“How about privately? How about weeks ago? How about before you started sleeping with my fiancé?” Her voice cracks slightly on the last word.
“You said you don’t even care about Hunter,” I point out.
Olivia crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to talk about this right now. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re locked in a cell, possibly about to be killed, and you’re worried about justifying your affair.”
“Olivia—”
“I said I don’t want to talk about it right now.” Her tone leaves no room for argument. She turns her back to me, shoulders rigid with tension. I know Olivia well enough to know that she’s not going to talk to me right now, so I drop it. Even so, as I gaze around our prison cell, I know she’ll have to get over it sooner or later if we are going to survive this together.
3
HUNTER
Islam Kevin against the wall, my forearm crushing his windpipe. His feet dangle inches above the ground as his face rapidly turns purple.
“Where would Jax take them?” I release enough pressure to let him speak.
“I don’t know.” His voice comes out in a rasp.
I press harder. “Wrong answer.”
Penn stands behind me, arms crossed. “He’s one of Jax’s closest lieutenants, Hunt. He knows.”
Kevin’s eyes bulge as I increase the pressure. “I swear?—”
I drop him to the floor. He collapses, gasping. Before he can recover, I place my foot on his throat. “You have five seconds.”
“There’s a network,” he chokes out. “Safe houses.”
I ease up slightly. “What network?”
“Jax has properties... off book. Not in Viper records.”
I exchange a look with Penn. This is news to both of us.
“How many?” I demand.
“Twenty, maybe thirty, all of them spread across the country.”
“Why wasn’t I informed?” I press my heel deeper.
Kevin’s eyes dart between Penn and me. “Jax’s orders. Said you didn’t need to know.”
I remove my foot but deliver a swift kick to his ribs. “Locations. Now.”
While Penn restrains him, I fetch my laptop. Kevin reluctantly identifies twelve locations on a map. Properties purchased through shell companies, completely disconnected from official Viper assets.
“Why keep this from me specifically?” I ask, though I already suspect the answer.
Kevin hesitates. Blood trickles from his split lip.
“Tell him,” Penn demands.
“Jax thinks you’re positioning to take over,” Kevin mumbles. “Has for years. Said your ambition makes you dangerous.”
“And the others knew about this?” I keep my voice deadly calm.
Kevin nods. “Most senior members. We were instructed to compartmentalize information around you. Jax said it was insurance.”
