Page 20 of Cold as Stone
Bones lifts a brow. “We worried about bugs in the clubhouse?”
Axel shakes his head. “No, but we can’t rule out surveillance. Summit might not be listening to us, but they’re watching. Devil’s got more foot traffic, more noise. Safer to talk there.”
“I’ve got more bad news,” Cash says, shaking his head. “They’re funding three seats in the local election. And they’ve pumped big money into those candidates.”
“Council elections are next week,” Mack, our Secretary, adds. “If Summit gets those seats, they’ll have the numbers to pushzoning change through. It’ll gut the local protections. They’ll be able to fast-track demolitions.”
“And the residents will be out on their asses,” I mutter, thinking of the families I’ve known my whole life who’ve lived in those homes for generations.
Stone nods. “Which is why we’re getting ahead of this. This lawyer—Josie—she specializes in land protection, council law, and corruption cases. She’s gonna tell us what legal recourse we have and whether we’ve got the legs for a class action.”
Hawk grunts. “Or if it’s time to stop talking and start punching.”
“No one’s throwing punches yet,” Stone says calmly. “We’re smarter than that.”
“But ready,” Tank adds. “Always ready.”
“What about the construction equipment?” I ask, thinking about our previous tactics. “Last time we had some success disabling their bulldozers to delay the work.”
Axel nods. “Still on the table. But they’ve upped security. Got ex-military types patrolling now, not just rent-a-cops.”
I lean back in my chair, gaze drifting over the old photos on the wall—rides long past, brothers we’ve lost. Summit thinks they’re dealing with townsfolk. They don’t understand that what they’re pushing against is blood, bone, and legacy.
They’re building condos. We’re protecting our people.
And I’ll burn their entire empire down before I let them take another inch.
“One more thing,” Stone adds, his gaze sweeping the room. “Devil’s new owner. Kya Sullivan.”
My shoulders tense at her name.
“What about her?” I ask, trying to keep my voice neutral.
“We need to know where she stands,” Stone says. “Devil trusted her, but this isn’t just about selling beer anymore. If we’re using her place for meetings, we need to be sure she’s solid.”
“She’s solid,” Duck says firmly. “She knows her place and what she owes the club. Girl’s got steel in her spine.”
“May be,” Stone concedes. “But Summit’s got deep pockets. And everyone has a price.”
The implication sends a flare of anger through me. “Not her,” I say, more sharply than intended. “You know her. She’s one of us.”
All eyes turn to me, and I realize I’ve said more than I meant to. Bones raises an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing at his lips.
“She was one of us. She’s been gone a long time.”
My jaw tightens at the unexpected skepticism in my dad’s tone. “Like Duck said, she’s solid.”
“She may be, but until we know for sure, she needs watching,” Stone decides. “Lee, that’s on you. Keep an eye on her, feel her out on Summit. See where her loyalties lie.”
Great. Just what I need—official orders to spend more time around the woman who’s already taking up too much space in my head.
Knew I should have stayed in bed today.
“Church dismissed,” Stone says, pushing back from the table.
As the others rise, Bones claps a hand on my shoulder. “You good?”
“Always.”
