Page 19 of Haven

“Shipment was coming in and it exploded as soon as the boat stopped. Two crew members got sent to the ER for burns and smoke inhalation.”

I nodded. “Is that why you’re here?” Melisa never meddled with Viper business, but she helped us when we needed it. The only time she ever did anything that went above Cinder’s head was when a member of the community was hurt, and that was rare if it ever happened.

“Yes and no. We found something questionable.”

I followed her to the boat where I saw a black viper with a dagger through the center of it. It was a symbol—a threat. “That is the same thing that was left when Diesel was murdered by Axel Morningstar.”

“That’s why I called you before I called Cinder.”

It was code for I didn’t want to tell Cinder and I groaned. “That means I need to tell Cinder what the hell is going on, and she’s going to be pissed.”

Melisa pressed her lips together. We all knew how Cinder was when it came to mourning Diesel and her craving for vengeance; she was unpredictable. Unfortunately, as much as this was a screaming red flag and pointed to Axel Morningstar, I knew we couldn’t go on this alone.

We had our allies, but we didn’t have control of every MC in the states. Just like the Primal Predators had their foot in Crestview, there were other gangs in other cities who did the same things. Our territories had partnerships and would trade certain drugs. Cinder wasn’t a fan of hardcore drugs, but that didn’t stop other leaders from dealing as long as no one got hurt.

The politics of everything was written in blood. Axel killed any chance of working together when he betrayed Diesel. They used to be friends once upon a time, but something changed causing a rift in tensions before his murder. Cinder wanted him dead, but a treaty was worked out instead. They never step foot on Briarwood territory, and Axel Morningstar will live.

Cinder would lose her shit when she got here. Part of me wished I could keep this from her, but I knew it’d come back to bite me in the ass. Widow was going to be the one to keep her on stable ground—along with Rory, but she was never home.

I kept checking my phone, waiting for Cinder to get to the dock. My hands were shaking with nerves, knowing what her reaction would be. Showing her this would be the equivalent of setting off a nuclear bomb. I loved Cinder, but she was a hothead. Twenty minutes felt like an eternity when they finally rolled up to the docks and parked their bikes.

“They left a calling card.”

“Does Axel want war?” Cinder ground out, anger dancing through her at the sight of the snake.

“This was the same thing left when we found Diesel's body,” Widow sneered. “We know this is him.”

“We don’t have proof,” I deadpanned. “Anyone can stab a snake, but if it is Axel, then we will deal with it accordingly.”

Cinder and Widow both glared at me before Cinder snapped, “Who else would it be?”

“I’m not saying it’s not him, but we can’t start a war over this, even if it is a symbol,” I barked. Cinder was already spiraling. “The last thing we need to do is to attack and find out it’s not Axel, then we’ll have bigger issues on our hands.”

Cinder’s jaw tightened, and I swore I heard her teeth crack. “If someone wants to hurt us, to hurt me, they know exactly how to do it.”

Rory.

The Devils or any enemy would use Cinder’s weakness against her, and everyone knew that was Rory. She was Cinder’s heart and soul. This could be a distraction for something else, or it could be Axel leaving a message.

“For all we know, it could be the Predators,” Widow suggested. “Axel is a puppet. He knows Cinder would destroy him, and he hasn’t done anything in years. Luke Callahan, though, he would want the ports. Ports he doesn't have access to.”

Cinder growled in frustration, her fists clenched tightly at her side. “I knew the Predators would cause issues. I’ll get Parker to hack into their systems from here and see if he can find anything. If I learn that they are planning on hurting my sister, there will be blood.”

No one would argue with her there. The Vipers would kill for Rory, but people here had common sense and knew she was off-limits. Rory could take care of herself, but there was an army of people behind her if she ever needed us.

Eighteen

Widow

Cinder stormed into the clubhouse. “Mal?” Cinder yelled as she reached the main foyer where Mal was leaning over the pool table with their partner and Parker. “Get your ass to my office, we need to talk.”

Mal kissed their partner before handing Parker the pool stick. Being Cinder’s vice president meant knowing the details of what we discovered if they didn’t want to. Mal liked being Cinder’s VP, but normally the job was easy since Cinder would handle everything and Vesper and I would deal with any traitors or other issues. Neither of us wanted the title of vice president. I didn’t want the responsibility, and neither one of us wanted the leadership aspects of the title. I preferred keeping order and dealing with the security at the club. Vesper liked kicking ass and using her hobbies to get rid of our problems.

“What’s up, boss?” Mal asked.

Cinder ran her fingers through her short blonde hair and sighed. “There was an attack at the docks. We need all hands on deck. If a war is brewing, we need to be ready.”

Mal’s back straightened. “What do you need from me?”