Page 16 of Legacy

Iknow it.

But Ghost is the one to actually say it. “I love you like a brother, man. But that’s straight-up bullshit.”

“You’re just pissed I was right about you and Luna.”

He shakes his head, knowing I’m deflecting.

I miss when Ghost was as bitter as I am. When he’d have my back because he was just as miserable and determined to be alone. Single Ghost was easier to deal with because he understood. Now he’s a walking, talking reminder of all the things I’ll never have if I want to protect my daughter.

He and Steel can shove their eternal happiness. Just because they got lucky enough to find someone willing to put up with the club’s bullshit doesn’t mean I will.

And even if I did, I don’t want it.

Luckily, Steel walks into church, cutting off any small talk as he closes the door behind him. “Where are we at with the money we drained from the Iron Sinners?”

He takes his seat at the head of the table, and I appreciate that he’s straight to the point, effectively shutting down my brothers teasing me about Reagan.

“I’m housing the funds offshore for the time being.” I lean forward, clasping my hands on the table. “Then I’ll slowly siphon it back into the country through our business accounts that primarily deal in cash, like the strip club and the tattoo parlor. Anywhere that won’t throw up red flags with the government over an influx of cash deposits.”

Steel nods, patting the pocket he used to keep his cigarettes, like he often does out of habit before he remembers he quit. “Good.”

“But…” I clear my throat. “It’s more than we anticipated.”

“How much more?” Steel hitches an eyebrow.

“The account had one point five million when I initially drained it, and we’ve almost doubled that these past few months with the auto transfer Ghost set up once we had the routing information.”

“They haven’t closed the account yet?” Steel’s shoulders tense. “That much cash, and they haven’t even noticed?”

I shake my head. “They must have been saving it for something specific. They’ll figure it out eventually. But for now, funds are still being deposited, and when they do,they get transferred to us. We got another five hundred grand this morning. It’sa lotof cash.”

Steel leans back. “Zane wouldn’t be that liberal with his donations unless they’re up to something.”

“I don’t think the money came from Zane.”

“I thought that’s what the Iron Sinners were using that bank account for.” His eyebrows pinch. “That’s why we hit it in the first place. To piss off Zane for sending the feds to raid our compound while also fucking over the Iron Sinners. Two birds, one stone.”

“The initial million-dollar deposit was from Zane, yes.” I pop my knuckles. “I traced that back to one of his casinos. He split a portion of the profits from a fight night with the Iron Sinners. But after that, the money has continued to come in, but I can’t trace any of it back to him.”

“Where’s it coming from then?”

“Still working on that.”

Havoc leans forward. “They just opened up a new strip club. Wicked Pole. New profits, maybe?”

“If it is, they’re making four times a night what we do on a Saturday night at Sapphire Rise.”

Chaos chuckles, shaking his head. “Not possible.”

Chaos runs point for the strip club, so he’s defensive whenever it comes up. And in this case, he’s also right.

“We’re in a prime location on the Strip,” Chaos continues. “Their new joint is on the border of Vegas. There’s no way they’re making half what we do on a fucking Tuesday.”

“Agreed.” Steel looks around the room for answers.

“Unless…” Havoc clears his throat, and we all fall into silence as his thought dies on his tongue.

He doesn’t need to finish his sentence because we all know what he’s thinking. The Twisted Kings toe the line with the law daily, but we have moral limits. Things we refuse to take part in, like trafficking women.

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