Epilogue Two

Epilogue Two Luca

Six months later

Another Friday night at the fights. I swirl my whiskey in my glass before taking a slow sip as my eyes travel over the crowd below. The fights have grown larger over the last year and even more so in the last few months. Our own fighters becoming a force to be reckoned with as more of our time and energy are poured into this place.

Scar, acting as a trainer, has whipped a lot of the fighters into even better shape, and has brought on an onslaught of new recruits dying to receive one of our elusive cards. We’ve had to become even more selective with who we hand them out to, and it was already highly competitive.

These fights have once again become the center of underground activity, not only for St Graves, but for most of California.

I recognize a lot of the fighters warming up below. The girl everyone seems to love is here again tonight. Joe leans against a wall and talks to her as she wraps her hands. The way he looks at her is all too familiar. It’s the way he looks at Scar. The way Scar looked at Roe and Jade and then Rachel. And of course Charles.

Can’t ever forget Charles.

I smirk as I watch Joe throw his head back in a laugh. The little blonde has grit. I’ll give her that. Even from our brief encounters, I know that much to be true. It’s a good thing too. She’ll need a hell of a lot more than just grit and good humor if Joe and Scar are adopting her the way I think they are.

A dark figure moves into my peripheral vision, but I don’t move to acknowledge them until they pull out a seat at my table. Not many have the balls to pull a move like that here. Even fewer could do it and live. Of course, I happen to be looking at one of the few who has the right to behave in such a way.

“It’s good to see you, Luca,” he says and I gesture for one of our girls to bring another glass. Silva’s quick to rush over and pour him his own glass of whiskey. She’s one of the girls that Scar trained and is thinking about making the switch to Steel Roses. I’ll have to tell Scar she’d be a good fit.

“Matteo,” I greet as Silva nods to me and retreats. “To what do I owe the pleasure of hosting the Alvarado heir all the way over here in St Graves?”

His eyes are as dark as my own, but his smile more closely resembles Ryder’s. I’ve heard he’s about as unhinged as Ryder has become as well. I guess growing up in a world like ours will do that to you. At least he doesn’t eye Silva or any of our other girls as they walk by. He knows better than to disrespect one of ours like that. Doesn’t mean powerful men don’t enjoy toeing the line.

“My father wanted to send his thanks,” he answers, picking up the glass Silva left behind. I hold my own and lift it slightly in a silent cheers before taking a long swallow. The amber liquid burns my throat all the way down to my stomach, warming me from the inside out. A pleasant heat settles over my skin.

“Another flawless deal has gone through with Ms. Caruso,” he explains. “We never would have found such a talent without your intel.”

I shrug, but I’m pleased with how much the Alvarados have taken to Rachel. It’s been a mutually beneficial arrangement to both of them. The new project has provided Rachel with ample distractions as she expands her empire into new markets. It’s given her a purpose and has rekindled her drive and ambition, even if not her passion. Eventually, she will find a way to open her caged-off heart again. But no one could expect more from her than what she’s already giving.

“She should be here soon,” I inform him instead of responding to his gratitude. Intel is why we are here. It’s what we do. It’s not only expected to yield results, it’s guaranteed.

Matteo takes a slow slip as his eyes trail over the fighters and the growing crowd below. “Is she coming with Scar?”

I shake my head. Scar is on another run tonight. “She should be here with Ryder.” Kade is acting as Scar’s backup tonight. It should be a relatively easy in-and-out run. Just cleaning up a mess, actually, for the Alvarados.

My eyes narrow as I study Matteo once more. “Why are you fishing?” I demand.

He immediately puts his hands up defensively, but doesn’t deny it. “You know my father has always liked you. He’s just curious if you have any other aces hidden up your sleeve you’re willing to share.”

Leave it to the Alvarados to always be willing to push the fucking line. “Scar is on a run for your father and you damn well know it.” I drain the rest of my whiskey. The Alvarados are an important ally, but fuck they’re exhausting to deal with.

Matteo rolls his eyes. He’s even worse than his father. At least Marcos is always straightforward. He doesn’t play mind games or tricks to get what he wants. He just demands it. Something I can respect. Even relate to. “Don’t be like that,” he whines. “You have so many interesting things happening on the West Coast now. How can we not be curious?”

I level him with a dark glare. “Is there a job you need done or are you just wasting my time?”

