“No, Neo. I really wouldn’t.”
“Can we move this along,” Scraggly Beard says. “I need to wet my dick in one of the hoodrats.”
“Show some respect!” Sinner barks, returning to his seat. “And we still have some business to discuss.” He plonks into his seat at the head of the table, waving his hands at us. “Sit!” he demands.
We return to our seats, keeping our hands on top of the table this time. Bry’s eyes fixate on the identical wedding bands on my guys’ fingers, and he’s still wearing a hint of shock on his face.
“Where are you with finding the bastard responsible for trying to kill you?” he asks, as if he didn’t just have a meltdown.
“We’re handling it. It’s not gang connected. It was retaliation for a kill at the warehouse,” Saint explains. “It’s personal and we will deal with it.”
“I want the specifics,” Sinner says, drumming his fingers on the table.
“When we have all the facts, I’ll share them with you,” Saint lies.
“See that you do.”
“We have some intel,” Saint adds, extracting the piece of paper Bry handed him. Saint passes it to Theo. “Courtesy of Bryant. The Arrows have a big drugs shipment arriving next week via a new secret route.”
“They’re expecting us to hit back,” Sinner says.
“Yes, and they’re going to a lot of trouble to avoid an attack,” Saint says. “I say we grab a few reliable men, let them shadow the truck to their warehouse, and then we plan a full-scale attack.”
Bry jerks upright in his seat, pinning Saint with a dark look.
Saint ignores him, continuing to outline his plan. “The Arrows won’t suspect anything. They’ll expect their new route has worked, and when they least expect it, we’ll swoop in. Steal their cargo and set fire to their warehouse. Cut them off at the knees.”
Silence greets his suggestion, and the only sound in the room is the steady tick-tock of the clock on the wall.
“I like it,” Sinner says, a minute later, looking at the other board members. They nod in agreement. “Email me the details.”
“Already done,” Theo says, explaining why he was tapping away on his cell phone the past few minutes.
“Good. All that leaves then is the matter of your initiation, Harlow.” He attempts a sugary smile, but it’s all wrong.
“I’ve been giving that some thought,” Galen says, injecting himself in to the conversation. “Each initiate is given three tasks, but most of those are equal in status. Lo has already brokered the deal with Lowell Academy, her second task is null and void—”
“Which is why I broached the subject,” Sinner replies, cutting his nephew off mid-sentence. He levels Galen with a withering look that confirms he doesn’t appreciate his interference. “We need to agree on a replacement task.”
“That’s the thing,” Galen continues, undeterred. “I don’t believe we do. Your third task is a big ask.”
“A fucking monster ask,” Saint agrees.
“So, we think there is no need for a replacement task. Assassinating the commissioner is worthy of two tasks, and when Lo accomplishes it, she will be deemed to have successfully concluded initiation.”
“Are you asking or telling me?” Sinner coolly replies.
“Asking, of course.” Galen smiles politely at his uncle, disguising the fact he’d love to riddle him with bullets.
“We’ve seen your great capacity for compromise tonight,” Theo says, feeding the arrogant beast. “We’re merely asking for an extension of that concession.”
“She’s not getting out of this one.” Sinner points his finger at Saint.
“No one is asking that,” I say. “I’m prepared to carry out your wishes where the commissioner is concerned. I understand the seriousness of it.”
“Very well.” Sinner stands. “But it’s got to happen soon. I’ll contact you next week with the arrangements.”
The meeting disbands, and the other board members disappear through the door. I marginally relax.
“I am glad we could resolve our differences, Harlow,” Sinner says, coming up alongside me. “It will help with Giana.”
“You do know she wants nothing more to do with you?” I say. “And that’s all on you.”
“I can be very persuasive when I need to be.” He flashes me a shit-eating grin, and I want to slash it to pieces with my knife.
All the blood drains from my face. “Leave her alone, Neo.”
“Can’t do that, sweetheart. I miss her. Need her. And she needs me too.”
Yeah, no she doesn’t.
He pats my arm, and I jerk back out of his reach. “I highly doubt that.”
He grins, and his usual devious expression is firmly planted on his face.
Goose bumps prickle on my arms, and I sit up straighter in my chair.
“That’s where you’re wrong, daughter-in-law. If she doesn’t miss me, doesn’t need me, why did she agree to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
CHAPTER 24
“HE’S LYING,” I say after Sinner has exited the room, leaving us alone with Bry. We’re standing at the end of the table, reeling from that little bomb Sinner just dropped. “She wouldn’t go back. Not after he did that to her.” I power on my burner cell and dial Mom’s number, chewing on my lip in agitation as I listen to the ringtone. It rings out, so I call again, but she doesn’t pick up, and I’m not feeling the warm fuzzies.
“What the fuck was that back there?” Bry blurts, glaring at Saint.
“I improvised,” Saint drawls, returning his glare. “And what difference does it make? You’re one of us now.”
“Or are you?” Galen asks, plucking the cell phone from my fingers and ending my fourth unanswered call.
“Don’t start with this bullshit again,” Bry hisses, running a hand back and forth across the top of his cropped hair. “I think I’ve more than proven myself at this point.”
“So, you shouldn’t care if we blow The Arrows supply warehouse to kingdom come then,” Caz says, smoothing my furrowed brow with his thumbs.
“I care because they’ll fucking know they have a mole and they’ll come after me and my family.”
“We’ll protect your family,” Saint says. “Unless that’s not what you’re really worried about.”
Bry pushes himself all up in Saint’s face. “Say what you fucking mean, asshole.”
Saint shoves him back a couple steps. “Get the fuck out of my face.”
Bry reclaims the space, pushing his chest against Saint’s. “We’re supposed to be a team,” he says through gritted teeth. “We should’ve discussed it first.”
“Improvisation means spontaneous, asshole,” Saint retorts, pushing him back again.
“I know what the word means!” Bry hisses, and his fists clench at his side, his biceps rippling as he prepares to let his fists fly.
I slide in between them. “That is enough.” I eyeball them, warning them to back the fuck down. I drill a hole in Bry’s face. “Saint is our leader, and we don’t get to question his decisions or his motivations. We will protect your family, but if there’s more to this, you need to tell us right now.”