TALON’S SECRET
Word Count: 120k
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub Genre/Tropes: MC, Biker Fiction, Secret Baby, Second Chance, Mafia adjacent
Available Formats: Ebook & Paperback
Content Warnings:
Graphic violence
Graphic threats of physical violence
Murder
Abuse
Bullying
Explicit language
Discussion of the loss of a loved one from murder
Discussion of the loss of a child
Discussion of Grief and Depression
Discussion of suicide no suicide occurs
Parental loss
Crude, inappropriate humor
Sexual content, language, and situations.
Cliffhanger
Status: Re-releaseing October 18, 2023
TALON’S SECRET: Lucifer’s Saints MC SACRAMENTO CHAPTER SNEAKY PEAKYONE
GABRIELLA“Knowing your worth means walking away even if you don’t want to.”
Present day
I sit across from my brother, stewing at what he asks of me. My eyes are twitchy and narrow. He sighs and rubs his hand across his freshly shaven face. He speaks again, sighing, and I want to punch him in the junk. “This is business, Gabriella, so don’t give me that look. You knew this day would come; be happy you can take your entourage. I know how you can’t leave home without them. It will be good for all of you.” He clicks his tongue at me, and my eyes shift from narrowing to a full-on glare. He fixes his face from the stern Don to my loving brother. I know what he’s trying to do.
It’s not working.
Sammy sobers up when he notices I am not falling for it. My brother returns to his Don Barone persona and looks at me with stern, unyielding brown eyes. The challenge is there, and I know better than to say anything that is not in agreement. To others, my brother is the death–La Morte. To me, he is Sammy, the brother who has cared for and protected me all my life. But at this moment, I have to respect my Don.
But I really, really don’t want to go.
Am I a grown-ass woman pouting and acting like a petulant child? Yes. Yes, the fuck I am. But–do I care, not even a little. I am not prepared for this shit, at least not as quickly as Sam wants me to be. I know it has been seventeen years since I’ve been back there. An eternity still wouldn’t be long enough to prepare for my return. My entourage isn’t ready, especially with two missing. Well, not missing, but out on jobs.
I’ve spent seventeen years building a box for that place and him. I have done a damn good job of keeping it closed nice and tight. And now Sammy wants me to bust that shit right the fuck open. Awesome.
I am not a fan of that, not in the least.
When Sammy looks at me like he is now, he looks so much like our father. It is still strange to see him sitting in his chair in his office. The office our father has occupied all our lives. The place where I would play with my dolls and draw ridiculous pictures of my fantasy world. Looking around now, I know I will never see my father’s assessing and loving eyes again, which still hurts.
I sigh and clench my eyes shut at how much it still hurts.
It’s been an interesting–few years for the family. Adjusting to the passing of our family’s beloved Don has been rough. It’s been hard on Sammy, especially. He didn’t feel ready to go from Underboss to Boss at thirty-six. Sammy and I have done our parts. He stepped up, and so did I. I became Sammy’s consigliere, as my father had wanted. My appointment in this position didn’t go over well with some, but most respected, my father and Sammy’s decision. There are still misogynistic men in the bunch. What would life be if there weren’t? But they know what would happen if they spoke out of turn. They would meet La Morte without question.
The Barone family has been in power for generations. And it has been satisfying seeing all the nay-sayers eating their words. They have witnessed how well Sam, Luca, and I have kept everything running and how well we keep the money flowing. The family will remain in Barone’s name as it should be. No one will ever dare to go against us, and we have proved time and time again just who we are. This family and territory will stay in our hands and continue to grow and flourish.
We owe that to our father.
With Sammy stepping up as Don. He wanted to streamline things, so he restructured our responsibilities except for thatcontract. A contract Luca was kind enough to deal with. The underboss did it all in the past, so it wasn’t much of an inconvenience for him until now. Luca must remain close with Dad’s passing and our expansion and restructuring. And until today, I was happy to do what was required of me. I was living my best damn life in my ignorance-is-bliss bubble.
I know Luca can’t keep doing it with the business expansions and his other, more hands-on responsibilities. As Sammy’s left hand, I must bite the bullet and step into my role. I sigh and run my hand through my long, curly hair. I knew that this would be a part of that. Until now, I’ve done everything required without issue or question. Until now, I was happy to evade responsibility, avoiding that group like the plague. Doing it all and without a care in the world, no matter what he thinks. All for a goddamned reason, and Sammy knows it.
“I know… Sammy. And I’ll do my job. You know I will.” I reassure my brother, speaking to him not as his sister, but as his consigliere.
Of course, I will.
What happened seventeen years ago changed me more than I thought it would. It sent me spiraling down a dangerous path. To my father, after a while, the relationship’s ending was for the better, but to Sam, not so much. After everything, I may have gone a little wild once I could. My responsibilities and my family pulled me back in. I am glad they did. I am a better person for it, stronger, wiser, and some may even say–an even bigger bitch.
Sammy sighs and stands up from his chair. His eyes are on mine as he moves close, stands before me, and sits on the edge of his desk. Luca and Armand are sitting on the couch, just watching the exchange. Both have very different responses to what this request means to me.
“Gabriella, it’s only to rework the contract and discuss the issue. You will arrive tomorrow morning and stay for…” He stops, looking pensive before he continues. “However long you and your entourage decide. I’d like you to watch how they do things. How they handle business and, at the very least, get info on the number of hands involved. They know we are sending someone new. I’m sure with your entourage. All will be well. And maybe things can come to light.” His eyes soften, and he kneels in front of me. Sam grabs my hands and looks into my eyes. My breath stalls, and the sincerity and love in his eyes have my resolve to remain angry at him crumble. “You need to get closure and move on. You deserve happiness, Lil’ Bit.” His eyes are soft and pleading, which is not my brother’s style. We stare at each other for a moment, and his eyes convey that this must be done. And I know he is right, but I still don’t want to go.
“My entourage…” I raise a brow at my brother and chuckle. He knows me well. I never leave home without them, for obvious reasons. He also knows it will be far more complicated than going there about business. I guess that’s why there’s no timestamp for my return. With that thought, I feel a brief flutter in my chest, as I always do when I think about him. And as I always do, I ignore it. This trip was bound to happen. It had to. It’s not just about me. It’s also about my family. So, I’ll begrudgingly pull up my big girl panties and do what I’ve got to do. I guess we will let the chips fall where they may.
I just have to hope they don’t fall on anyone’s head and take them the fuck out.
