“Which doc patched you up?” The twist of his face as he looks around the table gives his thoughts away.
“Jameson’s woman.” I nod toward Jameson. “I’m grateful to her.” Bitch saved my life and I owe her.
Curious eyes all fall on Jameson. “I don’t fucking know what’s going on.” He throws his hands up. “I sent Mason to go pick her up and bring her here.” He clenches his teeth. “This shit is all fucking with my head. I had no idea Ruby knew people from Lilith’s Army or that Monroe went to work when I told her not to.” Like his sister, his woman is strong-willed. It’s amusing that they all ignore his authority. The man is intimidating. Well…in theory.
“What does Lilith’s Army have to do with anything? Are they who took you?” Loki asks, sitting forward.
“You had run-ins with them before?” Koyn asks Loki, the cross scar on Koyn’s forehead shrinking with his furrowed brow.
“Not run-ins.” Loki jerks his head. “I know of a small club in Carson. They’re well respected and respectful of territory from what I know of them.”
“Well, these fuckers had my sister doing a job to pay off her mother’s drug debt—and that job was drugging Ezekiel,” Jameson informs the group, picking at something on the table with his fingers.
“Motherfuckers,” Halo growls, pulling a cigarette from a packet. He doesn’t light it, it just sits unlit in his mouth, dangling there like a limp dick. A small limp dick. A thin, small limp dick.
“We thought you were dead.” Animal pulls my attention back to him. “I’m glad that isn’t the case,” he adds with a nod. He then pulls a knife from his boot and begins carving a speck of dirt off the table.
Ink slaps me on the shoulder and squeezes briefly. “We’re all glad.”
“They gave it a good shot.” My hand rests just above my scar.
“Well, whoever the fuck these cunts are, they’re going to pay in screams and agony,” Animal booms, stabbing the table with his knife. It embeds into the wood, standing in salute.
A smile tilts Loki’s lips. His eyes cut to me, the demons in him stirring, recognizing, wanting to come out and meet mine. Play. Maim. Kill together.
“We’ve had six brothers killed and there are two unaccounted for. We’re at war and we don’t know why.” Animal smacks his fist on the table.
“I was given a job from Rage,” I announce. “Turns out, it was messed with. I killed the wrong mark. Was set up to kill someone of importance, it would appear.”
The atmosphere shifts, condensing, the power of the men in the room squeezing out the air.
“Who?” Ink asks, his brow furrowed.
“A Roberto Fallaci.”
Copper lets out a ragged sigh and runs a hand along his jawline. “I know of them.” His tone is regretful, like he doesn’t want to be saying the words.
“Them?” Koyn queries.
“Three brothers. They’re a crime family. Their hands are in everything, and their ties go all the way to the top.”
“You mean political,” Rage grunts.
“Yes.” Copper nods. “They’re bad news.”
“Why would someone want to set up one of ours to kill one of theirs?” Halo asks, finally lighting his cigarette.
“Because they’ll have firepower,” Koyn suggests. Standing, he runs a hand through his hair and paces. “My club is small compared to most. If I wanted to take on a bigger club, I’d need assistance. What better way than to make someone fight the war for me?” He laughs without humor. “Clever.”
“You mean he’s using this kill to have Fallaci take us out?” Animal comes to the same conclusion, shaking his head.
“Motherfuckers,” Ink snaps.
“Why not get his other chapters to help? Lilith’s Army has to have chapters all over,” Ink jumps in.
“Because he doesn’t have the authority to start a war,” Loki surmises.
“He’s rogue,” Animal finishes.
“Shouldn’t we reach out to his prez and let him deal with his traitor?” Ink suggests, cracking his knuckles.
“It’s too late for that. This motherfucker got six brothers killed and took Ezekiel. He has men loyal to him. He could have taken his prez out by now. We will deal with him and everyone who's involved with him ourselves,” Animal declares, determined, wide, glaring eyes darting around the room.
“Why does this asshole want to fuck with us?” Halo asks.
“His name is Fisher, and I don’t know. I’m thinking it has to be for territory.” I shrug. That has to be the only reason no one in this room has heard of him until now. He’s a nobody trying to become somebody.
“From what Ruby’s telling us, they’ve been selling in our territory for years, right under our noses.” Jameson folds his arms, dropping his eyes, pissed off so much has gone on undetected with his own family, brotherhood and blood.
“Did you say Ruby is working with this Fisher guy?” Halo asks, puffing a cloud of poison into the room.