Page 51 of Queen of Blades

“Pretty sure these fake bikers are Rojas’s men.”

“Hmm,” Paul said. “So, it had nothing to do with us. This had to do with their beef.”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t smell right. Not one of these dudes was a legitimate member of the Roughneck Riders. Where were Snoopy’s men?”

Paul furrowed his brow. Excellent question. The biker president obviously thought the people around him were his. “You think it was an inside job?”

Eddie clucked his tongue on the other end. “I wouldn’t put it past Sebastián to stir shit up with the bikers. He despises working with them.”

Dropping himself into a kitchen chair, Paul rested his elbow on the table and rubbed his forehead with his index finger and thumb, hoping this would all make sense. “You’re still tight with Rojas?”

“I mean, we have like interests,” his brother said.

Eddie was in charge of the strip clubs and the prostitution the family dabbled in. He often worked with the Colombians for party favors and helped them move women around. Though Eddie made sure none of the women who came through his clubs were there against their will. He had a line.

“Set up a meeting,” Paul said, straightening. “Tomorrow.”

“You’re calling a lot of shots for someone who isn’t in charge,” Eddie cautioned.

“I’ll get Dad’s blessing.”

Eddie clearly hesitated.

“I want to get to the bottom of this. The Colombians brought the bounty to the table. They have to know something. The sooner we nip this in the bud, the better. Enough blood has been shed.”

“I can’t argue with you about that,” his brother agreed. “But I’m not sure you’re going to get much out of him.”

“I have a plan.”

“Alright.” Eddie sighed. “Talk to Dad first, and I’ll make it happen.”

The call ended, and Paul placed the phone down on the table. Steepling his fingers, he tapped them against his lips as he stared at nothing.

Why would the Colombians dress like bikers to take out Snoopy? It seemed like an unnecessary step.

Everyone who was anyone knew the two factions were feuding. No one would’ve given a shit if they took Snoopy out without this pretense. So, it didn’t have to do with outsiders knowing who was behind it. It had everything to do with the biker president thinking he had protection.

Someone within his ranks fucked him over.

Maybe Paul needed to talk to Little Junior too. Harper wouldn’t be able to offer much. She’d cut herself out of the club’s dealings. Besides, she was a woman, so they only let her know so much. Her brother, though, he was in the thick of it. Hehadto knowsomething.

Then again… Snoopy was his dad. Would he really be kept in the loop if the plan was to get rid of his father? Probably not.

None of this smelled right. Little Junior would be a dead end. Then again, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities for Little Junior to be dodging bullets, too, considering his allegiance would be to Snoopy before the club. Well, if he were as decent a human as Harper.

This could be even messier than Paul originally thought.

There was no reason to stick his nose any further into biker politics than he already had. Paul had enough on his plate right now anyway.

Lifting the phone, he checked the time. It was nearly ten in the evening. His dad was still awake. It was time to talk to the head of the family about all of this. He couldn’t keep going through his brother. Paul had to face the music.

Tapping the screen, he dialed his father’s number. He brought the cell to his ear and listened to the rings.

“Quite a mess you got yourself into, Paulie,” his father answered. Despite using the burner phone, his father knew it was him. The guy had some weird spidey senses Paul would never be able to figure out.

Scrubbing a hand through his hair, Paul couldn’t help but nod. “Yeah.” That was an understatement.

“Sort of figured things were going to spin out of control when you demanded to go out on this bounty,” his dad said with a hint of amusement in his tone. “Things seem to get chaotic when Harper Myers comes around.”

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