Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Jack stuffed a cigarette into his mouth and lit it. “We’ve got the Exterminators lined up. I say we go for it. If the Jackals believe Zolt had been forced to pass the cargo to us, they surely had been the ones to snitch. Whatever happens to them next, they have it coming.”
Dad huffed, his forehead wrinkling more than usual. “I’m all for it, but we don’t have the cash yet. Those fuckers want fifty grand a pop for every clean disposal, and there’s at least ten of those fuckers. It’s just not the kind of money we have in cash. The drugs are in limbo, and I’ve been trying to secure a loan at a bank for a week now, but you can imagine how that’s been going. And I’m not getting into bed with the loan sharks from Reno.”
Mike leaned over the table and looked around. “Come on, guys. Time to choke up your savings. Rain, you too.”
The groans from the members didn’t inspire Leo’s confidence, so he spoke. “We’re not fucking around anymore. The Jackals need to go. You want them hovering around your kids? Planting a fucking bomb somewhere? They absolutely trashed Zolt’s store, and scared Trixie,” he said, glancing at Jack, whose face scrunched into a grim expression. “They’re unpredictable. If they want to kill any of us, they will, even if they later do time for it.”
Jack took a long inhale of smoke. “There’s a lot of money needed with a baby coming, so I might have twenty grand saved up. At best. That’s not even half of the cost for one of them, let alone ten.”
Leo looked up at Dad. “Then we go after them ourselves. Tonight, before they have the time to plan an attack. We go to their camp and end this.”
Mike rubbed his temples. “Each of us has enough balls to do that, but we’re not trained killers. Even if all of us survive such a massacre, we will make mistakes, leave evidence, and we will be the prime suspects if the Jackals bite the dust. I don’t want half my brothers locked up.”
“And I don’t want half my brothers dead,” Leo said with blood pulsing in his brain like mad.
Leo looked over his shoulder when Zolt touched his back, but Zolt was eyeing Dad as he stood straight behind Leo. “I’ve got the money.”
Dad let out a dry laugh. “You? First you fuck my son, and now you wanna fuck me over? If I’m not borrowing money from loan sharks, I’m not borrowing from you either.”
Zolt’s low growl made Leo want to jump to his defense, but Zolt didn’t need the help. “I said, I’ve got the money. I want to end those fuckers too, but you all know it’s a huge risk. I don’t want Leo dead or imprisoned.”
Kurt shook his gray head. “There’s a catch.”
Zolt pursed his lips. “I want to prospect.”
Jack choked on the smoke he was inhaling. “W-what? You can’t buy your way in! You need a sponsor.”
Mike spread his arms. “For half a million? I’d say beggars can’t be choosers.”
Leo’s heart filled with heat when his gaze met Zolt’s. “I’ll sponsor him.”
Dad clicked his tongue. “We will vote on it.”
Leo bit back a smile. He’d suggested the idea of Zolt prospecting, of him joining something bigger and making connections with others so many times. It had seemed his words were hitting a wall, but even Zolt’s stubbornness wasn’t impenetrable.
Leo could hardly believe he was offering such money, his retirement fund, just to ensure everyone’s safety. Though Leo had no doubt it was more about him than any of his brothers. He would have kissed Zolt if they’d been alone, but Dad watched them, and agitating a wounded bear was never a good idea.
Once the meeting was over and everyone started trickling out of the room, Rain’s slender hand grabbed Leo’s wrist over the table.
“Don’t you dare leave before talking to me,” she said, with wide eyes.
Leo waited until everyone else left before he spoke.
“So… Zolt and I are a couple,” he said, burning in the fire of her scrutiny.
“The fuck, Leo? I’m a lesbian, you’ve known for over ten years. Why did you never tell me you like dick?”
Zolt grunted, stuffing his hands down his pockets in obvious discomfort. “Maybe I’ll wait in your room?”
Rain cocked her head and zeroed in on him. “You do know Leo’s gonna be a dad, right?”
Zolt wrapped his arms on his chest, lifting his chin proudly. “Yes, I was the one to tell him he needs to be a dad, not an uncle, if that’s what he wants.”
Rain squinted. “You’ve got my vote, Zolt, but you ever hurt my bro, and it won’t matter how much bigger you are, I’ll find a way to fuck you up.”
Leo growled. “Jesus, stop being a psycho. Zolt… this might take a while.” He pulled out the keys to his room and handed them to him. “It’s upstairs and to the left.” After a second of hesitation, he rose and gave Zolt a peck on the lips despite his heart beating like mad.