Page 150 of Frisco

“Yes, indeed. He’s coming up with five trucks of men.”

Man.

This was it, the whole fucking culmination for everything we’d gone through. Heckler was calling me because it was my call now what to do. “Prez?”

“He’s still in lockdown, but he’s not conscious. This is on you.”

Yeah. I was getting that.

Standing here, in the bathroom of another club’s headquarters, a woman in my bed, the irony was not lost that I’d been the one to make the push to leave the cartel. The price was too much. Things I’ve done, scars on my soul, my own haunts following me, but here I was. Alone. By a toilet and I had to make the call for the next move in this war.

“We do this, we have to move forward with Connor.”

“I know.”

I wanted to curse, a whole fucking litany. I wanted to let loose, kill someone like Marco, but to do that, to really do that and make sure it didn’t come back to further haunt us, I didn’t know if I could handle that collateral. “I can’t do it, Heckler. That’s my woman’s brother.”

“I know I’m supposed to tell you that you need to follow through and what we’ve all started, but I’m not going to do that. I can’t. Situation reversed, I don’t know what I’d do either. It’s your call. I know things have changed. Everyone is aware, but I guess my duty is to remind you that this is for the entire club. There. Done. Now it’s on your back. You’re going to be the one shouldering this.”

For the club.

My woman or my club.

I was having to choose, and not too long ago I was vowing that I’d never hurt her again. I was sharing that I loved her more than my club, but I was thinking about all the brothers we had. Every single one of them.

“It’s lonely at the top.” That was from Heckler. He added, “I do not wish to be in your place.”

“Yeah.” Goddamn. “Yeah.”

“What’s your orders so far?”

I moved over and opened the door, seeing Kali still sleeping. She was at peace, and I was about to rip her from it.

I said into the phone, “Keep track of Estrada. If we can isolate him, I’d like to do that first.”

“We?”

“You heard correct. We’re coming. I want to see this through to the end.”

“Will do, Boss. See you when you get here.”

I texted Boise.

Me: Wake the guys. Get ready. We’re moving now to Albuquerque. Estrada is on the move.

I also texted Roanoke.

Me: We’re leaving shortly if you or anyone from your club would like to join?

Boise texted back first.

Boise: On it. What’s your decision about Gloves?

Me: Give me a bit.

Boise: I do not envy you right now. Good luck.

The second guy to tell me that in less than two minutes. Yeah. I was getting it. No one would or should do what I was about to do, but I was still going to do it because it needed to be done.

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