Within minutes, the rest of the operatives returned. Each held cameras and listening devices.
Seth scowled while their teammates destroyed the unwanted electronics. Once the bugs were sitting at the bottom of a glass of water and the cameras were in pieces, he faced Elias. “What happened?”
“After our teams left the clubhouse, Iona and I thanked Dutch for his help and protection. We were being escorted out by Heath. About halfway to the door, he signaled someone in the shadows, who stepped into view and aimed his weapon at me. Iona sent a knife into his throat, and I shot him. Heath was acting without Dutch’s permission.”
“So I gathered. Do you have any idea what’s going on here?”
Elias studied Seth. “I don’t, but you act like you know something. Spill it, sir.”
“Two things. One, Dutch mentioned not wanting problems, especially in security, considering something important happening in two days.”
“The gun sale?” Andre asked.
“Could be. No proof yet.”
“What’s the second thing?” Noah asked.
“We made an enemy tonight.”
Teagan rolled her eyes. “What else is new? We always make enemies. What’s different about this one?”
“Heath is Trish’s brother.”
Oh, man. That wasn’t good. Elias rubbed his jaw.
“I don’t understand this. If Heath is Dutch’s family, wouldn’t he do everything he could to protect him?” Noah asked. “Some family. Dutch tossed him out of the clubhouse without a second thought.”
Andre frowned. “You said MCs treat each other like family. In a way, Heath betrayed Dutch. Is that enough of an offense to take such an extreme action?”
“Definitely. Family members are held to higher standards, so their punishments are more serious, especially for an offense like this one. Not only did Heath betray Dutch, but he also showed no respect for Dutch’s authority.”
Grant whistled. “No wonder Dutch was livid. Organizations like an MC run on an authority hierarchy, like the military. Heath’s actions would be equivalent to one of us mouthing off at a general.”
“We would have landed in the brig before we could draw a full breath,” Noah said. “So, what happens now, Elias? Will Heath ever be allowed back into the MC?”
“With an infraction this serious, no. Although Dutch didn’t use the term ‘out bad,’ he said Heath was no longer welcome in the compound and clubhouse.”
Iona’s eyebrows rose. “Out bad?”
“Permanently kicked out.”
She sighed. “Great. Just what we need. Two more enemies to fend off.”
“Look at it this way,” Seth said. “Although you have two more enemies, at least you know they’re not your friends.”
“Small comfort, because we don’t know which side of the line the rest of the MC will fall on.”
He shrugged. “We take what we can get.”
“Sure, but we still don’t have enough information to stop the sale of the weapons and ammo.”
“We don’t know if Dutch is brokering the deal or merely housing the weapons.”
“Or if he’s involved at all,” Andre said. “So far, there’s no proof.”
“If the proof exists, we’ll find it.” Elias leaned his head against the back of the couch. “Keep your eyes open when you’re around the MC tomorrow. They may tell us what we need to know by accident.”
“What’s a better scenario?” Seth folded his arms across his chest. “We didn’t win any friends tonight.”
