Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
It’s my turn to laugh. “Have you heard of Wall Street? Washington? The dudes who come off as straight-laced are usually the most crooked bastards around.”
I have a gut feeling that Morgan is mixed up with LTC, but I know I’m not going to convince them right now.
“Fair point,” Wild Man agrees. “But so far, there’s no link.”
I shake my head. “Maybe we’re not looking in the right place?” I ask. “We didn’t know Los Tres Colombianos was a factor until this morning.”
“You could be right. I’ll double-check anything owned by the LTC outright or known associates. See if anything overlaps,” Wild Man promises.
“Thanks,” I say and wonder a little longer about the cartel connection, but there’s something else on my mind, a little more mercenary than finding out what happened to Devon and Jordi. “So are we planning to fill the hole left by the soon-to-be defunct Iron Kings with Morgan International?”
“Don’t know,” Wild Man says absently. “That’s for Ace to consider, and then we’ll vote on whether it’s a good idea or not. Right now, Dix and I are just gathering intel, so we have all the information first.”
I understand that part, and it’s one of the things I appreciate about the MC over my old gang. Ace is President, but we vote on everything, and even if brothers are outvoted, at least they are heard. At least they aren’t running headlong into trouble they’re not expecting. Still, a part of me is left unsatisfied.
“We’re missing something,” I say to Wild Man. “I can feel it. None of this makes sense.”
Dix nods and gives my shoulder a sympathetic squeeze. “You were close with Jordi and Devon. This has to hit you hardest of all.”
I nod, but it doesn’t help. “Yeah, it fucking sucks, and knowing the LTC’s are responsible, it fucking sickens me. But it’s not just that. Jordi and Devon were team players. They were middle guys with no real desire to move up the ranks, Jordi because he didn’t want Havana left behind and Devon because he just didn’t want it. They were down for the MC life, and nothing but threats to their families would make them turn on us if that’s what they did.”
“That’s why I said it might be a combination of both,” Wild Man reminds me.
I think about that and admit, “I’m starting to agree.” Then I lean in and explain my concerns. “We think one or both of them are working with the Kings behind our backs, and then they turn up dead after Hector could have ordered it, murdered by a cartel?”
Dix nods. “So you’re wondering if it was Hector with the cartel tie or Morgan?”
“Exactly.” I nod as the gears start churning in my head, turning over everything we know about the Iron Kings and Geoffrey Morgan. “What if Morgan is the link, or maybe his company? Helping LTC get their drugs to North America and then beyond.” I scratch my head, knowing it’s far-fetched as fuck. “I’m just thinking out loud.”
“Keep it up,” Wild Man encourages. “We need to know what the fuck is going on before someone tries to kill us again. Nogales is too weakened right now to try anything, but the murders of Jordi and Devon change the game.”
“Not to mention the kuttes at the crime scene. They had our patches, but they didn’t have a prospect rocker. They didn’t belong to Jordi and Devon. It was staged.”
Dix and Wild Man are staring at me like I’m on the verge of losing my shit, which I might be, considering how I’m feeling right now. I stare back. “What?”
“Nothing,” Dix says. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”
I shrug. “Didn’t want to bring it up in front of the Fed. She already thinks she knows so much, and I didn’t like it. That bitch is smug and thinks she knows all there is to know about us and the MC.”
“Good thinking,” Dix says and stands. “I need to let Ace know.”
“And get back to Aria,” Wild Man says. “Play nice and see if she mentions anything about rough around the edges. Hispanic men hanging around lately.”
Dix laughs, tossing a wave over his shoulder as he leaves Wild Man’s fancy new office. “You’ve given us a lot to think about, Joaquin. Go do something or someone to clear your mind a little.”
I nod and make my way back to the bar, saying fuck it to the time on the clock. It’s time to drink away my sorrows, or at least to drink a few for my brothers, who will never toss back a drink again.
Chapter Seventeen
Willow
The energy at the Reckless Souls clubhouse shifted sometime last night, and I can’t say why. None of the guys were talking, and that’s fine.
It’s their MC and their business, but whatever is going on with them, the tension and the shift during lockdown have opened my eyes. I can’t just sit around and wait. I have to act, to move, to find out what in the hell is up with Sandee. I’m going to find out where she is and make sure she’s all right.