EMILIA POV
The front door burst open before Marco could argue further. Five men in Crimson Reapers colors strutted in like they owned the place. I recognized their president immediately: Victor "Viper" Kane, a man whose reputation for cruelty was legendary even by MC standards.
Kane was tall and lean, with pale eyes and graying hair slicked back from his angular face. He wore an expensive suit instead of leather, but the gun under his jacket was visible to anyone who knew how to look.
"Marco," Kane said pleasantly. "Sorry to interrupt your family reunion."
"Victor," Marco's voice was ice, cold. "You've got some balls showing up here."
Kane's gaze swept the room, cataloging the number of Iron Serpents present before landing on me. His eyes slid over me like oil, his smile turning smug.
"And you must be the famous Emilia," Kane said, taking a step in my direction. "You’ve grown into quite the woman. Your father always said you were too good for this life."
He reached out, his knuckles brushing against my jawline before I could flinch away.
The entire clubhouse exploded.
Axel was suddenly in front of me, his gun half-drawn, his body a wall of pure, homicidal rage. "Touch her again and I'll paint the walls with your brains, Viper."
Every Iron Serpent in the room tensed, hands dropping to their holsters. Kane's men shifted nervously, their fingers twitching over their weapons. The temperature dropped past freezing.
Kane laughed, low and genuinely delighted, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Easy, Ghost. Wouldn't want to start the war early. I've heard about your work, anyway. Such an impressive kill count."
"Not impressive enough," Axel said quietly. "Yet."
"Gentlemen, please," Kane said with amusement, lowering his hands but keeping his predatory gaze fixed on me. "No need for threats. Yet. I just came to pay my respects. Vincent was a worthy adversary."
"You killed him," I said, my voice shaking with a mix of fury and fear.
Kane's smile widened. "Did I? That's a serious accusation, sweetheart. But let's be civilized about this. Vincent's dead, which means his territory is up for grabs. I'm prepared to make a generous offer for the Iron Serpents' operations."
"We're not selling," Marco said firmly, his hand clamping down on Axel's shoulder hard enough to bruise, physically holding him back from pulling the trigger. I could see the veins standing out on both their necks.
"Everyone has a price," Kane replied. "Even you, Marco."
"Not everything's for sale," I snapped.
Kane's attention snapped back to me. "Everything's for sale, princess. It's just a matter of finding the right currency. You've got seventy-two hours to consider my offer. After that, I will be forced to take a more direct approach."
"There's nothing to consider," Marco said flatly.
Kane shrugged, turning toward the heavy doors. He leaned in one last time, his voice dropping to a sinister purr. "Seventy-two hours, princess. Find what your daddy hid… or I’ll take you instead. And I promise I’ll enjoy breaking you in."
The Reapers filed out as suddenly as they'd arrived, leaving the clubhouse buzzing with lethal tension.
"That was a threat," Tank observed unnecessarily.
"No shit," Marco said grimly. "Double the watch rotation. Nobody rides alone."
"What about the funeral tomorrow?" Carmen asked.
Marco's jaw clenched. "We proceed as planned. But everyone stays armed and alert."
The club members began to disperse, discussing security arrangements and contingency plans. I remained frozen by the wall, processing the venomous promises Kane had left behind.
"Are you okay?" Axel asked, turning to me, his green eyes still wild with the urge to kill.
I nodded, though my heart was hammering against my ribs. "He's going to try to take over Dad's business."
"He's going to try," Axel agreed. "But he won't succeed."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I will kill him first." The casual, flat delivery sent a chill down my spine. This was the man Axel had become in the years he'd been gone—detached, lethal, a weapon.
"You can't just kill him," I whispered.
"Watch me," Axel replied.
Before I could respond, my phone started ringing. An unknown local number flashed across the screen.
"Hello?" I answered cautiously.
"Miss Romano?" An unfamiliar male voice cut through the static. "This is Detective Ray with the Desert Ridge Police Department."
My stomach dropped. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I understand you just returned to town. I was hoping we could meet tomorrow to discuss your father's case. There are some inconsistencies in the witness statements that I'd like to clarify with you. Would ten AM work?"
"I... yes, I suppose."
"Excellent. The station on Fourth Street." The line went dead.
"Who was that?" Marco asked immediately, stepping over.
"Detective Ray," I said. "He wants to meet about Dad's case."
Marco's face darkened. "You're not going."
"Actually, I am," I said, defiance flaring up. "Someone needs to find out what really happened that night. You say the Reapers killed him, but can you prove it? Kane seemed entirely confident he couldn't be touched."
Marco and Axel exchanged a tight, heavy look.
"Em, there are things you don't understand," Marco started.
"Then explain them to me! I'm not a child anymore, Marco. Stop treating me like one."
"Some things are better left alone," Axel said quietly.
"Are you seriously going to shut me out of my own father's murder investigation?"
"We're trying to protect you," Marco said.
"From what? The truth?"
"From getting killed," Axel said bluntly. "Kane wasn't making idle threats tonight. He wants something, and he thinks you're the key to getting it."
"What could I possibly have that he wants?" I demanded.
Again, that heavy, suffocating silence stretched between Marco and Axel.
"What aren't you telling me?" I asked.
Marco sighed heavily, rubbing his face. "Dad left something behind. Something valuable. And Kane thinks you know where it is."
"What kind of something?"
"The kind that could end the Reapers permanently," Marco said grimly. "Or get us all killed trying to use it."
My phone buzzed in my hand, a harsh vibration against my palm. This time, it wasn't a call. It was a text.
Unknown Number: I had to get through hoops to secure your number, easy if I might say. Your father hid something that belongs to me. Find it, or your family pays the price. You have 72 hours.
I turned the screen around, showing the message to Marco and Axel. Both men's faces went deadly pale.
"Pack your things," Axel said immediately, his voice dropping into that iron command structure. "You're not staying here tonight."
"Where am I going?" I asked.
"Somewhere safe," Axel replied. "My place."
"Absolutely not," Marco said flatly.
