Page 23 of Romeo

He couldn’t deny it. It was all true. “Called to help a brother out and all I get is this bullshit.”

“Tell me, why do you give a shit that Maddie’s down there?”

“Like I said, was tryin’ to do our part since we’re allies. That’s it. Don’t gotta read anythin’ more into it.”

Silence filled Romeo’s ear. He didn’t take that as Trip realizing Romeo was right, but as the Fury prez trying to avoid pissing off another club’s prez even more.

Between the clubs, Trip’s hair-trigger temper was as well-known as Romeo’s quest to put so many notches in his bedpost, nothing would be left except a pile of sawdust.

He wiped his grin away with his hand as if Trip could see it. “All right… Figured I’d help a brother out but can see my efforts ain’t appreciated.”

“If I believed you had good intentions, Romeo, Iwouldappreciate it. But like I said, Magnum got a heads up.”

He was going to have a little discussion with his enforcer. Especially after he lied and told Romeo he didn’t know. The fucker wasn’t supposed to keep secrets about shit like that. At the minimum, that info should’ve been shared in an exec committee meeting.

“Guessin’ that means if anyone from the Knights movesnorth, you expect me to contact Judge ‘steada you?” Judge was the Fury’s sergeant at arms.

Once again silence hit his ears.

Yeah, just like he fucking thought. Trip only bypassed him to keep Romeo in the dark about Maddie.

Finally, Trip said, “On the rare chance that happens, got no problem with you reachin’ out to Judge.”

Bullshit.“Got it.” He was so fucking done with this conversation. “Have a good one.”

“You, too, Rome. And don’t worry about Maddie. We got it covered.”

Romeo ended the call and stared at his phone.

Good thing the alliance was formed long before Romeo became president, otherwise, there wouldn’t be one.

Not after that fucking phone call.

But he still had one more fucking bone to pick. This time it was with one of his own.

“You said you didn’t fuckin’know.”

Magnum grunted and pushed past Romeo.

“You kept shit from your goddamn president.”

Magnum didn’t even grunt this time, he ignored Romeo and kept moving. Romeo followed right on the big man’s heels.

“Had a little convo with Trip and he said he told you she was livin’ down here.”

Magnum suddenly stopped and spun to face Romeo. “Why the fuck do you care if she’s livin’ down here?” His chin pulled into his neck. “Only one reason… And it’s exactly why Trip didn’t want you to fuckin’ know.”

“I expect respect from not only my own fuckin’ brothers, but from the other clubs, too.”

“You had a daughter, you’d understand.”

“She ain’t Trip’s daughter,” Romeo exclaimed.

“Don’t matter. What fuckin’ matters is, she’s still under his protection. He did what he thought was best for her. Like any goddamn president worth bein’ a goddamn president would do.”

“You sayin’ I shouldn’t be president?”

“You hear that shit come outta my mouth?”

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