Teller
“That’s our plan, then.”Rock runs his gaze over the brothers sitting at the table. “I don’t want to tip Merlin off too early, so we won’t split until we’re already out there. Ravage and Bricks will go with Merlin.” He nods at me. “Teller, Wrath, Dex, and Murphy, you’re with me.” He glances at Z.
“I’m with you.” Z nods at Rooster. “Stick with Merlin.”
“You got it.”
Z nods at Grinder and Jigsaw. “You two come with me.”
Jigsaw glances at Rooster, then Z. “Okay.”
“They left the package for me,” Dex says. “You think I should be at the meet with Merlin?”
Rock doesn’t usually appreciate having his orders questioned, but he seems to consider Dex’s observation. “You’re right. Just in case. Let’s do that.”
Dex nods.
“Also, before we leave, give Remy a call and see if they’ve had any issues with those guys out there lately.”
Dex pulls out his phone and stands. “I’ll do it right now.”
There’s a knock on the door and Bricks peers inside. “We got it, boss.”
Merlin brushes past Bricks and reclaims his seat next to Wrath. Something must’ve rattled him. His shifty gaze won’t settle on any of us. Instead, it bounces around—
the window, his hands, the table.
“Look, I, uh…” He glances at Wrath, then Grinder, maybe deciding sitting between our two enforcers isn’t the safest place to be. Especially since the last time he was in a room alone with Wrath, he got the shit beaten out of him. “I should come clean before we head out there.”
Wrath catches my eye and smirks.
“What’d you lie about now?” I ask.
“I didn’t lie.” He glares at me. “They only asked for fifty K.”
“What were you planning? Steal the rest and run?” I sneer.
He rubs his hand over the back of his neck. “Buy my way out of this thing with the president’s daughter and make sure Carter’s safe.”
“What’s wrong?” Wrath flashes a dickish smile. “Don’t feel like getting prodded down the aisle with a shotgun tomorrow?”
Merlin’s weathered face tightens with surprise. “You heard my call?”
“The highlights,” Wrath confirms.
He side-eyes Wrath. “I ain’t taking another beating from you.”
“I’ll decide that,” Rock says.
“You’re not my prez,” Merlin shoots back.
“Whoa.” I hold my hands in a “time out” gesture. “Whip out your dicks some other time.” I wait until I have Merlin’s attention. “On top of the chaos you’ve already caused, you fuckin’ lied to us. Why come clean right before we leave?”
He jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “My niece had a few choice words for me.”
Shit, I should’ve asked Hope to get Charlotte out of the clubhouse. Although, knowing how stubborn my woman can be, she wouldn’t want to be far from us.
I cock my head. “So you dug deep, found your conscience, and dusted it off?”