“We need talent, maturity, and experience.”
Viper nods again. “Where we looking for this talent?”
I say nothing. He knows. The only guys I’d trust are men my brothers trust.
“All right,” he says. “About the work. How dirty we looking?”
He’s asking a question I’m not sure I’m ready to answer. I’ve roughed up assholes who didn’t pay their gambling debts. Shaken down cops for info. Paid off people to talk, paid off people to stay quiet.
“We need clean,” I tell him. “To make the dirty a little less dark.”
In the past, Viper’s brought us what he called opportunities. Contract hits are nothing I’m interested in, but if we can expand and diversify, any short-term source of cash must be on the table.
We don’t have cameras inside the garage, so I tell him explicitly what’s a no-go for me. No trafficking. I don’t abuse women, kids, or animals. No exceptions. No innocent victims.
We run through a list of possibilities. Some, I immediately shoot down. I’m not running guns. Too much federal scrutiny. I want to fly as far under the radar as I can. That means steadymoney, no flash. If the DEA or any other three-letter acronym gets a hard-on for it, I want to think a little further outside the box.
Viper’s got the darkest past of anyone, except maybe Savage, who’s seen combat abroad. He doesn’t talk about it ever, but he’s stealthy, strong, and knows how to run an operation.
“You got your kids full time and an old lady,” Viper says. But there’s no judgment there. He’s saying it because it’s a fact. “You looking to take on more of a managerial role? Less boots on the ground?”
I chuckle. “Depends on the role and the ground you’re talking about.” It’s important to me that my brothers know that, no matter how much changes—Shadow’s married, I’ve got myself a live-in old lady and my daughters full time—I’m still, first and foremost, a member of the club.
Viper comes around the Vette and meets my eyes. “Change is the only constant,” he jokes. “So, we change.”
That we will. Especially if this club and all the people it loves and supports want to survive.
My phone buzzes with a call. I hold up my phone and leave the garage.
“Yo,” I answer.
“You got a problem.” Ed, as usual, minces no words. “The kid reneged on the plea. His attorney filed a motion with the court to withdraw the plea.”
My blood boils, and I see nothing but red. “Not possible,” I say, refusing to believe it. “He’s been sentenced. This is a done deal.”
“This isn’t the playground, Phantom.” Ed’ssputtering mad. “This is a kid’s life. He signed a sworn statement that he was coerced to enter the plea. Between you and me, I think the prosecutor wants to cut a deal and make him an informant. You taking him back if he gets out?”
I start to say fuck no, but then it occurs to me. There might be use for dear old Dylan after all.
“What’re the odds the plea deal gets withdrawn? What happens then? He gets off scot-free?”
“Not likely,” Ed says. “I don’t know the ins and outs of criminal law. I only handle shit that crosses over into family law, but since you’re involved in Dylan’s case…”
“I know how we got here, Ed. But where the fuck does this go from here?” I demand, my hands shaking. I’m trying to control my temper. To see every possible angle.
“I don’t fuckin’ know, Phantom. He cuts a better deal and becomes an informant. Prosecutor drops the charges. Charges stick, and he rolls the dice and goes to trial. I don’t have a crystal ball. I’m just calling to let you know what I do know.”
I thank Ed and calm down. My mind’s spinning. No matter what happens, I’m going to have both a problem and an opportunity on my hands. My entire life, I’ve been the guy who’s turned shit sandwiches into steak dinners. This is going to be no different.
I call an emergency meeting and let my crew know what I do.
“Let me just take him out,” Viper says. “He’s a pissant problem with a simple solution.” He holds his fingers like a gun, cocks them, then shoots.
“That’s Plan D or even E,” I say. “We’ve got to think smart about this.”
“I say we do nothing,” Shadow says. “Let the system play its cards. We’ll know what hand he’s holding by the time the chips fall.”
I nod. That’s what I’m thinking.
