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“Erika was going to take a bullet for Royal, in this family that type of loyalty goes a long fucking way. I misjudged you, Erika. I’m sorry for what I did to you, as a mother my only focus was getting my son back.”
“You don’t need to apologize, Koby, I get it.” Erika says.
“Look before we get all mushy and shit I just want to say, I think you are way too good for my cousin because he is an asshole and you could do so much better–.” That’s it, I stalk out of the shadows and glare at Amelia the moment her gaze connects with mine, the little shit just winks, she knew we were in the bushes the whole time. I press up against Erika’s back, wrap my good arm around her waist and love how she melts into me. “As you can see he has stalker tendencies.” Erika just laughs and shakes her head, she turns her head to the side and looks up at me with a smile.
“What’s that look for?” I ask.
“Nothing, I just… Today was really hard and I honestly didn’t know how to cope until you found me earlier.” She whispers. Ignoring the pain in my arm I reach up and cup her cheek tenderly in my hand.
“I’ll always find you baby, no matter where you hide or how fast you run I’ll always be there to catch you.” Her pupils dilate and her mouth forms a perfect O. “Close your mouth or I’ll fill it.” I growl.
“Please.” Fuck, gripping her hand I drag her back toward the house with the others laughter following after us. I never thought I would ever blow off a night with my cousins for some girl but Erika isn’t just some girl. She is the beginning to my story, my queen, my partner but most of all she is the light in my darkest hour and the keeper of my soul.
ERIKA
Two weeks later…
The feds have been sniffing around but no one has come to question me yet, I know it’s only a matter of time though. Bishop, Vincent and Knight disposed of Chance’s body and refused to tell Royal and the others where they dumped him. Royal and Chanel have been trying to regain order here in Miami, Chance had been involved in some shady shit. The moment Royal found out he was trying to get in with the Albanians and Sicilians to bring back sex trafficking he shut that shit down and now it’s caused a divide between them and the Memento Mori. I know that shutting down the skin trade again is going to cause mass issues and no doubt spark a war, Bishop has agreed to back Royal and the others if that should happen.
Royal hasn’t officially claimed publicly that he is the new don, with the heat surrounding Chance’s death it’s not ideal for him to own that shit. Many know about him but he’s also refused to confirm it because the fact he can still hide in the shadows is an advantage for the Memento Mori. He’s thinking smart and taking his time to deal with things instead of rushing and risking exposing himself, Bishop is sending Luka out here to help Royal but he isn’t happy about that. He thinks Luka is coming to babysit him but I know that isn’t the case, since Chaos wants to return to school and hopes to be drafted into the NFL he needs the extra help.
A week ago I spoke to Braga, Emilio’s right hand man–well, he is now my right hand man and hearing the difficulties he is facing trying to keep the Vargas cartel alive sparked something inside me. I refused to allow my parents' deaths to be for nothing so, that night I told Royal I would be taking over the Vargas cartel and become Queen of the south. He said nothing for a good ten minutes and I began to worry until he said, ‘marry me and it will all be yours, Sirena.’
Looking down at the large black diamond engagement ring shaped like a club has a smile pulling the corners of my mouth, Royal can’t leave Miami at the moment so I am flying back to Columbia tomorrow with Havoc to meet Braga and a few others, this union between Royal and me will bring peace between our countries and also provide a better distribution chain for the drugs and weapons.
I know it all seems so crazy that I’m going to marry Royal but in this life, there is no time like the present because tomorrow isn’t promised. I love him and I know he loves me, he may not say it often but he shows me daily with his body how much he needs me. The man has me walking bow legged daily and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Ready to see it?” I tear my gaze from my ring and look up at my sexy as fuck fiancée and groan internally. Him standing there shirtless with fresh ink on his skin, dear lord have mercy on my pussy. Royal was a fucking snack without tattoos but with them, the man is sexier than sin. My greedy eyes drink in the ink that covers his chest and the side of his neck, my mouth falls open to form a perfect O when I see the name inked across his chest. I slowly climb to my feet and cross the room to stand in front of him, tears burn the backs of my eyes. “Say something.” He demands.
