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“His murder,” I clarified.
“Ain’t a soul disputing that, pres.”
Fuck. “This shit has me all twisted.”
“I know. You’re not alone in that. It’s eatin’ up me and Lou, too.” He dropped his hand and reached for his beer, taking a long swallow.
“There’s got to be a way this all connects. Howie Baker killed himself and died with his secrets. We still don’t know if he knew shit about Laurel or the Dirty Death. The feds are involved. Agent Carson Phillips worked with Callie’s sister Sadie to bring down Mayor Elliott Goodman and the DOLL Agency. Those human trafficking assholes as still out there. We haven’t even dealt with that shit yet.”
“No. We haven’t. Can’t take on the whole world at once, Crow.”
I didn’t need him to tell me that.
“What about that house in the desert? The one we raided with the Tonopah Royal Bastards? Why the fuck does Undertaker have property out in the desert close to Tonopah when his land is on the border of Nevada and California?”
“All good questions.”
“I don’t like not having the answers, Raven. It leaves the club vulnerable.”
“And our women, including your sister.”
“Fuck,” I spat, swinging back another shot of whiskey.
“Heard from Carrion?”
“No. I haven’t seen him since our conversation.” The one where he told me that I had to trust him and listen if I wanted to keep Bella and Gail safe.
“Me either. Makes me anxious.”
“Right now, we keep a low profile. Watch over The Roost and our ol’ ladies. Undertaker’s deadline has passed. If he wants to come for us, he will. We’ll be ready.”
“You callin’ in help from the reapers?”
Our brothers in the Tonopah Royal Bastards were a crucial part of my plan. “Already done. Grim said he’s sending the best. They should arrive tonight.”
Raven slid from the stool. “Church?”
“Yeah. We got a lot of shit to discuss.”
It turned out that I never got away to meet Bella for dinner. I sent her a few texts, and she didn’t seem upset, but I hated that I had to cancel.
The hour had grown late by the time I returned to the apartment I shared with Bella on the upper floor of The Roost. I’d spent far too many late nights away from her lately, and guilt swept through me. We’d fucked often, but it wasn’t the quality time she’d asked for. I longed to drop everything and hold her close, giving her whatever she wanted. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for my queen.
Carrion knew this. It was why he made me promise. My chest ached as I entered, noting almost all the lights were out. Shit. She was asleep. When this was over, I’d do right by her.
As I entered our bedroom, I could tell Bella slept from the rumpled blankets on the bed, and I didn’t want to wake her. The moonlight filtering through the window was too dim to make out her features, but I didn’t need to see her beauty to know my ol’ lady was there.
I slowly stripped off my cut and draped it over a chair. My keys and wallet were placed on my dresser. Kicking off my boots, I sat on the edge of the mattress and reached for her, needing that tiny bit of connection to her to ground me. With Carrion’s revelations and the urge to hunt down Undertaker, I had to hold her.
Something wet and sticky coated my fingers as I slid them over the large mounds, not feeling warmth or catching that unmistakable sweet scent of hers that always lingered in my room and on my clothes.
For a split second, terror overtook me. I couldn’t move. I struggled to breathe.
My crow croaked outside, his throat rattling as he cried out.
And then I stood, rushed to the lamp, and flipped the switch, illuminating the room and my bed. Red. All I fucking saw was red. It splashed the walls. Streaked across the mattress. Stained everything in my vicinity.
Blood. So much fucking blood.
