“He’s such a fucking asshole,” I whisper. “If he’d told the police, they could’ve done something long before the gunmen came and… and did what they did… Deidre had a family…” A tear escapes and I wipe it away. “It’s so senseless.”
“These people are not normal people—they’re thugs in Armani suits who have money and powerful people backing them,” Logan says. “They think the company could be a front for the Mancini family.”
I look up. “The Chicago mafia?”
He purses his lips. “Riot took out the leader many years ago, you probably heard the stories.”
I nod. “Yeah, bits and pieces.” So much has happened in this MC with mafia, underworld figures and criminals in general, that it’s hard to keep up.
“We had a meetin’ about it a while back and Sawyer did some diggin’ since then. It adds up.”
“So what are they doing in New Orleans?”
“Lookin’ to start up again. Mafia families never really go away, even when they’re wiped out. They had sons. Daughters. Cousins. Bratva took over Chicago, and then there’s the Cut City Boys. Plenty of time to switch cities.”
I’ve heard of them, too. A vigilante justice gang who were implicated for some shit in New Orleans such as kidnapping some of the members, including ol’ ladies, but the Chicago base claim the men in question, the Disciples, were not associated with them in any way.
“They’re game after the Rebels made their stake in the city,” I say. “And the Irish stick to their side of town. Coming in to disrupt things where others have failed seems like suicide.”
I heard Cash has an alliance with the leader of the Irish mafia. They stay out of our territory. The Rebels stay out of theirs. It also doesn’t escape me that I just thought in terms of ‘we.’ Holy moly.
“They’re money-hungry,” Logan explains. “And if they helped a certain political party by wipin’ out the opposition, there is a lot more at stake than we first thought.”
“Can I use the phone to text Luna?”
He hesitates for a second, then hands it over.
I smile gratefully. “Are you gonna show me the footage?”
“Trust me, you don’t wanna see it.”
I look down at the phone, then back up to Logan. “Can we call it a night? I’m really shattered from traveling.”
He nods. “I’ll tell the others. Wait here.” He tips my chin up once more, then kisses me.
My entire insides feel like lava burning deep in my veins. Knowing that he doesn’t kiss, and yet he’s kissing me willingly makes my heart not just flutter in my chest, more like banging the beat of its own drum.
“Don’t go away.”
I smile softly as he leaves. Taking a second to gather myself, I text Luna.
Me
Hey, it’s me. Payden
The gray bubble immediately pops up.
Luna
OMGGGGG finally!
Me
I’m sorry. I had to ditch my phone
Luna
I heard - I’ve been so worried
