Page 85 of Ruger's Rage

"—ambush will work perfectly. Saint's Outlaws will be caught completely unprepared, and we'll make it look like they fired first. After that, Viper will have no choice but to declare open war."

A second voice, unfamiliar:"And while they're decimating each other, I get Elizabeth back."

"Exactly. By the time the dust settles, you'll be long gone with your woman, and I'll have rid myself of my ungrateful nephew once and for all."

The recording ends, leaving heavy silence.

"That enough proof for you?" Kinsey asks.

I exchange looks with Bloodhound and Ounce.

The recording could be fabricated, but the details align too perfectly with what we've already uncovered.

"What do you want in exchange for this information?" I ask.

"Protection." She says it without hesitation. "My father knows I heard too much. If he finds me, I'm dead, or worse."

"And Rookie?" Ounce asks. "Was he just a means to an end for you?"

Something complicated crosses her face. "It started that way. It didn't end that way."

Before we can dig into the conversation further, a knock at the door interrupts us.

Maddox pokes his head in. "Prez, got an urgent call from Porter. Someone hit the north side garage. Torched three bikes and left a Vultures patch."

"When?"

"About twenty minutes ago."

I glance at Kinsey. "Your father's busy today."

"It's a distraction," she says immediately. "He's trying to spread your forces thin before tonight."

The assessment matches my own thoughts—which either means she's telling the truth or she's an excellent manipulator.

Either way, we need to move quickly.

"Maddox, call church. Everyone in thirty minutes. Ounce, verify what Kinsey's told us about the Marriott. And find Rookie—keep him away from her for now."

As they file out, I turn to Tildie. "Stay with Bloodhound. Don't leave the club’s property for any reason until I get back."

She raises an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

"To stop a war." I pull her close, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. "Back soon."

"Be careful," she whispers, echoing last night's words.

"Always am."

As I turn to leave, Kinsey speaks up. "What about me?"

I study her for a moment.

The bruise around her eye is darkening by the hour, a familiar pattern I've seen too many times on Ellie.

"Bloodhound will find you somewhere to stay. You don't leave the compound, don't contact anyone outside, don't speak to anyone but officers." I step closer, voice dropping. "And if this is a trap, cousin or not, I'll handle you personally. Understand?"

She swallows but holds my gaze. "Perfectly."

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