“Scared,” I scoff.
“We kicked him out of the club before he understood what kind of leadership the Disciples are under now. He doesn’t know us well enough. He thinks we’re too young.”
He’s right, Nero is heading towards his forties. Previous presidents have been a lot older and what Storm would define as more experienced. Nero is one of the toughest and smartest bastards I’ve ever met. Under him, the club has never been stronger.
“Blaze is looking closer at the Heikkinen’s.”
“The rival family?” I ask in surprise.
“They have a so-called truce with the arranged marriage, but another thing I want more information on is that woman and the deal they made. Grudges like the one between those two families don’t just go away. There is more going on there. It could be leverage.”
Jesus, here I am acting like afucking prospectwhen Nero is planning five steps ahead.
“Get Fury briefed on this and have everyone ready for whatever Wallen is bringing to Baltimore. I’m going to put Razer and Nashville on the Sinners.”
“Nashville won’t be happy he isn’t getting a piece of Kivisto.”
“Which is exactly why he isn’t. He’s still dealing with the shit he saw with Sheridan. And his old lady was dragged into this,” he lets out a heavy sigh. “It’s hard to focus on doing the right thing when the person you love is in danger.”
He’s right again. Not that Nashville can’t use his head over his emotions, it’s not like he’s relegating him to a menial task. Handling the Demon Sinners won’t be easy.
“And Beast?”
“Has enough on his plate.” When he doesn’t elaborate, I don’t ask any more questions. “You gonna stop acting like a fucking idiot now?”
We face off for a moment, then I look away.
“Fill everyone in on the plan.”
He’s giving me back the control that goes with my role in the club. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to tell Taylor she is taking a leave of absence from work.”
“Fuck,” I cringe. In a way, that is tougher than what the rest of us have to do. Taylor will not like that at all.
“Get moving on this. We don’t have time to be complacent or arguing among ourselves,” Nero reminds me.
My mind is racing as I drive away from his house. I intend to do as he asked, but there is one thing I have to do first. Raven doesn’t live too far from Blackhawk Ink in Canton, her place is above a deli, and I have a key to the side entrance that leads upstairs. The smell coming from the store makes me hungry, but I have too much to do to stop and eat.
I’m not quiet when I jog up the stairs, alerting my sister that someone is coming up. When I let myself in, it isn’t Raven waiting. It’s a girl with long blonde hair, and a metal griddle is swinging straight for my head. I duck out of the way and hold my arm up as she goes for me again, managing to grab her wrist and pull the griddle out of her hand, and she shrieks loud enough to burst my eardrums.
“Get out!” She yells.
“Calm the fuck down,” I yell back. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”
She can’t hear me over the screaming, and she raises her hands as if she is about to charge. What is it with me and women trying to attack me?
“What the hell is going on?”
My sister comes running down the hallway wrapped in a towel, her dark hair soaking wet and plastered to her forehead and shoulders. The towel slips, and she scrambles to grab it.
I cover my eyes because I don’t want to see anything that will traumatize me for life, but that gives the kid a chance to punch my shoulder. It doesn’t hurt, but it pisses me off.
“Stop it,” I turn toward her.
“Tink it’s fine,” Raven walks over, having better control of the towel, and getting between us. “It’s my idiot brother. He has a key.”
“Idiot?” I snap. “She’s the one attacking me.”
