Page 22 of Cross’s Reckoning

I understand where she's going before she finishes. "You know things."

She turns fully toward me now, grief still sitting in her face but something harder pushing through it.

"I know who hates who. Who owes my father. Who thinks Raze should've had more say years ago. Who drinks too much and starts talking. Who Cyrus trusts because he's scared of losing him and who he trusts because he's too stupid to see the difference."

My pulse picks up. "Lola."

"He thinks because I don't wear a patch, I don't know his club. Unfortunately for him, I know every fucking thing."

I stand, and for the first time since I walked into the room, she looks certain and determined.

"I need to speak to Kane."

"What are you going to tell him?"

Lola reaches for the door. "Exactly where all the bodies are buried."

I raise an eyebrow. She gives me a look. "Figuratively, Cross. At least, mostly."

She walks out ahead of me, and I follow her toward Kane, knowing something has changed that Cyrus can't take back. He called Kingdom Come to demand the man who left him, and he never once asked for his daughter. Now she's about to tell his enemy exactly where Perdition breaks.

CHAPTER 5

LOLA

Kane listens without interrupting me for almost ten minutes. We're in his office rather than the room they use for church. Judge sits on one side of the desk, Cross beside me on the other. I'm giving them everything I know about Perdition MC.

"My father trusts Raze more than he likes him," I say. "There's a difference."

Kane leans back in his chair. "Explain it."

"Raze wants the gavel one day and Cyrus knows it. That's why he keeps him close. Better to know where the ambitious man is than wonder what he's doing behind your back."

Cross nods. "He's right about that."

"He also knows Raze won't make a move unless he thinks he can win," I continue. "He isn't brave enough to gamble everything on principle."

Judge's mouth moves slightly. "Sounds like a charming guy."

"He's Perdition's vice president. What were you expecting?" I glance at Cross. "But he didn't expose me either, which says something too."

"He sent men north knowing you lied," Cross adds.

"Exactly."

Kane looks between us. "Why?"

"I think he's tired of my father spending the club on this." I hesitate, sorting through years of overheard conversations that never seemed important at the time. "Raze has complained about money, men, territory. He's challenged Cyrus when a decision affects Perdition. But Kingdom Come is different. Every time this comes up, my father stops talking about what's good for the club and starts talking about you."

Kane doesn't need me to explain why. King was his father and the former president. This was his father's club before it was his, and everything Cyrus thinks Kane ruined.

"He thinks if he beats you badly enough, he proves your father was right."

Kane's expression stays flat. "King's dead. Doesn't seem like much of an audience."

"He isn't doing it for King anymore."

"No," Cross says. "He's doing it because he can't stand Kane being proof there's another way to run a club."