Page 25 of Moon's Promise

“I know what you think—the losses are coming in transit. But the drivers have cameras mounted in their vehicles, both in the cab and cargo area. We have all looked at the footage. Unless you or anyone else is seeing something I’m not, then the losses have to be coming from the factories. Have you?”

“No.” Moon shook his head. “It’s a gut feeling.”

Viper didn’t dismiss the way he felt. Frowning, he rubbed his jaw, as if thinking, before he dropped his hand. “All right, then if the inventory comes back with another loss, we’ll continue monitoring the factories using monthly inventories, and we’ll give each delivery truck an escort of two brothers.”

The brothers all groaned.

Viper ignored them and continued, “The Ohio brothers won’t be pitching in to help with the delivery trucks from Ohio to here. I want to keep them in the dark as long as I can, other than Wizard, Puck and Jesus. He wants to wait and see which factory is losing more inventory.

Rider’s boot dropped from the coffee table it had been propped on. “That’s pretty damn convenient for him. We’ll be the ones having to make the rides. You want two of us to ride all the way to and from Ohio with each delivery?”

“For a month,” Viper confirmed.

“Damn. Why two escorts? One should be enough,” Rider argued. “What’s being stolen aren’t high-ticketed items.”

Viper’s expression became grim. “Because the amount of losses we’re experiencing has been increasing. Whoever is stealing from us is getting more confident. I’m not going to make the same mistake I made with Reaper. Each one of you will have backup, and you won’t know which one of you will be riding until Shade gives you the go.”

Reaper’s coffee cup hit the table. “That’s not going to work. I’ve got a wife who’s expecting and a kid I can’t leave at a moment’s notice.”

None of the brothers were happy about it, yet Reaper being Viper’s brother was the only one brave enough to speak up.

Viper wasn’t having it and gave Reaper a stone-faced expression. “You are the last person to complain. Ginny has seven brothers to stand in for you when you can’t be there. The rest of us aren’t as lucky. Everyone is going to pull their weight as escorts.”

“Everyone?” Razer asked.

“Everyone,” Viper stated. “That includes Knox, Drake, King, and me. Train, you and Killyama can follow along as escorts together in a vehicle if you want to include her.”

Train shook his head. “Sorry, count Killyama out. With her expecting, we’ve both agreed she’s going to stay close to Treepoint for the time being.”

“No more riding to Jamestown anytime one of the bitches calls?” Cash joked.

Train wasn’t amused. “I’m not worried about the bitches, but she can’t help inserting herself in one of Hammer and Jonas’ cases. The only riding I want her to do is on the keyboard. Killy’s going to work with them remotely while she finishes her degree.”

Cash raised a skeptical brow. “How’d you get her to agree to that?”

Train’s face went impassive. “None of your fucking business, but she agreed, and she’ll keep her word.”

“Good luck with that.” Cash still seemed unconvinced. “Killyama isn’t going to be able to resist running to Hammer and Jonas anytime they call any more than Rachel does when her family calls.”

Train’s expression didn’t change. “We’ll see.”

Cash just shook his head at Train. “Yes, you will.”

Moon watched the byplay between the two men. “You two crack me the fuck up.” He looked back at Viper. “Can we get back to the meeting? I’d rather be counting seed packets than listening to this. Where are the brothers I rode with who knew how to lay down the law on their women? You all just hand over your balls with those wedding rings? God Almighty, you don’t want them to do something? Fucking tell them. They don’t do it, divorce their ass. Move on. Simple. Problem solved. Can we move on, or are you going to be paying me that overtime, Viper, for the fucking time I’ve wasted listening to their horseshit?”

Viper’s lips curled in amusement. “Brother, when you can practice what you preach, we’ll take your advice. Until then, I wouldn’t be spreading those pearls of wisdom.”

Moon shrugged, uncaring if they took his advice or not. He would never find himself in their situation. “I’m just saying it like I see it. You’ll never hear me saying ‘we agreed.’ My word will go. If not, then she can.” Moon rose from the couch. “We done here?”

“We’re done.” Viper gave him a tight-lipped smile before gesturing to Shade and Rider to stay. “Train, I left my laptop on Jewell’s desk at the factory; do you mind getting it for me?”

“No problem.” Train walked out of the den with him as they headed to the factory.

“I’d be careful if I were you,” Train said as they went out the front door of the club.

Moon gave Train a sideways glance. “About what? You don’t want to take my advice about Killyama, then don’t. I could give a rat’s ass—”

“I’m not talking about your advice where our wives are concerned. You can’t keep track of what woman you fucked last night, much less maintain a relationship long enough to get married.”

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