“Miss me?” he coos as soon as he picks up.
“I think Genevieve needs us. Your brother is a fucking Dragon. Why did we leave her there?” I rush through my words as the anxiety in my chest explodes. “We’re fucking dumb. I’m getting dressed.”
“Wait, Montez,” he drawls into the phone. “We followed an order from our President. If we go against that, it’ll look like we don’t trust her to lead us.”
“She’s there alone, Charles,” I stress as I run my fingers through my hair, the need to pace becoming strong, but I fight it down to concentrate on this conversation. “They could kill her.”
“I wouldn’t have left her if I thought that. The Dragons are struggling with Jaeger as President and it only grew worse when Slayer showed up.” It’s all true, but it does very little to assuage my fear.
“She exiled Cash because he fought against her. What if he kills her?”
“Cash is here, sleeping off his anger and being watched by a few of the brothers,” he tells me. “He showed up looking for my help. He wants to go tohim.”
“That can’t happen!” I jump out of bed. “He’ll kill Genevieve for what she did to Bear and Barrett.” Malik’s dark chuckle has me pausing my rant. “Why the fuck are you laughing?”
“I got shit to tell you, but I can’t do it over the phone. Just rest assured that I don’t think he would hate her too much.” He’s speaking in riddles and it’s doing nothing to ease the anxiety I’m feeling. “Cash told me some shit. I could come over there and we could make tea and chitchat, or I can head over to the Dragon compound with the excuse that I miss my baby and I have no sense of self-control. What do you think?”
“I hate when you’re the reasonable one. It makes me feel psychotic,” I mumble as he laughs. “Fine. Go check on our girl.”
“Get some rest, Montez. You’re on two days without sleep,” he demands. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” I say as I end the call.
The thought of more secrets being revealed has me on edge, but as I turn and look at my bed, my body screams for rest. I won’t be good to anyone if I can’t function. With Malik heading over to the Dragon compound and Delia being watched by Ajani, I’m finally able to get some sleep.
I’m still wide awake when my head hits the pillow.
The club is quiet as I step out of my room and I look toward the main room. A few brothers are hanging around, but many are missing. There hasn’t been one party since I showed up the day before, and I know it’s because I’ve stirred shit up.
“They’ve been hanging out at Glitz,” Laith informs me as he guides me to the basement. “It’ll take some time to bring them around, if that’s what you want.”
“I bet Quinton is having a great time,” I snap, uncaring of the jealous tone that escapes me.
“If Carrie is there, then yes,” he says, his honesty brutal but needed.
“I don’t know if Malik let her go or not. I didn’t tell him what to do with the both of them,” I confess. “I forgot about them. What kind of leader does that make me?”
“The same as all great leaders. That’s why you have people to help you so you can take care of the things that matter. Carrie is not a priority.” He waits for me to enter the year I was born into the keypad and then opens the door. “Does the thought of Quinton being with her make you jealous?”
It would be stupid to confirm or deny that, but here, inside my head, I can admit I am insanely jealous. “No.” Lying has become easy, and if I force myself to believe them, I sound almost believable. “Quinton made his choice the moment he turned his back on me. I hope Jaeger keeps his bed warm.”
Laith chuckles behind me as we step down the first few steps. “Did you want me to come down with you?”
I hate to admit I need help, but the truth is, I do. Jaeger has been training for years compared to my seven months, and even though I would put up a good fight, the chances of winning wouldn’t be guaranteed. “Yes. He’ll need to use the bathroom.”
“Vic used to feed the people we kept in that room,” Laith tells me as we descend the stairs, the loudclickof the closing door sounding around us. “He was compassionate and always tried to see the best in people. If they gave him the info he needed, he would let them go. I can see that in you.”
“Should I have brought him food?” I wonder out loud as I approach the steel door.
“I think he’ll be fine a little longer. If you’re killing him, what does food matter?” I turn on him suddenly and he stumbles to a stop, his body nearly colliding with mine. He grunts with surprise and grabs my shoulders to steady himself.
“He deserves to die for what he did to my father and for what he did to me,” I rasp out, needing to say the words out loud.
“If that’s what you feel is right.” He nods, his eyes staying firmly on mine. “I don’t envy you those decisions to make. Even a death dealt with justice is a heavy burden. I hope you know he’ll haunt you until the day you die, and I’m not telling you that to dissuade you. It’s just the truth and I would know because I live it every day.”
“Did you kill people for my father?” I ask as my throat swells. I know my dad was the President of a club who partakes in illegal activities, and I’d be naïve to believe they don’t kill for it.
“No, actually. I haven’t had to fire my gun at anyone. I had killed before I showed up on the club’s doorstep.” His confession has my stomach tightening with disbelief. He was only a child then. “I wanted to make sure you knew that.”
