Gio (Steel Demons MC #6)

Chapter 22

Gio

“L ook.” Viper started and then stopped and raked a hand through his shaggy brown hair and let out a sharp breath. His eyes closed and then open on Diesel. “I just want my product back. Whatever else is going on between us, I need that product back.”

I smiled to myself, happy that Hawk was in front of me to shield my expression from Viper and the other Blood Reapers who’d shown up for this meeting in the desert. It was the ideal place since there was nothing around. No buildings or anywhere else to hide. We were all out in the open because we didn’t trust each other for shit.

Diesel stared at Viper for a long damn time as if he could read the man’s mind. Finally he spoke, his words deliberately slow and lacking all emotion. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Have you misplaced some of your product?”

Viper’s jaw clenched so tight I heard his molars crunching. “Bullshit!” He spat the word out angrily, his eyes darted around to each of us until he found mine and then they darkened to black. “Your boy is pissed off that his bitch is in my crosshairs. Maybe we should ask him what happened to my product.”

My own jaw clenched tight, when he finally addressed me. My hands balled into tight fists, ready to lunge forward and punch that motherfucker at any moment, but my brother was beside me and he gripped my shoulder until a lot of the tension left my body.

“Well boy, what do you have to say for yourself?”

I took a step forward and pushed Hawk to the side. “Who the fuck are you calling boy?”

He laughed, looking over his shoulder for validation from his men. “The only boy I see around here.”

I looked at each of his men and my smile grew. “I don’t think you brought enough men, Viper. I’ve already taken out two or was it three of your fucking pussies, I mean Reapers. ”

He glared at me so hard that I felt the heat of his hatred from a few feet away. I knew he was pissed because that shipment we gifted to the Black Devils belonged to the cartel, who they had to pay no matter what. “What the fuck did you do?”

“I didn’t do shit because if I had, I would’ve burned it right in front of your fucking clubhouse. I would’ve made sure you knew it was me for having your men attempt to take my woman.”

“She knows too much.” Viper grunted angrily and stepped forward. “I had my man at the hotel tell her to get the fuck out of town, out of respect for you,” he said to Diesel before he turned back to me. “But she’s still here.”

Viper’s VP, Howler, stepped up right beside his president with a serious expression that did fuck all to hide his worry. “We’ll make you a deal, give us our shit back and we’ll leave your bitch alone.”

Viper’s nostrils flared, proof he wasn’t on board with that plan.

Diesel, for his part, maintained the MC line. “What product? Tell us what we took and maybe I can help you.”

Viper scowled. “What the fuck, are you wearing a fucking wire?”

Diesel’s lips pulled into a grin. “Fuck no,” he growled. “And don’t ever accuse me of that shit again or we’ll have real problems.”

“We already do. If we don’t get that product back, we won’t be the only ones in trouble.” He got right up in Diesel’s face, getting angry when he didn’t get the response he wanted. “You know the Santangelo Cartel?”

Diesel gave him nothing.

“Well that shipment belongs to them and if they don’t get the drugs or the money, they’ll take their payment in blood.”

Diesel shrugged. “Then I suggest you track down your shit and get the fuck out of my face.”

He laughed and looked around but none of us missed the way his right hand balled into a fist before he telegraphed the punch aimed at my prez.

Diesel moved fast as fuck for a man his size, a quick step to the right and he easily dodged the punch before ducking down to avoid the second hit, sending two punches—one to the gut and a jab to the nose—back. “Next time you come for me, don’t fucking miss.” Diesel smirked at Viper who was still doubled over with both arms wrapped around his gut.

“You’ll pay for this, asshole.”

“Maybe. But now that we know you stole or sold product that belongs to the cartel, that’s information we can use to our benefit. Thanks for the tip.”

Viper paled visibly and I let my smile fly, satisfied to see that fucker worried. Scared.

The same way he made Harper feel.

“Oh,” Diesel stopped and bent down to get right in Viper’s face. “Stay the fuck away from Harper or I will unleash my boy on your whole fucking MC. Got it?” He didn’t wait for a response because he didn’t need to.

We had Viper and his MC over a barrel, and we all knew it.

The only thing we didn’t know was how Viper might respond.

***

“He’s losin’ it,” Rocky said when we got back to our bikes. “I’m not the only one who saw that shit, right?”

Diesel shook his head, brows pinched with concern. “No, he’s more than on edge. He’s fucking terrified and he should be, the Santangelo Cartel doesn’t fuck around. They leave people in parts—and that’s if they left anything to find.”

“He’s gonna blow soon.” I pushed the words past my lips with great effort because I knew what I would do in this situation. “He’s going after Harper again and he’ll try to use her for leverage.”

Rocky clapped me on the back. “She’s got the wildest, most violent shadow around. She’ll be fine.”

She would be because I would make sure of it. No matter what Viper and his men tried to pull, I would keep Harper safe.

No matter how many men would have to die at my hands.

We rode back to the clubhouse quickly, feeling good about how the meeting went but extra cautious because we all knew the dangers of a man backed into a corner, which we’d essentially done by stealing that shipment. There was a tension in the air when we got there, each of us knew that some kind of war was coming, the only unknown was who our enemy would be.

“I came all this way to see you fuckers and it’s like a goddamn funeral.” The familiar, always amused voice of Hollywood broke through our thoughts.

And right beside him was my best friend, Cole.

Harper’s protective as fuck older brother.