He huffs as he sits back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. The position is in direct contrast to the tailored suit he wears. He looks all too childish compared to the intimidating man that walked up to this table. I can only imagine what Marcos would say if he saw his heir pouting like a petulant child.

“I thought we were friends.”

It’s my turn to roll my eyes. “We have never been friends, Matteo.”

“You gave us Rachel, who is your family.” He says this like it should explain his attitude and demeanor towards me tonight. It doesn’t.

“I did not give you Rachel,” I argue. “Rachel has never been mine to give to anyone. I simply made you aware of her existence and capabilities.”

He nods along with my words, straightening his tie as he sits back up in a proper position. “Sounds like something you would do for a friend.”

I smirk. “I did.” He grins, thinking I’m finally agreeing with him. “Rachel is my friend. I did it to help her grow.”

He huffs and I point at him. “For the Alvarados, it was an act of good faith. Romano was a dead man walking and your father was kind in my early days of growing. We were creating a hole in your business, so I offered a plug that benefitted my friend as well. I never expected you all to show up to the funeral or make a production of everything.”

Matteo places a hand to his chest. “Alec was a friend.”

I give him a droll look. “Your definition of friendship is quite loose. Friends don’t only meet for business.”

He waves me off. “Fine. I knew of Alec. Father thought it was a good first step in showing our support of the Bleeding Roses.” He says the name with as much amusement as we still often feel over the moniker. “You’ve grown enough to force even the Alvarados to be wary of you.”

I don’t bother to respond to that. It may be true, but we must also be wary of them. It’s what makes friendship almost impossible between us. Rachel and her growing empire is a bridge that connects us, making our allyship stronger, but mutual benefits do not guarantee loyalty.

He finally drops the act and drains the rest of his own glass, giving me a genuine smile now. “You’re really not going to give me any new insights on people to take under our wing?”

I arch a brow at him. “Are you going to pay me?”

He flips me off but before he can respond, I spot Rachel and Kade making their way to our table.

“Matteo,” Rachel drawls. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight.” Her perfect mask slips into place as soon as she recognizes him. She’s as formidable as ever in her armor of designer labels and signature Louboutins. The familiar click of her heels against the floor is soothing. Even after all these months of her taking the reins of her business back, it never stops being a relief to see her this way.

There was a time when none of us were sure she would find this part of herself again. Working with the Alvarados has solidified her position and brought back the fearsome woman I once knew. Hopefully through time, she will eventually heal her broken heart as well. Enough to smile without the glimmer of grief still in her eyes.

He shrugs as she takes her seat at my side. “Heard the fights have been gaining even more attention recently,” he says in way of explanation.

Hmm. Maybe his father is considering sending some of his own fighters to begin fighting here. Wouldn’t be a bad thing. For either of us.

“We have some excellent new fighters on the books tonight,” Kade explains with a grin.

I smile and begin to nod my agreement before snapping my head in his direction. “Why the fuck are you here?”

Oh fuck me. He has that mischievous glint in his eyes and a dopey grin. What the fuck have they done now?

“Ryder wanted to go with Scar.”

Motherfucker. Of course he did. I pinch the bridge of my nose and shake my head.

“It’s not going to be a clean in-and-out,” I apologize to Matteo. They didn’t explicitly ask for it to be that kind of job, but I had inferred it was their intention for it to be. He gives me a questioning look and I explain, “Ryder likes to encourage Scar to play with her prey.”

“I think I like Ryder,” he responds with a smirk. “Think he’ll be my friend?”

I sigh and choose to ignore him and the curious looks from Rachel and Kade. Instead, I text Mikey and Ronan to let them know cleanup might be a little messier tonight than I had originally said. Ronan is quick to respond he already knew as soon as Scar told him Ryder was with her, but they’re already in place and the job is almost done.

Thank god for small favors at least.

“You can ask him yourself,” Kade offers. “They’ll be here soon.”

Matteo sits up straighter. “I chose a good night to stop by. The whole family is going to be here.”

I’m starting to really hate the curiosity in his eyes. While I think it’s harmless and seems to be mostly intrigue, we are not close enough for this type of candor. His father has always been happy to let us have the West Coast while he dominates the East. It limits our competition and we trade in different markets as well. Keeping a healthy amount of separation has done us both well, but Matteo seems eager to blur those lines.

“Have you heard from Nicholis?” he suddenly asks, turning to Rachel.

She eyes him suspiciously, on edge as much as I am. “Why would I have?”

