Page 25 of Viper

I hear my brothers laughing and do the same while also pulling out my phone and sending the name to Cryos to check out. Then I make a production of showing my phone to them so no one watching might get suspicious.

“I heard something about Misha, he was fucking us over and selling secrets to those Japanese fuckwits,” Dumbass Two stage whispers. “Apparently, Vlad killed him when he found out.”

“Misha was always an idiot and thought his shit didn’t stink. Remember how he used to go down to the warehouse a couple towns over and fuck the whores in cages? He’d fuck them one right after the other until he was done. Saw the fucker go through like ten of them in a couple of hours. I don’t know what shit he was on, but damn, I need some of that for when it’s my turn.” He laughs like he thinks it’s the funniest thing in the world, but I have to work to keep from stiffening or letting any of my rage show.

At least now we have confirmation that not all of their operations are in our city. Thank fuck, because if they are running their sex trade business here, I’m not going to stop until it’s been eradicated. But it also gives us the clue we’ve been needing. Not all their operations have been here in town, which means they either have new contacts to help set up the operation outside our reach and territory; or the information that Dagger gave them from Bull, included spots outside the territory and city. And that is probably how most of them have been slipping by us because they know we don’t go that far.

Shit. That’s going to be a Church conversation for sure.

The conversation between the two men turns to the women they screw around with, and I mostly tune it out because none of that shit matters. It’s another hour before they head out the door, and I lean in to Sniper and murmur, “We need to get Church called. This shit is important.”

Sniper gives a subtle nod, but none of us move or stop talking for another fifteen minutes. No need to let anyone know that we were listening or tailing them. No matter how much I want to.

Still, by the time we leave and head to the clubhouse, with Crypt heading to guard Rose and Archer, dread and anticipation fill me. We finally have a lead, and we need to get on it fast before it goes cold again.

TEN

VIPER

We’re finally picking up the pace and Vlad isn’t going to see us coming.

Church is tense and quiet as we wait for everyone to arrive. Thankfully we’re only missing two brothers, and they should be here any minute. I look around the table and see a lot of tired and sleepy faces, but most of them, their eyes are alert. Well, except for Milk and Twigs, who were both occupied with club girls, so they’re looking a mixture of smug and annoyed that they can’t keep going.

“So what’s this I hear about you stalking some woman?” King suddenly asks, drawing my attention. I scowl darkly and glare at Shadow.

Shadow holds up his hands. “Wasn’t me.”

“No, but you told your Old Lady, who told her sister, who then told the rest of the damn Coven,” I bite out. Shadow shrugs, uncaring, and clearly amused at my predicament. I look back at King who is grinning. “And no, I’m not stalking her, asshole. We had a one night stand. I looked for her, but never found her. Then when I went to court the other day, she was the court appointed person to stay with Archer while Maggie and I were with the judge. So I went and talked to her.”

“And then he followed her to the diner and had lunch,” Torque supplies with a snicker. I turn my glare on him. “I only know because Izzy went to grab lunch for us today and she and the waitress were talking. Guess it was the same one who served you, because she said you didn’t look at her and the woman you were with didn’t seem all that happy you were sitting with her.”

“Sounds like you’re losing your touch, brother,” Timber teases. “You need some refreshers?” Everyone else chuckles and snickers at that.

“Fuck off,” I tell him without much heat behind my words. “And she was exhausted from not sleeping for a couple of nights, nothing more. And she and I are no one’s business until we say it is. So keep your noses to yourself, and tell your women to do the same.”

There’s a mixture of scoffs and yeah rights at that. Even I know that’s not going to happen, but it was worth a shot. “What’s her name?” Bullet asks curiously.

“Eden,” I say after a second.

“What, no last name?” Cryos asks with a grin.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” I warn him, knowing full well the man is going to try and figure out who she is on his own. “She’s not part of the club, and I’m not having her pissed at me for finding out shit and then letting it slip later.”

Before Cryos can answer, Medic and Titan slip into the room, both looking like they’re still trying to get themselves awake, before collapsing into their respective seats. “Sorry, I’m late,” Medic apologizes, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Did a double at the hospital so I was out as soon as I got home. Kind of surprised I even heard my phone honestly.”

Bullet nods and accepts that. When he looks at Titan, Titan gives a sheepish grin. “I was otherwise occupied with a sweet little number I met at the bar,” he admits. “If you’d have called me a few minutes earlier, I probably wouldn’t have heard my phone.”

Bullet rolls his eyes but says, “Fine. Alright, let’s get this started so we can get out of here and everyone can get back to bed or whatever else you were planning on.” He bangs the gavel and looks at me. “Viper, you heard most of it, so you can give the report.”

I lean forward, bracing my forearms on the table. “Two of Vlad’s mid-level soldiers were drinking at a dive bar on the other side of the city, and weren’t watching how loud they were talking. Basically, they mentioned Vlad has a new Underboss named Sasha, though they didn’t mention a last name. They also don’t seem to have a lot of respect for him. What that means, I don’t know, but it does sound like some dissension in Vlad’s ranks, which might be good for us. They said most of the men preferred Dmitri to Vlad, and they aren’t all that keen on what he’s doing. He’s not coming after us hard like we thought he would, which means a lot of those guys are sitting around and not doing much.”

“Is there a reason for that though?” Stone wonders curiously. “I mean, Misha betrayed him, and it could be that until that betrayal is completely sussed out by Vlad and the men he trusts, he may not want to make any moves in case it gets back to us or the Yakuza.”

“Good point,” Bullet agrees.

“They also mentioned how they find it amusing to watch people ride around on their bikes and chase their asses, so I can only assume he means us,” I add drily. There are a few grumbles but they settle down quickly. “But the biggest thing is that the lower soldiers have gotten wind that Misha was dealing with the Yakuza. Or at least trying to merge the two organizations to work together. So it’s possible there is another leak in the organization higher up because I’m sure Vlad doesn’t want that information getting out to anyone that might use it against him.”

“Like us,” Milk smirks.

---