Page 23 of Filthy Liar

“Enough,” Slash said loud enough to be heard over our argument, both of us turning to look at him. “This is personal to both of you.”

“Not to me,” Beckett scoffed, making him roll his eyes.

“You’ve been wanting a reason to kill that prick since you first found out he was friends with Riley. Trust me, it’s personal, and you’re blinded by your hatred for him. You won’t go after him on some kind of rogue mission, and you’ll do as you’ve been told. You’ve been warned, Beckett. This is not your crew, it’s mine. We work together on things.”

“Someone needs to have the balls to handle him,” she muttered, his eyes narrowing.

“Would you like to be excused?”

“I'm not going anywhere.”

“Then shut the fuck up or you’ll be removed,” he bit out, surprising me a little. Beckett wasn’t their kid in this room, she was just another member of the Psychos.

Zane smirked at her for being scolded, and she threatened him under her breath as Rory stood, eyeing her daughter as she spoke to the whole room.

“I had a meeting tonight with Dante and Ander, which is why we were all at Wet Dreams in the first place. I couldn’t get a good read on Dante, but he was all business when he spoke. He was respectful to me, but it could’ve easily been an act. I don’t believe Lavaro when he claims the murderer wasn’t his brother. To be honest, I think Lavaro believes that Dante didn’t do it, but he’s blinded by loyalty. He thinks Dante wouldn’t turn on him.”

“Why didn’t I know this was happening?” Beckett asked tensely, and I swore she flinched when Rory replied.

“It was none of your business, that’s why. I don’t trust you to handle things our way right now, so I wanted to get to the bottom of things without you there. This wasn’t a meeting to spill threats or blood, it was an adult conversation that you seem incapable of having.”

Zane shifted on his feet and crossed his arms, glaring daggers at Rory on Beckett’s behalf.

He thankfully didn’t pick a fight with her, but my attention left them when Skeeter joined us, shoving Ander ahead of him.

Panic filled me when I realized his hands were bound behind him, and I took in his face, noticing the swelling and bruises instantly. He looked like he’d been interrogated with fists.

“What the fuck?” I asked no one in particular as I went to move towards him, but Skeeter pointed at me.

“Stay. Fucking. There.”

“What did you do to him?” I demanded as I ignored him and kept moving, glaring at Diesel. “You said he was okay!”

Diesel’s face was blank as he held my gaze, and someone grabbed my wrist to haul me back. Zavier gave me a look of warning, but I could tell he was worried too.

“I’m okay, Bluebird,” Ander said, giving me a nod.

“No, you’re?—”

“Do as you’re told and stay put,” he warned, but his eyes were soft and he didn't sound mad.

Rory was watching our exchange, and just as Beckett was starting to look smug about the whole thing, Rory burst her bubble.

“We’ve questioned Lavaro heavily tonight at Wet Dreams while Hendricks and his crew dealt with the murder. Ander’s not the threat, and he’s given us a lot of information on his father and the mafia. He’s got immunity and has no punishment for the things his family have done or continue to do.”

“Why did you fucking hurt him?” I spat, a small smirk tugging at Skeeter’s lips.

“I don’t like him. Had to make sure he was telling the truth.”

He cut the rope from Ander’s wrists and gave him a shove in our direction, people muttering and glaring at Ander as he joined us. Zavier released me, and I flung my arms around Ander, knowing his face wasn’t the only damage from the way he sucked in a sharp breath from my touch.

I went to step back to avoid hurting him more, but he wrapped me in his arms and held on, kissing my cheek. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“This is bullshit!” Beckett snarled, but Skeeter gave her a dark look.

“We talked about this. Stop fighting us on our decisions. I don’t make choices like this lightly, and you know I have good judgment. It’s rare I let people walk away from my interrogations, so you know for a fact he wouldn’t have if I didn’t think we could trust him. I wouldn’t let him in my fucking house, or breathe the same air as you if I thought he was a danger. I trusted you with Lopez, and it paid off. He’s been a good friend to you, and an asset for information when we’ve needed it. Now, you need to trust me with Lavaro.”

“Lavaro’s in with the mafia, Dad. This is so much bigger than the shit with Lopez.”

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