The lockdown was quickly put in place and I was looking over the cameras, checking that everything was quiet. I took a gulp of my whiskey when I was interrupted by the sound of someone banging at the front door. I looked up, but there was no one around this early in the morning. Wolf had opened up the back rooms so the brothers could get some rest, and the girls had all gone home for the time being. I heard Grayson’s apartment had become a fortress with men crawling all over it. Ryan Simon and his men were now stationed there and both Ravenous and Simon’s club, the Vault, had been shut down for the time being.

No one really knew about Grayson’s place, which meant it was a good safe house to have. Cain had actually taken Sophia to the boathouse. He was rallying men up there to be ready for when La Cruz showed up, and cameras were going up everywhere. Every time I checked the feed, I had a new street angle on the screen. I was supposed to stay up at Wolf’s, but Ciara had been put up at Grayson’s and I wasn’t going to leave her alone for a second.

Again, the pounding resounded throughout the empty space and I checked the cameras up front. A familiar face looked up at me and I wondered what the hell he was doing here.

I went and opened the door, finding Joe Morton’s sullen expression looking back at me.

“May I come in.”

I raised my arm, signaling for him to come in. “What can I do for you?”

“I need a word.”

“I figured. Would you like a drink?”

He shook his head and narrowed his eyes on me. “I don’t drink so early in the morning.”

I shrugged, not really caring what he thought of me, and led him to the back lounge. I had my laptop opened on the table and blueprints of the docks were scattered everywhere. I quickly shut the screen and pointed at an empty seat. The bulky man slowly sat down, taking a good look around.

“Looks different during the day.”

I smirked and cut to the chase. I wasn’t one for small talk. “What can I do for you, fly boy.”

He smirked. “Touché’.”

I shrugged. Payback for being called a grunt.

“So where’s your bike?”

I raised my eyebrows, surprised Ciara had told him. “We keep them out back, away from the others. Mine’s in the shop.”

He nodded and remained silent as he assessed his surroundings.

“Just ask me what you want to ask me, man.”

He fixed his glare on me and if I were a lesser man, I would’ve squirmed. “Stay away from Ciara.”

I smirked and looked down at my hands for a moment. My voice was low as I raised my eyes to his. “There’s absolutely no way that’s happening.”

He fixed me with his stare, but I didn’t budge. “She’s young and she doesn’t know what she wants. She needs time to figure it out and I don’t want her getting sidetracked.”

“Ciara is the smartest woman I know. I doubt someone like me could ever sidetrack her.”

“You’re just as stubborn as she is, aren’t you?”

I smiled. “Why? What did she say?”

Joe waved him off. “Nevermind. What will it take for you to stay away?”

“I told you, man. I have everything I need. Nothing’s gonna’ stop me.”

“How much?”

I chuckled and leaned in towards him. “I have more money than you’ll ever see in your lifetime, Morton.”

Joe ran his hands along his head and hung it low. “Shit.”

“Look, man. I’m not gonna’ hurt her. She’s too precious to me. The most I can guarantee is her safety. I’m sure that means more to you than anything else.”

Joe looked at me, a look of despair in his eyes. “I’m going to ask one thing of you. I’ll leave you be, if you can do this one thing.”

I shrugged. “Anything, man.”

“Keep her far away from this life. You can have my sister as long as you swear to me, that she’ll have nothing to do with this place.”

My eyes darkened and I felt my jaw clench. It was probably the hardest thing anyone had ever asked of me. It wasn’t Ravenous I couldn’t do without, it was my family. My brother Cain, Wolf, Grayson, Riggs, the brotherhood. I was sworn in and I didn’t want to give it up.

I slowly shook my head. “Anything but that, that’s impossible.”

He nodded. “I wish you had given me a better answer, Scardino. I thought my sister would mean more to you than a stupid club.”

“You’re asking me to give up my family, Morton. I doubt you’d ever agree to that.”

“Ciara would be your family.”

“And I’d love every inch of that woman until the day I die, but I won’t give up on the Hell’s Lovers.” I looked down at my hands, somewhat shocked at what I had just admitted. Loving her. Cain was right. I was in love with Ciara. I was so fucking in love with her that I yearned to run to her and show her how much she belonged to me.

He stood up and looked down at me. “I guess I was wrong about you. I suggest you stay away from my sister, Scardino. Because if I see you near her again, I’ll ruin you and everyone around you. You understand?”

“Look, Morton, I…”

“Stay away from her! I have a lot more connections than you could ever fathom. Stay away Scardino, I warn you.”

I sat there as Joe Morton walked out. My head was spinning and the sudden pull at my heart was surprising. I grabbed my chest and tried to control my shallow breathing. I couldn’t give up on Hell’s Lovers, and I definitely wasn’t going to give up on Ciara. The fuck if I couldn’t have my cake and eat it too. I didn’t care who Joe Morton thought he was.

An idea started to form in my mind and it was vile and perverted, but it was the only way to tie her to me without her family hurting her. If I could really, truly claim her as mine then her family would have to accept. Especially, if there was a child caught in the middle. Seeing her family, they were close, and I’m sure they wouldn’t want to see another child being brought into this world without both parents.

I stood up and donned on my jacket, stepping out into the sunlight I knew what I was going to do was the right thing, even though it was a bit selfish on my part. But who ever said I was a good guy.