Page 87 of Filthy Hot

He wants a piece of the pie, and he thought this was the way to do it. But not just a piece of the pie. He wanted to create some new desserts, too, like trafficking, protection money, and whatever the fuck else he thinks he can weasel his way into.

Nash lets out a laugh, then leans back in his chair. I shift my attention toward the door and check in with Kyle. She’s thankfully in the same place, but unthankfully, Vixen is still sitting beside her, talking to her.

Fuck.

“Easy,” Atomic says, speaking for the first time in a while. “I’ll just change the drop-off location.”

My eyes widen, but I don’t say anything. Inwardly, I wonder just where I’m supposed to have this shit redirected to. But I guess that’s a problem for another day. One thing, one issue at a time.

I know that’s what Atomic is thinking, and we need to get the Southern Mafia, and all of their men, out of Texas, and without a fucking excuse to come near us.

Because next time, I have a feeling a meeting like this will not be happening. There will be no more sit-downs. It will be a bloodbath of epic proportions. One that makes what we’ve already accomplished look like child’s play.

And I promise that it will, even if I’m the only one involved, but I won’t be because the men sitting at this table would do anything for one of their own.

“So, that part is settled,” Nash states. “You stay in Louisiana. We stay in Texas as far as that shit goes. Now, we need to talk about your grandson and how he lied and spied on us, feeding information to not only Talon, but also you.”

That last part is a complete guess. But judging by the way Albert clears his throat, and his right-hand man looks down at the table, it’s the fucking truth of it. I’m filled with rage almost instantly, and it takes everything in me not to act on it, because this isn’t the moment to lose my shit. This is the moment for control. As much as I want to lose said shit and blow all these fuckers straight to the sky.

“Albie and Talon came up with the plan. I told them it was dangerous, that it wasn’t smart, but I was no longer their boss. Talon, as the leader, made the final judgment call.”

Laying the blame on the dead one. It seems like something a coward would do, and since the entire organization is nothing but cowards, it definitely fits the damn bill.

“You sign the treaty, and if we ever see a member of the Southern Mafia anywhere near us, anywhere in Texas, without prior notification, it’s shoot on sight. I don’t give a fuck who it is,” Atomic growls. “Consider this your one chance to make it fucking right what they did.”

Albert dips his chin in a single nod. Nash shoves a piece of paper across the table, and I watch as Albert signs it, then his right-hand man signs as well. Atomic and Nash do the same when they’re finished.

“There’s a refrigerated truck out back. It’s got Talon’s body inside, along with Loner. He’s probably cold since he’s been back there since yesterday,” Atomic states. “The whores are outside standing next to the truck as well. Get every person who belongs to you off my property and out of my goddamn state.”

Albert doesn’t say a single word. He stands so quickly that the chair crashes to the floor behind him, and he runs out of the room. Tony does the same, following behind him.

I watch, a smile playing on my lips until my gaze shifts to meet Kyle’s. She’s still sitting beside Vixen, but her gaze isfixated on me, and there is nothing except pure, raw hurt in her eyes.

Fuck me. Vixen explained shit to her.

Shit that I didn’t want her to know because it didn’t matter. I wasn’t planning on fucking anyone else but her, so she didn’t need to know about the whores like that. Kyle didn’t need to know the dirty details.

If I could keep it all from her, I would have. But I knew that she would find out eventually, so I had planned on giving her just enough information. But not too much, not enough that she would leave me.

The expression on her face right now says that she’s ready to walk out of the door right behind Albert, maybe even spring like he did. Nash and the others follow behind Albert’s trail, but I don’t move.

Kyle slips off the barstool and makes her way toward me. I watch as she closes the door to the conference room. She’s not supposed to be in here. I’m not sure that a woman has ever crossed that threshold in the history of the Dark Horse MC.

But I don’t dare tell her that because right now, she looks ready to spit nails. She may be pissed off, but she does not have control of this. This is my house, my club, and my past.

“Come over here to me,” I murmur.

She narrows her eyes on me but does what I’ve asked. I watch as she walks around the large table, and when she’s close enough to touch, I wrap my fingers around her hips and position her between me and the table.

Picking her up, I place her ass on the edge of the table. “What did Vixen say to you that’s made you look at me that way?”

“You treat those women like prostitutes?”

“Yes,” I say.

Her tongue peeks out and slides across her bottom lip, her eyes focused directly on mine. She doesn’t say anything else.More, she’s watching me. I don’t know if she’s trying to get me to scramble and say something that will justify who Vixen and the others are.

“They’re given a place to live, food, and a stipend. They can leave any time they wish, but as long as they stay, there is an understanding of what they’ll do for those things.”

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