And as Archer pushed Chops away, I eased myself back down into my seat.
“Anyway,” I murmured.
Finn finally spoke up. “We met up with the Black Flags and it was a trap.”
Chops scoffed. “That’s what I told you idiots! And you still went anyway!?”
I shrugged. “Not like you care.”
I could practically see the smoke coming from Chops’ ears, and I had my back to him. “Why the hell would this crew—after all it’s been through with those idiots—actively attempt to piss them the fuck off? Huh? You dick-measuring or something? Because all those assholes needed was a reason to start trampling onto our territory again.”
Finn stood to his feet. “Actually, Brooks handled it pretty well. After you left, he called and rescheduled the time and place of the meet in order to avoid a trap. Then, thirty minutes before we were supposed to head out, the Black Flags changed the meet-up place to a park. They didn’t care about the women and children around. They didn’t care about the collateral damage. All they wanted was to make a statement, and I believe that was the point of this meeting.”
The room fell silent as Chops slowly walked up to our prospect. And when Brooks darted to Finn’s side, I prayed I wouldn’t have to pull my gun and shoot Chops in the back of the head.
Mostly, because I wanted to see the light drain from his eyes myself.
“Keep going,” Chops said heatedly.
Finn looked up at Brooks before continuing. “Their initial location wasn’t as remote as we thought. So, we changed it to a remote spot. Then, they changed it again to a public park. I believe their motive was never to attack us or take us out. It was to make a statement while wearing their leather cuts. I believe they’re planning an attack to take our territory away from us. And I think their calculated moves tell us that someone else is behind this particular attack.”
Chops drew in a deep breath. “And what makes you think that?”
Finn swallowed hard. “Because this attack is more organized. It leads me to believe they’ve had a change in leadership, and that leader is strategically more advanced than their old president.”
We all hung on every word Finn said, because while the boy was young and kind of asinine at times, he had an incredibly rational mind. He could find patterns in just about anything and he read people’s actions like a fucking book. The man was a walking war manual at times, and it made me wonder what other plans he had for his life before he found us.
But Chops broke the silence. “None of you should’ve ever gone out into that field without me.”
I shook my head. “You’re the one who walked out on us.”
“I gave my men a direct order and disobeying it almost got them killed!” he bellowed.
I whipped back up and turned around, bringing Cole quickly with me. “You can paint it as concern for us all you want, but no president I’ve ever respected would’ve backed down from a meeting with their rival gang. You’re the one who decided to do that. You’re the one that became chicken shit the second you walked out that door, and Brooks had to step up to the plate.”
Chops gnashed his teeth at me. “And look at where it got you. With a bunch of bullet holes, rocks in your knees, and ruined leather jackets.”
Finn piped up again. “And knowledge. It gave us knowledge of what’s probably coming next, which means we can prepare.”
I pointed at Finn. “Exactly. And sometimes, that’s worth a few bullets.”
Chops shook his head. “You should’ve never—”
“Had a president that abandoned us?” I asked as I walked closer to him. “You’re right, we shouldn’t have ever had that. You’re the one who told us this was our mess. You’re the one who told us to essentially ‘figure it out’ for ourselves. You don’t get to march in and take the high ground when we’re the ones trying to not only push them out but save our town in the process.”
Chops held his head high. “Then tell me: what have they done to our town that you’re seeking retribution for?”
He had me backed into a corner I couldn’t talk my way out of, but I didn’t have to. Because the second his eyes locked with mine, the front door burst open again.
And in strode Astrid.
“Porter! Brooks! Where are you guys!?”
Cole patted my arm. “Done. You’re good.”
I slowly turned around. “Astrid? What are you doing here?”
Her eyes fell to my arm and she instantly sprinted toward me. She had her arms outstretched, but it was my eyes that darted over to Brooks. He had his eyes narrowed at the two of us and I took a step back, hoping to shock some sense into the woman charging me with watery eyes and a worried stare.
I watched it click behind her eyes and she quickly stopped her pursuit, sinking her arms to her sides.
Then, I nodded to Brooks. “He’s over there.”
She swallowed hard. “You good?”
I raised my arm. “Just a graze. Nothing a few stitches couldn’t fix.”
Brooks raised his voice. “I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
Astrid gave me one more second of her attention before she rushed off toward her brother. I watched with attentive eyes as Brooks stared me down. But when Astrid flung her arms around his neck, he turned his attention to his sister. She hugged him tightly and cried against his shoulder. He rubbed her back and did his best to calm down.
But that didn’t stop him from glaring at me before Astrid rattled off at the mouth.
“What happened? Are you all right? Did you get shot, too? Where does it hurt? Does Raven know? Should I go call her or something?”
Brooks placed his hands on her shoulders. “Astrid, I’m good. I promise.”
“So, you’re not hurt? Like, at all?”
He shook his head. “I was one of the lucky ones.”
Astrid shoved his chest. “Then, what the hell happened!? Why in the world have you guys been shot up and beat up to hell and back?”
“Thanks?” Archer asked.
She shook her head. “You know what I mean. Who did this to you?”
Brooks shrugged. “Just some assholes. We taught them a lesson and it’ll all be good from here.”
“I don’t believe a syllable of that.”
Chops scoffed. “Smart gal.”
Astrid tossed him a look before her eyes connected with my stare. “What happened, Porter?”
Brooks stared a hole into the profile of my face as I shrugged. “Just some bullshit.”
Astrid narrowed her eyes and she looked just like her brother. “It was clearly a big deal, and I want answers. Now.”
Chops ground his teeth together. “Everyone, shut up.”
Astrid clicked her tongue. “Someone start talking or I’ll call an ambulance.”
Brooks rolled his eyes. “Can you just let it go?”
I shook my head. “Just tell her, dude. You know she’s not going to stop.”
Astrid held her hand out. “Thank you. At least someone gives a shit about me.”
Brooks pointed to his chest. “I give a shit about you.”
“Then act like it, asshole.”
The two of them stared one another down for the longest time before I broke the silence. “She’s not your kid sister anymore, Brooks. She’s not that thirteen-year-old with braces and pigtails. Look at her.”