“I want in on whatever you’re planning,” Landon informs me.
“And what makes you think I’ll let you?”
He steps in front of me so that we’re staring at each other. “I wasn’t asking, Carson. I’ll be in whether you like it or not. I could’ve done this on my own, gotten my club involved and wiped those scum off the face of the earth, but you have more information about the Serpents than I do, and this operation isn’t about some trivial grudge, so it needs to be thorough. No one fucks with my sister, not even you, hear me?”
“Is that your way of asking for assistance?”
“As I said, I wasn’t asking. I will be in, even if I have to hijack your operation.”
“I don’t react well to threats.”
“And I don’t react well to being kept out.”
We glare at each other for what seems like an eternity before Brandon interrupts, “Can’t this be dealt with in a different way?”
“You mean instead of decapitating them, we cut them into pieces?” I say.
He winces. “No, I meant calling the police like actual civilized people?”
“Fuck the cops.”
“This is personal,” Landon says.
“Not sure if I should be glad or creeped out that you two are finishing each other’s sentences.” Brandon’s face is full of horror. “How about you negotiate with the Serpents to hand over whoever did this to Glyn so that you can both avoid war? It’s obviously one man’s work.”
“Nah, I want all their heads,” Landon says.
“I agree with the motherfucker.” I point a thumb in his direction. “Keep an eye on her and let me know if anything happens. There’s someone I need to take care of first.”
I step out of the room and grab Gareth by the collar. “You follow me.”
Landon falls in step beside us, hands in pockets and expression blank.
I side-eye him. “Do you need something?”
“It’s hard to do, but pretend I’m not here.”
I ignore him because I have more important things to take care of.
My steps are light, almost inaudible, as we walk all the way to the annexed house. The one new members can stay in. They’re only allowed in the main house during a party or if we invite them over.
A petite figure dressed in black pants and a hoodie is sneaking toward the back entrance.
“Wasn’t she supposed to be locked up?” I ask Gareth.
“She was, ever since we flew here, but she obviously used some trick to persuade the guards to let her go.”
I quicken my pace, grab her by the hoodie, and pull her back with enough force to make her shriek. Her bleached blonde hair falls out in disarray as I stand behind her like the Grim Reaper.
My fingers tighten and I strangle her with the hoodie until her face goes red. “Going somewhere without saying goodbye, Cherry? I’m so wounded, I’ll probably cry on my pillow later.”
I loosen my hold but don’t release her, and she coughs as she faces me, then breathes out, “Killer.”
“Your killer for sure. Did you think I wouldn’t find out about your stupid little games?”
“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know exactly what he’s talking about,” Gareth snarls. “You used me to get to the club and get access to internal communication panels.”