Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
“Says here he’s using meth,” Warren said. “He likes coke, but we agreed to stay the hell away from meth.”
“You sell the shit,” Keys pointed out.
“We don’t make it or sell it,” Sid denied. “We allow those who do to run it through our pipeline for a price.”
“Seems like Marks got caught with his hand in the cookie jar,” Czar said. “You weren’t watching him because you trust him, but the minute product is short, someone starts tracking it. That led them straight to your VP.”
Sid erupted into curses. Warren went silent. Knox shook his head as he read the damning evidence several times.
“How did we miss this?” Knox finally asked. “We know him.”
“He’s been keeping to himself,” Warren said. “And he missed the last two meetings. Said he had the flu.”
“When you trust a brother, the last thing you think is that they’re betraying you,” Czar said.
“For drugs?” Sid asked. “He betrayed the brotherhood for drugs?”
“He was skimming the product, using and selling. Probably started with small amounts, and then when he made money, got greedy,” Keys said. “I’ve seen it a hundred times.”
“Are you going to be able to keep your hands off him long enough for us to get the job done?” Czar asked. “Because if you can’t, you’re going to have to find a way to keep it from your club and the rest of the world that you took care of him. The Ghosts keep a sharp eye on their informers. They like to keep them hooked and scared. It’s a lethal combination in the end, at least so far it has been. They’re used up until they die.”
“I’ve always been a patient man,” Sid said. “I play the long game, but I don’t know if I have the restraint to keep from slicing him open the first time I lay eyes on him.”
“Send him away,” Absinthe advised. “Manufacture some problem that he has to fix for the club. Get him out of the situation for at least two weeks. Sid, if you don’t want to talk to him, use his excuse: you’re sick with the flu. Someone else can give him the orders.”
Sid nodded. “Yeah, good idea. We can do that.”
“And carry on as usual,” Absinthe continued. “In the meantime, we need to know about every cave they’re using and if there’s a way in they wouldn’t know about. If you have maps, we’ll need them.”
“We’ll get as much information to you on the militia group as possible. They keep to themselves, and I’ve never gone up to the area where they make their homes. They aren’t a welcoming lot,” Sid said. “Although Sean Stark seemed to be a good man.”
“No worries.” Czar waved his hand dismissively. “We’ll handle it. Lay low, Sid. Make sure the three of you don’t talk about this, even to each other. If they were in your clubhouse, they put bugs there. If they were in your church, trust me, it’s bugged. Marks very well could have planted the devices himself.”
“I already want to kill the fucker,” Warren said. “Don’t give me any more reasons.”
Czar flashed him a grin. “I think we’re done here, gentlemen.”
Absinthe and Czar and Keys stood. Reaper and Savage didn’t move from their positions. Neither had sat at the table and, as usual, seemed to be so still they faded into the shadows. Sid, Warren and Knox rose immediately when Czar did. Keys always found it interesting how Czar demanded and was treated with respect by those who didn’t really know him. He’d indicated the meeting was over, and it was over instantly.
They would wait for Sid, Warren and Knox to be gone before they ventured forth. Czar would take everything said to the rest of the club, and they would start making plans to shut down the threat to Headed for Hell and hopefully release any man, woman or child being held for trafficking in the caves above Sid’s territory. In doing that, they hoped they’d continue up the chain of command to find the identity of the man behind the Ghosts.
* * *
Keys hadn’t indicated to Lyric what he expected from her once he disappeared into the back room. He seemed to take it for granted that she would know—which she didn’t. For someone normal, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but she was a mimic. She fit in by watching others and doing what they did. Not knowing what was expected left her paralyzed. Scared. Angry. All emotions she had kept tightly under control since she was a very small child and learned she hadn’t really ever been accepted.
This was the reason she hadn’t ever tried to have a life with someone. She didn’t expect them to understand her—and yet she understood them. She knew most of Keys’ triggers because she paid close attention to him. When she focused on something, she did so completely. She knew that made her a good partner in a lot of ways, but at the same time she feared it made her appear needy. Sitting alone in an unfamiliar place surrounded by strangers, she was lost. Utterly and truly lost.