He made his way back to Czar, and the others crowded around the grill and picnic table. Czar nodded at him. “Long day,” he acknowledged. “Every time I thought she could rest, more of those women would show up and she’d have to start all over again.”
Savage glanced toward the sleeping figure curled up in the dark of the trees. “She didn’t have to, Czar.”
“She has way too much compassion in her to turn down crying or scared women,” Czar said. “You know that. I said no, but she just gave me that little smile of hers and went right to them and started talking. She’s a handful. So damn sweet and does whatever the hell she wants.”
Savage nodded. “She is sweet. She nods and smiles, and everyone around us thinks she’s my little submissive baby, but that woman is going to please me when she wants to and then go her own way when she feels like it.”
Destroyer gave a little sound in his torn throat that sounded like a growl. “Women need a firm hand, Savage.”
“Preferably right on their ass,” Maestro added. “Hard.”
“Grateful for the advice from two men who don’t know shit about women,” Savage said. Czar handed Savage a plate with his steak. “It’s best not to listen to them. Neither one of them knows what they’re talking about.”
The three men filled Czar in on what they had found out as they ate. The hit men had each been contacted via email. They were instructed to pick up their assignment and money and where to do the job. The Venomous club had three men, the president and two of his highest-ranking members, targeted to be killed. At approximately the same time, four of the highest-ranking members of the Diamondbacks were to be removed. And Torpedo Ink had the most on the list. The men who had taken the job had no idea who put out the hits or why. They had provided many of the names on the hit list, which was how Savage and the others were able to get the identities of the others so quickly.
“So we still don’t know who is behind this?” Czar said. “It’s a pretty damn brazen hit.”
“If we separate it from what Seychelle told us about the Russian woman and the Ghosts it brings it back to Brandon,” Savage said. “Look at who they wanted killed in Torpedo Ink. Reaper, Ice, Storm. Alena. Those four are enemies of Tawny. She hates them. You threw her out, Czar. If she is partners with Brandon, or thinks she is, then he wants me dead and she wants all of you dead. All those other suggestions he planted in those women are for his amusement. He wants to create chaos. In a way, he already has among the clubs.”
“There could be something to that,” Czar said.
Reaper nodded. “The little pissant. He needs to go, Czar.”
“I agree, but I’m betting if we take this to Plank, he’ll pull the plug on him and it won’t fall on us. Lana managed to intercept the Demon informer to the Feds and bring him here to Seychelle. She got rid of the suggestion. That wasn’t on Brandon for sure. That was definitely our Russian woman who works for the Ghosts,” Czar said.
“Seychelle,” Savage whispered under his breath. He pushed his empty plate to the side and got up, going to the largest tree straight beyond the firepit. He took his time before he found the perfect branch, a thin one he cut off and brought back to the table.
Most of the members had drifted off, leaving only Destroyer and Maestro drinking beer with him while he trimmed the branch into a perfect switch. Once he had that ready, he set the scene he wanted, pulling out the few tools he would need if Seychelle was up for his kind of kinky needs, then he went to her with a cup of coffee in his hands, the to-go mug with a lid that she particularly liked. “You’re waking up for me, baby.”
It took a couple of moments of calling to her before she blinked up at him as she sat up, pushing at her hair. “You’re back.” A slow smile of welcome lit her face. Her eyes.
His stomach performed that slow somersault he was used to now. “Have dinner ready for you, Seychelle. Did you see any of my text messages?” He’d given her a few instructions just in case she was up for a night of dirty, sinful lessons.
Her blue gaze clung to his. “I must have fallen asleep. I’m sorry, babe. I should have stayed awake just in case you needed me earlier.” She picked up her phone where it was lying on the sleeping bag beside her.
“It’s no big deal, angel. Czar told me you worked on those women all day, even though I told you not to do it without me.” He didn’t bother to sound stern. It wouldn’t make a difference. She’d already done it.