Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
“We got him.”
“No way he can get free?”
“None. We got Tango on him.”
Tango was a sadistic fuck. My orders might’ve showed more mercy.
“Okay. Let’s wait. See what Prez says, if he’s able to think right.”
Heckler got quiet, because this was an issue. I hadn’t let myself ponder what it might mean that Max had been down, and in a coma for so long. But it was in the realm of possibilities that we still might’ve lost our president.
“Will do,” he finally said.
“Heckler.”
“Yeah?”
“If anything looks like it’s going south before Prez wakes up, the dad has to be put down.”
“I know,” he grunted.
“I’m told you want the guys back with you?”
“Will feel better having them here.”
I got that. “I’m told half of them want to stay with me.”
“Are you still moving forward with Max’s plan?”
“Think so. Crow’s wanting a conversation later today. I’ll feel him out. I put Stripes on him last night. His acceptance that Estrada left so quickly didn’t feel right to me.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I don’t know. Something just feels off. I don’t like it.”
“Got it.” He coughed, which meant he was changing the subject. “Heard you got a woman now,” he added, his tone lighter.
“Oh, fuck off.” I hung up on his laugh.
Heading down and into church, I moved past bikers lining the hallway and stairs. They followed me in, and the room got quiet. Crow was at the front of the table. I took the seat at the end. My guys lined up behind me. Boise had a seat beside me, with Machete on my other side.
Once everyone was inside, the room seemed significantly smaller than the first time we were in here. The door closed, and Crow took the gavel, hitting it down and calling church to order.
“First things first.” He nodded at me. “How’s the president?”
I filled them in on everything—finding out who’d really shot Maxwell, my initial order, Kess’ objection, and the latest call with Heckler.
Crow nodded. “The guy’s gotta pay. He’s the reason we had our scare here, the reason all your extra guys rode a full night and more to get here.”
“Agreed, but let’s wait and see how Max is tomorrow. He might have an opinion on how the father pays too.”
There was rumbling in the room. Most sounded like they agreed.
“What’s the latest on Estrada?”
I gave that update too, glancing to Boise.
“He’s going east?” Crow asked.
Boise said, “The last contact I had, they were going through New Mexico.”
“They might be heading to Texas. He’s got guys working down there.”
“I got a cousin out east,” one of Crow’s guys spoke up. “There’s a rumor there about a relationship between the Russians and Estrada.”
Crow’s head whipped around. “Why the fuck haven’t you mentioned that before?”
His guy’s face was blank, and he shrugged. “Never thought it was pertinent. We don’t operate there.”
Crow cursed before sitting back. “We took a vote not long ago. A lot of fucking planning has gone into how that’s going to be coordinated. You know about a collab he’s got with the Russians, and you don’t think it’s pertinent?”
The guy blinked slowly.
Seemed to me like the guy was just dumb.
His head lowered. “Sorry, Boss. I didn’t think. You know me.” He knocked on his head. “Two marbles in here. That’s about it.”
Crow cursed again.
Rondell snorted. “You might want to lay off the weed, X. I’m thinking you need those last two marbles.”
A few guys laughed.
X was laughing too.
Crow looked at me. “Sorry, Ghost. I apologize on behalf of my idiot cousin through marriage.”
X grunted.
Crow leaned forward again. “Since it looks like we’re in the clear from Estrada… I know you came here initially to help out, but since the national prez is in a bad way, what are you thinking to do?”
The guys all got quiet, waiting for me.
I looked around. My men were waiting for me to decide.
If Max was good, was in the clear tomorrow, he’d want me to stay and finish my assignment.
If he wasn’t in the clear, I still needed to do what I came here to do, but I didn’t know Crow’s true loyalty. And dammit because that shouldn’t be a question.
“Half my guys are going to head back tomorrow. I’d like them to rest, and then return to Max. The other half, who want to remain, will stay with me. We’ll stick around for a bit, if that’s still okay with your charter?”
Their president had asked us here, but I was feeling weird about Crow. That needed to be figured out. And it still made me uneasy how close Estrada had been without anyone knowing until he suddenly appeared.
There were a lot of stones still to be turned over before I could leave.
Crow gave nothing away. His face was a wall as he nodded, looking around. Most of the guys were nodding as well, and he reached for the gavel again. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like, but because I don’t want my sister to take my balls, everyone’s gotta head out of here tomorrow. She runs this place, and she’s got a wedding party coming in after us.”