Merlin ambles up behind Rooster. A smug grin twists his mouth. I hate even the appearance that my club’s aligned with him. His shitty decisions led to this entire mess. And somehow, he managed to use my club to extract himself from the problem he created.
“You find Carter?” Merlin asks, as if he actually cares.
“Yes,” I answer.
“June?”
“Yup.”
He nods and hooks his thumb in his belt. “What’re we doing?”
Rock slaps his hand against Merlin’s chest, pushing him back a few steps, where Z intercepts him with a hand between his shoulder blades.
“Give me a reason not to burn you with them,” Rock seethes.
Merlin glances down at Rock’s hand. “I’m club family?” He lifts a shoulder. “Your son’s marrying my niece.”
“Loyalty makes you family. Not blood,” Rock sneers. “Try again.”
Still wedged between our two presidents, Merlin slides the backpack off his shoulder and carefully tosses it at my feet. “I didn’t run with your boy’s money.”
Rooster’s gaze shifts from Z to Merlin to Rock, like he’s caught between having something to add to the conversation, but not wanting to stick up for Merlin.
“Spit it out, Rooster,” Z says.
“Merlin stopped this scumbag from stabbing me in the chest.” Rooster slams his boot into Whitey’s leg, right above the bullet hole.
Whitey howls. His body rocks back and forth, like he’s trying to turn himself over.
Dex is also slow to come to Merlin’s defense. “Things got chaotic. He could’ve bailed, but he stood with us.”
“Aww, so touching,” Thumbs snickers.
Murphy kicks his arm. “Shut your mouth. My brother hasn’t decided how hard you’re gonna die tonight.”
I wave the knife at Thumbs and he snaps his mouth shut.
“I’ve been trying to do the right thing,” Merlin says.
“Right thing woulda been marrying my daughter,” Whitey shouts. “Fuckin’ scumbag.”
“Or not fucking her at all,” the other guy, who I now recognize is Sticks, adds.
Merlin rubs a spot between his eyes, like the whole night is giving him a headache.
You and me both.
“We don’t have time for a big production.” I nudge Rock’s shoulder. “We killing them here or at the funeral home?”
“Here will be easier. Less chance of them getting loose.” Rock shoots one final warning glare at Merlin and releases him. Z steps closer to Rock, whispering something in his ear.
I nod to Merlin. “Whitey’s all yours.” I refuse to be the only one killing men tonight.
Merlin nods and pulls out a revolver.
“Get him up.” I motion to Thumbs with my gun.
Murphy pulls Thumbs to his feet.