you considering being with someone that’s not Italian,” he said looking Carson up and down like he could smell the difference and it was making him sick.

 

“That’s not your decision, Papa. It’s not guaranteed that we’ll be together for the long haul anyway, but we’re working on it.”

 

“Speak for yourself, Kelli. I’m in it for the long haul.” He put his two cents out there because he meant it, and he could tell that she didn’t want her father to put demands on them.

 

“If you are going to be taking care of my daughter, I’d like to know more about you, Carson. What kinds of things do The Satan’s Ravens do? That’s a dumb name by the way.” Angelo was used to saying whatever he wanted — that was a fact — but when Carson looked over at his friend who was trying to work his way into the Picernos’ businesses, it didn’t appear that slight had been a problem.

 

“There are lots of things we can do—”

 

“This is probably not the best time. How about you and Carson come by tomorrow around noon? Carson knows the way.” Angelo actually had a smile on his face like he was impressed that the lone biker could find him and make enough waves to get into see him.

 

They all got out of the limo, and Angelo yelled out to the men who stood there in parking lot waiting to see if they were going to have to fight or scatter. “You men will all be working together in some capacity, so look around and learn the faces.”

 

“Papa?” Kelli walked over to her father who gave her a hug. Carson didn’t go too far away just because it was going to take a long time, if ever, for there to be any kind of trust between Carson and her father.

 

“I’ve been being an ass and you were right. I was taking out my hostility on you. There was no reason to keep you out of your job or house. I’ve already had the house freshened up for you and new stock, and clean-up is happening this week for the shop. I already set it up. It was going to be a bargaining chip.”

 

“I may go back to both places for a while, but I want to be able to call everything my own. I’m going to be working on getting out from under you with the business.”

 

“Take your time, Kelli. I still wish he’d have been Italian.”

 

Carson watched Kelli and her father joke around a bit before the man called him over.

 

“I want you to be the go between for me with your bikers and what I want done. I don’t mind working with Beast, but I want all business to go through you. I’ll work on your pay.”

 

“Are you just wanting to give me a job so you can have more control over your daughter through me? Because if that’s the case, you can count me out of your little plan.” Carson watched the man frown and knew then that was what he wanted to do.

 

“I’m possessive and controlling over my loved ones because I want to keep them safe. I know my daughter isn’t a baby anymore, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to treat her as such.” Angelo walked away from Kelli and nodded for Carson to follow him. “I like that you have heart, son, even when I didn’t want you with Kelli because of what happened with Argo, I still thought you had some potential.”

 

“Thank you. I hope to be around a good long while, at least until Kelli is done putting up with me. The job we can talk about tomorrow, but I’d really like to get Kelli something to eat and then relax for the rest of the evening.” Carson said and was surprised when Angelo’s big meaty hand clapped him on the back and a rough chuckle escaped his mouth. What alternate universe was this?

 

He looked around the parking lot and saw all the people slightly mingling as much as career criminals could do, but the smile on Beast’s face couldn’t be denied. His scruffy face rarely looked pleased, but that changed tonight.

 

“Holy shit, Carson. You really worked that out for us, and to think I didn’t want to bring your sorry ass with us. Fuckin’ Pacemaker was the one who talked me into it. Call me in the morning to tell me where to meet you.” Beast was the second person of the night to pat his back in a friendly gesture.

 

Carson looked around the parking lot for the woman who’d really saved the day. It was a good thing she wasn’t a wilting flower because the father would have run all over all of them. The head count was three to one based on what he could see quickly, and no one was fighting with fists anymore. He looked to his left and his right and saw Angelo get in his car with a little wave to him. What…The… Fuck? Was this all some elaborate plan to sneak Kelli away while he was filled with the knowledge that he and his crew were not only fine but thriving in this inner city market?

 

“Hey there,” Kelli said from behind him, and the aggression he’d felt building up dissipated instantly. “You ready to go home?”

 

“Where is that exactly?”

 

“I don’t really know. I figured I’d say ‘Let’s go home,’ and you could pick a spot. I will say that if my Papa got the house ready for me, then there is more food at the house than at the apartment.”

 

He noticed how she said the house and the apartment instead of putting ownership on either of them.

 

“Then it’s the house with the food and drinks for the win.”