Page 55 of April’s Fool

“Agreed,” Hornet grunts. “I doubt anyone who sits at the table will disagree.”

I might not have a seat at the table, but I’d definitely vote for Torpedo. The man has had April’s back and never asked questions. Even went to sit in her classes with her.

Moments pass before they’re back, dragging a bitching Venus along as the others walk in silence.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Venus snaps, yanking her arm free from Torpedo’s hold. “You can’t just lock us up like slaves.”

Cannon ignores her and addresses them as a group. “Right now, you all need to think for yourselves. We know who was in on the bullshit stunt to send my cousin, Fool’s ol’ lady, running.”

“Well, if she had more balls, she wouldn’t have been so easy to send off,” Venus scoffs, scowling at Cannon.

“I suggest you keep your fuckin’ mouth shut until we ask you something directly,” Cannon barks, pointing a finger at her before looking at the others. “Who wants to discuss their involvement and how they were approached?”

DeeDee steps forward, wringing her hands. “We weren’t. Well, we were, but it was Venus who approached us with the whole deal. She said it wasn’t right that a woman got to come in and take what’s ours.” Tears prick her eyes, and her lip wobbles. “I am sorry for the part I played in it. She said that having sex in Fool’s room would be a great way to get back at him for the way he treated us.”

Treated them?

I haven’t done a damn thing to them.

“What do you mean, ‘how he treated y’all’?” Hornet demands.

Sasha, another clubwhore, steps forward. “What she means is that he stopped asking any of us. Venus created the impression that we had to obey her directives, as if she held authority, and that failure to comply would mean we would be thrown out of the club. Some of us honestly have nowhere else to go.”

Others nod, even the two who had high-fived each other on the camera feed.

“No one other than a member of this club can make that decision. Even then, I have the final say,” Cannon declares sternly. The way he holds himself in this moment is why he holds his rank. There’s nothing about him that doesn’t scream authority. “Venus, you’re out,” he says, turning his attention to her. “You’re lucky to be leaving with your life and not in a body bag. A few things first to remind you. You signed an NDA. You are not to speak about this club to anyone. If you do, we will find out. If you come near this property or any club establishments, we’ll see that you end up in a body bag. Am I understood?”

“You can’t just kick me to the curb,” Venus sneers, her eyes narrowing.

Cannon ignores her and looks to the others. “I’m not one for second chances, but I’m giving you all one. Fuck up once. You’re gone. Do I make myself clear?”

Several of the clubwhores call out ‘Yes,’ while others simply nod.

“Good.” Cannon nods. “Hornet, want to add anything?”

“Get this bitch out of here,” Hornet orders.

“With pleasure,” Hazard growls, stepping forward and grabbing Venus by the arm.

I ignore her screeches as Hazard drags her out the back door. Her curses fade with each step, and I feel grim satisfaction knowing she’s gone. One less threat to worry about.

Cannon turns to the remaining clubwhores. “You’re all dismissed. Stay out of trouble.”

They scatter like roaches when the light comes on, leaving only the brothers and me in the main room.

“Now that’s taken care of,” Cannon says, pulling out his phone. “Let’s deal with the real problem.”

I grin and flex my fingers, more than ready to head to the frat house and get this shit done. It’s time to get some retribution.

The ride to the frat house wasn’t as thrilling as it would have been if I’d been on my bike instead of in a blacked-out cargo van we typically use for body transfers from the hospital morgue to the mortuary and funeral home.

Wrench is at the wheel with Cannon in the seat next to him, while the rest of us sit in the back on the steel floor. The stench of death and industrial cleaner lingers around us. It’s fitting for what we’re about to do, but I’d prefer to have been on my bike, savoring the fresh air as it calmed me.

“Ear comms in. We’re two blocks away,” Cannon orders.

I put mine in and instantly hear Mortar report. “All but the targets are gone for the time being. Front entrance is clear. All four are in the back.”

“Copy that,” Cannon replies over the comms. “We’re coming in from the east. Keep eyes on all exits.”