Crucifixed (Royal Bastards MC: NYC Book 2) B.B. Blaque (top romance novels .TXT) 📖

every bit the businessman he is. It’d be easy to see him as a silent partner in Royal Bastards Video and as a BDSM master. You’d never know to look at him that he was also one of the founding members of an MC and wore the colors of the Malevolent MC where Redhook’s kid was president. You’d never know that he was a stone cold, trained killer.

“Have a seat, brother. Glad to see you back on the right side of the country.” He reached out with a handshake and grinned. “You are much too New York for Hollywood.”

I sat down and laughed. “Oh, and you on a farm in Florida is somehow a match made in heaven? That’s what they got goin’ on down there, right? FOCUS said some shit.”

FOCUS was gonna fit right in with them and it wasn’t somethin’ I’d even begun to digest. He’s my best friend and the brother I count on the most when shit is all funguliated. This shit was definitely in that category and he couldn’t be there. The next best thing was his superior in the Marines—The Bishop. What he lacked in emotional connection was made up for by his real world connections and skill. It didn’t hurt that nothin’ scared him, according to FOCUS.

“FOCUS said you have some light you can shed on this shit show that’s goin on right now. I’m all ears, man.” I leaned in and covered my mouth as I whispered, “What I was told last night hit me like a fuckin’ brick and I’ve been ate all the fuck up since that nun came to see me.”

Bish shook his head and took a pull on a cigar. His eyes narrowed and he scoped things out around us to make sure no one was payin’ attention. It woulda been weird enough to see us sittin’ there together—sure, nothin’ shady goin’ on here—but that made us have to be more careful.

“FOCUS said your girl was somehow involved with the untouched collection. I know about it because the auction is taking place at Rosethorne.” He sipped his espresso and looked up to me with a hard stare. “What does that have to do with a nun coming to visit you? Am I missing some integral information? Please, go on.”

No wonder FOCUS knew about the auction. Please tell me The Bishop isn’t in on it. I don’t want to have to kill him, but I will.

“This sister showed up last night and told me they took . . . my girl, I guess you could call her . . . she’s supposed to be auctioned.” I lit a smoke and a waitress came over with an espresso I hadn’t ordered and a basket of bread. When she was gone, I continued. “If this collection is all supposed to be about untapped shit, I’ll tell ya right now, she is anything but that.”

Bish rubbed a hand on his chin and rolled the cigar around in the ashtray. “Why were you contacted by a nun? I don’t understand how the Catholic Church would have anything to do with my auction. The event is for Masters and slaves or those who want to become slaves. I don’t think the Vatican would sanction my particular brand of servitude, do you? Before you respond, let me order some food.”

He waved the waitress over and took the liberty of ordering for both of us. Normally, I wouldn’t handle someone treatin’ me like a bitch, but FOCUS didn’t step to him and had seen the man in action. I followed my brother’s lead on it whenever we met with The Bishop.

“Continue.” He stretched out his legs and gave me the floor.

“First, I gotta tell ya, I’m happy as fuck that you don’t know what I’m talkin’ about.” Or I woulda had to slit your throat. “The nun that came to see me said they’d heard stories . . . with what you’ve already said I know they’re right on the money. What they said is some scumbag priests and parishioners with deep pockets are sellin’ off all the nuns’ cherry tarts. My girl, she hasn’t had hers since we were teenagers. That’s a problem.”

I gave him a quick rundown of my relationship with Fi while we waited for our food. By the time I circled back to where I’d been, our order was there. The Bishop chewed a mouthful of chicken marsala and pressed his eyebrows together. After he swallowed and took a sip of water, he responded, “That could be a problem, you’re right about that.”

He took another bite, but kept the serious expression until he spoke again. “The bigger problem is that this is supposed to be happening at my school and residence. It means someone I think I know has let a very bad element into an otherwise perfectly planned annual event. I don’t appreciate surprises or duplicity.”

Cold as an iceberg and ready to make the ship go down like the Titanic. I don’t get too upset about anyone or anything, but watchin’ the dead look in his eyes made me realize why FOCUS respected him so much.

“We”—he pointed his fork back and forth between us—“are going to take care of this quietly. They think they’re going in under the radar and they’ll realize how misplaced that thought was. Your girl will be fine. The priests and the others have just gotten a special invitation to a party they do not want to attend.”

He didn’t flinch and I could tell he was bein’ straight with me about not bein’ in on the auction of the nuns. I was only interested in one—Gingersnap. The others might happen in the fallout, but she was all I cared about.

“I don’t wanna tell too many of the guys in the club. This is personal and it’s gonna stay that way. FOCUS is gonna know from both our ends .