I hold up my hand. “Should be easy. You’re the master, remember?” I can’t help it—Powers is a dick.
“You know we’re on the same side, right?” He motions with his hand back and forth.
“I’m taking care of everything.”
“You? You can’t do anything but go out to public places, maybe smile at the press, look like a hero, a Navy SEAL who’s a patriot and happy he’s out.”
“I am a patriot,” I say tightly.
“Perfect, that’s the look you give them. Now, let’s talk about Julianna Dutch.”
This time I do clench my fists. If this was anyone other than him, he’d probably be dead.
“What about her?” I say gruffly.
Powers looks at me, unfazed. “Her father and husband are upset that she’s with you. How do you want me to handle it?” He states everything as if it’s black or white, right or wrong.
“You aren’t doing shit. Julianna is none of anyone’s business, and she’s divorced.”
“Unfortunately, the husband has had a change of heart and is refusing to sign the papers.” He holds up his hand. “Listen, I don’t give a fuck about any of your personal life, except it’s adding heat to this case.”
I stare at him. He’s one of those men who are so fucking smart, so cutthroat that I actually respect him.
Deadly.
But instead of a gun or knife, he uses his brains. Still as powerful, but with fewer graves that need digging.
“Christ.” I rub the back of my neck, needing that cigarette. “Keep her out of it as much as possible.”
“Fine. I will instruct the father’s lawyer to contact Julianna’s lawyer to say we know nothing.” He grins.
Clearly, I’m missing something, but I’m too tired to care. Thank fuck we’re almost at the clubhouse.
“Anything else?” I ask, as the Lincoln turns onto the driveway leading up to the clubhouse, the gravel crunching beneath the tires like an old friend welcoming me home.
“Just be smart, stay low, and I’ll let you know when good things happen.”
“Will do.” I step out and slam the door. “Christ.”
A crowd of brothers forms around me, patting me on the back. When I look up at the porch, Axel’s standing there, smoking a cigarette, watching me.
“You want me to send you Tiffany?” Bear laughs, giving me a bro hug. He’s an old-timer who hasn’t caught on to the fact I’m with Julianna yet. He still rides and somehow keeps up.
I laugh. “Nah, not yet, brother. I’d take a cigarette though.”
He nods and pulls a pack from his pocket. “You know I got your back, Ryder.” He taps my chest with his fist.
“Thank you, brother.” I walk up the steps where Axel waits.
“I need a phone,” I say as I pass him and head toward the conference room, ignoring the cheers as I enter.
“And a fucking shower.” Axel snorts.
Standing, Blade grins and gives me a fist bump. I take in the table where all my brothers sit waiting expectantly.
“What’d I miss?” I drop into my chair and light the cigarette. As I close my eyes, I inhale deeply. “We ready to go tonight?”
Blade lights up and sits back down. Axel sits to his right, and Frosty types frantically on his laptop.
“We’re ready.” He exhales.
“And Pavel? Did you get to Pavel?” I look over at Axel.
He smirks. “Yeah, I got him.”
Rip and Edge shake their heads and everyone laughs.
“What?” I motion for the bottle of Jack. Ox slides it over.
“Axel thought it would be more effective to approach him while Amanda was still choking on his cock.” Rip snickers.
“Yeah, he wasn’t happy to see me,” Axel says. “But we worked it out.” Grinning, he scoops up a huge wad of Amy’s guacamole on a chip.
“So, he’s on board?” I look around the table.
“He’s on board and gave us everything we need.” Blade’s eyes narrow. “He’s ready to move now. He wants the throne. Do I think we can trust him? No. But I think we can trust him to help us get him where he wants to be. He’s smart and fearless. That makes him powerful, and Misha knows it. Which is why I’m sure he did what he did with Pavel’s woman. He made a serious enemy, and Pavel wants to be the one to put the bullet in his head.”
“He can stand in line.” I snort, reaching for a handful of chips, ready to grab the entire bowl. Fucking jail food sucks, and Amy’s guacamole is legendary.
“I want to do this tonight. The sooner the better, after my get-out-of-jail talk from the lawyer.”
Blade nods. “Agreed. Can you get those sensors down, Frosty? Or do I need to have Lodestar?”
Frosty keeps typing on his laptop, smiling, not taking Blade’s bait. “I’ll be there every step of the way.” He pushes his glasses up. “Eight PM is the magic hour. They switch agents at four. By eight, one is sleeping so the other can be up later.”