“How much is gone?” Dom asks as soon as I walk in the dining room. Becca’s in the backyard picking basil leaves or some shit. And she’s getting big. She looks like she’s going to pop any day now even though they’ve got a few months left before their little one is supposed to be here. Apparently I’m an asshole for saying that. Next time I’ll keep my mouth shut or say she’s glowing or some shit like that. The kids are with Ma and Anthony. So it’s just Tommy, Pops, Dom, and Becca for now, and everyone else will show up later. No one ever misses Ma’s Sunday dinners.

“We’re off by about half a mil on this shipment.” I answer him and Dom’s eyes go wide, then the anger settles in.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.” He’s pissed. He’s “lying low” with his fancy professor job, but he’s still in charge of the money. I knew he wouldn’t want to hear this shit.

“It’s a setup for sure.” I say.

“The cartel?” he asks.

“No. Javier had no clue. Said everything is monitored and would check it out. Right now I'm just waiting to hear back, but my money is on someone in packing. Someone with connections here who wants the territory.”

“Who’s trying to fuck with us? You think it’s Shadows MC or the Cúram crew?” Dom’s stayed in the loop more than I thought he would’ve. Shadows Motorcycle Club has been itching for territory, but I don’t see them pulling the trigger. We’d easily take them out. Cúram family is Irish and on their own turf. We aren’t friendly, but they’re not stupid. No one that I can think of has been wanting to fuck with us.

“We’ll find out once I hear back from Javier with a name.”

“What about the money?” he asks.

I frown and I suppress a groan. “They’re waiting to make sure it’s on their end, and then we’ll talk.”

“Best for business relations I guess.” Irritation colors his voice, but he’s right. I fucking hate waiting though.

Thinking about waiting reminds me that my sweetheart should be here soon. I have a bit of anxiety over her coming here. I’m worried something’s gonna set someone off. I just want her in and out. And then on my dick again. I can’t help that last part. My stomach knots thinking about how I’m gonna have to end it. I don’t fucking want to though.

Tommy comes into the room and he must read my mind, or see me shifting my hardening dick in my pants. He busts out a laugh from his gut. “Your girl staying for dinner, Vince?”

“Girl? Since when did you settle down?” The look of approval in Dom’s eyes makes me want to smack it away. I didn’t settle, and I’m not settling down.

“I didn’t, and I’m not. A broad’s coming by to pick something up so Pops can see her and then she’s gone.”

“Thought you wanted to see her again?” Tommy asks.

“I do, but that’d be stupid.”

“What’s stupid is not taking something you want.” Dom starts and I’m quick to cut him off.

“It’s done, Dom. I can’t have her, and I won’t. I’m ending it as soon as she gets here.” The absolution is firm in my voice, but I don’t want it.

“What’s wrong with her?” Dom asks, and it makes me angry. Not a damn thing is wrong with her.

“She’s a witness, that’s what’s wrong,” Pops says as he comes into the room, and Dom seems confused for a moment, but then pissed. Calling her a witness makes my blood run cold.

“A witness to what?” Dom asks.

“Doesn’t fucking matter, because she doesn’t remember shit,” I say, putting an end to the conversation. “She’s not a witness.” My words come out hard and everyone looks at me like they’d like to disagree, but they’re smart enough to keep their mouths shut. “Pops just wants to be sure. And I’m gonna show him she’s good, and then she walks. No one fucking touches her.”

Dom’s eyebrows raise and I stare at him until he concedes. “Whatever you say, Vince.” He throws up his hands in surrender. “I don’t have a problem with it if you say it’s all good.” Pops nods his head and slaps a hand on my shoulder.

Before he can speak the doorbell rings, and we all look at the door. My heart clenches, knowing I’m gonna be saying goodbye to my sweetheart. It’s going to break her heart, but she shouldn’t be with a man like me anyway.

She’s too good for me. I’m sure she knows that.

I walk quickly to the door, knowing the book is on the dining room table. I’ll walk her in so everyone can see her, and walk her ass right back out.

Nice and easy.

My chest tightens as I twist the doorknob. I’m not sure if it’s because I think something’s going to go wrong, or because I won’t be able to let go.