Matteo weighs her words. “He’s left the country. Doing some work for my father.” He’s fishing again. I just can’t figure out why.

Rachel is a pro at hiding her feelings. She doesn’t flinch at his words and her expression doesn’t even flicker, but I see the brief snap of pain that flashes in her eyes. Anger burns through me and I’m relieved Scar isn’t here. It’s been hard enough to talk her down from hunting the prick and taking him out once and for all. It isn’t what Rachel would want though.

“I fail to see what that has to do with me,” she answers primly. Short, sweet, and to the point. I’m proud of her.

“He didn’t tell you?” Matteo pushes.

Rachel waves him off, taking a sip of the red wine Silva brought her as soon as she sat down. “Why would he?”

Matteo eyes her skeptically. “You were once engaged to the man.”

I’m ready to shut the conversation down. The last thing Rachel needs is this man dragging her painful past back up. Isn’t it bad enough she already lost Alec and then was abandoned by the last connection she had to him? But my interference isn’t required.

She smiles like the cat that got the cream behind her wine glass. “And what of your ex-fiancée? She still in Paris or is it Milan now?”

I half expect shutters to fall over his eyes, but he just seems all the more amused at her barb. “Point taken. Maybe it would have been better to point out you were once childhood friends then?”

Rachel’s smile turns predatory. She knows something I’m unaware of. Maybe it’s time to set Noah and Scar on digging into Matteo’s past. We never have out of respect, but if he’s blurring lines, we may need to be better prepared. “Funny you should mention childhood friends. I heard a rumor that you had one once upon a time. Might have even been the cause behind the abrupt termination of your engagement. Have you heard from her lately? Know what she’s up to?”

Matteo looks equal measures chagrined and impressed by her cutting words. We will definitely be looking into his past. He puts his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. You win. Nicholis is no longer your friend.”

“He’s no longer anything to me,” she cuts in sharply. Atta girl.

He sighs again like this conversation hasn’t gone the way he expected it to. “You know, you lot sure are hard to get in with. I thought you would appreciate knowing.”

Rachel scoffs, “I no longer care. Want to get on my good side?” He nods and she smirks. “Pay me more money.”

I chuckle at her brazenness. This is the Rachel we know and love. It’s a risk, but Matteo was the one to drop the formalities first. She has just followed his lead. He shakes his head. “Are you sure you two aren’t blood related?” he asks, gesturing between Rachel and I. “What?” he asks defensively at our expressions. “You guys are so guarded. I’m not my father, okay? He respects you lot and prefers the distance, but I’m curious. I want to know more about you. Fuck the distance.”

“Haven’t you ever heard what curiosity did to the cat?” A slow smile spreads across my face to turn and find Scar has snuck up behind me, Ryder at her side. My smile is quick to drop and be replaced by exasperation. She’s still got blood in her hair and when she turns her head, I’m almost positive I see something that looks suspiciously like it could be bloody fingerprints at the side of her neck.

“Good thing I’m not a cat then,” Matteo snarks back, his eyes lighting up as he takes in Scar and Ryder’s disheveled appearances. They really did the bare minimum to clean up before coming here.

Oh fuck. I know that appreciative look in Scar’s eyes.

“I like him. Can we keep him?”

Matteo looks all too smug as he looks at me. “Told you someone would want to be my friend.”

Scar meets my glare with a shrug. I know damn well she knows who the fuck she’s talking to. He’s not someone we can just adopt like she has a tendency to do with others. “He’s already working with Rachel. Might as well be friends.” She purses her lips in thought before beaming. “Hey, maybe he’ll even take out Nicholis Dickolis for me.”

Rachel snorts, her mask of indifference cracking as she throws her head back and cackles. The sound makes even my lips twitch. I’ve never seen her break character so freely in public before. Not that I can blame her. She’s wiping tears from her eyes when Matteo finally responds.

“Can’t kill him, but will be calling him that from now on. In thanks for such a magnificent new nickname, I’ll give him all the worst jobs.”

That’s it. He’s in as far as Scar is concerned. I don’t even have to see her face to know.

“Knew I liked you,” she beams.

Matteo puts his elbows against the table and leans forward on his hands. “So bestie, tell me all your secrets.”

Scar snorts. “I said friends, not family.” Her eyes harden as she smirks at him. “I can still kill friends.”

Well, at least she’s still a psycho. Just a psycho with friends apparently.