Chapter 1 The proposal

Kade

It was dead silent in my office, but make no mistake, it could all go south any second. I leaned back in my chair as we both stared at each other and the boys pointed guns at each other.

I could smell the gunpowder even if no shot had been fired. It's no surprise seeing who was seated opposite me in my office.

Killa Slade. My archenemy.

"You have balls. I will give you that," I said, amused. I know how crazy he was, but this, this is something, so I do commend him even walking into my territory to spit this nonsense.

"You need me," he said, smirking. His eyes had a look I was familiar with. The look you get when you know you have the upper hand. "Don't be too proud to accept my help."

I hear Raze cock her gun behind me. "Allow me to put a bullet in him, OG," she snarled, fingers itching at the trigger. I shook my head, signalling her not to. His companions, of course, had to react. His second-in-command had his pistol trained on me.

"How exactly did you think this was going to play out?" I asked, still not believing this was actually happening. I have seen my fair share of dangerous, but what he is doing is outright stupid. "I mean, what's to stop me from killing you right here, right now?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

He chuckled and waved me off like I had said the funniest thing he had ever heard. I watched him make a mockery of me in front of my members, and all I did was fold my arms.

"For fuck's sake." Mouse grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up, pointing the gun under his chin. The psycho just smiled sinisterly at Mouse. I noticed he flicked his thumb, stopping his people from interfering. "OG might know how to control herself, but I don't. I will clip you without any second thoughts if you insult her again."

They both stared at each other intently. Mouse had the look of hate burning in his eyes, while Killa looked like he was just having fun. He was toying with us. That's why I didn't react to his blatant disrespect.

"Let him go, Mouse." My second-in-command gave him one last look, tapped Killa's jaw with his gun before shoving him into his chair. Killa might be playing games and all, but I knew he had an agenda. He was the leader of the most dangerous MC, after all, and I would be dumb not to get to the bottom of this.

Because there had to be a reason for him to waltz in here asking me to marry him. Again, he had balls to even utter those words in front of my men and me.

"You still haven't given me a reason not to allow my men to have their way with you," I said as he fixed his cufflinks, giving Mouse a wink. He definitely knows how to get under people's skin.

"The Cartel wants your land. I can get them off your back." He started with a knowing look in his eye. He had my attention. "I have supplies and products too." Then I saw a glint in his eyes, and that's when I knew I wasn't going to like what was coming out of his mouth. "It's no news the Crucifers are broke," he said that last part with a taunting tone.

I took a deep breath at the low blow. The room felt a little cold now. I noticed his members staring at my men with the same cocky expression the boss had. Mouse looked like he was going to kill someone, and Raze wasn't any different.

We were being taunted in our territory. Killa knew the game, and he was playing it well.

"Hey. I am sorry for stating the obvious." He raised his hand in fake surrender. He placed his hand on my desk, my eyes following his every movement. "You need my help whether you like it or not."

"And why would I accept help from Hounds?"

"Oh, come on. You are sinking. Like I said, don't allow pride to cloud your judgement." His voice suddenly got lower. "If not for anything, think about what he would want."

That was the straw for me.

Before he or anyone could react, I flung a knife at him, and it landed in between his fingers that were on my desk.

"Don't you fucking say his name," I snarled lowly. Every ounce of self-control leaving my body. My members looked pleased, his looked shocked and terrified, while he didn't even look fazed.

He just got up, buttoned his suit, and looked down at me. "I know you are a smart woman and an even smarter leader, so I trust you will make a rational decision." He smiled at me before nodding his head towards the exit. His companions slowly walked towards the door, not lowering their weapons at all.

He stopped when he got to the door and turned to look at Mouse. "The next time you do something like that, I will have your head on a platter," he said, looking seriously, and I knew he would make good on that threat. Then he turned to me. "Choose wisely, OG." Then he left.

My men kicked around in anger while I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. He was so close, so fucking close, and I couldn't take him out because I knew what the outcome would be.

"You should have allowed me," Mouse said with so much anger.

"You know how that would have turned out."

---

I stared out my window, taking a sip of my drink. It was late, but I couldn't sleep, and it wasn't because of the party happening downstairs.

But because I couldn't decide what was more insulting—the proposal or the fact that he actually expected me to consider it.

"Why do I feel you've already decided what you are going to do?" I heard Nikita's voice behind me.

"That's because I have."