Page 7 of Shattering Nash

Anders sighed and spread out his hands. “In order to get to Inez, we have to go through Killcreek.”

It was standard practice. After all, anyone wanting to get to Oz had to go through him. However, there was a vast difference between the way Nash conducted meetings versus how Killcreek did.And there lay the issue.Dealing with any given member in the Underground was usually conducted in a professional setting. There was a protocol set years ago by Sal Caruso. They may be living on the other side of the law, but it didn’t mean professionalism was spared. Meetings were set up, respect was given, possibly out of fear, and deals were made fairly. Killcreek didn’t adhere to any of that. They made deals on their terms, timelines, and best interests.Everyone else could fuck off.

Nash arched his brow. “So Killcreek is the problem?”

“They’re both a fucking problem, Nash,” Anders snapped, allowing his anger to get the best of him. He’d caught himself, but it was already too late. He’d exposed the truth. While Nash could sympathize with anyone who had to deal directly with Inez, it was how the Underground was run. And no one, including the man seated across from them, could change that.

Anders inched up to the edge of his seat, resting his elbows on the table, sighing heavily. “Look, I have a lot of respect for both the club and Inez, but they make negotiations difficult. In fact, there are no negotiations. They dictate.”

“They have something you want, not the other way around. Of course there will be concessions,” Oz said.

Anders’s brows spiked to his hairline. “Concessions, Oz? Last time she took a meeting, she had her cut at seventy-five percent. That’s unheard of, not to mention bullshit.”

Nash smirked. “As I recall, you took that deal.”

His jaw squared. “Well, I didn’t have much of a choice, now did I?”

It was a copout. Rules were set in place. If Anders didn’t want what he deemed an unfair deal, he was under no obligation to take it.

“We always have a choice,” Nash countered.

The man scowled and grabbed his drink, finishing it off in one mouthful before wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket. The glass came down on the table with a little too much force. Anders was showing his anger, and in turn, all his cards. He would take any deal with Inez, because in the end, if he wanted the product, she’d supply it.

“You think you have a better chance at making a deal through me?” Oz asked.

“A reasonable and fair one, yes.” Anders snorted. “Not to mention a sane deal.”

It was always interesting, and entertaining to see how others viewed Inez. None of them had the balls to say it to her, but somehow they felt at ease around Oz. Little did they realize Oz and Inez were on the same page about most deals. When they weren’t in agreement, neither interfered with the other’s business.

“They’re impossible to work with,” Anthony said. He’d been Anders’ second for quite some time but rarely spoke during meetings.

“Exactly!” Anders said, slamming his hand on the table. “I tried reaching out to Ace several times during the last deal. Took weeks to get a call back, and when I tried to schedule the transport, he gave me one day and a six-hour window. I run a large operation, and that asshole thinks he can call the shots?”

“Did you follow through with the deal?” Oz asked.

Anders furrowed his brows, but before he could answer, Oz held up his hand.

“You did, which meansthat asshole—” Oz’s gaze darkened “—does call the shots.”

Touche!

“I had no choice, Oz.”

Again with that statement. Nash smiled and arched his brow. Anders’s lips twisted in a sneer, and he pushed back in his chair, grasping the edge of the table. His knuckles whitened, making it clear Oz had struck a nerve. “Ace is nothing more than Inez’s lackey. Riding her fucking coattails.”

Nash caught himself before giving any type of reaction to that statement. Rarely did he lose composure. But this was a direct hit. It was an insulting dig to every second-in-command.Including me.Nash had made a name for himself, working up the ranks to his position. It wasn’t without a lot of blood, sweat, and sacrifices. He’d essentially given up his own life for the Underground. And never once did heride coattailsto get to where he was in this life. He knew firsthand the same could be said for Ace.

That comment took a lot of balls.And stupidity.Nash grabbed his glass of scotch, taking a slow sip. Top shelf. He wasn’t sure if he’d finish it by the end of the meeting, but he’d order another. On principle. Anders called the meeting, therefore he’d be picking up the tab.

The comment may as well have been aimed at Nash in Oz’s mind, as well. His position, much like Killcreek, was as a second-in-command. Neither called the shots when it came to direct deals. They were more of a support system and often disregarded. Nash may have had an upper hand by outward appearances. He dressed the part and acted accordingly. Killcreek didn’t.

“That’s a rather bold statement.” Oz’s tone reflected everything Nash was feeling.

“It’s the truth.”

Son of a bitch is doubling down.

Nash settled in his chair and lifted his hand to the waitress. He pointed to his glass, and she nodded, rushing to the bar. The next few minutes were tense without Oz saying a word. As soon as the waitress dropped off Nash’s drink, Oz stood buttoning his jacket. Nash followed suit.

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