But, conversely, no one else spoke in support of Red Raven’s proposal.
“Then it is decided,” Lane said. “We will wait to strike on Friday. Take tonight to cool your heads. We all know that the Fallen Saints will play mind games to try and defeat us. We must not allow them to have that reward.”
Lane banged the gavel then. There was nothing more to be said by the group.
But that didn’t mean that there weren’t things left to be said.
The group mostly shuffled out. I said mostly because one person remained in his seat. Butch.
And though Father Marcellus and Red Raven left, with Patriot at the door and Lane right behind him, Butch hadn’t moved a muscle. His eyes locked on mine, and I waited for him to speak, almost egging him on.
“What?” I said. “You got something to say?”
Patriot left, but Lane stood at the exit. He shut the door behind Patriot and locked it. He knew something was about to happen.
“The hell was that about?” Butch said.
“Hell was what about?”
Butch didn’t say a word. He knew I was playing dumb, and I knew it too.
“I wanted to know your opinion for the strike,” I said.
“Bullshit.”
I bit my lip. My anger was rising by the second, and it wasn’t being helped by this probable rat pretending to make me look bad.
“You’ve been a strange one recently, Butch.”
“Axle,” Lane said from behind Butch. “Think very carefully about your next words.”
Butch gave the faintest hints of a smile, his lips just barely curling upward. I felt I was being mocked. I wanted nothing more to smack him right there. I had a feeling I might get that chance.
“You didn’t think to ever tell us your real name is Brian, Butch?”
Butch didn’t flinch. But something in my gut told me that he didn’t appreciate being called out for his real name.
“Oh, yes, we know that. Just like we know that you met up with my ex at the vet clinic. What was that all about?”
Butch kept silent. I didn’t know what was pissing me off more, the things that had put me in this position, or that Butch had literally no reaction to what I was saying.He’s waiting for me to make the accusation.
“You’re going to be quiet then, huh?” I said. “Then tell me, why, after you took whatever pet you have—I don’t know, maybe, a rat.”
Butch finally flinched at that, but he got his cool back quick. Still, it was the first crack in the armor, and I was determined to show Lane his true form.
“Why, after you took your rat into the vet visit, did you go to the east side? Into Fallen Saints territory?”
“Axle!” Lane shouted.
But it was far too late. I was too on edge after last night. The Fallen Saints attack on Brewskis was the final straw that had broken my willpower. Everything was going to come out now.
“Could it be that you went to confront the Fallen Saints? That’s a brave thing,” I said. “There’s not enough bravery in this world, you know.”
Like with me and Rose.
“Or maybe you went there to help them, rat.”
Everything that followed after that both seemed to be in slow motion and the kind of thing that, in retrospect, happened so fast as to defy explanation.
