A single tear escapes from the corner of her eye. That’s what I fucking want. I’ll draw more from her before she takes her last breath, that’s a promise.
King takes her by the arm and pushes her toward the stairs. River brings up his wind and I reposition him so he’s looking out over everyone. I snatch her purse from the table Ritchie dumped it on and tip the contents onto the bar. I pocket the roll of hundred-dollar bills. I toss the tube of lip crap into the trash can. Her phone and the cash are the only things I’m interested in. Bringing the phone to life, it asks for her fingerprint. I pocket it.
Rudi walks in, her shift over at the hospital. Angel’s on her before she can take her jacket off. I clear my throat and he steps away from her, though he keeps his arm around her.
“I need you to watch River for a bit.”
“Is Victoria okay?”
“She’s fine. She’s sleeping.”
I pass him over to her and head for the bar. I grab myself a beer and instruct, “Everyone in the back room.”
I take my seat at the head of the table and drain half of my beer. Once the guys are seated, I slam the gavel down.
“It’s safe to say none of us expected to be laying our heads down tonight under the same roof as Effie. It’s shocked the shit outta me, that’s for fuckin’ sure.”
“Now we have her, what are we gonna do with her?” Angel grunts.
“Before we get into it, I’ve gotta say her being a woman does count for something to me,” Warren informs me.
“It doesn’t to me. When it comes to one of us being killed, I don’t give a fuck who pulls the trigger, they get treated the same,” King grunts.
Taking one of Angel’s cigarettes, I put it to my mouth and ponder what’s going through my brothers’ minds.
“Ford’s chair sits empty because of her. She had him shot in the back of the head and didn’t think twice about it. Do you think she lost sleep over him? Of course fuckin’ not. Stop acting like pussies and start coming up with ways to end her.”
Making Angel my vice president turns out to be a great decision when he suggests, “We could sell her into human trafficking?”
Snorting, I crush the cigarette in my hand. “I like how you’re thinking, but knowing her, she’d wiggle herself into freedom. Whatever we come up with has to end in her death.”
“Do you want full out torture?” Max asks, arching his brow.
Sighing, I say, “When she takes her last breath, I want there to be no regrets, just full satisfaction that we did right by Ford.”
Silence hangs over the table and I wait for their input. When it doesn’t come, I lean back in my chair and wish I could light a cigarette. I push through the craving and remind my brothers, “When you wear the patch, you protect it, fight for it… kill forit. Every one of you vowed to live up to the patch and if you’re pussying out on me, she won’t be the only one in a grave.”
Warren knows I’m talking about him. He sits up straight. “I’m just saying, she’s a woman. Regardless of anything else, she’s a woman!”
“And from what I’m seeing at the moment, her balls are bigger than yours,” I retort. “Why don’t you take your ass out and go search for yours. You’ve obviously left them somewhere.”
Brothers snort and Warren doesn’t move. “Luc. Prez. I’m not saying I won’t do what needs to be done…”
“I know, I heard you, she’s a woman, blah blah fuckin’ blah.”
Warren sits back in his seat and shuts his mouth.
“I don’t want this dragging out and I don’t want her here long. Killing her won’t bring Ford back but if he’s watching, he’ll see that we have his back, even in death.”
Agreements weave around the table and brothers nod.
“You know what I’m looking for. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.” I slam the gavel down and push up out of my chair.
I leave the guys in the bar and head up to speak to our guest. I send the prospect on his way and make myself comfortable across from Effie perched on the edge of the mattress.
“My wife is always reminding me that anything can happen. That when you think it’s over, the game can always change. I thought it was over today, that the Haywards would claim your death for themselves. And then with one knock at the door, here you are.”
Her lips remain firmly closed. Her eyes never leaving mine.
