Ruger nods slowly. "Ounce, how long to set this up?"
"Couple days. I need to reach out to some contacts, make it look natural. Can't just call him out of the blue."
"Do it. Keep us posted on every step." Ruger stands, signaling the end of the meeting. "Everyone else—stay sharp. Eyes open. This bastard's been watching us, but now we watch him. And when the time comes, we put him in the ground."
"One more thing." I stop them before they can file out. "Leah. Who's taking the first shift?"
"I will." Maddox's voice is quiet but firm. "She knows me. Trusts me. I'll make sure she's safe."
I nod, grateful.
If there's anyone in this club I'd trust with my sister's life, it's Maddox.
The man's a gentle giant—until he's not.
"Thank you, brother."
He just nods and heads for the door.
That night, I lie in bed with Vanna curled against my side, her head on my chest, her hand resting on the swell of her belly.
She's twenty weeks now—halfway through the pregnancy.
The baby's been active today, kicking and squirming, making its presence known.
Every flutter is a reminder of what's at stake.
Every movement is a promise I refuse to break.
"You're quiet," she murmurs, her voice soft in the darkness.
"Thinking."
"About Virgil?"
I hesitate.
I've been trying to shield her from the worst of it—the planning, the violence to come.
She's got enough to worry about with the pregnancy, with staying clean, with rebuilding her life.
She doesn't need the details of what we're planning.
The cold, methodical nature of it.
The things I'm prepared to do.
But she's not stupid.
She knows something's happening, and I promised her no more secrets.
"He sent photos to Leah."
Vanna goes rigid against me, her whole body tensing. "What?"
"Same as yours. Following her. Watching her. Getting pictures of her at the grocery store, at the hospital, at her apartment." I force the words out, hating how they sound in the quiet room. "With a note threatening to hurt her."
"Oh God." She sits up, her eyes wide with fear in the moonlight. "Garrett, this is my fault. If I hadn't been involved with him, if I hadn't racked up those debts?—"
