Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Once they have their churches for these new chapters established—all of which will report to the mother chapter in West Virginia—they plan on expanding even more. They’re going to slowly eat away at your territory before continuing north into the Knights’ territory.
“They’re not going to come in hot like the Warriors, Z. They’re going to spread like black mold and, before you know it, swallow you up. You’re living comfortably now because they haven’t tipped you off and you think you’re still king here. However, that throne will get toppled if you’re not careful. We don’t want to see you and anyone else in this club go to war again.”
“I also don’t want to see you end up back in prison, brother,” Jamison added.
Zak’s dark eyes narrowed and shifted from Crew to his brother. “Shouldn’t have been in there the first time, brother.”
“And you know I had nothing to do with that.”
“But you also did nothin’ about it, either,” Zak sharply reminded him.
Jamison’s nostrils flared just enough for Fletch to catch the reaction.
After his chest expanded slowly and then contracted as he released both the air in his lungs and most likely his impulse to defend himself, Jamison said, “You have Sophie and the boys. You have too much to lose to go to war with the Demons.”
“So do you,” Zak growled. “If it wasn’t for us, you wouldn’t have Laney an’ Liam. Let’s not fuckin’ forget that.”
“You really believe I don’t think about that every damn time I kiss them goodnight?”
Zak shrugged.
After being forced to stay quiet, Diesel, looking like someone just dropped a few Mentos into a bottle of Coke, finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Why the fuck would we work with pigs? Got my own fuckin’ task force to handle any threats to our club.”
“The threat isn’t only to your club, Dougherty, it’s to all of us. Like I said, this is bigger than them encroaching on your territory,” Crew told him.
“My concern’s protectin’ our territory, our brotherhood an’ our families. Don’t give a fuck about anythin’ else. Got me?”
“You should give a fuck, Diesel. You… Hell, we,—whether you want to recognize me or not since I’m Nash’s husband and we’re raising two kids together—We all have families. Kids. Grandkids. Nieces and nephews. Don’t you want to protect them, too?” Cross asked him.
He sneered at Cross and slapped a beefy mitt against his chest. “I fuckin’ protect them. Don’t need your fuckin’ help, pig.”
Crew raised one eyebrow. “Yeah? So, you’re protecting them from the flow of meth into your territory?” He pointed to the floor. “Right here in Shadow Valley? Right under your damn noses?”
“If that’s true, what the fuck you need from us?” Hawk’s question was dripping with impatience. “Can we get to your fuckin’ destination faster? Not likin’ you takin’ this long tourist route.”
“Agreed. Let’s get to the fuckin’ point. Why you comin’ to us about this?” Zak asked, once again taking control of the conversation. “You can bust ‘em for runnin’ drugs without us involved. You here ‘cause you need assistance from D’s Shadows?”
Fuck if that was going to happen. Fletch had no doubt Crew would shut that shit down quickly.
“They have badges?” Crew asked, knowing full well they didn’t.
Diesel snorted like a bull facing off with a matador. “Fuck no.”
“Then, fuck no,” Crew echoed. “We’re not doing any shady shit. When we take down members of the Demons, we need charges to stick. We don’t want them getting off on technicalities.”
“Who said they gotta be charged? Plenty of other ways to handle those fucknuts.”
Crew tipped his head and stared at the massive man.
Fletch had done a background check on the club’s sergeant at arms, too. Somehow the man had only minor offenses on his record even though he probably did enough shit to warrant living in a concrete box for the rest of his life. He was a lucky bastard. But fuck if Crew would let anyone on the task force step over the line like that.
At least step over it too far.
However, Fletch had a feeling they’d be walking that line like a tight rope, including himself. Law enforcement couldn’t break the rules like an MC could, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t bend them a little.
“If you ain’t here about the Shadows…”
“Z, we need your connection with the Demons,” Jamison spoke up behind Fletch. “That’s why we’re here.”
Zak frowned. “What fuckin’ connection? Their MC’s no better than a goddamn cluster-fuck. Don’t got shit to do with ‘em.”
“Kelsea had an in with the Demons,” Hawk mentioned, leaning back in his chair and letting his gaze land on Diesel.
A muscle jumped in the big man’s cheek. “Had a fuckin’ connection. That thread was snapped clean a long time ago. An’ tellin’ you right now, it ain’t ever gonna be reconnected. Ryder would be fuckin’ ragin’ right now if he heard you even mention her name along with those dumbfuck Demons in the same breath.”