“Yes, we will,” I say, determined to lend a helping hand like the one that was given to me when I needed it the most.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Icer
A few dayshave passed and Letti is finally settled and unpacked. I smile when I notice how intermingled our things are. The Prestons, which is Zeke’s family surname, have been notified by the club that their home has been paid off along with their vehicles.
They now own everything free and clear and won’t carry the additional weight of those astronomical monthly payments, which will help her credit and give her some wiggle room. Letti has made fast friends with the mother, Amelia, and has become one of her trusted babysitters.
Today, she, Van, and Zoey are cleaning her house, helping her go through her husband’s closet and donating his clothes to local charities. Those women work together seamlessly, and it’s a sight to behold.
Shade comes walking into my house, plopping on the couch across from me. “I helped that family,” he gruffly says. “I paid offthe hospital and doctor bills, they won’t have those hanging over their heads.”
“Cool,” I grunt, waiting for him to admit the real reason behind his visit. I know for a damn fact he didn’t come over to tell me what he did, he’s not one who likes to be in the spotlight.
“Maloney needs to be taken out,” he says, keeping his eyes attuned to mine as he sinks back into the cushions. “The sooner, the better.”
“Why do you think that?” I ask, leaning forward and placing my elbows on my knees, giving him my undivided attention.
Shade sighs before clearing his throat. Like me, he hates explaining himself. “I’ve been shadowing him since his son’s gang is due to be released any day now.”
I nod, encouraging him to continue when he stalls. I get what he’s doing, he’s readying me for the bomb he’s about to drop. “Whatever you have to tell me, just spit it out, brother.” Shade and I have already proven that we have each other’s backs and work well together. We’ve become the hunters of the club, which we did not long ago for Nova. We’re good at making our enemy nervous and causing them to come out of hiding.
“They’re pissed that their attempt at hitting you where it hurts failed. They thought that Letti would be detained and you’d be busy getting her out and would turn a blind eye to other things they wanted to get done but can’t with you watching them. They’re making new plans, and all of the women and kids are targets.”
“What are they planning, Shade?”
“They’re on the dark web, scouting mercenaries for hire. And not the soldier type either, if you get what I’m saying.”
“They’re looking for assassins,” I growl. “They’re going to have the old ladies and kids murdered!”
“That’s exactly what they’re doing,” Shade clarifies, his eyes black with anger. “We can’t let them get that far because once a contract is out there, we can delete it, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been accepted and printed before we can get it wiped. Booker’s watching them, and he’s blocking them but that’ll only last for so long before they wisen up and have somebody else post it on their behalf.”
“Remove your cut, brother, we’re doing this on our own without taking it to the table,” I order, knowing that I’m going to pay for this choice once Riptide catches wind of what we’re about to do.
“No need for that,” Rip says as he, Indiana, Slayer, LoneStar, and Nova come strolling into the room.
“Did you set me up?” I ask Shade, ready to pummel him if he did.
“Stop your bellyaching, Icer,” Indiana states, giving me an incredulous look. “Booker told us, and when we saw Shade hop on his bike, we followed him.”
“This is a family affair,” LoneStar says, giving me a look that tells me more than words do. A reminder that no matter the circumstances, as brothers, we have each other’s backs whether we approve of the reason or not.
In this case, it seems as if we’re all on the same page.
“It’s not just Letti in his sights, Icer. This affects us all,” Riptide scolds. “Even if it was only her he was interested in, we’d still be with you. This shit has gone on long enough, it’s time to end it.”
“Finally,” Indiana murmurs, looking ready for war. “We need to start with the father and end with the son.”
“Agreed,” LoneStar remarks. “That man should’ve never been allowed to reproduce.”
“Snakes breed snakes,” Slayer hisses, anger radiating off him which has him vibrating. “We have to chop all their heads off or they’ll continue laying more eggs.”
“Ready when you are,” I say, walking over and hanging my cut up on the coatrack, grabbing my shotgun from the gunrack, pocketing enough ammo to take out a small country, grabbing my keys and heading for the door. “What are y’all waiting for?” I ask, heading out the door and toward my bike.
“I guess we’re doing this now?” Indiana asks, strolling out after me, whistling.