Lifting my gaze to his and smile, I’ve never felt so wanted or loved since my parents were murdered but with Royal, I not only feel it, I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at me. This man has been my rock, killing Emilio was hard and that day a part of me died with him. Not a part like you think, it was a part of me that clung to the past and thirsted for vengeance to avenge the deaths of my parents. I know Royal was scared I would retreat inside myself again but unlike last time where I had nobody to bring me back, I had him and there was no way I was going to risk losing the love of my life.
“That’s my name.” I whisper. Right there in the middle of his chest in the most stunning script writing is the nameSirena. He turns his head to the side to show me the tattoo on his neck, the one that matches the one on my ribs.
It’s his calling card, the King of Clubs. The wordsMemento Moriare scripted beneath the image. The King has a skull face and wrapped in red robes, the king holds a dagger. Smoke rises up from the back of the King and the card looks like it’s almost charred. There is smoke in the background but you can clearly see a pair of eyes and a mouth, it’s a skull face made out of smoke. Havoc, Chaos and Sin are all getting their calling cards tattooed right now. Royal was pissed when I told him I wouldn’t get his name tattooed but the moment he saw his card inked into my skin his eyes blazed. In his own way this is him stamping his ownership over me and I’m not even mad about it.
He reaches out and glides the tips of his fingertips over the ink on my ribs and growls his approval. He knows that the sugar skull on my back represents the celebration of my parents' lives and the two pit vipers on either side of my hips was my way of representing them and my vow for vengeance. Now, he gets to be represented on my body as well and this crazy overbearing man loves it.
“My card has never looked so fucking good baby.”
Pride swells inside me. “Why did you get my name?” I ask hesitantly.
He reaches out and grips the back of my neck pulling me forward until our foreheads touch. “Because the artery that beats underneath this ink belongs to you so it seemed only right that I stamp the owner's name over it.” I swoon, right here in the middle of the tattoo parlor. I seal my lips to his showing him without words that I am his as much as he is mine, Royal Murdoch is a force that can not be tamed but somehow, I managed to capture the beast.
“Stop that!” We both break a part and laugh at the disgusted look on Havoc’s face, he and I have grown really close and I love that I have a friend in him. Chanel isn’t as bitchy and she has warmed up to the idea of me sticking around. Chaos just goes with the flow and doesn’t kick up a fuss, I know he doesn’t like this life but lives it to stay loyal to the ones he loves most.
Havoc turns his head to the side to show me his tattoo on his neck in the same place Royal got his. “Wait, doesn’t the Jack of Spades belong to Chaos?” I ask.
Havoc smirks and nods. “He got the Ace of Diamonds for me, so I got his.” He says with a shrug, I close the space between us and wrap him in a hug, he sighs and returns my embrace ignoring Royal’s growls from behind us.
“He is going to miss you just as much as you will miss him.” I whisper low enough for only him to hear as I pull back. He nods solemnly, Chaos is going back to UNLV without Havoc and the thought of being away from his twin is twisting Havoc up inside. Going pro was Chaos’s dream not his so he decided to remain here with us while his brother goes and chases his goal.
“I know. Just… promise you’ll be there to pull me back from the brink if I need it.” He murmurs, gripping his hands in mine. I give them a squeeze and nod.
“You have my word, I’ll do whatever you need me to do.” Our moment is shattered when Sin and Chaos announce they are finished, I pull away from my friend to see Chaos has his tattoo in the same place as Royal and Havoc, I look at Chanel and cock my head to the side when I don’t see ink on her neck. She rolls her eyes and turns to the side to show me her tattoo, right there on her ribs in the same place I got my tattoo for Royal is the Queen of Hearts.
“Oh my God.” I breathe out, Royal chuckles and wraps an arm around my waist drawing me back against his chest.
“I don’t want to hear a fucking word about this, we’re not sisters and going to have sleepovers and braid each other's hair. I liked the spot, that’s it, nothing more.” She grits out as she storms out of the shop in her sports bra. I bite my lip to keep from laughing, we so just got matching tattoos.
