by Jayne Blue
“Am I allowed to go out?”
Curtis took a step back and leaned against the opposite wall. “He didn’t say you couldn’t. But, Ava, I don’t know how bad it’s going to get. It would put Dex’s mind at ease—hell, it would put the whole club’s mind at ease—if you stayed put until everything is over.”
My heart went beyond fluttering and now jackhammered behind my breast. This wasn’t just bad, it was Armageddon. It meant people were going to get hurt. Badly.
I had a mix of emotions. I wanted to go to Dex, beg him to stay out of whatever was coming but I knew that would be futile. I wanted to rail at Curtis and tell him to get the hell out of my sight because this had nothing to do with me and I resented being dragged into it again. But mostly, I felt stone-cold fear. No matter the outcome, I knew my life, and probably Green Bluff, would never be the same again when this was over. And I was a liar and a hypocrite. Just telling Dex to go away was never going to make him leave my heart.
Chapter Twenty
Dex
There would be retribution against Pagano and his people, but not without the full vote of the membership. We would not let what happened with Tiny slide. He was alive. Gravely damaged, but alive. But the shots in front of the Den hadn’t just been a warning, the order had to be shoot to kill.
Sly had hoped to end our association with Pagano’s crew without bloodshed but that option was off the table. None of us relished the thought of open warfare with one of the most dangerous, well-connected mobsters in the country, but he was the one that struck first. There could be no doubt now that the attack on Franco had also come from Pagano. There were only so many times I could say I told you so. Everyone at this table had to understand what was at stake.
They’d grown complacent over the years. Sure, some of the members had to rough up Pagano’s enemies from time to time but none of them really got their hands dirty. The younger members didn’t know what it was like during Blackie’s time when casualties and prison sentences were the cost of doing business inside the club.
“Londo said he’ll meet with us,” Billy said. He too had dodged another kind of bullet. Sly had decided to postpone the vote on me taking over as V.P. until we dealt with the threat to the club. I was fine with it. Until we’d crushed Pagano’s hold over the club, nothing else mattered. “We meet at Westwood warehouse tomorrow at three.”
Sly nodded. “Pagano himself is going to be there?”
Billy nodded back. “That’s the deal. If he’s not there, we bolt.”
“Is he denying the hit outside the club was them?” I asked. Billy shrugged.
“Not an open admission, no. This was meant to get our attention and it did.”
“Does everyone here understand what this vote means?” I said. It was bold of me to say it, maybe it was Sly’s place. But I looked around the table. Charlie. Billy. Sly. Colt. Sawyer. Me. We were the ones who understood what a war vote really meant. Tiny did too. The rest of them, the newest members—Big John, Ford, Marcus, Avery and Jake—they were too young. The prospects like Curtis and Gunner were too.
“Good.” Sly rapped his knuckles on the table. “Everyone clear on what their role is tomorrow?” He got nods and “hell yeses” all around. I said a silent prayer for all of them. It was one thing when I was fighting to survive in Marion Penitentiary. Then I could convince myself my body was the only one at risk.
“Families are safe here,” Charlie said. We had a couple of members—Big John and Marcus—with wives and children. We’d cleared out the living quarters and closed the bar, bringing everyone under the Great Wolves roof. It tore at me not to have Ava here as well. I had half a mind to just tie her up and bring her here for her own good. I’d checked in with Curtis this morning though. She was spitting mad but staying put. He knew not to leave her side until he heard from me. It was the best I could do and the only thing that was fair to her. It killed me to be away from her but she’d made herself clear. Thirteen years ago, I pushed her away to protect her. Now she pushed me away for the same reason. How could I live with myself if I didn’t respect her decision? For now, though, I had to shove the emptiness in my gut aside. I had to make it through the next few days.
Though it wrenched my heart, it let me focus on the only other thing that had kept me sane all those years behind bars. It was time to end George Pagano’s hold over this club once and for all. No matter the consequences to me. The man had to go. Hesitating had nearly cost us Tiny and that was on me. Sly and me.
