Only Roman, Micah, and Kai were aware of the list.
I might have trusted others to help as I built my empire, but my first instincts still stood. I didn’t fully trust anyone, save for those men.
I walked up to them and sat down.
Roman took one look at me and grinned. “Hey, prez. Where did you go in the middle of the day?”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes at the bastard. Once again, I was sure this was payback for all the shit I gave him with Ryleigh.
“Watch it, boy. Before I send you home with your face fucked up.”
I must be losing my touch because he didn’t seem scared of me.
Fucking bastard.
“Am I missing something?” Axel asked. “Are you talking about the girl who helped Braxton?”
I didn’t answer him.
I was feeling fucking possessive when it came to her. I didn’t even want to utter her name in front of any other bastards. It was surprising that I’d let the fucker from the bar live after touching what was mine.
My fists clenched at the thought, and Axel must have read the dark look on my face because he smartly let it go.
I flagged down the waitress for a beer and was about to ask Roman about the shipment date we had planned for a month from now, when my phone rang. Micah’s name flashed on the screen, and Roman sat up, taking notice.
“Yeah?” I answered.
There was a beat of silence. Then Micah’s voice came through, as cold and emotionless as it ever was.
“I have a present for you.”
* * *
I droveto one of the warehouses I had purchased to store the drugs before we got them ready for shipment. Roman followed close behind.
Axel had stayed behind to take stock of the new inventory that came in this morning, which was good because I had a feeling whatever “present” Micah might have for me wouldn’t be for anyone but those in my inner circle.
I caught sight of Micah outside the warehouse right away, his huge frame standing out like a sore thumb. Next to him were two people.
One was my son, using Micah’s bike seat as a table for his laptop, which had the other man scowling at him, and the other was a man I didn’t recognize.
The man was on the ground, tied up and with a gag in his mouth.
My present, I assumed.
I parked my bike and shut off the engine before I slowly walked over to them, examining the man’s face. I had never seen the fucker before in my life.
I had a good memory, especially when it came to remembering the faces of men who might be a threat to the club.
I kicked the man. He let out a whimper, and I had to hold back a small groan.
Fucking pathetic.
Did he really think to gain my sympathy by making those kinds of noises? I’d barely touched him. And the fun hadn’t even begun yet.
“Where did you find this piece of shit?” I asked Micah.
Kai looked up from his laptop at me, and, like every time I looked at one of my kids, I felt my heart softening a bit.
