Page 58 of Filthy Liar

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

CLINK

Atomic,King, and I moan identical groans as we sink down into our chairs that are placed around the conference table. Although I’m not sure Atomic is feeling anything at all right now other than hot rage.

I’m not sure why, though. Lifting my chin, I cross my hands over my stomach and close my eyes for just a moment to breathe. Resting my head back, I wait for the room to fill. When it does, Atomic announces it’s time to start.

I open my eyes and watch him for a moment as I wait for whatever it is he’s got up his ass. Clearly, there is something up his ass because he looks like he wants to rip someone’s head off.

“Vixen fucked us in a big way,” he begins. “As most of you know, she had a kid with Blur. A kid that is now set to be in transit to the Southern Mafia. Promises were made, betrayals were fucking had, and now we have both Blur and Conrad locked in the basement along with Vixen.”

“What's gonna happen with them?” King asks.

Atomic’s brows snap together. “The rest of their men are gone, at least the ones at that fucking Airbnb. Now we have to deal with the ones who are waiting for Conrad to come home. The ones who are waiting for the shipment of bitches that will be heading their way.”

“And you’re pissed because?” I ask.

He lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m pissed because Vixen didn’t just recently fuck us. She's done it for years. And with her fucking, three of us got stabbed, an old lady was kidnapped, and we’re still not done with this.”

“Where do we wage war?” Guts asks.

Atomic’s lips twitch. “War has been waged,” he states. “I’ve called in a few clubs for backup. But we are at war. Demon Guns and Southern Mafia. We are done with those shipments. We focus on beer deliveries and loans the way we used to. I don’t want to owe anyone a goddamn thing.”

“What happens with Conrad, Blur, and Vixen?” I ask.

“I’m so fucking pissed the fuck off,” Atomic growls.

I almost laugh because, yeah, he’s pissed, but this isn’t anything new. I wonder if it’s the pain meds that have him all fucked up. I almost ask him but decide against it. He’s still working on his anger in this situation. But I’d like to get to my woman, so as entertaining as this is, I’m ready to go.

“The Demon Guns and Southern Mafia have been working together for years. Something they hid from everyone. It isn’t going to be easy to go to war with them both at the same time, but we can’t have any survivors.”

“Vixen’s kid?” I ask.

“Will still go to Nash. There’s no way in fuck that we can let her be free. We don’t know what she knows or what they fucking told her. She needs to be watched. And when I say watched, I mean under lock and goddamn key,” he states.

“We need a vote,” he continues.

We all stare at him, wondering what’s got him so raging angry. Then it finally hits me. He’s scared. He’s been stabbed, almost lost his wife, and he’s got an old lady and kids now.

I don’t blame him because if I did, I would be a goddamn hypocrite. I can’t deny that this one was bad. We got fucking jumped and weren’t expecting it. I don’t know if any of us have been blindsided like that before.

He feels as weak as we do. I know he does. President or not, he’s still just a man, a husband, and a father. We aren’t the same men we were a few years ago. I suck in a breath and hold it for a moment as he continues.

“A vote?” Piston asks.

Atomic stands as straight as he can before he speaks. “A vote. Three, actually. I want to know how you feel about war with the Southern Mafia, war with the Demon Guns, and ending Vixen for her betrayal.”

“Aye,” Rim states, standing. “They all go down. I’m tired of this shit. All of it. I want to be done and have at least five fucking minutes of peace,” he states.

I don’t blame him. I feel the same way. I am done with all this fucking shit. We all deserve a few months, if not decades, of free and easy. We haven’t had that, and it’s time we make it happen for ourselves.

“I second,” I say, deciding that I’m done with this shit, too. “Vixen fucked us. Clubwhore or not, Dark Horse property or not, she brought all of this on herself. I’m tired of this whole thing. My woman was taken, and they fucking knew she was mine. They did it just to fuck with us, and that’s not acceptable. Not to mention none of them gave much of a fuck when we were stabbed.”

“Hear, hear,” King grumbles.

“So, who votes yay?” Atomic calls out. Everyone raises their hands. “And nay?”

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