He nods, holding a piece of paper out for me. The crinkled white edges are smeared in blood, but the words are clear.
Return the money or your daughter and her pretty new nanny are next.
I’ve got instant tunnel vision. Something’s crackling in my mind. Or maybe it’s the paper in my hands as I curl my fingers around it. Crushing it like it can eliminate the threat.
“This is about the money? Fuck them.” My teeth clench.
“We’re not negotiating.” Steel levels me with a gaze.
“I’m not risking my family for this shit.” I shove the note back in Steel’s hand, not missing that I just referred to Reagan as family.
“We won’t let that happen.”
“How are you gonna guarantee it? They’re digging, Prez. They found Sera to make a point when she hasn’t been around the club in years. They’ve got no fucking limits anymore.”
“Where’s Sera been?” Steel knows that even if Sera disappeared after handing over Bea, I’ve had Ghost keeping tabs on her for Bea’s sake.
“She was living just outside Portland last Ghost checked.”
“Oregon? Fuck,” Steel curses, realization sinking in. “I figured she was still in Vegas.”
I shake my head.
“They got her and dragged her back here…” His eyes darken. “They knew what they were doing.”
“They’re baiting us.”
“Yeah, and they know we won’t risk a direct attack with them rallying forces at their compound. They’re hiding behind those fucking gates and looking for something to piss us off enough to lure us out.”
“So we do the same,” Soul says, stopping beside Steel. “Two can play that game.”
“I’m not wrapping their family members in barbed wire and dropping them off at the gate. That’s not what we’re about.” Steel’s tone is deathly cold.
“I’m not suggesting we do that. But we can make this personal and hurt them without going through their family. We just need to get creative.”
Steel and Soul stare at each other for a moment before Steel finally nods. “Make it happen.”
Soul disappears with Chaos, and they’re already plotting.
Their lack of boundaries benefits the club in situations like this. At times when it’s all gone to hell, and there’s no easy way through it.
“How you holding up, Legacy?” Steel asks after a long beat. “That look on your face says I might need to call Monroe to post bail if you don’t chill the fuck out.”
“Not a bad idea.” I scratch my jaw. “Remember when it was Tempe the Iron Sinners were fucking with? I’m going to kill someone.”
“I get it.” He nods.
“My daughter.” I swallow hard. “Reagan.”
“You two are really turning into something? Are we talking about a property patch, or are you just having fun? Because this is a lot of shit to bring on her if it’s the latter.”
“Fuck if I know. If I was smart, I’d have kicked her out before this shit happened so she could still get out of this mess. But I can’t now, or she’ll just be an easy target.”
“And that’s the only reason you want to keep her here?”
I tilt my head back, not answering his question.
“All right.” He takes the hint, slapping a hand on the back of my shoulder. “You should go keep an eye on Sera and make sure she pulls through this. It’s been a long time since she’s been around here, and I sure as fuck didn’t see it going like this if she ever came back.”