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Knee bouncing, Maverick sighed. “I think we gotta meet them halfway. I hate it, especially pulling this punk-ass bullshit. But if we give them nothing, we risk another war we want no part of. If we give them everything, we let them think they can walk all over us. We give them part of the inventory and it’s a good-faith gesture, one that’s on our own terms, one that says we made an effort despite being in talks with someone else.”
“Yeah. That’s where I’m landing, too,” Dare said. “Which means we need to set up some terms and find a drop spot. Nowhere near here. I want it done as soon as possible. Get these fuckers off our backs.”
Phoenix nodded. “Goddamned Churchmen just won’t die.”
“No shit. You know what? When you talk to this Dominic asshole, make the deal contingent on their agreement that they hold no sway over our betting activities in the city. No doubt they know about them at this point. Ike operates unmolested or they can go fuck themselves,” Dare said. Years ago, that had been one of the points of contention between the Raven Riders and the Church Gang, one that had taken a few knock-down fights before they’d reached an uneasy détente.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Maverick said. “That right there actually makes the deal make sense for us. We don’t want to fight that fight all over again.”
“Agreed. We don’t want to fight at all.” Dare sighed, thoughts racing. “They don’t get any of the sniper rifles. Make it clear those are gone. They can have the AKs and the Glocks. Remind them that our shit is high quality, courtesy of Uncle Sam, and push them on price. Tell them it’s a convenience fee for walking on the other deal,” Dare said, scratching at the scruff on his jaw.
“Got it,” Phoenix said.
“Good. Then make the call, Phoenix. And play it cool.” Dare had total faith that his Road Captain could handle this. Phoenix could be smooth as glass and charming as all fuck when he wanted, winning him guys who wanted to be his friend and girls who wanted to be his lay in equal measure.
“I told him I’d call him back around nine. So consider it done,” Phoenix said.
Dare woke up the screen on his cell. 8:35 A.M. It was too early for all this bullshit. He ought to rain some hell down on these Iron Cross bastards just for making him leave his bed the first time he’d ever brought Haven to it. “Okay,” Dare said, blowing out a breath. Then Phoenix got a funny expression on his face Dare couldn’t figure out. “What’s with the face?”
Phoenix’s lips slid into a smirking grin. “Cora said Haven spent the night at your house.”
“What is this, fucking high school?” Dare asked. Last night, he’d called Bunny to let her know Haven was staying at his place so that no one worried, so he knew at least some of these idiots would find out.
“You really have to ask?” Maverick said, doing a piss-poor job of restraining his own amusement. “Come on, spill.”
“Nothing to spill. I was going to take her swimming. We got caught in the storm, so we holed up at my place and just ended up staying there.” Dare booted up his computer, wanting to see if Marz had shot him any other information this morning while he’d been so busy digging up intel on the Iron Cross.
“Uh-huh,” Maverick said. “And the last time a woman spent the night at your place was . . .” He leaned forward, as if hanging on the edge of Dare’s words. Words Dare had no intentions of giving him.
“None of your damn business,” Dare said, eyes on the computer monitor, his fingers moving over the keys.
“Look, don’t get your panties in a bunch,” Maverick said, his tone suddenly more reserved. “We were just thinking that if you’re serious about this girl, maybe we find a plan B that doesn’t involve sending her away.”
Fuck if that didn’t cut too close to where his own thoughts kept straying. But all the plan Bs were shit compared to the certainty of safety—for both the women and his club—that would come from new identities and relocation. Especially if the Iron Cross knew the details about Haven and the reward, the way they’d learned about the Ravens’ gun inventory.
“I don’t need you all playing what-ifs with my life or worrying about who gets my dick wet,” he said, his voice rising with the pent-up frustration he felt. “I’m not fucking serious about Haven, okay? She’s just a client like every other client. Nothing more. So drop it. She’s leaving, just like we planned, just like the club voted. It’ll be better for everyone when she’s gone.” Better for her, better for the club—or, safer, at least. And safe was the bare minimum he owed everybody. Still, his words were filled with half-truths and outright lies, each and every one of which tasted like ash on his tongue. But maybe if he said them out loud, he’d have a chance in hell of believing them himself. Last thing he wanted was his brothers thinking he was distracted by a woman just as the club was facing off against a new threat.
