Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
I drew closer, dropping my voice. “How bad is it, Liam? What are we dealing with here?”
Yes, we. I long ago gave up any idea that their fight wasn’t mine. I’m with the Merchants till the end. They’ve more than proven they feel the same about me.
“A group that is smart, well-funded, and wider reaching than we believed. That loudmouth Vito is from Harlow and that fool Grant was based in Rockchapel. They’re recruiting our enemies across boroughs.”
“But you said this Snyder guy is dead. He tried to kill Sunny, then led you all into the warehouse. Surely he’s the mastermind and now he’s gone.”
Liam was shaking his head before I finished. “We can’t assume anything. We’ve been doing that for weeks and it’s gotten us nowhere. At this point we accept two things: there is an organization called the Brotherhood operating in Cinco, and they want the Merchants dead. Everything else is speculation.”
“If that’s true, where do we start?”
“Vito got away,” Liam replied. “He and the men who carried him out are the only ones to survive that night. First thing we do is find and question him.”
“This must be what he was hinting at the night I made a deal with him. He warned that he was a real threat to the Merchants and the Cardinals. Genny said he was the type to taunt and throw it in her face if he had a secret like this to use against her. Seems Vito can keep a secret better than we thought.”
“Vito had a damn good reason to keep his mouth shut,” Liam said. “They were relying on our cluelessness to pick us off one by one. Sunny drugged and dropped off a bridge. Me killed by car bomb. Genny taken out by drive-by shooting, and who knows what they planned for Bane. Our deaths would’ve driven him out of the woods. Once he was out in the open, they’d strike.”
A shudder climbed my spine. “It’s a good plan. A terrifying, evil, but smart plan. It’s even worse that it almost worked. I take back my question, you don’t have to tell me what we’re dealing with here. Those bastards were willing to sell me to Luca and put my daughter in danger. They’re monsters.”
“We assume nothing and rethink everything from this point. Sunny’s back in charge of the Sons of Saint, so for now I believe it’s best you stay close to the compound.” Liam turned away, jaw ticcing. “I can say to you that we’ll do everything to protect you and Laurel, but we’ve failed in that once.”
“Liam, don’t say that.” I found myself squeezing his knee. “You had no reason to believe Coates was rotting, duplicitous garbage that would sell his soul for a buck. I know you ran the same background checks on him that you did on me. Some things you can’t see coming.”
“I don’t accept that,” he said, “not when it comes to you.”
I quieted, cheeks staining red. How was I supposed to reply when he said things like that—especially with things so up in the air between us?
“I don’t want you to feel trapped or restricted, but at least until we know more about the Brotherhood, will you keep to the compound?”
Sighing, I replied, “That’s an easy promise for me to make right now. All I’m thinking about is keeping Laurel safe and with me. When I can close my eyes and not picture that woman walking off with my kid, then I may be up for taking my chances with a crazed band of killers.” I shook my head, forehead screwing up. “I just don’t understand. Why now?
“Vito’s nursed a hatred for the Merchants since he was young. Grant’s wanted payback for months. Luca would’ve wanted to protect his disgusting business since the first time Sunny threatened him. I could see those three banding together and hatching something up, but from what you said, they weren’t in charge.”
“They weren’t,” Liam confirmed. “It was obvious the one they obeyed was Snyder. They raised and lower their guns on his orders.”
“But none of you have seen or dealt with Snyder before,” I said, working this out. “It’s hard to believe a stranger woke up one day and gathered all your enemies to kick off a war. That has to be proof Snyder was also taking orders from someone else. The person bankrolling this entire thing who hates the Merchants enough to want you all gone, no matter how many innocents are taken down too. Still,” I whispered. “Why now?”
“I’m not following.”
“What made now the perfect time to strike?” I spoke up. “And how did they know it was? I keep coming back to that, Liam. The night Snyder picked Sunny up at Laser. Coates wasn’t working for you then, so it’s not like he tipped him off. Ryker swears none of their people are dirty and the club owner is clean too. The night they make their first real move just happens to be the same night Sunny is ripe for drugging and kidnapping?