Ghoul chuckled, making his way across the room as I stopped in front of Angel.
Guy was nearly as tall as I was and had a swagger that most women found attractive. Club girls usually got excited when he stopped by the Crossroads. He had a special gift and I hoped to fuck we never needed to use it.
“Hey, Angel,” I greeted, slapping him on the shoulder as we shook hands. “Glad you could make it.”
“Happy I can help out.”
“Always good to see you, brother.”
He ticked his head toward Rael who flashed him a grin. “What the fuck did you do to your head?”
I snickered when I realized he was talking about the crooked mohawk Rael had been sporting since that morning Wraith tried to shave his head. He never did anything else with it other than try to match the other side and it wasn’t quite right. None of us said anything and decided he could walk around that way all he wanted and didn’t care if it was fucked-up.
Torch couldn’t stop laughing as he shook his head, slapping Rael hard on the back. “I think it suits you.”
“Fuck off, Torch.”
I liked Torch. He could be kind of quiet but he liked to blow shit up and the old saying that the quiet ones were the ones to watch and fear was true. He got off on being a pyro and it was a beautiful thing to witness.
Scorn made his rounds and we gripped hands, shaking hard. That brother was always intense. Guy was grim and barely cracked a smile. Never knew if the fucker was coming or going but I wouldn't want anyone else watching my back. He pulled me in for an all-man back slap and I returned the favor, laughing as I caught his squint.
“Ready to beat some Russian ass, Patriot.”
“That’s why you’re here,” I responded, feeling more prepared with the extra muscle.
That left Drake and he was a brother that walked close to the edge. He loved to inflict pain. Guy got off on torture and liked to make his enemies bleed. Drake was sick as fuck and he was perfect if our plan worked and we had a chance to teach those Russians a lesson.
“Feelin’ antsy, Patriot. Hate that fuckin’ feeling. Just want to pull my knives out and cut some fuckers up.”
A loud laugh left my chest and I shook my head. “Missed you, brother. Never boring when you’re around.”
“Damn straight.”
The chapel was crowded but we managed to find everyone a chair as Grim took his seat at the head of the table. “You all know why you’re here. We’ve got a shit storm brewing. Scorpions MC is fucking with us which ain’t news you all haven’t heard before but they’re working with those Russians from the Black Market Railroad and this trafficking ring that’s been stealing girls on our turf.”
“Fuck that,” Angel spat.
“Not gonna be a problem for much longer,” Drake added.
“This is a bit personal for me,” I admitted, meeting eyes with every one of my brothers, “My ol’ lady was a victim. They trafficked Naomi for three years before I found her. Saved her life when we took out Voltoy and Solonik but it’s not over.”
“Voltoy and Solonik?” Ghoul asked. “Isn’t that the same asshole that worked with Rancid?”
“Sure is,” Rael fumed, “Solonik ordered the hit on my sister Willow. Don’t regret a motherfucking second of his death or Rancid either. They had an American business partner we just learned about. Guy named Sean Jones. He’s supposed to be a big Hawaiian dude with a bald head.”
A few of my brothers mumbled under their breaths, disgusted looks on their faces. There was no love lost with Rancid’s death.
“And then there’s the new V.P. since Razr’s ass is stuck in prison,” Grim announced, “Fucking guy named Rattler.”
“Rattler?” Drake asked, “What the fuck?”
“We interrogated a prospect and learned Rattler’s taking things over for Razr. Has a huge tattoo of a rattlesnake going from the side of his face to his chest.” Wraith was puffing away on one of his expensive Cuban cigars as he spoke. “Haven’t been able to find shit on him. He’s elusive as a goddamn ghost.”
“Christ,” Exorcist blurted out, “This shit is fucking aggravating.”
“We’ve got a plan,” Grim reminded everyone. “Prospect said there was a meeting scheduled between Jones and Resnikov. The Russian is the guy in charge. We want them all but especially him. He’s coming to inspect his product and make a few decisions on the girls. That’s when we make our move.”
“And that happens when?” Scorn asked, cracking his knuckles.