Page 70 of A New Era

“For fifteen grand a month, I want you not only to be blind to us, but I want to make sure no one else starts looking into us and if they do, you keep us in the know.”

“Deal.”

If she thinks this will make me trust her, she’s dead wrong. Never trust a cop and never fully trust someone you have to pay for loyalty.

“Your first payment will be waiting at home for you by the end of your shift. Now fuck off.”

She reaches her car without argument and an idea hits me.

“I’m getting married tomorrow, make sure no one comes through town that’s not meant to.”

“You got it.”

Well, that was easy, borderline too easy. I watch her cruiser drive away and turn to find my dad behind me.

“I had the prospect record your exchange. I couldn’t tell myself what went down though.”

“She came in peace. For fifteen G’s a month, she’ll turn a blind eye to us and give us a heads up if anyone starts looking into us.”

“And you agreed?”

“For now. I’ll reassess from month to month. If it works out, she’ll remain alive. If not, she’ll disappear. I ain’t fuckin’ about.”

He nods. “Come on, let’s welcome the brothers.”

Chapter Eighteen

Leo

Ikeep hearing how the brothers plan on getting me wasted to the point I don’t remember my name but there’s business to be dealt with before the brothers can’t speak at all and are distracted with drink and pussy.

I neck the shot of tequila the prospect hands me, hoping it will keep me level-headed for the next however long as I’ve called for everyone to get their asses into the back room. It’s a tight squeeze with the extra brothers in town. I take my seat and pick up the gavel.

“It’s hella weird not seeing you at the head of the table, Cas,” Wyatt points out to Dad.

“You’ll get used to it.”

I bite down on my smirk. I doubt there’s a man alive who will ever get one over on my dad. I slam the gavel down and a hush falls over the room. Brothers give me their full attention and I begin, “To start with, we’ll update you on our relationship with the Haywards. We’ve all benefited from their money in one way or another. We’ve been searching for Effie Rathbone for too fuckin’ long. A couple of weeks ago she made us an offer, one I declined, and one Luca accepted as a way of getting close to her. When the time is right, we’ll take her out.”

“What happens when she’s taken out regarding our deal with the Haywards?” Wyatt asks.

“They haven’t been too forthcoming with their plans as of yet but I’m sure we’ll deal with it when we have to.”

I lean on the table and continue, “We’re all here today because of my wedding but it’s been a long time coming that we all meet since I took the gavel. And I’m glad we are. Our Southern brothers are in trouble and have recently been run out of their town.”

Mocking murmurs float around the room while Wyatt and Creep, Jonah, and Cookie shrink in their chairs.

“I want to know what’s been going on in each of your chapters that you’ve kept from this chapter?”

JP shakes his head, Gabe shakes his head, and Wyatt won’t meet anyone’s eye.

“Don’t be fuckin’ shy,” I grunt. “I want everything laid out at the table tonight. If it affects the club, I don’t care how small a problem might be, I want to hear it.”

“Life’s been good to us, Leo. If we had trouble at our door, I would’ve let you know by now,” JP says. “We’re simply here to celebrate your wedding with you all and catch up with everyone.”

Gabe speaks up. “There’s been no trouble with us since your last visit to the mountain. The business has returned to normal and we’re all enjoying the cash it comes with.”

“So it’s just our Southern brothers who are the weak links in this club.”

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