“You look beautiful tonight, Torrent,” I whisper, putting my hand over her smaller one and bringing it to my lips.

She’s quiet tonight. I can see she’s upset and I know it’s over Devil. She’ll get over it eventually. She’ll have to. Her little boyfriend will soon be dead—if he’s not already. There’s more pieces of him on my bat than there was left on parts of his body. I got a little carried away. I saw bone on pieces of his leg and it’s amazing how great my tool works on the face. The barbed wire cut through beard and all. Pretty boy is not so pretty anymore. Not that it matters. He’ll never see the outside world again. I’ll leave him in pieces and bury those where only the vultures can find his remains.

What I’m not so sure of is Torrent. I’ve wasted a lot of years on her, only to have her ignore my advances. Then, when she should have turned to me for comfort, she goes to another man. I was intrigued by her and fuck, I’ve wanted her for a lot of years. It’s not the same now.

Before she was a spitfire that made my balls ache and was begging to be dominated and tamed. Now, she’s a shell of the woman she used to be. Part of that is my fault.

Well, not really.

This can all be laid at Crash’s feet. That fucker messed so much shit up, I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the screw-ups he made. That’s why I had to kill him. Well, that and I couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t let it slip that I was the one behind the plot to kill Dodger. Crash was a loose end; he had to die. Still, the fact he hurt Torrent the way he did… That wasn’t supposed to happen.

Torrent was a tool to get to her old man, but she wasn’t to be harmed. I wanted her healthy and intact. I didn’t want her damaged. I wanted her fire. I wanted to be the one to quench it. Crash fucked all that up for me too. This Torrent holds no fucking appeal, or maybe that’s the stink of Devil on her, hiding it. I might give her a go just to see.

Regardless, Torrent is a piece of the puzzle that I need. A lot of Dodger’s men, the loyal ones, are suspicious of me. They’re not keen about sitting under me as their leader. I don’t really give a fuck, but a club can’t stand without muscle and it’s going to take a while to find men I trust to watch my back in the meantime. If Torrent was my old lady, they’d fall in line. Then, once I had men in place, if they piss me off I’ll get rid of them. This club is mine and finally I’m going to see to it that it will be run the way I want it to be. Dodger’s fuck-ups with the trafficking cost us some serious money and made enemies we did not need to have. I’ve smoothed that over, but who the fuck knows with the Koreans? They weren’t exactly filled with happiness when I told them Crash and Jin were dead.

I didn’t try to save them. They could have pointed the finger at me, but with Crash gone it has definitely been harder finding my footing with them. Chul—the leader—has an American step-brother called King. I’ve been trying to get him on my side, but he’s staying distracted over trying to get his boy from its mother or some shit.

I want kids. Torrent would probably breed some good ones, but I can’t help but think they’d be weak now. She has more of her father’s blood than I gave her credit for. I was hoping she’d be like her mom. Layla was hot as fire. No man could tame her.

Dodger sure didn’t have it in him. That’s why she came looking to me. Sweetest fuck I ever had and wild as a damn mink. We were perfectly matched, until she thought she should come clean to Dodger. She wanted to be my old lady. Started to get jealous as fuck and ignored Torrent and Luke completely.

I had to silence her. I gave her a good time before I did it. I let her ride my cock and when she was about to climax, I choked the life out of her. To this day it was the hardest I’ve ever come in my life.

If only Torrent had a little of her mother’s fire…

“Wolf? Are you listening?” Torrent asks, and I jerk myself out of my memories. I’ve got to concentrate on the here and now. I still have moves I need to make.

“Sorry, baby. It’s been a rough day. Running this club was never what I wanted. Some days are harder than others. I sure miss your daddy,” I lie.

Torrent’s face goes pale, and I contain my smile as she trembles. Her hand reaches out to mine and she holds it tight.

“God. I do too. It’s so empty without him here—isn’t it, Wolf?”

“It is. I still expect the bastard to come storming in ready to tell me some damn story and make me laugh.”

“I keep having nightmares of him. He’s trying to tell me something, but I can never understand.”

“It’s the trauma, Tor. You saw too much. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you sooner.”

“I owe you so much. More than what I’ve given you, that’s for sure. I need to talk to you about something, Wolf, but I’m… scared.”

Fuck… that right there… weakness. The Torrent I wanted would never admit to being scared. I manage to keep the distaste off my face, but it’s not easy. I can’t play my hand yet.

Not yet.

“You never have to be scared with me, Torrent. You’re always safe with me. You know that. Your father knew that. I will always protect you.”

“I know. My father loved you so much, Wolf. You were the only one he truly trusted.”

That’s because he was a stupid son of a bitch.

“It will be okay, Torrent. You’ll heal and I’ll be here to help you. Don’t keep things inside. I want to be your friend too, you know. I want to be here in any way you will let me. You can tell me anything.”

“You might not after I tell you what I…have to tell you,” she says and I stop myself from rolling my eyes.

Get it over with, bitch.

“Tell me, baby,” I urge.

“I’ve been seeing… Devil.”

I pull back, trying to act like what she’s telling me is a shock. I should win a damn Oscar.

“When did this happen, Torrent?”

“While you were away. I went to him to ask him to leave. I was afraid him being here would upset you more and I… I didn’t want that.”

Maybe she’s smarter than I gave her credit for.

“It kind of just…happened, Wolf. I didn’t plan it—I swear.”

“I thought you promised to give us a real shot, Tor. I love you,” I tell her, my voice so full of disappointment and sadness, it’s hard not to cackle at the shame that swamps her face.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her voice so full of guilt, I can’t help but find some satisfaction in it.

“So, your decision is made,” I answer and then breathe heavily, as if I have any intention of losing gracefully.

“Well, yes. I’m sorry. Of course it’s not like it matters anymore. Devil hates me.”

“No one could hate you, Tor.”

Except for me. I’m getting there faster and faster.

“He does. He left. He went back to his club,” she whispers and fuck if the waterworks don’t start. I hope I can make it through this fucking dinner without choking her like I did her mother.