“Not all of them,” Matteo butted in. “Your brother and that Gunnar guy were part of our welcome party when we attacked your clubhouse and I assume you talked to both.”
I gritted my teeth. “They aren’t a danger. I think it would be good to consider recruiting them to help us. My standing among many bikers isn’t the best right now, thanks to you leaking the information about Earl, but Gunnar and these other guys could talk to other clubs for us and gather new information. And once the dust has settled over the thing with Earl, I can start talking to other clubs and maybe look for new cooperations for you.”
I was being selfish. I wanted the Famiglia to cooperate with MCs, so I could stay in touch with the lifestyle I loved.
“No,” Luca said firmly. “That’s out of the question. I don’t want any cooperations with other motorcycle clubs or with former Tartarus members. I’m not even sure I want you working for us, but I definitely won’t have more people around I don’t trust.”
I bit back an insult. I had half a mind to tell Vitiello to suck his dick. The only reason why I even considered helping him and the Famiglia was Marcella.
Marcella stepped between us as if she feared Luca and I would attack each other. “Maddox is an asset. Without him, you couldn’t have landed the hit on Tartarus. Maddox is right, we should let him bring together the Tartarus men who left before the kidnapping or were against it. We can use insiders if we want to eliminate the rest of our enemies within the biker scene.”
I stifled a smile at Marcella’s stubbornness. She fought for me and herself like a lioness.
“You really think he’s going to be faithful to you once he’s back to his biker lifestyle? That’s why he probably wants to recruit his old biker buddies,” Amo said.
“He’s present and I’m not a wild animal. Marcella is a woman that compels any man to be loyal.”
“Not that it is any of your business how Maddox and I handle our relationship, Amo. I don’t tell you how to treat your one-night-stands either.” She turned to Luca. “And you, Dad, should really consider Maddox’s suggestion. I think it’s a great idea.”
Silence in the room.
“Marcella, as everyone else, you are bound to my judgment, especially when you become part of the business. It’s my word that counts and you’ll have to abide by it.”
Marcella swallowed but gave a sharp nod.
“If I recruit bikers for some of your runs, that would get your soldiers out of the line of fire, right?” I said. “For now, I’ll help you track down possible dangers and while I’m at it, I’ll keep an eye open for possible allies. The Bratva has been cooperating with MCs before and it can help you as well.”
Luca ignored my comment. “Growl told me you didn’t want to take me up on my offer to live in one of my apartments?”
I didn’t miss the heavy note of suspicion in his voice.
“I changed my mind. But I want to pay rent. I don’t want any pittance. I’ll earn the money I spent with honest work.”
“If you want to earn money with honest work, you’re in the wrong place,” Matteo said with a chuckle.
I couldn’t help but laugh. The asshole was too crazy for my taste but his humor often was on point. He and Marcella fell in. Only Luca and Amo looked as if they had bitten into something sour.
Luca stepped forward and I tensed. Fuck, I doubted I’d ever feel at ease in his presence—unless I had a gun in my hand, which probably wouldn’t make Marcella happy.
His gaze could have frozen hell. “I’m not the forgiving type, White. The only reason why you’re here today is because Marcella begged me to spare you. If you mess with Marcella or me, nothing in this world or beyond can stop me from giving you an excruciating end, got it?”
“Dad,” Marcella whispered, her eyes going wide.
My initial reaction was to lash out but I held back for Marcella. “I’ll treat Marcella like a queen. And I’ll treat you with the same respect you show me. So far, you are the only one who’s tried to have me killed despite your word. I want us to work together for Marcella. I’m sick of revenge. What about you?”
Luca gritted his teeth but then he gave a sharp nod. Amo shook his head, giving his sister a doubtful look. A bruise was forming on his forehead, giving me a feeling of sick satisfaction.
“I’ll see what I can do about a place for you to live,” Luca said in a clipped voice, picking up his phone. He walked a few steps away so he could talk without us listening in. I couldn’t help but be wary of his secrecy. I could only hope Marcella’s words had gone through to him. I doubted I could overlook another attempt on my life even for Marcella.
Marcella gave me a small smile but she didn’t move closer like I wished she would. Not being able to touch her was making this even harder.
Luca turned back to us and pushed his cell back into his pocket. “Growl’s waiting outside to show you the apartment, if you want it.”
I nodded, even if I despised the idea of living in a mob-owned place.
“And rent’s two grand per month,” Matteo added with a grin.
“I hope the place is worth that much money.”
“You are in New York not in Never Jersey, White,” Amo muttered.
I flipped him the bird which actually made his lips twitch before his expression hardened.
“Living in one of your places, I suppose Marcella is allowed to spend the night?”
The look on Luca’s face might have made me shit my pants if I wasn’t hardened to his madness.
Marcella crossed the room and lightly touched my upper arm. “Why don’t you go ahead and grab a drink at the bar while I have another word with my father?”
The urgency in her voice made me nod. Would she always have to be the mediator between her family and me? That would get tiresome soon.
She quickly stepped back before I had the chance to kiss her, which I would have done right in front of her old man. I met his furious gaze before I turned on my heel and left.
Matteo and Amo followed me. I chanced a look at them over my shoulder. “Is my comment going to earn me a weighted dive in the Hudson or why are you creeping up on me?”
“If you’d take a weighted dive in the Hudson, Luca would want to be the one to dump you in, White, no worries,” Matteo said.
“That’s a consolation,” I muttered and took a seat at the bar on the ground floor.
Amo leaned against the bar beside me. “You realize you’ll have to marry my sister if you want to get in her pants?”
You mean, again? I almost asked but stifled the impulse in the last second, but Matteo had obviously caught on. He smiled harshly. “White, Luca might be willing to bend the rules a bit for Marcella, but don’t think we’ll abandon our traditions for you.”