Page 131 of Shattering Nash

Cyrus smirked, eyeing her. “’Cause Dahlia, Quinn, and Elle don’t know what went down at that meeting. Only a matter of time before someone slips and mentions it. And when that happens, Noelle is gone.” Cyrus chuckled. “But until then, don’t worry about her. We won’t let her get close. We got you.”

They got me?Charley wasn’t even sure what that meant. But it meant something.

****

Nash stood next to Oz and leaned forward, knocking on the door.

“Think she’ll let me in this time?” Nash asked.

Oz scoffed. “It’s anyone’s guess with Inez.”

True.

The door opened, and Cross, the VP of Killcreek, stepped aside, allowing them passage. As they breached the opening of the living room, Nash was surprised to see so many members of the club. Usually, meetings with Inez were reserved for a select few. Not this time.

There was an array of silent greetings before Inez took center stage in a way only she could.

“Anders, that motherfucker. I want his ass!”

Nash refrained from giving in to his amusement and eyed Oz. He was the epitome of calm. He walked farther into the room and sighed. “Would you care to elaborate?”

Inez unleashed, breaking it down. An agreement had not been met. It was hard to grasp a full view of the meeting with only Inez’s side. But in the end, with the Underground, hers was the only one that mattered.

“That asshole tried to low-ball me!” Inez shouted, grabbing her glass and chugging the remainder. “With the deal we included passage through the state. It was a fair fucking deal.”

That was more than most people got.

“And he didn’t take it?” Nash shared a look with Oz. “What are his other choices?”

“Anders is using an out of state manufacturer. Got word a few days ago.” Ace smirked. “We got an informant of our own.”

Nash didn’t react to the dig directed at Charley’s brother.

“Who?” he asked.

“Zeke.” Ace folded his arms. “Now you know why I wouldn’t let you take him out.”

Nash scowled. How could they even trust Zeke?

Ace must’ve read his thoughts and lifted his hand. “He sells for Anders, and until this fucking shitshow, he was moving up the ranks pretty quick. Anders lets him sit in on some meetings, taking him under his wing. That’s why the cops were trying to getto Zeke ’cause they knew getting to him would be one step closer to Anders. Had they been successful, that would’ve meant a lot of heat on all of us, considering our connections.”

There was still so much risk.

“How can you be so sure you can trust him?”

Cross scoffed. “’Cause he knows we’ll kill him if he doesn’t do what we want.”

“Anders could offer protection,” Oz countered.

“But he won’t ’cause as much as he fucking hates the MC, he won’t put his own men on the line for Zeke. And” —Ace said— “We’ve offered Zeke an opportunity to prospect. Aligning with us ensures his safety.”

Nash scoffed. “Making deals with the devil?”

Ace shrugged. “It’s not the first time and won’t be the last.”

Nash paced around the room trying to formulate their plan. He wouldn’t be privy to all the details. Inez, much like Oz, acted in secrecy, with only her closest allies in full knowledge.

“What’s your plan?”

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