Page 73 of Deranged (American Street Kings 3)

Granite shrugged. “I’d do everything for my men.”

Crow glanced at me, eyes narrowed. “We down for business?”

“Yeah, man.” I probably should have been a little more excited over the fact that we just got our biggest client and ally back, but everything about this night felt off. Distorted. Fucked the hell up.

“Crow,” Granite started, “we got something you should know.”

“What?”

Granite shot me a knowing look, slightly nodding for me to chip in to the conversation.

I cleared my throat. “You probably heard about the new snow on the street.”

“Yeah, I heard. I’ve been tapping into every resource I have, but we can’t find the fuckers.”

“It’s the Pythons.”

Crow stiffened, dark eyes narrowed into angry slits. “Slither?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah. This whole setup tonight was a ploy to keep you occupied while their next shipment hit town.”

Granite stepped up, holding out his phone so Crow could see the pictures they took. “It’s been the Pythons all along.”

Crow’s expression went from pale, to red, to downright fucking dark. “So, while this fucker has been taking my money, he’s been fucking with my business too?”

I shrugged. “Seems like it.”

Crow whistled, waving a few of his guys to join the conversation. He turned halfway, whispering something to his VP before facing us again. “Before the crack of dawn, Slither and his crew will take their last breath. You in?”

“Fuck, yes.” There was no need to check with my crew, no need to take a vote. I already knew where everyone’s minds were. This had been coming for years, the day when we finally took back what was rightfully ours, giving that son of bitch what he deserved. And after his latest stunt, using his sister as a rat, infiltrating us by fooling me—now I wanted his blood more than ever.

Crow nodded. “We ride now. Make sure you’re packing heavy shit.” He turned and walked off to the rest of his crew.

Granite stepped up to me. “You okay with this?”

“That’s shitty question, brother. Of course I’m okay with this. We’ve been waiting years for this.”

“Yeah, but this whole thing with Wraith complicates—”

“It ain’t complicating shit. She’s with our enemy, that makes her an enemy too.” Not wanting to spend another second on the topic, I faced Manic. “Call Ink. Tell him this shit is going down tonight. He’s finally getting the blood he wants.”

“Onyx—” Granite followed me to the van, but I held up my hand, my back turned to him.

“Don’t. I’m good. I just want all of this to end.” I hopped into the cage and slammed the door shut. “And tonight, it ends.”

“She’ll be there.”

“She made her choice.”

“Listen,” he placed his arm on the edge of the open window, “one thing I’ve learned, when it comes to Slither, nothing is as it seems.”

I glared his way. “What are you saying?”

“What I’m saying is I know you’re hurt. I know what it feels like to realize you have a weakness after thinking there was nothing that could limit you. Nothing that can break you.”

“What’s your point?” Last thing I needed was some psychobabble bullshit from my brother who suddenly thought he became an expert in life simply because he found an old lady to keep his bed warm at night.

“My point is don’t make harsh decisions without getting all the facts…especially when you’re hurt.”

---