Wicked Love •Book Two•

Chapter 17

"Darling," Tether leans in to kiss my cheek only to be ripped back by Arrow. He stumbles but catches himself and dusts off his dark blue button-up like nothing happened.

"You're lucky Sin didn't see that," Arrow grinds his jaw. "We didn't set this meeting so you could gawk at our girl. Go sit down."

Tether just smiles, winking at me as he passes by and takes a seat at the conference table. He's gotten far too too comfortable with me and with my men but a part of me still softened for him. I appreciated his kindness and his willingness to keep me and my sister safe regardless of what it cost him. Not that it cost much for him, especially given now he was working with the two most powerful mob bosses in the city. But either way, the man didn't want to put a bullet in the back of my head even when there was a two million dollar cash prize riding on it, and that I appreciated.

Grey enters a few seconds later, Landon following closely behind him and Lucas behind him.

"Sin," Tether greets, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Grey's stare could cut glass. "The hit, it's been taken down."

"So I saw," Tether nods, looking slightly confused. "This is good, no?"

He still didn't know that it was really meant to draw my father out. Or that my uncle had set it up. The same uncle who was currently on his way back to Italy to try his hand again at killing my father. Though I didn't have much hope he'd succeed especially given he'd been trying for god knows how long.

"We're not getting comfortable," Grey says. "None of us think this is the end of it."

"I guess that's a safe bet. So what do you want from me?"

Grey looks at Arrow and Arrow gives a light nod. "We want you to move within the city limits."

Tether looks shocked, and even when he tried to recover, he still looks shocked. "There are no other gangs within Sin Sity limits."

"Correct." Grey says.

"And you're telling me, you're inviting me inside the city limits, and you won't kill me if I do?"

"It's not rocket science." Grey snaps. My heart aches. I know Grey hates this. He doesn't want any other mobs within the city limits. "I want to expand my ranks."

"For protection," Tether puts together. "For Ivy?"

"And her sister and her sister's girlfriend." Grey nods. "This hit, it brought our weaknesses to the forefront. And I trust that, regardless of how much you may dislike me and Arrow, you care for Ivy. So yes, I am inviting you into the city to expand my presence and keep us all the more safe."

Tether nods. "You understand that with me, comes my sister? And she will have to be under your protection as well if I agree? This goes both ways."

It's my turn to make a face.

I didn't want Andrea dead. But I certainly didn't want her under our protection. The thought of Grey or Arrow protecting her in any way, made my stomach twist and my blood run hot. But I said nothing. It was a pill I'd have to swallow.

"I understand." Grey nods, indifferent.

"I'd be taking a huge risk," Tether shifts in his seat. "Trusting you."

Grey shrugs. "I haven't given you a reason not to since we started working together."

Tether considers this. "No, I guess you haven't." Silence falls for a few heartbeats before he says: "I'll think about it. Give me two days to confer with my team."