Page 31 of Gunner

“What’s the plan, boss?” Blake asked, and he could tell he was getting through to them.

“I have a meeting with James Fitzgerald next week, and I think we need to bring the Queen in on this herself. We have no clue who we can trust on this except those two, and then we form a plan from there. But be aware my father has threatened Lacey if Gunner doesn’t follow through on what they want. Let’s make sure we have his back this time, even though he probably won’t want it.”

“Is Carmine still a problem for her?” Alex had caught Lacey when she’d collapsed after the kidnapping and attack, and they all liked the woman a lot. Plus, she was Skye’s best friend, and Nate and Skye were Fortis and therefore friends.

“Carmine is still in jail, but he’s had a few visitors of late including his brother and his legal counsel.” Lopez had been monitoring Carmine Russo since they had found nightwear on Lacey’s bed. It could well be the Russo family, but he also wouldn’t put it past his father to use that to scare the woman.

“Check if there are any connections between Frederick and the Russo family. There isn’t one I know of, but it’s becoming clear that I don’t know the man who fathered me at all.”

“Is your mom safe with him?”

Jack could tell Reid hadn’t wanted to ask, but it was a good question. “Yes, the one thing my father would never do is lift a finger to our mother. But I’ll go around there later and make sure she’s safe. Unfortunately, we can’t move on him because if we do, the whole thing becomes too precarious. We need intel and a plan first, so I can’t warn my mother, but she’s out a lot with her friends. While we’re here, I want to do some drills ending with randori in the ring.”

He heard the groans. Drills were a killer, and randori was where you were attacked on all sides from all angles in quick succession and had to fight your way out of it. It was good exercise and why his men could hold their own in any situation.

“Quit whining and get changed.”

“Someone should check on Gunner. He was pretty upset.” Mitch was already in sparring gear.

“Good idea. Blake, you go. You fucked it, you fix it.”

Blake didn’t argue, just turned and left. As he did, Mitch moved up to Jack. “That wise?”

“Yep, they need to iron this out between them and forcing it is the best way to clear the air.”

“Hope you’re right, boss.”

Jack didn’t say it, but he did too, or they were all dead.