***
Less than twenty-four hours later, Sly and I stood together outside the club. We’d stolen a rare few minutes alone before the rest of the crew came outside. Sly put on his helmet and snapped it.
“I feel like I’m going to keep saying I’m sorry for the rest of my life.”
“For what.” I shrugged. A breeze picked up, kicking a swirl of dust a few feet ahead of us.
“I thought I could manage Pagano. Do just enough to keep him at bay. I didn’t fully appreciate how hard he’d push to use us for his money laundering. No matter what, Dex. I won’t do it. You know that.”
“I’ve said this before. You’ve had an impossible job keeping all of this together for so long and you did it alone. My father would’ve been proud of you. Hell, I’m proud of you.”
I put a hand on Sly’s shoulder. He squeezed his eyes shut then turned to look at me. “God, I’m glad you’re back, Dex. I don’t want to do this alone ever again.”
I smiled. I wanted to tell him he wouldn’t have to. But in that moment I knew it was but one more promise I couldn’t keep.
“Are you going to go after her?”
My gut clenched at the mention of Ava. I hadn’t told Sly about our last night together after the shooting. He knew both of us well enough to guess what went down.
“How many times do you think I should be allowed to fuck up her life?”
Sly laughed. “Is that your decision or hers?”
I shook my head. “This time it was hers. She’s had enough bullets flying by her head to last a lifetime. I can’t blame her.”
“Maybe. But maybe you’re entitled to just that amount of luck in your life. Enough to make it okay to try and get her back.”
I couldn’t answer him. I couldn’t answer it for myself. I needed to keep my head in one place.
“Dex.” He leaned forward. “Dex! Whatever happens today. When it’s done. You do what you have to do. I’m going to understand, okay? Like I said, you’ve earned your little piece of happiness. So has Ava. You don’t owe me or the club anything. No matter what, you’re still my brother.”
I squinted into the bright sun and tore a hand through my hair before I put my helmet on. There was movement back by the door and the rest of the crew started to file out of the Den.
“If we’re gonna burn,” I said, “let’s burn together, brother.”
Sly’s mouth cracked into that lopsided grin that had earned him his nickname. He mounted his bike and circled two fingers in the air to signal the others it was time to roll.
Eight of us rode out. First day of fall. I suppose that was fitting somehow. But the sun blazed hot and high in the sky. Billy looked about ready to murder Sly when he got the news he’d be staying outside during the meeting but it was necessary. Things could go bad. Very bad. And Billy was still V.P. for the time being. If something happened, he had to be ready to do what was necessary to run the club and protect the members.
Sly and I took point with Billy right behind. Sawyer and Colt followed in the van. If anyone got hurt, we needed a way to get them the hell out of there and fast. The Westwood warehouse was about three miles outside of town. It wasn’t one of our properties and that had me twitchy. Sly said it was one of about seven places Pagano’s people used for their gun drops. I didn’t like that a bit.
The terms were clear. Londo, Pagano, Sly and I would meet alone. Our crews would stay outside. When we rolled up to the warehouse, Pagano had three limos
parked at odd angles in front of the loading entrance. When we parked, the first limo door opened.
“That’s Londo,” Sly whispered to me. Ed Londo was tall and broad. He looked straight out of a mob movie with thick, black hair and a permanent scowl cut across his tanned features. He wore a shiny gray suit and a yellow tie. Sly peeled off his helmet and stood in front of his bike. I joined him so we stood shoulder to shoulder. If we were going to burn, we’d burn together.
Then a few more of Pagano’s men exited their vehicles as our crew filed in behind and around Sly and me. I could see Colt’s hand playing at his holstered gun. Easy, I thought. Let’s not escalate this before we have to. Billy stayed stock still, sitting on his bike.
Two of Pagano’s men stepped forward to pat Sly and me down. I raised my hands and nodded to Sawyer when he started to make a protective move toward us. Pagano’s man eyed me with a hard stare as he ran his hands over my outstretched hands. I stared back and thrust my chest out. I sneered at him when he bent down to pat down my pants.
