Mason’s gaze goes distant, already replaying the last few weeks in his head.
“Someone knew we were relocating,” Hawk says.
“And someone knew exactly who would be vulnerable,” Dagger adds.
Rev’s hands curl into fists. “You better be real fuckin’ careful with what you’re implying.”
“I am,” Dagger says evenly. “Which is why I’m not naming names yet.”
Mason exhales through his nose. “But we start looking.”
“Hard,” Dagger agrees. “Recent patches first. Anyone who hasn’t bled with us long enough to earn silence.”
My pulse spikes. The first brother I think of is Lucky. I like the guy, but fuck, I don’t know him well enough to know if he’sloyal. Always asking questions he shouldn’t need answers to yet. I swallow, saying nothing.
“We don’t accuse anyone yet,” Mason says. “We watch them. We could have Riot do a deeper dive on the new guys.”
“And we compartmentalize,” Dagger adds. “Information stops flowing freely. Need-to-know only.”
Hawk nods. “Flush the snake out.”
Brooke tightens her grip on Rev’s jacket. “What about Bri?”
Mason’s eyes soften just slightly when he looks at her. “She’s leverage right now.”
“And bait,” I add.
Dagger meets my gaze. “Which means whoever took her thinks they’re ahead.”
My voice is low and lethal. “They’re wrong.”
Mason straightens. “We move like we always do.”
“Slow,” Hawk says.
“Quiet,” Switch adds.
“And brutal when it’s time,” Rev finishes.
Dagger’s smile is thin. “We let them think the Iron Reapers are bleeding.”
Mason nods once. “While we sharpen the knife.”
I lean back against the pillows, pain screaming but my mind clear for the first time since I woke up. “They’ve been planning this for two years,” I say. “They don’t get to finish it.”
Mason meets my eyes. “No.”
Dagger’s voice is cold iron. “Because when we find the traitor…”
Rev cracks his knuckles. “They’re dead.”
“And when we find the Russians,” Hawk adds, “we burn them to the fucking ground.”
I close my eyes, Bri’s face flashing behind them. “They wanted to take what’s ours,” I say quietly.
Mason steps closer, his voice final. “Then we remind them who the Iron Reapers are.”
And somewhere out there, the men who thought patience would win them a kingdom are about to learn a hard truth. We don’t forget. We don’t forgive. And we sure as hell don’t let anyone take one of ours and live to enjoy it.
