Chapter 1

My eyes slowly open, and the agony of the world's worst headache hits me like a freight train. Looking around, I wonder where the hell I am. Pink and green flowers on the sheets. Those billowy white curtains on the windows. This is definitely not my place.

I sit up and tilt my head left and then right to crack my neck. The sun streaming through the windows makes me squint, and I look away as my headache threatens to split my skull open.

My mouth doesn't possess an ounce of liquid, but I try to muster some by licking my lips. Headache and cotton mouth. Now I remember. I'm hungover after a night of heavy drinking.

That explains where I am too. Ryker's place. This room screams Kaia's been here. She loves flowers and makes sure they're everywhere.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I try to stave off my headache that's getting worse by the second. I would kill for a glass of water right now. Something to make this throbbing in my head disappear would be great too.

I throw the covers off me and swing my legs off the bed. So far, so good. When my feet hit the hardwood floor, the coolness feels incredible. But when I try to stand up, it's a no go. My equilibrium is all fucked up, and I collapse back on the bed.

A knock on the door interrupts the mess I am this morning, and a second later, Kaia walks into the room. "Good morning, Jaxon! Oh my!"

Unsure what's upset her, I look over at her and smile as she spins around to stand with her back to me. "If you have water and a handful of Advil, you'll be an angel sent from heaven. Any chance you have either of those things?"

Still not facing me, she waves her hand in my direction and says, "Can you throw the covers back over you? I think you must have forgotten you went to sleep with nothing on."

I glance down my body and chuckle. Grabbing the sheet and blanket, I cover up a raging morning hard on. "Sorry about that," I groan. "I didn't even know where I was when I woke up, if that makes it any better."

Kaia cautiously turns around and smiles at me. "It's okay. I just felt like I was violating some unwritten rule seeing you like that. Do you feel sick this morning? Is that why you want the Advil?"

"Hungover," I answer as she walks over to the window and throws open the curtains. Jesus, that sun is bright. "Do you think you could close them? The light is killing me this morning."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking. I thought some fresh air would make you feel better."

I've slept at Ryker's before, and never once has Kaia come to see me first thing in the morning. Something must be up.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, rubbing my temples.

She tries to smile, but it never makes it up to her eyes. "Ryker wants to see you as soon as you can get down to his office. I'll grab you some water and Advil. I'll leave it on the dresser, okay?"

"How serious is it? Do I have time for a shower?" I ask as she starts to leave.

Kaia stops at the door and nods. "I think so. Get cleaned up and come down when you can."

She leaves me alone with my headache, dry mouth, and thoughts about what could have happened this morning. Everything was great last night. We drank all that German beer Kane loves, and Cason even joined us, a rarity now that Lily is pregnant with their second child. He usually likes to stay close to her, but we got him to come out and enjoy himself with the guys for the first time in months.

No doubt the issue has to do with Victor. It's always him ever since Ryker decided the time was coming to overthrow him as the leader of the family. He's waited while he got his ducks in a row, and now it's just a matter of striking when the time is right.

Maybe that's today.

If so, I'm ready for it. I lost the only woman I've ever loved because of that asshole. Nothing made me happier than being with Tia, but I couldn't keep putting her in danger as long as he was the head of the Varens family. I don't know if she can ever forgive me, but once Victor is gone, I'm going to damn well try my best to convince her to take me back.

I better get this day going because if today is the day we get rid of that fuck, I want to be in top form. A nice, hot shower should do the trick.

Ryker sits behind his desk with Cason and Kane in the chairs in front of him. Some other guy whose name I can't remember right now sits on the sofa talking to a guy I've never seen before. As I walk into the room, all eyes turn toward me.

"What's up? And a bigger question, why aren't the rest of you dealing with the world's worst hangover this morning?"

Cason laughs at me as he shakes his head. "You're such a fucking lightweight. Eat some aspirin and stop whining."

As I take a seat in a chair across the room from him, I mumble, "That seems harsh, motherfucker."

Ryker studies me for a long moment and then he shakes his head too. "You look like shit warmed over today, Jaxon. I'm not sure you're up for what we have to talk about this morning."

I wave off his worry. "I'm fine. Just a little headache, but your lovely wife gave me some Advil. Assuming they'll kick in soon, I'll be fit as a fiddle in a minute or two. What's going on? Why the powwow at this time of day on a Sunday?"

Suddenly, neither he nor Cason have anything to say. Odd. Granted, neither man is usually chatty, but this is supposed to be a meeting to discuss something, so what's up?

"Cat got your tongue?" I ask no one in particular.

The four men around me look at each other and then everyone turns their focus to Ryker. Since he's the one in charge, I do the same and wait for him to start talking.

When he still doesn't, I ask, "What's going on, Ryker? Did someone die?"

My question comes off sounding like a joke, but I couldn't be more serious. If it's Victor who's dead, he'd be all kinds of happy, so I know that problem hasn't been magically solved. Then I start listing relatives of ours in my head, wondering which one isn't with us anymore.

"Dash over there has been working for Victor for the past few months. He's with us, though, and he's been keeping an eye out for any news we can use. This morning, he told me about a job he's been assigned concerning someone you know."

Okay, it's not that someone's dead but someone is going to be dead soon. But who could it be? I don't have friends since I'm a killer. I spend nearly all my time with these guys.

So who is this person I know who Victor's decided isn't long for this world?

