Page 103 of Cinder
“Look who finally decided to join us,” Beast says, giving me a disapproving look from the head of the table.
I’ve walked in mid-conversation, but it only takes me seconds to catch up.
“Who were the men?” Stone asks.
Beast sits back in his chair. “Low-rent muscle. No information.”
“No brains left in their heads either,” Axe says, giving me a look. “Thanks to our enforcer.”
I show him my middle finger.
Beast ignores us. “Doesn’t matter. They were hired thugs. There to transport only.”
“Are we sure it’s the Olicheckoff Bratva behind it?” Viking asks.
“The women never saw him. But they heard his name mentioned enough for it to terrify them,” Beast explains. “There are some middlemen in between him and us.”
“Do we even have a location on Viktor Olicheckoff?” Viking asks.
“He’s as slimy as an eel in a bucket of oil,” Gambit replies. “You’d have better luck catching a bullet mid-air.”
“He’s spent his life making detection difficult,” Beast adds. “But Bram was able to locate a possible location.”
“So when do we pay the asshole a visit?” Axe asks.
“We wait for the heat to blow off this. Let the feds do their thing. Help the girls. A couple of days. I don’t want to pull the trigger until we’ve lined up the shot.” He looks at the men around the table. “Today we celebrate.”
The mood in the room instantly changes.
Palms bang on the table and wolf whistles ring around the room.
It takes me a second to realize what he’s talking about.
Sticky and Dani are getting married.
“Now let’s get these two married.” Beast brings down the gavel to signify the end of church.
The chapel empties quickly because my club brothers are ready to put this Bratva business on the burner so they can celebrate. And if there’s one thing we know how to do well, it’s celebrate.
But before I can leave, Beast stops me. “Hang back a moment.”
I know the tone. For me, celebrating is going to have to wait.
“I know what you’re going to say, and I know, being late for church is a cardinal sin but?—”
“You’re getting pussy. I get it. And I’ll give you this one pass. But we’ve got shit going down and I need you to be more present.” He smiles. A rarity. And I know I’m forgiven. “It’s good to see.”
“It’s not what you think.”
I don’t know why I’m downplaying it to my best friend.
Maybe it’s because what is happening between me and Ella is something special. Something to protect. Something I want to keep all to ourselves because it is so precious.
“I need you to run an errand before wedding celebrations kick off,” Beast says.
“What do you need?”
“I want you and Bear to take the truck and drive out to the address Bram found for Viktor Olicheckoff. See if you can see anything. But this is on the quiet. Recon only. Then get your asses back here in time for the wedding.”
