Page 246 of Romeo

Cash bit back a smile. “Good evening, Uncle Zeus.”

I turned and looked at the shit-eating grin on my VP’s face. There were a few months when I wasn’t sure he’d come back. But Kytten had saved him. He’d done the same for her. Finding out Zeus was Kytten’s uncle had turned him into a smartass.

“Fuck you too, Cash.”

“What did I say?” Cash asked, his voice holding a fake tone of offense.

“I’m not your fucking uncle.”

Jack leaned toward the phone. “Hey, Zeus.”

“Jackass,” Zeus muttered.

Jack looked offended. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what you think it means.”

I rapped my knuckles against the table. “As entertaining as this family reunion is, you didn’t call to shoot the shit. What do you want?”

The change on the other end was immediate. Zeus didn’t answer for a few seconds, and when he did, the sarcasm was gone from his voice.

“Arizona Stone is dead.”

The men around the table quieted.

I didn’t mourn the bastard. Arizona had sat in this very clubhouse helping plan for the attack, then put a bullet in Montana’s stomach when everything went to hell. Whatever loyalty he’d once claimed to the Federation had died right along with that bullet leaving his gun.

“How?” I asked.

“Arizona went after F.I.R.E.,” Zeus answered.

My gaze snapped to Nav. He was already watching me. I didn’t have to ask whether this was news to him. Nav gave me one short nod before turning his attention back to the phone.

Of course he fucking knew.

“Arizona went after F.I.R.E.?” Gunner asked, disbelief sharpening his voice.

“That’s what I said,” Zeus replied.

Blade leaned forward, forearms braced on the table. “What the fuck did he expect to happen?”

“Apparently not what happened,” Hades answered from the background.

“Hades,” Zeus warned.

“What? I’m sitting here.”

“You’re being a pain in my ass.”

“That’s part of the VP job description.”

Cash chuckled. “Can confirm.”

I ignored them and asked Zeus, “Why did Arizona go after them?”

“Because the whole fucking Stone family is apparently determined to make my life miserable from the grave, prison, or wherever the hell they end up.”

“That narrowed it down beautifully.”