Claire nods, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "Thank you for seeing me. For letting me stay last night."
"Tank tells me your ex is Tommy Reeves. Iron Eagles."
She flinches slightly at the name but nods. "Yes."
"And he did that to your face? And your ribs?"
"Yes." Her voice is stronger now, steadier.
King leans forward slightly. "Why come to us? You must know we're at war with the Eagles."
"I didn't choose this, and I had nowhere else to go," she says simply. "The buses aren't running. I couldn't get out of town."
"But why our clubhouse?" King presses. "Why not the police? Or a women's shelter?"
She gives a bitter laugh. "The Eagles have cops on their payroll. And there's no shelter in Blackwater Falls. The nearest one is in Riverbrook, thirty miles away. I tried to call them yesterday after I left, but they're full."
Luna glances at King. I know what she's thinking. We should establish a shelter in town. It's been on her list of community projects since she moved in with King.
"How did you find our clubhouse?" Tank asks, still by the door, still trying to catch her in a lie.
"I didn't. Rage brought me here," Claire replies.
"You told him and Tank that the Eagles are planning to hit us tonight," King continues. "During what they believe will be a wake for Vincent Kemp."
She nods. "That's what I overheard Tommy saying. They think you'll all be gathered here, celebrating. They're planning to surround the building and attack from all sides."
"How many?" King asks, his voice cool and analytical.
"At least twenty that I've seen personally. Tommy mentioned more coming from other chapters."
"And they've established a forward position on Cherry Street?"
"That's what I heard. Tommy mentioned it on the phone with someone. He said they had 'eyes on the approach from Cherry.'"
"When did you last see Tommy?" I ask, breaking my silence.
She turns to me. "Two nights ago. After he did this." She gestures vaguely toward her ribs. "He went out with some of his brothers. When he came back, he was drunk, ranting about Vincent and revenge. He eventually passed out, and I left."
"Where were you staying?" Tank asks.
"The Westside Motel. Room 17." She looks down at her hands. "It was just temporary. Tommy said we'd move to a 'better place' once things settled down."
My jaw tightens at the implication. Once they'd wiped us out, they'd be taking over our territory permanently.
"What else can you tell us about their operations?" King asks. "Anything about their gunrunning, drug production, distribution networks?"
She hesitates, clearly weighing how much to share. "I know they use the old paper mill in Millfield as a distribution center for guns. Tommy bragged about it once. He said they had a connection with someone who diverts shipments from a manufacturer before they're logged in the system."
King nods, encouraging her to continue.
"There's also a meth lab near the county line," she adds. "I don't know exactly where, but Tommy mentioned it was on some farm property owned by someone's uncle."
"Names?" Tank presses.
She shakes her head. "Tommy didn't talk business around me much. Just bragged occasionally when he was drunk or wanted to impress me with how powerful he was."
"What about Vulture?" King asks, using the Eagles' president's road name. "How involved is he in planning this attack?"
