Entering the cozy dining room, full of flowers and placemats that Momma made herself, Marx sits with his back to the wall, the look on his face cold as he nods at the seat across from him. Petrov smoothly sits, then crosses one leg over the other. A snarl rumbles in my chest as I pull a chair out and take a seat, the rest of my brothers taking my lead. The Keep Chapter stand behind Dex once all the seats have been filled, and Roman lets Sasha sit, his bandaged arm still oozing blood. Roman takes a stand behind his husband, a bratva soldier on either side of him and I have to say I’m impressed at the show we have put on. Petrov has brass balls if he thinks he and an overweight driver are tough enough to stare down the barrel of the DRMC and the Bartashev Bratva and make demands.
“This is the kind of hospitality a man like me is used to,” Petrov says, doing his best to seem unaffected.
“You aren’t getting what you came for, Petrov,” Marx replies cooly.
“I have paid good money for that product.” Petrov says, leaning back in his chair ignoring the growls of the men surrounding him.
“Take that up with your business associates,” I growl, unable to hold my tongue after his comment. Bree and Addy and Kit and Laney and Bee are not fucking product. They are our babies, our daughters, our fucking family.
“I think we both know after today they will no longer be associates of mine.” Petrov assesses Marx for a moment. “I have a new organization I would like to work with.”
Joy
Pressing a kiss to Kit’s head I lay her back down into her bed and cover her up. I came in to cuddle her when even more men came downstairs for treatment. Watching Sage work on the man who broke her heart almost had me crying alongside her. These women, these strong, fierce women are everything I wish to be and so much more. In order to do that I need to get my butt out there and take care of them while they take care of the injured, not hide in here with my girl like a big scaredy cat. Blowing out a breath I pull my shoulders back and walk into the main room.
“I have a new organization I would like to work with.”
My head snaps toward the sound and my gaze lands on surveillance of the dining room that Chewy has blown up big for everyone to watch. Petrov, the man who has bought my daughter, sits there like he doesn't have a care in the world as he outlines wanting the DRMC to work with him.
“Do you know, that this house is built in a very interesting way?” Chewy says, looking at something on her phone. “In fact, there are no real walls. Everything is slightly open. See here?” She says, holding her phone up. “If you were to stand here you’d get a full uninterrupted view of the dining room.” Looking at her little screen, she’s right. There are alcoves on either side of the dining room that aren't closed off, but instead are accessible from the rooms on either side of the dining room.
“When the house was first built it was just a shell. So we sort of lived in the house and put up partitions where we thought made sense. The kids loved it when they were little. Called all thoselittle notches and gaps to rooms their ‘shortcuts’,” Momma says from where she’s sitting with Mama Debs.
Chewy stares thoughtfully at Momma before she murmurs something to herself. “I’ll be back.” She leaves the room before looping around and standing in the same spot she just left. “Unless you want to come?”
“Me?” I squeak out, pointing to my chest.
“Yeah you. Lovely, Loyal, you can come too if you want.” Chewy shrugs and offers no further explanation.
“Ooohh, a secret mission,” Mira whispers. “Alas, I shall stay here and care for my wounded soldier. I’ll be able to get into his psyche. I can feel a book coming on.” She rummages in her top and Tank rolls his eyes at the other injured men.
“Have fun! I’m not going anywhere, I’ve had enough fun for one day," Blanche cackles as she and the rest of the Ol Ladies all wave to us.
“Chewy, where are we going?”
“To get rid of a problem, Lovely.”
Chapter 23
Chewy
Normally I enjoy making a bad man pay for his bad decisions, but I don’t feel like that today. Today I feel all achy and tired and like I need candy. Halloween is aaaages away which means the good candy that I actually want won’t be on sale and it almost makes me want to cry which is upsetting because I’m not a crier. That’s for weenies. And I’m not a weenie. Which is why I’m leading Joy, Lovely and Loyal through the house to the alcoves where we can spy on the men. And by spy on the men I mean we could probably shoot Petrov's ass from the alcoves. Like John Wilkes Booth. But unlike him we won't get in trouble. Because I have a plan.
“Ah, so where are we going, exactly?” Joy asks, trotting a little to keep up.
Stopping abruptly I turn to look at her. Huh. “I never realised how disproportionate your body was.”
“Excuse me?” Joy asks, her confused face looking at Lovely before looking back at me.
“Your body. Your legs are short compared to your torso. We’re roughly the same height however you’re struggling to keep up. Little legs.” I stare at them a beat longer before turning and carrying on the course I have set for myself.
“Wow Chewy, you sure know how to compliment a girl.” Lovely snorts. I’m pretty sure both Loyal and Joy chuckle at that but I don’t have time to check.
“Do you all have weapons?”
“I have both my handguns.” Loyal says.
“Me too.” I’m guessing that’s Lovely. I also know she carries knives so I’m sure if it all goes bad she can always stab someone.
