Page 106 of All Our Ghosts

Everyone takes their seats. The Hounds take one end of the table while the Skulls take the other half. All of Havoc’s higher ranks sit before us. Cole sits at the head of one end, and Havoc sits at the other. The tension in the room begins to build the longer we all sit in silence, each crew observing the other one. Taking stock of what’s to come.

“We’ll just get into it, yeah?” Havoc states. “Nevada is getting nervous with how many hits you’ve been taking lately.” He pauses as if that’s supposed to scare us. It’s not anything we didn’t already suspect but still I glance at Cole who has turned stoic.

“Since when do you deliver messages for Nevada?” Cole finally says.

“Since your men keep getting picked up by backwoods cops,” Havoc fires back. “Three runs in a row, O’Neil. You’re haulin’ my product tomycustomers.”

“Then say what the real issue is,” Cole challenges. His voice is strained and low in the way I know is only asking for trouble. This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. Lately, Cole’s temper has been a powder keg hoping for a match and I’m worried Havoc just lit it. “You'reworried. Don’t blame that shit on Nevada.”

Havoc leans back in the large leather chair and taps his fingers along the edge of the arm. Assessing the anger that’s brewing deep between the two sides. “Word is that these cops are connected to you. Local assholes that run your club.”

“Irun my club,” Cole booms. “Nobody else.”

“Then you better start fucking proving it,” Havoc says in a murderously calm tone that, if there were anybody else sitting at the table, it would onlyscare. To us, it’s another challenge. “We’re holding off on shipments until your shit gets figured out. Prove that it is, and we continue business as always.”

“That’s not going to work for us,” Dex cuts in.

“Was I speaking to you?” Havoc asks, turning his attention to a tightly wound Wolfe. “Keep your enforcer on a leash, O’Neil.”

I lean forward, clasping my hands over the table, trying to break up the current of frustration between the men. I’m already having a hard time holding it back myself and want nothing more than to shove my foot through Havoc’s jaw, but one of us needs to have a level head and West isn’t equipped to deal with men like this yet.

“What do you need from us to get shipping back on track?” I say in the most level voice I can muster.

Havoc’s gaze swings to me before landing back on Cole. “Get rid of your Five-O issues.”

“Done,” I interject. “What else?”

I can see Cole’s fist clench on the table next to me.

“We double the shipments each month once your little problem is handled.” One of the men next to Havoc finally speaks up. I recognize him as Piper, the vice president, who prefers the sharp edge of a blade over a bullet to do his dirty work.

“We’ll need more manpower,” Cole grits out. My eyes slide shut before I turn to look at my prez.

“Then I suggest you start patchin’ in more prospects, O’Neil. That shit ain’t my problem,” Havoc states, reading my mind.

Cole nods. “One more run. I’ll head it myself with Nash. Then you can pause it.”

A laugh booms from across the table as Havoc loses his shit. “You want what? A second chance?”

“No,” Cole states. “One more run, which we’re overdue already, and then you hold off on shipments.” He leans back in the chair as I stare at him.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I hiss at Cole. This isn’t the pres that I knew, this is some bullshit dick measuring contest that Cole’s trying to win. Still he doesn’t answer me, doesn’t even spare me a glance as Havoc’s laughter dies.

“One more run. You get stopped, you’re done.”

“Deal.”

“Cole,” I hiss again and this time my eyes catch his. “This is a club vote.”

“Problem?” Havoc asks as I turn to look at him.

“Nope,” Cole says. “Are we done here?”

“For now.” Havoc nods.

His eyes linger on me before his men stand, signaling that the meeting is over. With fucked stipulations. Cole stands with the rest of them and waits for Dex and me to do the same. I glance over at Dex, who looks like he’s about to rip Cole’s head off. A part of me doesn’t blame him.

We begin following the Skulls out of the room, a hell of a lot further from diffusing the powder keg that is Cole. Once again we’re going to have to figure out a way to keep the compound secure for days. Falcone can only do so much, and having fewer men at the clubhouse, along with leaving Kadence there, already has me on edge.

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