Page 104 of Pretty Wicked Secrets

“It’s not all shit talking over in the warehouse district,” one of them says, “they’ve also been fucking with our businesses there.”

“Fucking no man’s land,” another one mumbles with a dark look.

“The warehouse district isn’t a no man’s land,” Logan says, giving him a cool look, “it’s a nexus.”

The guy glares. “A what now? Because I’ve been saying for years we should just clean house and take it the fuck over.”

I try to picture what I remember of that map on Maddoc’s wall, pretty sure I can make a guess about which area they’re talking about. It’s a run-down, industrial part of Halston near where we snatched Chloe from the middle of that drug deal. It’s also, if I remember correctly, the middle of a whole bunch of differently colored sections—gang territories—on Maddoc’s map.

“Cool it, Amari,” Dante says, a lazy smile on his face but a hard look in his eyes. “You know too much of the city’s business runs through there. We disrupt that shit and everyone loses.”

“Right now, we’re the ones who are losing,” Amari snaps back, scrubbing a hand through his hair. “West Point keeps fucking with our suppliers, and if we don’t fix our cash flow, we’re not gonna have any businesstorun through there.”

Maddoc’s jaw clenches. “I’m not going to let McKenna squeeze us out of business. Or out of Halston.”

“Okay, but cash flow has been getting low, boss,” one of the few women in the room says, her eyes flicking in my direction for a second. “Do we still have a plan for that? Because you know there’s been some unrest in the organization.”

The others chime in, discussing some of the logistical details of their various businesses and how the recent problems with West Point have been impacting Reapers’ day-to-day lives, and I can feel the worry in the room like it’s a living, breathing force. It’s funny, because before today, I never thought much about the money side of Halston’s gang activities. Listening in on this meeting gives me a new perspective, and I realize how badly they need the money Maddoc was planning to get by taking over Chloe’s inheritance.

But I also notice that when he reassures his people that he’s got it handled, he doesn’t mention that as an option anymore.

“We’re dealing with it, Tiff,” he says to the woman who brought up cash flow. “My seconds have been working on establishing profitable relationships with some new players.”

“Who?” she asks.

It’s Dante who answers her. “People who have reasons of their own not to be dealing with McKenna behind our backs.”

“Okay, but we’ve lost Mario Ricci’s casino now, yeah?” the guy they called Amari asks gruffly, looking back and forth between Maddoc and the men on either side of me. “Who’s gonna clean our money now that McKenna’s gotten to him?”

Dante’s hand tightens on my thigh. It’s the only outward sign of his irritation. “We’ve made arrangements with a couple new businesses in the area,” he says, his voice not giving any of his annoyance away at all. “Laundry ain’t gonna be a problem.”

Amari’s shoulders relax. “Good. West Point’s interference has always been a pain, but lately, not gonna lie boss, that pain has started to feel more like the kind of problem that’s putting what we’ve got at risk, you know?”

I can still see that little muscle ticking away in Maddoc’s jaw, but everything else about his demeanor radiates a cool confidence that his people respond to. The sign of a good leader.

“You don’t need to worry about our business partners. My brothers have them handled, and nothing’s at risk here. We’re gonna hang on to every inch of Reaper territory we’ve ever claimed, and our businesses are just fine. None of that shit is going to fall into West Point’s hands. Not ever.” He pauses, taking a moment to make eye contact with each member of his crew. “And neither is Chloe Sutton.”

I stiffen at the mention of my sister’s name. I really don’t want to be here to listen to their plans for her. I don’t want to find out that what Maddoc said to Austin McKenna was a lie.

“Finding Chloe is our main priority right now,” he tells his people, not looking my way. “This shit with The Six has lit a fire under McKenna, and now he’s fucking rabid. We need to keep her from falling into West Point’s hands. Understand? That’s where your focus needs to be right now.”

“Is she really worth as much as they’re saying, boss?” Vic asks, making me curl my hands into fists.

Maddoc’s eyes narrow. “She’s worth it.”

Vic grins. “We’re talking in the six figures, right?”

“No,” Maddoc bites out, giving Vic a look that wipes the grin off his face. “We’re not talking about an amount. We’re not talking about her money, period.”

My heart trips over itself, but several of the Reapers make angry sounds and the rest just look confused.

“But, Boss—” one of the angry ones starts.

“Wait, I thought the plan was, uh…” Tiff says at the same time, shooting me a look that makes me think they all know exactly who I am. And who Chloe is to me.

“The plan has changed,” Maddoc says, cutting them both off in a voice like steel. “We won’t be using Chloe’s inheritance, but we can’t let West Point get their hands on it, either. Our top priority is keeping McKenna from getting his hands on her. We need to find her first and make sure she’s secure. You got that? Because if I have to keep repeating myself, I’m going to start wondering whether I’ve put my trust in the right people in this organization.”

All the Reapers make the right noises at that, falling into line, except for one of them, who frowns. “But if we’re not gonna be using the girl’s money, why are we putting so much into tracking her down like this?”

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