She releases me, stops to talk to Rock, then sits next to Charlotte, curling an arm around her shoulders.
Rock motions for us to move toward the war room. Wrath, Merlin, and I enter last. Brothers scowl as we enter with Merlin. Rarely—if ever—do we have members of other clubs at our table. Even though we were always on good terms with the Wolf Knights MC, that was because of their old president, Ulfric. My brothers are all aware how shitty Merlin’s treated Charlotte in the past and don’t seem in a forgiving mood tonight.
Dex stands. “Does he need to be here?”
Rock throws him a sit-down-and-shut-up glare. “Merlin’s got information we need.”
“Let’s hurry the fuck up.” Ravage pounds his fist against his palm. “Little dude isn’t built for this kinda shit. It ain’t right.”
“Easy, bro,” Wrath warns. “We all want Carter back, but we need to know what we’re dealing with.”
Merlin stares at Wrath with wide eyes. Shocked, I guess, that Wrath, of all bikers, is concerned about his nephew. The kid Merlin likes to imply is gay because he didn’t want to join his MC.
Wrath seems to sense Merlin’s disbelief and focuses his scary eyes on him. “Carter’s club family. We protect our own.”
Wrath’s meaning couldn’t be clearer. Unlike you.
If I thought Merlin was capable of feeling shame, I’d say that was what was turning the fucker’s cheeks red.
No one wants to give up their seat to Merlin. He ends up wedged in a chair between Grinder and Wrath, the two enforcers.
Merlin does a double take, shifting his body in the large wooden chair. “When’d you get out, brother?” he asks Grinder.
“While ago.” Grinder waves off the attention. “We can catch up when we get Carter back.”
“All right.” Rock paces behind his chair at the head of the table. “Here’s what we know. Carter was at his friend’s apartment downtown. He was standing next to his car, talking to her. A van pulled up. Two men dressed in black grabbed Carter and wrestled him into the back of the van.”
“He fought back?” Merlin’s incredulous tone stokes my rage.
“That’s what the girl said.” Rock’s clipped answer suggests he expects no interruptions. “Carter’s friend says there were at least two more guys in the van—one behind the wheel and one who threw the doors open.”
“Bianca called the cops.” I pick up where Rock left off. “She got stuck giving them statements but called Charlotte. She got a partial plate number.”
“I ran it,” Z says, “But it’ll take days to track down every vehicle on the list.”
“Vermont or New York plates?” Merlin asks.
“New York.”
“Finally…” I raise my voice. “Dex left Crystal Ball and found a package waiting on his bike, addressed to Charlotte. That was the box you saw at the house. The message inside was for you.”
Murphy leans forward, staring Merlin dead in the eye, and presses his index finger against the table. “Start. Talking.”
Merlin hangs his head and seems to gather his thoughts. Or he’s trying to decide how free he wants to be with information that might get him killed.
“Who’s been trying to reach you?” Rock asks. “Let’s start there.”
“What’s left of Sons of Satan MC.”
“Motherfucker,” Z growls. “Those assholes, again?”
“It’s not quite like that.” Merlin runs his hand over his head. “I think I know why they went after my family.”
“Enlighten us,” Rock says.
“I’ve been out on the road.” He meets my eyes. “You know that.”
I acknowledge it with a chin lift.