After a few seconds, I shrug and try to make light of the situation. "I think you guys are mistaken. I don't have a social life to speak of for the past couple years, so I can't imagine who's managed to get on the wrong side of Victor."

That must be it. They think I know this person with the target on his back, but they're wrong.

Ryker's expression grows even darker than usual, and he blows the air out of his lungs like he hates what he has to say. I don't think I've ever seen my uncle concerned like this.

"Are you going to tell me, or are we all going to just sigh like a bunch of teenage girls? Who the fuck does Victor have his eye on, Ryker?" I finally ask, tired of hearing no answers to my questions.

"It's Tia's father, Jaxon."

Just hearing her name come out of his mouth makes my heart skip a beat. But he's got something wrong. Tia's father is a straight-laced guy, a perfectly upper middle class dad who would never get tangled up with the likes of Victor Varens.

I shake my head and smile. "Someone's got their wires crossed, guys. Tia's father stays on the right side of the law. Always. Trust me on this."

He frowns, and when I look around the room, everyone else looks as unhappy as he does. "Jaxon, it's no mistake. Tia's father got into some bad things a few years ago, and he began associating with a man named Rudolf Michner."

That name rolls around in my brain for a few moments, but I have nothing. I've never heard of that person.

"Even if that's true, what does that have to do with Victor? Has your brother suddenly decided to take on other bosses' problems?"

Ryker nods, which surprises me. That's not like Victor. He's always been a lone wolf to his core. He doesn't even like sharing power with his own brother.

"Michner and Victor worked together on a few deals. It seems as a partner, Michner wasn't too great because Victor had him killed. Now he's looking to get all he can out of the people who owed his old partner. I don't know if he's made the connection between you and Tia and her father, but if he does, I'm worried she's in as much danger as her father is."

With every word, my blood runs cold. I walked away from Tia and all the happiness she brought me for this very goddamned reason. I never wanted her to suffer because of what I do for a living. I thought I made sure she'd be protected when I broke it off with her. Now I hear that I missed having an entire year of utter bliss with the woman I love and still she's not safe?

I turn to face Dash and ask, "What did Victor say? I want to hear every fucking word exactly as he said it."

He looks over at Ryker, but before he can say a word, I snap, "Don't look at him. Look at me, asshole. You heard Victor say the words, so I want to hear what he's planning."

The room feels like everyone has suddenly become frozen in place except for me. I jump up, ready to shake the hell out of this Dash guy to find out what I need to know, but Cason stops me before I can make a move.

"Calm down, Jaxon. We're not going to let anyone hurt Tia or her family. You know that."

I look at him and see a smile. "What the fuck is good about this that you're fucking grinning? The woman I love might be in danger, even though I've forced myself to live without her to make sure she didn't get sucked into my life and get hurt, and her father has a target on his goddamned back. None of that seems like it warrants a fucking smile, man."

He frowns like he wants to make sure I know he's on my side. "I was just trying to make you see it's going to be okay."

Ryker stands up and walks over to join us. "We won't let anything or anyone hurt her, Jaxon. Give Cason a break. He's trying to keep you calm so you don't go off half-cocked."

"Then how about I go off all-cocked? I'm not feeling this get together and chat about shit vibe you all have this morning now that I know Tia might get hurt."

Turning to look at Cason, I push him away from me. "And fuck that calm shit you're giving me. I don't need to be calm. I need to make sure she's safe and handle things so she doesn't lose her father."

"That's exactly what we're going to help you do. Sit down so we can plan things out," Ryker says behind me.

Unsure I want to sit down when all I want to do is rush to where Tia is to protect her, I stand firm for a long moment before deciding that having my family's help is a good thing. As we all take our seats again, I have only one question.

"Tell me again why we haven't killed this motherfucker yet?"

Ryker smiles like I said something funny. "Strange that you should ask that today since that's exactly what I've been thinking myself. My brother is out of control. I've waited in the hope that he would settle down, but I see now that isn't going to happen."

"So why the hell aren't we striking this morning? You've had Dash over there spying for you for months. What's the hold up?"

"Timing is important, Jaxon. I have everyone to consider, and until now, I haven't wanted to put a bullet in my own brother's head."

His answer doesn't jibe with me. "Sentimental now? Is this what happens when a guy settles down?"

Rage fills my uncle's eyes, and he snaps, "There are parts of my life you don't get to comment on. Don't make the mistake again, or you'll find out what happens when you step over the line. We're family, but that will only take you so far. Ask my brother about that."

"The fact that I can still ask him anything fucking baffles me," I say, not giving a damn about Ryker's feelings on the matter at this moment. "If he was dead, Tia and her father wouldn't be in danger."

"About that. I don't know if you'll be able to save Tia's father. Tia we can protect, but if Victor sees any of us around him, that may tip our hand."

Most of the time, I appreciate Ryker's ability to calmly judge a situation and not let emotions get in the way. This isn't one of those times.

Sick of everything I've heard at this meeting, I stand up, shaking my head. "Then I'll protect them. I can't let Tia lose her father because we're too chickenshit to move on Victor. You do what you have to, Ryker. I'm going to make sure she and her father stay alive."

The room falls silent, and I snap my head to look at Dash. "Don't even think about Tia or her father. Do you hear me? I see you anywhere near either of them and I'll put a bullet in your fucking head."

I don't wait around for anyone's comment on my threat, and nobody tries to stop me as I march out of Ryker's office. Good. I don't want to have to fuck up anyone in my family today.

Except Victor.