Page 17 of Severu

I don’t focus on most of what is said between Alceu and the President of The Gypsy Bastards MC, but I do know that they have agreed to work together. The club will run our weapons and drugs through their territory and ensure safe delivery to the buyer on the other side. In return, we will pay them a small fortune. Seems like everyone is happy.

Walking away from the warehouse where we all congregated, I hear my name called. Nodding to Alceu and Mancuso to continue to the vehicle, I turn to face the person who called my name.

“Beast,” I say casually.

“Severu.” He scans the area around us for any sign that someone may overhear our conversation before continuing. “There is a problem.”

My mind immediately drifts to that man that wanted to harm Lira. What the fuck could it possibly be now?

“No, not that,” Beast says after seeing the look on my face. “I have some intel. Reliable source. But I don’t want to be poking around in your family’s business.”

Taking a closer look, I can see that he’s uncomfortable. We may not be the best of friends, but I have known him long enough to know when he isn’t happy about something.

“Perhaps, you could tell me this information as an old friend?”

“It’s the same damn thing and you know it,” he grumbles. “But this doesn’t just affect the Cammareri empire. Now that we are running for you, it affects the Gypsy Bastards too.”

“Well, then, out with it. Neither of us has all day to stand here chatting.”

I want to get home to Lira. My mind has wandered to her many times in the past few hours, and I don’t want to be away from her anymore.

“Vice has someone planted in your organization,” Beast says flatly. “Heard it was a woman, but that is all I know. These fuckers are getting increasingly creative in their pursuit to try to snuff us out.”

“Thank you.” I nod. My heart is beating a mile a minute. “I will bring this to the attention of my brothers. If there is a rat, we will weed them out.”

There is no hesitation in my step as I join my brothers in our custom SUV. There is also no doubt in my mind as to who the vice agent is.

The two-hour drive back to our home does nothing for me. My skin feels tight, and my nerves frayed. How could I not see this? Is it that easy to fool me?

I pride myself on being able to read people, being a good judge of character. It’s why I am Alceu’s right-hand man. The one who thinks rationally before acting.

When we reach the house, I bolt out of the car, storming through the house. I don’t have to seek Lira out. Her laughter draws me to her. I find her and Guilia beside the pool, drinking cocktails. I had this planned out better in my mind, to confront her away from my family so no one would know how epically I had fucked up. But my rage has taken over, and the demand for answers thrums through my veins with every beat of my heart.

“Are you a cop?” I accuse loudly.

I wish I used more tact, but the words are out there. The thing that bothers me most is that there is no shock on her features or even indignation at the fact I just accused her.

“Yes,” Lira replies loud enough for everyone to hear before setting her cocktail on the table.

Chapter Seventeen

Lira

If I had been ahead of this situation, I could have handled this moment better. I want to believe that I stayed here to further the investigation, but the sad truth is that I let my hormones get the better of me. I stayed here not out of duty and definitely not out of fear. No, I’m here because of Severu and the feeling he awakens in me.

“What do you want to do now?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual while I watch him.

“What?” Guilia asks beside me.

“Fuck!” Severu roars out. “How did I miss this?”

Alceu joins us with his steely gaze on me. I can see that he is trying to figure out just how much I’ve seen and heard in the past weeks. But it doesn’t matter. Even if I had seen him draw and quarter someone, I won’t say a word.

“I should shoot you,” Severu seethes.

I know that what we had, even if it was only a passing thing, is dead in the water. I take a second to mourn what might have been, but there isn’t shit I can do about it now.

“All right.” My voice holds no emotion.