Page 21 of Vengeful Union

“He’s green, that’s for sure. I don’t like him. He’s too slick, always has an answer for everything.” His frown deepens. “Now that I think of it, he’s not done any jobs. Always seems to stay around here, trying to be close.”

I nod. “As though he’s trying to find out information.” If he’s a cop, he’s going to rue the day he tried to fuck with me.

“You smelling pig?” Jacob asks low, glancing around to ensure he’s not being overheard. If it gets out that there’s a cop in the organization, there will be an uprising. The men will vie for blood, and I’ll be seen as less than capable of being their leader. I need to nip this shit in the bud before it comes out.

I nod. “Always knew there was something not right with the kid. I overheard him and Destiny talking. He told her to be careful. He was warning her about me.”

Jacob’s swift intake of breath is barely audible. “What the fuck?”

“Yeah, my thoughts exactly. But then the ice princess called him out and said he was either undercover or had a vendetta against us.”

Jacob smiles appreciatively. As soon as he saw Destiny, he wanted her. I’ll kill him before he can even try. “She’s fucking smart.”

A little too smart for an eighteen-year-old. She reminds me of Makenna. She knows more than she should, and I’m determined to find out what. I doubt she’s involved in the Carter organization, especially with what she said about her father. But there’s something I’m missing, and I fucking hate not being in the know.

“She cautioned Bannon, told him what he’s doing is dangerous. That if she can figure him out in two weeks, then we already know. She encouraged him to walk away, to make his escape before he ends up six feet under.”

Jacob’s brows nearly hit his hairline. “And just what did Bannon say to that?” The anger in his voice is understandable. We have a traitor among us.

“He whispered, ‘I can’t’,” I tell him. “Which means, he doesn’t have enough evidence against me, or he’s got a vendetta and he won’t stop until he’s ruined me.”

Jacob’s lips curve up at the corners. “Nah,” he says with a shake of his head. “No, this boy ain’t going to ruin anyone. We’re going to figure out who he truly is and what he wants. When we do, we’ll be the ones to ruin him.”

And this is why Jacob’s my right-hand man. He knows me inside out. “I’m sending him to work with Alex from now on. He’s to be his shadow. You talk to Alex, inform him of what we’ve uncovered. I want him watching him like a fucking hawk. He doesn’t take a piss without Alex knowing.”

“On it,” Jacob says, and swiftly turns on his heels and walks away.

Entering my office, I see Bannon seated, his eyes glued to his cell. Christ, the fucker doesn’t even know I’m in the room. Definitely not a cop. If he is, he really needs some lessons in awareness.

I slam the door closed behind me, and he jumps to his feet, his eyes wide as he fumbles while trying to put his cell away. His cheeks redden as he shuffles from foot to foot. “Boss,” he says, stuttering a little.

“Sit down, Bannon,” I instruct. I’m in no mood to be pleasant to this arsehole.

He shakily sinks into the chair he just vacated. “Is everything okay, boss?”

I nod, barely able to contain my snarl. “Yes. I called you in here as I need to speak with you about something.”

He doesn’t lift his head; his eyes downcast, staring at his hands, which he keeps wringing together. “Sure, boss, what’s up?”

His behavior is edging on disrespect. “For the next two weeks, you’ll be shadowing Alex.” At my words, he lifts his head, the surprise clear in his wide eyes. “As you know, Alex is someone who is respected and is on the way up the ladder. He’s the man who’ll let me know if you have what it takes to become more than a soldier.”

His mouth opens and closes. He’s resembling something akin to a goldfish right now. “Um...” he stutters. “I don’t know what to say.”

I raise a brow. Jesus, this guy is such a fucking sap. “Don’t fuck it up,” I tell him, glaring at him as he continues to stay seated. “You can go now.”

He gets to his feet and fucking bows at me. “Thanks, boss.”

As soon as the door behind him closes, I reach for the phone and call my uncle. He’ll be able to get me any information I need. Killian Gallagher is one of the fucking best, and if he can’t find it, then I’ll call Melissa and see if she can get it done as she is the best, but Killian knows my men, knows all the men, he can find out shit that most can’t.

I need him to uncover everything he can about Destiny Carter, and I need it done today.

9

Destiny

“Follow me,” the bastard says with a smile a few hours later.

I glare at him. He’s a pushy motherfucker. I’m still pissed at myself for how I reacted to the kiss earlier. I hate how he made my body light up, that he could have me in a whimpering mess within a matter of minutes.

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