Lady Luck - Ashby Crime Family

Sadie lit a cigarette, and Thomas was at her side in a split second with a crystal ashtray. She took a drag off the cigarette and blew the smoke away from the table. Trying to be respectful I guessed.

“They’re a novel motorcycle club trying to make a name for themselves. One of Ronan’s security guys saw the VP having a long, serious chat with none other than Brendan Rhymer. That could mean more trouble for all of us.”

“Jesus, Ma. You can’t be serious.” Jasper reached across the table and grabbed a cigarette from Sadie’s gold case. “You believe this shit?”

Sadie eyed Jasper with a cool green gaze. “Do you have information that says he’s wrong?”

“No. But I will. Soon.”

“Then shut up. When you have information, bring it to me, and I’ll be happy to listen to you. I don’t trust Ronan either, but until we know for a fact that he’s full of shit, we move forward as if it’s true. I’ve also put a call in to Cross of the Reckless Bastards to get more information.”

“What does that mean? Move forward as if it’s true?” Terry asked in an even voice, meant to cool the Irish tempers in the room.

“It means we need to work with Ronan and The Crusaders to find Savannah, only we need to find her first and see what the old fuck’s willing to give up to get her back.”

At her words, my mind immediately went to Vanessa and Fiona, and all the other women those thugs could be after just to get at the Ashbys. They’d all be in danger, and Vanessa had no idea she had a target on her back just because of where she worked.

“She could be anywhere by now.” The words were out of my mouth before I thought better of speaking out loud.

“That’s why I’ve called you all here. We need to find Savannah. Yesterday. It’s more than important; it’s necessary.”

“You think Brendan has her?” Virgil’s question had the whole room falling silent. “The Black Jacks are a small outfit, but they’re trying to take over Reckless Bastards’ territory. Most of their money is in heroin, meth and sex, all of which are good ways to hide a woman. Brendan would know that.”

“Shit,” Kat growled. “Not even sure the Rhymer Princess deserves either of those fates.”

“She doesn’t. So keep your eyes and ears open. If any of you spot anyone that looks like her, could be her, I want to know.” Sadie ended her command with a frown. “Get Cal’s scrawny ass down here, now,” she growled at her right hand man. Thomas nodded and left the room.

“We have to find her first.”

“We need extra security on all the women,” Terry said, his gaze focused on my face. “Vanessa and Maureen included.” Maureen waited tables at Midnight Mass, but even if she wasn’t close to the action like Fiona, she needed protection.

Sadie took another drag off her cigarette and stubbed it out. “Of course. In addition to finding Savannah, we still have to figure out who killed poor Fiona. Any leads, Jas?”

“No,” he sighed and dropped down in his seat. “If Calvin isn’t gonna be a part of this family, I need to know right now. Without his help it’ll take us longer to find what we’re looking for.”

“I’ll deal with it,” Sadie assured him and the steel in her voice almost had me worried about Cal, who had taken his woman’s side in some unknown family battle. “Anything else?”

“Yeah.” Terry stood and looked around the table. So far, nobody had asked about the bruises on his face. Maybe they thought he’d gotten on the wrong side with Kat and weren’t saying anything out of respect.

“We’re all worried about the people in this organization,” he said. “I understand that. But the fewer people who know about Fiona, the better.” His gaze locked on mine again. “Right now, the only leverage we have is that no one is talking about it.”

“He’s right. Keep your mouths shut about Fiona,” Jasper ordered. “I’ll make sure everyone is safe.” He looked around the room. “Everyone.”

I knew they’d do their damnedest to keep everyone out of harm’s way, but Lance and Fiona were proof that it wasn’t always possible. Which meant that as much as I had tried to put Army life behind me, it was now time to call on my training to make sure Vanessa was safe.

At all times.

At any cost.

I made my way to the door, and Terry came up behind me. I felt his hand on my shoulder, a touch I’d recognize above any other.

I didn’t turn around; he didn’t ask me to. He said low in my ear, “Whatever that was last night, it’s over. We have work to do here. That’s what’s important. You don’t get that, people could get killed. You good?”