“And you think you’ve got a chance with me keeping mine?”
“There’s something I like about you, Smokey. You’re not here to manipulate. You want what you want and we’re all here to play your little puppets,” Carlos said. “What I’m offering you is an alliance, of course. One that will benefit us both.”
Smokey gritted his teeth. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell him to go get fucked. Instead, he waited. “I’m listening.”
“It’s simple. You will distribute our product. We will not sell guns to any rival MC. When you need help, our men will back you up if the occasion calls for it, and in return, we will offer you up some more land to help with your club’s expansion.”
Smokey nodded. “I’ll think about it. Come on, boys, we’re out of here.”
“This is a time-sensitive offer, Smokey,” Carlos said. “I suggest you think quickly.”
Smokey spun around and grabbed Carlos around the throat, pulling him across the table. “And I want you to understand while you’re throwing your little pussy around, you didn’t offer one more thing. I want Ryan, you piece of shit. If I don’t get him, then the deal is off.” Smokey glanced around the room. His men had pulled their weapons, and it hadn’t taken long for the other men to draw theirs. It was a standoff, and he laughed. “I trust my men, Carlos. Can you say the same?”
“They will kill you.”
“And you’ll be dead right along with me. I’m willing to take the risk. The difference between you and me is I’m not afraid to die for my club. Are you willing to die for yours?” He let Carlos go. “I’ll take all the time I need.” He glared at Sebastian. “Next time, don’t pull fucking tricks.”
He turned his back on the mafia and walked out of the warehouse. His hands shook with his thirst for blood, but he shoved it down. Now wasn’t the time to go after what he wanted.
He had to take his time. Ryan would be his, and once he was, he was going to find out every little detail that made the little shit turn.
No one stopped him as he climbed on his bike, fired it up, and took off, heading toward the club. Before he could go deal and be with his woman, he had to bring the offer to the brothers.
Getting in bed with the mafia wasn’t a safe deal. He knew the risks. He’d dealt with them before and nearly gotten himself killed.
The journey was long, and by the time he landed in the clubhouse, he was so fucking tired, but the church was set up. He handed in his weapons and cell phone, making his way to the head of the table as all the men filed in.
Once they were there, he got Verge and Lewis on the phone. They were the closest chapters and had taken their back a few times.
He gripped the back of his chair as Hunter gave the full details of what they’d discussed.
“Are they going to give us Ryan?” Brick asked.
“That’s the only part of the agreement I don’t like,” he said. “There’s not going to be any deal where Ryan lives. Hanson, you’re owed his life.”
Hanson nodded.
“So we renegotiate,” Lewis said.
“Either offer is going to have the cartel breathing down our necks at some point. You mess with the drugs and they’re going to become a problem,” Verge said.
“One problem at a time. We’re going to take a vote. I want honesty. We’re all going to be making these runs and doing this deal. I know how fucking messed up it was last time. Do you want to deal with Carlos Santigo with the negotiation we get Ryan?” he asked.
Lewis and Verge voted yea. One by one, his men all voted the same.
When it came to Ugly Beast, the man stayed silent.
“Are you against this?” Smokey asked.
“I don’t like Carlos,” Ugly Beast said.
“We don’t have to like them to do business with them.”
Ugly Beast nodded. “If we get Ryan. Otherwise, for me, it’s a nay.”
Smokey nodded and kept his gaze on Ugly. “Make the call to Sebastian. Without Ryan, no deal.” He smacked the gavel on the table.
One by one, the men filed out, and he took off right behind them. He went to his bike, pushing a couple of women out of the way as they tried to get in his path. There was only one person he wanted to see right now.
Chapter Nine
Ava came to as someone kissed up her back. At first, she tensed up, gasped, and was about to pound whoever had broken into her house. Her arms were grabbed and she was pressed to the bed. Her face against the pillows.
“Shh, it’s me,” he said.
“Smokey?”
“You got plans for any other man to be sneaking in your room late at night?”