Hulk shrugs, and I tilt my head to look at him. “I wouldn’t put it past him. Maybe he saw it as a way to convince them to get us out of the way. Give the Misfits more, get rid of the other clubs, including us, and they’ve got their distribution lines set up exactly the way they want them.”
“Does Arson want to move the club?” Bullet asks Angel. “Or is it that he wants a second chapter he can control and profit from?”
Angel sighs. “Honestly, I don’t know. Before, I’d have said a second chapter, but Arson’s getting more and more paranoid, so I can’t see him leaving something this big up to anyone else. Especially not after everything that’s happened here.”
“Probably from all this shit he’s been snorting,” Cryos remarks drily. Angel and the others start a little, and I get the feeling that that statement isn’t one they expected.
“Nah, Arson’s a lot of things, but he’s never touched that shit other then some weed and maybe a few pills now and then during a party,” Dozer argues. “Drew a hard line on all of us that we didn’t touch any of that shit because that’s how product goes missing and we end up dead from the suppliers we run for.”
“Well, he’s changed his tune because I was able to find the evidence that says otherwise,” Cryos states derisively. Like he’s not sure why someone would dare to question him on that. I glance at Hulk, who just rolls his eyes slightly. Clearly, Cryos has an ego. Great.
“There’s no point in arguing over shit like that,” Angel snaps. “If you found that out, then it makes sense why they’re all actingthe way they have been. It also explains why he’s eager to get his hands on this route.”
“We just let your entire club know of all the secret locations that Dagger sold out, but with Thea’s help we gave you all the locations where Vlad was actually storing all the shit he’s peddling,” Sniper hisses, thrusting a hand through his hair.
“Is that why they were insistent that Silver look at the journal?” Thea asks. I don’t know what the hell this journal is, but clearly, it’s important. I make a mental note to ask Hulk about it later. Along with all the other questions running around in my head.
Drugs? Guns? Routes? Holy shit, this is messed up.
“He probably was trying to figure out the locations on his own to give to Arson,” Sniper agrees. He looks over at Bullet. “Wanna bet that he’s going to stupidly try to screw over Vlad?”
“You think that he is working with Vlad with the hope that we take him out, leaving his territory open for the taking. Including all the products that Vlad is moving around,” Bullet says slowly, and I can practically hear the puzzle pieces in everyone’s minds falling into place.
“He can’t be that fucking stupid,” Sting sputters out. “I know Arson is an idiot on a good day, but that is suicide. For him, his family, and the rest of us. Vlad isn’t going to care that some of us aren’t involved in this. We’re all painted under the same brush in this situation. What about our Old Ladies? Our fucking families? His own fucking Old Lady and family?”
“Drugs don’t make smart men,” Angel reminds him grimly. On that, he and I can agree. I’ve seen far too many drug addicts in the ER suffering from different stages of their addictions. I’ve also seen the violence that drugs involve in their families and their friends. People dying because they try to help or get in between them and what they crave the most.
“Do you know where they’re going to be going?” Hulk asks. “We know what they’re doing. What they’re planning, but we don’t know where they might be heading. They’re going to do their best to lose Frost, Bowie, and Viper.”
“Cryos, do you have cameras and audio in the cells?” Bullet demands.
“Yes,” Cryos answers. “I’ll go and pull it up.” He rushes out of the room, a grim look on his face.
“What else did you hear while you were in there?” Bullet asks. He’s calmed down some, but I can still sense the danger lurking under the surface. “Now's your chance to come clean about anything that Cryos is going to pick up on the audio.”
“They were fighting amongst each other to get the hell out of there before shit hit the fan,” Angel replies. “I don’t remember the words exactly, but I wanted answers and demanded them. Arson didn’t take too kindly to it and punched me in the face. Told me never to question him and called me a disgrace for going against him in front of you when everything went down up here. Made them look weak by telling them all to lower their weapons. I fell, and my ears were ringing, so I didn’t hear much more before they started beating on us.”
“They never mentioned Vlad specifically, but they said that if they didn’t get to their contact before shit went down here, then there was no way they could make their play,” Sting suddenly blurts out, straightening. “And if you think he’s going to try and double-cross Vlad, then this must be what he’s planning.”
“Would he do that before you guys aren’t out of the way and risk pissing off Vlad and having him going after them?” I ask. Everyone looks at me, and I wince. “Sorry, I know I’m not part of this; it just came out.”
I’ve probably overstepped by saying anything. This whole MC thing is difficult to keep up with. I hope Hulk isn’t upset withme for saying anything. The last thing I want is for him to be in trouble for something I ran my mouth about.
“No, that’s a smart thought, angel,” Hulk assures me, tightening his arm around me, making me relax. I glance at everyone else, and no one looks upset either. “Arson might be stupid, but there’s no way that he’ll risk Vlad coming after him. So whatever play he’s talking about won’t be to double-cross him. They’re probably going to meet up with Vlad or Nikolai and tell them that we’re on to them and give them all the details so that they can attack us sooner.”
“Which means we don’t have a lot of time before they come our way,” Sniper finishes, mouth set into a grim line. “We need to hear back from Frost, Bowie, and Viper before we make any moves, but we need to get ready. We have no idea what’s coming our way yet.”
That is exactly what I’m afraid of. I need to get the kids out of here. Now.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
HULK
This time, it’s my turn to save her. Them. All of them.
“I don’t wantIsla and Sawyer around for any of this,” Avery announces. “I don’t care what we need to do to make sure we get them out, but before bullets start flying, they’re gone.” There’s a look of utter determination on her face. Like she’s ready to go to battle if we dare argue with her.
“I’m already on it,” Bullet assures her. “Crypt and Theo will take them to friends of ours who will guard them until we get everything sorted.” He looks at me. “Talon Cross offered his place, and the Lincolns have offered to have some private security as well to make sure they’re all watched over.” He looks at Avery, whose eyes are now narrowed. “Talon Cross is a former Navy SEAL, so the kids will be safe there. I’m sending Thea as well to keep an eye on things with Crypt and Theo. The three of them are highly trained, so no one is going to get close to them.”
