Sins of the Father (Ravens Ruin MC 1)

I expect her to argue, to tell me that’s not how things work around here, but her lips turn up, her smile matching my own.

“Looks like I’m no longer the only Princess around here.”

Damn straight.Chapter 41Lynch

All of my guys are waiting in the chapel when I arrive. Thick silence fills the room. It’s as if they’re holding their breaths to see what my reaction is going to be. I’ve vacillated with how I should respond. I’ve gone from praising them for carrying out plans I was too weak to do myself, and wanting to shoot each and every one of them for even questioning Zoe’s loyalty in the first place.

“Report,” I command.

“The headshot was close enough we think it will pass as a suicide,” Briar says.

I grunt. Not that it matters. I doubt the DEA is brave enough to challenge us again. We haven’t even heard whispers of them gearing up to come at us since the last raid when I was thirteen. They fucked up big time that day, and it cemented our ability to operate almost independent of any worry of interference.

“We discovered,” Hornet interrupts as he passes down a folder, “Miller hasn’t been working for the DEA for six months.”

“What is this shit?” The pictures in the folder don’t lie, but surely there’s something else going on to explain why Miller is with other bikers. “D.E.D.? We have no involvement with them.”

“The Dead End Demons, from what I’ve discovered,” Hornet continues, “have been contemplating taking over our territory.”

A rumble of laughs echoes around the room.

“Miller was on their payroll since his obsession with Ravens Ruin got him booted from the Agency,” Hornet adds.

“So we have a new enemy in Florida now?” As if the Colombians weren’t enough.

TJ snorts. “Not much of an enemy. They have like six guys down there. I wouldn’t even count them as a club.”

“There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent,” I mumble, quoting Lao Tzu, as I look down at the photos.

“Enough of that medieval shit,” TJ snaps. “Can we go down there and kill them?”

I look up at my brother, understanding exactly where his head is at. His thirst for blood wasn’t quenched today, and it’s hard to re-cage a beast when it hasn’t been fed.

“That’s as good a transition as I’m going to get,” Briar says. “Luis Jimenez contacted Smalls. He wants to set up a meeting.”

I grunt my disapproval. “Going down to Miami right now isn’t a good idea.”

“It’s been months,” TJ argues. His desire to eliminate the Demons may end up getting him killed by the Colombians.

“Months?” I glare at my brother. “I know you don’t value women on any level other than a couple of holes to fuck, but it takes most men more than a couple of months to get over the brutal murder of their wives.”

“I value women as more than just fuck toys.” TJ crosses his arms over his chest. “I also need them to cook and do my laundry.”

Chains huffs an agreement before he can stop himself.

“Idiots,” Briar says with a quick shake of his head. “I don’t know if turning down his invitation to the Sunshine State is a good idea.”

“But walking into an ambush is?”

“News is,” Hornet interjects, “Luis has been partying like crazy since Frances’s death. He married her to get Alejandro’s empire. Things are simpler now that she’s gone.”

“See?” TJ smirks. “Luis knows a woman’s worth.”

“Yeah,” Chains adds. “Multi-billion dollar cocaine empire.”

“I’ll go.”

My head snaps from my brother to Ronan. Today is the first time he’s been allowed in church since he patched in.

“There’s a catch.” My eyes go back to my closest friend. “He wants you there. Said he wouldn’t accept a stand-in.”

I can deny risking the lives of my men, but how in the hell do I refuse to make the trip without looking like a pussy?

The answer is simple, I can’t.

“When’s he expecting us?”

“Two weeks,” Briar answers.

“We’ll need to make arrangements,” I advise him.

TJ claps his hands in excitement. “And the Demons?”

“We leave them alone,” I insist.

Smalls clears his throat, and all of the chatter around the table ceases immediately. The man hardly ever speaks, so when he does, we all better fucking listen.

“Their VP is a fucking tech genius. He’d benefit us.”

“So patch him over?” TJ asks actually considering the idea. The club comes first, always.

“No,” Briar answers.

I nod at Briar already knowing where his head is at.

“We absorb the entire club,” I finish.

“That gives us what we need down south if negotiations don’t end in a bloodbath with the Colombians,” Hornet adds.

“Exactly,” I agree.

“A hostile takeover?” Chains asks.

“I don’t think so,” I tell my men. “They want a piece of the pie. I think their Prez will be smart enough to see a good deal when it’s presented to them.”

“And when that fucker doesn’t want to give up his patch?” TJ challenges as he pops his knuckles.