“Careful,” I said. “You might get me excited.”
His counterpart laughed while he finished patting down Sly. “Better be careful there, Dan, all those years in prison, McLain’s probably playing for the other team now. You’re probably his type.”
“Dan” turned red-faced and I blew him a fake kiss when he looked up at me. He patted the inside of my thigh, stiffened and stood quickly, murmuring a few “fuck yous” and “cocksuckers” to his companion. That’s it. Squirm, asshole.
“We done playing?” Sly said.
Londo threw a menacing look at Dan and the other man and the two of them backed off, clearing a path for Sly and me to walk toward the warehouse. Sly took one last look at Billy, making a downward motion with his hand. Keep everyone cool.
At that point, George Pagano stepped into view. He got out of the very last vehicle surrounded by two more thugs who looked like they could be Londo’s clones. Bile rose in my throat and I worked on keeping my expression blank.
I hadn’t laid eyes on him in almost fourteen years when he taunted me outside the courthouse during my trial. What should have been his trial. He looked like the old man he was starting to become. Completely bald now, his tanned head was now peppered with liver spots. His face was rounder, beefier, his dark eyes seemed stuffed into it as if his head was made of dough. The buttons of his black suit strained at the middle. He seemed wider, but smaller somehow. I’d never stood this close to him and I had probably eight inches on him.
Finished with Londo, Sawyer made a move toward Pagano to pat him down. The two men beside him stiffened until Pagano smiled and put up a hand. He wore a large red signet ring on his left ring finger and it flashed in the sunlight.
“We’ve given our word, haven’t we?” Pagano said. “I have no problem with showing our guests we’ve invited them here in good faith.” He showed mercy on his suit coat button and unfastened it before he raised his arms. Sawyer did a thorough job of making sure the man was clean and gave me a nod when he was through.
“Gentlemen?” Pagano said. Londo followed him. Sly and I passed a look between us then he looked back to Sawyer and the others. Stay close, listen, be ready for shit to break loose.
Then Sly and I walked into the warehouse behind Londo and Pagano. The place was cleared out of everything but a long table and a few folding chairs. Sly and I stood angled almost at each other’s backs as we scanned the walls, the windows and the catwalk above us.
“I’m sorry we don’t have luxury accommodations for you,” Pagano said. I wanted to punch the fucking smirk right off his face.
“We’re not here for a lunch date,” Sly said. I bit the inside of my mouth to keep from talking. I had to let Sly run this meeting. It was my job to watch and listen ... for now.
But George Pagano had other ideas.
“It’s good to see you, Declan,” he said. “You don’t look too worse for wear after your time away.”
I threaded my thumbs through my belt loops and kept my back straight. I wouldn’t even give him the satisfaction of a change in my facial expression. He finally smiled and turned back to Sly.
“I have to say I was very glad to hear you’ve come to your senses.”
Sly shook his head. “Oh yeah? How’s that?”
“Well.” Pagano walked over to the table and sat at the edge of it. I expected the thin legs of the thing to buckle under him, but no such luck. “Meeting face to face was really the only way to make sure we completely understand each other. I’ve got some large shipments coming through in a couple of weeks and it’s good business for us to make sure we’re on the same page with the money transfers.”
“We’re not here to talk terms, George,” Sly said. “Though you’re right. We need to completely understand each other. We’re out. You got that? You overplayed your hand both at the gym and the club. You can do your own dirty work from now on. GWMC is done with you.”
Pagano raised a brow and looked to Londo. Londo’s face seemed to lose a little color.
“I’m sorry,” Pagano said. “Are you under the impression this is some kind of negotiation? We’re beyond that. I’ve indulged your lack of vision and courage long enough. Your little side businesses wouldn’t exist without me, now it’s time for you to repay me in a manner commensurate with my contributions.”
