Page 86 of Frisco

“You talking about safety?”

“I’m talking we might want to team up with another power entity. I wanted to broach the subject, get your opinion.”

“Some might say we’re getting out of bed with one devil, so why would we want to team up with another?”

“Because who I’m thinking about isn’t like Estrada. They don’t hang an entire family for passing a fucking phone. They’re in the same area we are. Would make sense to team up with them, if they’re open to it. But I’m thinking you’re national VP, so it’d be up to you to make the approach.”

“Why don’t we cut the bullshit and you name who I think you’re naming.”

He eyed me, a trickle of sweat showing on his skin. But after a moment he nodded, coming to a decision. “I’m talking about the Canadians. They’re here, mostly in the Midwest, but they’d be open to expanding west. They don’t have Texas, and we do.”

I gave him another sharp look. “You know that when we pull out, Texas is where we’re going to get hit first.”

He nodded. “I’m aware. But here too, I think. That’s why I’m asking for this. The Canadians do their business in a way that’s still a mystery to most. They got men, but they hit in coordinated attacks. Their leader is smart, calculating, but he doesn’t kill ceaselessly. That gets me. I got family here. I don’t want them killed, and having Estrada on our front door, I want some measures put in place.”

Well, fuck me. The Canadians were who Max wanted me to approach. But I didn’t trust Crow enough to reveal that, not yet.

“Let’s handle the guys you don’t trust first.”

He gave me another measuring look. Then his eyes closed, and he nodded. “It’s the smart move.”

We needed to do the ugly business first, because we were talking about Red Demon traitors—one of the worst crimes there was. We’d need to handle those guys first, strip them of their patches and decide who to bury and who to burn.

I could see Crow’s reluctance, but it had to be done.

He didn’t want to name them. I didn’t want to hear the names, but club first. Always.

So I asked the question, “Who don’t you trust in your charter, Crow?”

30

KALI

My phone buzzed beside me.

Harper: Justin’s here.

Oh boy. I already knew this. Harper knew I knew, so this wasn’t that kind of a texting conversation.

This was a something-else text.

I sighed, settling in. I was waiting for Shane to do what he needed to do. Then, well, we’d be doing what we needed to do after that. Until then… My phone buzzed again.

Harper: AND HE’S IGNORING ME! Ignoring me, Kali. Ignoring me.

Harper: He came here for me. Now, he’s ignoring me. WTF? Honestly what the effer loving feck?!

Harper: What’s worse is that he and Aly are besties. He took my bestie. She’s mine. Not his. AND her new man, because holy hannah banana, she and that Brandon are hot and heavy. How long have you been gone? Three nights? She’s been with him every night. We’re permanent fixtures at Manny’s. I’m starting a book club with a crazy lady named Rebecca and another older guy named Gus. Sigh. He’s legit nuts, but I like him. I don’t think he can read. I’m pretty sure he thinks book club is code for something else, and I do not want to ask him what he thinks it’s code for.

Me: If Justin is ignoring you, it’s because you did or said something to upset him.

Harper: Whose best friend are you?

Me: Yours. So is Aly. I reached out to him too.

Harper: I hate everyone. Even my mother didn’t care.

Harper calling.

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