Page 6 of Smoke the Enemy

Taylor’s eyes widen and she pulls at the hem of her shirt. Her roommate Kali appears in the doorway. She gasps at Taylor’s lack of clothing, and then flips me off before slamming the door shut.

A chuckle escapes me as I rev my bike. Kali would kill me given the chance. I know that look in her eyes, and she has the guts to do it. I also know my Little Mouse. I’ve stalked and watched her for so long. She’s going to run.

That’s okay. Run, run, Little Mouse. I like to hunt.

“She’s gone,” Steffan informs me as he enters my room the next morning.

Let the hunt begin.

“She left this morning to go back to Mississippi. And I promised Mom for Thanksgiving break we’d go with her to North Carolina.”Of course, he did.A part of me doesn’t trust leaving Alex and Taylor unsupervised.

When I don’t answer he crosses his arms and huffs out, “What are you going to do? Follow her to Mississippi?” Steffan questions me as if he doesn’t already know the answer. Of course, I would. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours and I’m already itching to taste Little Mouse again. My brother’s head drops between his shoulders. “You’re delusional.”

Huh. Little Mouse suggested the same thing.

“No. You are, brother,” I tell him calmly. Much more calm than I feel inside.

In an obvious effort to change the subject, he says, “We still haven’t handled Van Doren. We have a meeting with the Fallen MC tonight. I know you’re ready to haul ass to Mississippi, but we have business. Father is expecting us to get our shit together.”

Fuck Bryce, the MC, and our father. I’m more concerned about the newest menace who’s crossed us. Van Doren has no power. Dupree — that’s a name that can influence The Illicit. That’s a name that can claim Taylor and fuck us over royally. Van Doren might be Steffan’s priority because of our father, but Dupree is mine, and it’s personal. His great-grandfather might’ve started The Illicit Brotherhood, but unfortunately that doesn’t hold shit in my book. Somewhere along the way, the DNA must’ve gotten too diluted. While Walter Dupree was a major badass, his descendant is… lacking. He’s more of a spineless, worthless dickhead. Just goes to show you can’t judge people by their family.Look at my father, also a spineless, worthless dickhead.

Steffan places a hand on my shoulder as I sit with my elbows propped on my kne,es. “You haven’t been home in a long time.”For good reason.“Mom misses you.”I’m right here if she wants to visit.“Let’s go home and regroup.”Let’s not.I can regroup here and not have our father breathing down my neck. “Mom wants to celebrate having you back. Hell, we haven’t had a chance to celebrate.”Whose fault is it that I was gone?

There’s no point in saying anything or arguing. Why argue with the past when we both see it so differently? It’s not Steffan’s fault. It’s our father’s, and just because I won’t argue about it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten it. My eyes are focused on the future. What Steffan doesn’t know yet is that I plan for us to rule The Illicit. He can be the face. Their leader and handle all those pesky social situations that I loathe. Meanwhile, I’ll have my influence and control without the politics and necessities that go with it. Because fuck that. I don’t have the patience to deal with the bullshit and red tape. I prefer to rule in the shadows from behind the throne.

I peek up to find my brother still studying me. He won’t be satisfied until I agree to go home. “Fine. Then send me your most trustworthy scab.” I thought that was the whole purpose of pledges.

“For what?”

“They’re getting a paid vacation to Mississippi.”

“Soren.”

“What? I hear it’s lovely this time of year.”

“This is your compromise, isn’t it?” He sighs as he swipes his phone screen.

I stand up and walk over to the mini bar. I pour the amber liquid into my tumbler as I wait for my brother to finish texting.

“He’ll be here shortly. I’ll message our pilot that we’re good to leave for Thanksgiving.”

I nod, and then I empty the glass in one swallow. Honestly, this trip home is the perfect trifecta. I’ll return home to see my mother, appease my brother, and set the foundation to destroy my father.

“Let’s go down. Lee is waiting with some of the scabs to drive us to meet with the MC.”

Lee. Steffan’s little golden retriever. Ready to do whatever he asks, fetch, or attack on command. “I’m ready.” I slam my glass down. “By the way, what treat do you give Lee when he’s been a good boy?”

“Fuck you. He just cares about The Brotherhood. He knows how important business is. He respects me as the leader of Delta Pi Theta,unlikeyou.”

“Oh, he obeys his master, that’s for sure. Does he have a collar, or does the tie work well enough. Do you lead him around by it? What’s his safe word?”

Instead of answering, he flips me off and exits the room. I follow along snickering. It’s too easy to get under my brother’s skin.

And I enjoy every freaking minute of it.

Secret Location in Alabama

Fallen MC Compound

---