“Fuck you,” Sly said. “My club is no longer under any contract or understanding with you. I’m here to tell you if you make a move on any of my men or businesses again, there’s going to be a body count and you’re going to lose. You’re operating under an old business model, my friend. This isn’t the eighties. You got lucky the last time the feds came after you on RICO charges. You fixed it so Dex would take the heat. That trick won’t work again and don’t think for a second they’re not watching you a hell of a lot more closely.”
Pagano stayed expressionless but reached into his pockets. My hands twitched near my belt buckle but I managed to keep still otherwise. He pulled out a flash drive and set it on the table next to him. He looked at me.
“Your daughter, Tora, is remarkable,” he said. Every muscle in my body tightened and my blood began to simmer. I could feel Sly next to me, trying to will me calm with eyes that bore into me.
Tora. We’d known Pagano would do this. It was Tora who finally found the evidence to exonerate me. I knew the price she paid to get it and so did Pagano.
“Save it,” Sly said. “Tora’s not up for discussion.”
“Oh? She came to me, did you know that? Such a beautiful young woman she’s grown into. Stubborn, like you, Declan. She wasn’t afraid to go to extreme lengths to get what she wanted. Shocking, really.”
“Fuck you,” I said in a tone unrecognizable even to my own ears. Blood rage began to cloud my vision. Sly and Londo shifted; only Pagano stayed stock still, smirking at me from his perch on the table. He fingered the flash drive.
“You keep your hands off the club, or I do what I could have done,” I said. “You forget, I know where all of your bodies are buried, George. I survived Marion. You wouldn’t.”
He picked up the flash drive. “I figured you’d come here with weak threats. And I hadn’t wanted to stoop to that level.”
“No, but you’re willing to nearly kill innocent men.”
“You’re not innocent. Did you think I wouldn’t have a backup plan? I made sure the government had enough evidence to put you away for life. How hard did you think it would be for me to do it again? Do you know how embarrassing your exoneration was for them? They’re itching to throw you right back there. You’re an easy mark. I’m not.”
He tossed the flash drive to me and I caught it one-handed. “Receipts, phone records, a money trail. There’s enough evidence on there to put you away again along with most of your club. And this time it’s unimpeachable.”
Sly stepped between us. “You’re going to play this card again? You tried it once. It didn’t work. Whatever you hav
e on that drive is doctored.”
Pagano shrugged. “That’s your story. But you’re still just a bunch of biker thugs. You know firsthand how many times the FBI has tried to bring me down. And how many times they’ve failed. You still don’t get it. Blackie Murphy did. Hell, Dex, even your father did. There is no Great Wolves M.C. without me. You exist because of me and you’ll cease to exist whenever and however I like. I own you. I own the federal prosecutors. I even own half the judges.”
“Then what the hell do you need us for?” I said. “Don’t oversell it, George. If you have all of that, you don’t need this club to launder your shit.”
“We all have our parts to play and this is yours. You’ll do what I say or you’ll end up back in that hell hole forever. Your little girl won’t be able to bat her eyelashes and spread her legs to get you out this time. She’ll just do it because I want her to.”
When I moved, Sly didn’t try to stop me. I fisted Pagano’s tie and jerked him forward so I had him nose to nose. I kept my back to Londo. Sly was back there, covering me in any case, I knew.
“You’re not going to touch my daughter. You’re not going to speak her name or ever think about her again.” Tora was safe. I couldn’t let this asshole make me forget that. She was safe. I’d made sure of it.
Pagano laughed in my face even though I half choked him. “You just had to stay in your cage. If you’d done that, none of the rest of this would have happened.”
I jerked him tighter. His lips turned purple. “You’re not going to cross me, Declan. And you’re not going to kill me either. It won’t save your daughter or that little blonde nurse they said was standing next to you when your fat friend got torn open the other day. You kill me and the rest of my crew makes sure you pay for it. They’re going to let you rot in prison and start with Tora and Ava first. You don’t think I don’t have eyes on them right this second? I know every move she’s made since you left Chicago. With you back behind bars, you’ll be alive to know about what I do to her. To both of them. You want that? If I die, my family takes my place. Like cutting off the head of a hydra.”
