“Drake said they want info about our cars. They know what we’re selling. Apparently Benny wants a slice of the pie. If he approaches Eve, we can find out exactly what he wants to know. We might even find out who our traitor is.”
The circle of our most trusted guys all look at me again, as though they’re waiting on the usual. Typically, I don’t argue. I agree completely with Pop. It’s not like I can tell everyone I don’t want to put Eve at risk, so I decide to strike a nerve instead.
“We might have avoided me nearly getting killed too, if you had bothered to enlighten us with the tip you had. But you chose to stay quiet. You’ll forgive me if I’m having problems listening to your logic right now. I say we take Benny and his guys out. Or we ice them from their normal funds. Either way, be ready to fight.”
Pop glares at me, his eyes narrowing to slits. This is the worst tension this room has ever had.
“You’ll let her go out. Starting tomorrow. It’s not a request. And you won’t tell her what we’re doing. If you do, I might just decide I want to find out what’s so damn special about her that has you willing to piss me off.”
My jaw clenches, and anger vibrates through my body.
“If she’s not working with Benny, what’s the point?” Rush asks, surprising me.
His eyes are solely on Pop as he awaits the answer.
“If she’s not working for Benny, then we’ll see it firsthand. If she is working with him, we’ll get all the info out of her we can. She won’t know she’s being watched, and Benny won’t know we’re watching her. No more taking chances,” our president answers, regaining his cool.
He’s contradicting himself now and talking in circles. This is just a pathetic man’s desperate ploy to draw heat off him and look like he’s taking action.
“Does that go for you too?” I dare, leaning forward.
I catch sight of Rush’s lips twitching, as though he’s enjoying the confrontation between me and the man I once respected more than anyone. Pop glowers at me.
“I hope you get your head out of your ass and start seeing the big picture soon. This isn’t just about you.”
He turns and pushes through the door. All of his loyalists follow, even though a few of them are pissed off about the current management as well. Rush and Sledge stay behind.
“I don’t like where his head is at,” Snake says quietly. Rarely ever does he insert his opinion.
“Neither do I,” Rush says on a groan. “But that’s typical, since I haven’t liked where his head was at for a really long time. Never thought I’d be agreeing with Drex, but I’m not cool with using a woman for bait when we know Benny is out for blood. Especially since she’s proven she’s not his puppet.”
Un-fucking-believable. The universe has flipped upside down and inside out.
“You believe her, then?” Sledge asks him, looking as surprised as I feel.
Rush rolls his eyes. “Any girl that will cover her man’s body when gunshots are blasting around everywhere has my respect. She’s also family now, since Drex has claimed her as his old lady. So I don’t like any of this. It’s like Herrin is only looking out for himself right now. Not that that surprises me, but he’s usually more discreet with his selfishness.”
I swallow the bile in my throat. It feels like a betrayal to talk behind Pop’s back like this, but at the same time, it’s pointless to speak aloud in front of him. He doesn’t seem to give a damn what anyone else thinks right now.
He’s scared. He’s scared for his own life.
“What are you going to do?” Snake directs that question to me, and I tighten my lips.
“I’ll let her go out. But I’ll be watching her. I’ll give Pop this win—”
“Shocker,” Rush interrupts with a snort.
“Because I plan on using this against him later on when this blows up in his face,” I add, watching as Rush swallows down whatever retort he was planning to say as surprise washes over his face.
“It will,” I go on. “Blow up in his face. Something will go down, and I’ll finally get to put Benny down for good. He has people focusing on Eve, when he’s the one doing shady shit. I’ll bring it up when it matters. Eve could use the vote of confidence as well, since everyone is apparently still leery of her. If I play his game now, no one will question me later on when I let the dominos fall. And he won’t be able to stop me when I put Benny down. Pop’s scared. You all saw it. I’m not scared. The club needs that right now.”
At least I’m not scared for me. But Eve…