Page 62 of Viper

Sasha shakes his head. “But these bastards are smart, and they would know we would be watching.”

“And you had someone follow the court-woman and her friend?”

“Yes. They went back to the friend’s house, but they didn’t leave, and are not on any cameras.” A fact that he doesn’t sound pleased about.

“Mhmmm. And the MC women?”

“The Lincoln women went back to their own vehicles and went home, while the MC women all went with the MC men, Viper and Shadow, and one Prospect, back to the clubhouse.”

“So they didn’t go around the clubhouse, and we’re sure they never left the apartment?”

“Yes, sir.”

I glance at the pictures again. The camera zooms in on the dark haired one, the way she’s smiling at her friend and looking perfectly happy and at ease. Her friend is giving her a sly grin, and I wonder what they’re discussing. Then I flip to another where it shows Viper and Shadow walking into the restaurant, looking foreboding and irritated. Finally I look as the large group leaves, and I inspect as both men look in either direction. One might think nothing of it, but Viper looks in the direction of the woman, while Shadow looks in the opposite way, crowded closely behind his woman. It’s interesting, and I’m starting to get that feeling at the back of my neck. The one that tells me Sasha might just be on to something.

These bastards are clever, though not enough to figure out my operation or how we’re moving things in and out of this city.

I tap the image of Viper and say, “He was the one at the courthouse that the judge was speaking about, correct?” Sasha nods. “And has he been seen with the dark haired woman?”

“We’re still looking into it,” he replies. “But I have a feeling, boss, that they are connected. I will prove it.”

“Mhmm. Well, we don’t have time to waste, so we need to figure it out quickly. Put some pressure on our judge friend and get things rolling on getting this club taken down. And I want eyes on Viper and the woman, see if they connect. Have our men check his phone. If you’re correct, they won’t be careful about hiding it.”

Sasha nods, and then heads out of my office to do as I’ve ordered.

I pull out my burner phone as soon as he’s out of the room and make a call. When he answers, I bark, “I’m growing tired of waiting for you to get the information I want.”

“Then you’ll be pleased to know that I’ve been able to finally get an answer on the Yakuza,” the voice replies, completely unfazed by my tone. “They have decided this is not a battle they wish to involve themselves in. They are backing off America and focusing on operations in Asia.”

“Good.” One less thing to concern myself with. I hang up and put the phone back down on the desk.

I turn and look out the window, contemplating my next move. I’ve been lying low for a bit, to see what would happen after the bullshit with Misha and his so-called alliances, but no more. Without the threat of the Yakuza, I am in the clear to figure out how to take out the Devil’s Soldiers once and for all.

First, I’m going to take them down in a way that can’t be tied back to me. Sometimes, the law, though it should be black and white, is firmly in the darkness with the rest of us, and we just pull some strings to master our puppets. This will be no different.

Sometimes wars are loud and messy, and other times, they are silent but just as deadly.

TWENTY-THREE

EDEN

This is me crossing a line I can’t walk back over.

When I wake up, I find a package outside my apartment door from Viper, and quickly open it to find a burner phone inside. I stare at it, unsure of what I’m going to do, but then I look at the letter.

Eden,

This isn’t to put pressure on you, I promise. But I want you to know that you are safe, and that this phone is encrypted and monitored by Cryos who is a genius at this sort of thing. The only numbers in it are mine, Bullet’s, and Cryos. You will always be able to reach one of us, especially if you feel in danger. If you decide that you don’t want to help us, just text us and let us know and then keep it only if you have an emergency. No expectation past that. I promise, baby girl, whatever you decide will be fine with me and the club.

Your Man.

Of course he ends it with your man, and it makes me smile, but also makes a bit of worry settle in my stomach. I want to say that I got lots of sleep last night, but for most of it, I was awake and trying to sort out my thoughts and anxiety. It’s not just my new relationship with Viper, but also Archer. I have to always keep him in mind. I’m not used to worrying about anyone other than myself for the most part, and adding a child—even if he is almost a teenager—to that thought process is going to be a huge change.

Am I up for it? Yes. I figured that out last night in my tossing and turning. I’m a grown ass woman, and Archer is a good kid. No matter how things turn out with his father and I, he and I will always be connected.

But the huge part of what kept me up was replaying the conversation with Viper and what this club has requested of me. The one that puts my entire life in question, and possibly with me landing behind bars. And I do not look good in orange. I’d never be able to be someone’s bitch. I’m too unpredictable for that, and not to mention, I don’t take orders from many people very well.

It also worries me how Viper is going to respond if I do say no. Because I will never make a decision to please a man. But, after seeing him with everyone at the clubhouse last night, and talking to the women, I can see how close they are, and how they are their own little family. Someone is targeting them, and another betrayed them. I can’t imagine how that must be eating at them all.

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