Page 50 of Lucky Strike

Dadlaughs menacingly. “Greedy fucks. What else?”

“They want in on our connections so they can take over,” I reply. “I don’t know if they know about New Hampshire specifically, and if they do, how they found out, but that’s no good.”

“So, what’s your plan?” he asks.

I decide not to tell him about today’s fight. Not yet. I have enough of a headache from the hits I took without him chewing me out on top of it. “Still trying to figure that out. I got guys watching the docks at Conley, including a couple of cops. Angel and Raf are stalling the Sokolovs for now, but they can’t do that forever.”

“We can’t let them get a foothold here or with the suppliers. It’s bad enough they found out about the shipping terminal. Makes me wonder, once again, if we got a mole in our ranks.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Everybody knows Kelly Logistics operates out of Conley,” I say. “It doesn’t take much to figure out we’re exporting a lot more than Mom’s wine of the month.”

He snickers. “Okay, smartass. Just make sure for me, okay? Better safe than sorry.”

“For sure,” I agree. “I think we should send some guys to the manufacturers, make sure everything’s on the up and up.”

“Do that. And, son, if the Sokolovs are really serious about moving in on us, we need to be ready to take them out. Permanently.”

I finish my beer and set the bottle down. We’ve dealt with rival gangs before, but the Sokolovs are a different breed. They’re Bratva, and they’ve got some serious manpower at their disposal. Firepower, too, but we can hold our own in that department. “I’ll start putting a team together.”

14.Bria

Now

Iwake up early the next morning, the barest hint of dawn’s blue-black glowing through the skylights. The headache is gone, but my brain feels like it’s stuffed with cotton and my throat is still sore. Feeling around the nightstand, I realize with dismay that Conlan took the cold medicine back downstairs. With a quiet groan, I get to my feet.

Pulling on a hoodie over my t-shirt, I shuffle downstairs in a fog. The kitchen light is on. Conlan must’ve forgotten to turn it off last night. Shelby and Bacon lope over, tails wagging in unison. “Hey, guys.” Yawning, I bend down to pet them. “What’re you guys doing up? You couldn’t sleep either, huh?”

I spy the medicine on the island, which I wash down with water from the sink. I’m about to turn off the light and go back to bed when I hear a cough coming from the patio. It’s so unexpected that I pause.

“Because of Dad?” Tristan asks quietly.

“They smell blood in the water,” Conlan says. “They’ll make moves if they think there’s a leadership vacuum.”

The patio is right on the other side of the kitchen door—no wonder the dogs are down here. They’re never far from Conlan when he’shome. Why he’s awake at this time, though, I don’t know. He gets up early to work out, but after last night, I thought he’d skip today for sure.

“And what about the Sokolovs? You think they might come around?” asks Tristan.

“I don’t know. I’m having Terry and Mitch set up a perimeter around the block.”

I perk up at the sound of those names.MyTerry and Mitch?

“Maybe it’s a good thing Bria’s sick,” Tristan says. I bristle. Why would that be a good thing, for God’s sake? “She won’t be going anywhere.”

Conlan laughs tiredly. “She won’t be for long … can’t keep them locked up forever.” His voice drops and I lean closer to the patio door, careful to stay away from the window. It’s difficult to hear, but I manage to pick out a few phrases and words.

“…Bratva?” Tristan asks.As in the Russian Bratva? What the hell?“… watching the next shipment.”

“The next one’s out of Jersey … ask Johnny … had to change the route in case they got people watching at the usual intermediate points.”

Tristan coughs. “You got enough hardware?”

“Glock’s in the office,” Conlan says, his voice suddenly closer.

TheGlock? My God.

The door starts to open, and I dart out of the kitchen on reflex. Intrigued by the action, Bacon trots after me, accompanying me as I tiptoe upstairs. “No, Bacon,” I whisper, trying to get him to turn around, but he just stares at me.

Conlan and Tristan’s voices grow in volume as they ascend the stairs. Moving as quietly as I can, I sneak back into my room. Bacon huffs at the door, whining, but I ignore him, locking myself in the en suite bathroom. My reflection looks pale and washed out, and it’s not just this head cold.