Page 54 of Cruel Biker

Venom looked toward Maverick.

“He needs to be here,” Maverick said. “Until further notice, I want everyone here. Anyone with a link to the club has to stay here. Do you understand me?”

Venom didn’t like this. It was dangerous.

“Does that include Morwenna?” Bolt asked.

“Yes, she needs to be on lockdown as well. If she doesn’t want to stay here, I’ll talk to her father, because I know he can protect her.”

Venom ran a hand down his face.

“Okay, wait a fucking minute. We’ve had two practice lockdowns, which tend to lead to something bad. Do you really think that is a good plan right now? I don’t know how Karamazov is—”

“He’s your worst nightmare,” Maverick said. “Trust me on this, son, this is not a group to be trifled with.”

Bolt frowned. “A group, but you’ve called it a he? None of this is making any fucking sense.”

“They’re targeting Romano Mafia. They’re looking to expand,” Maverick said. “That has to be why.”

“Why pin the drugs on them?” Venom asked. “That makes no sense.”

“It makes them weak,” Maverick said. “It’s something they’re not used to. Once they are weak, he can pick them off one by one, and they’re so busy covering their asses from one sting, it will be too late before they even realize what is happening.”

“And that means he’d be coming for us,” Venom said.

“Time is of the essence.” Maverick got to his feet and pulled out his cell phone. “Church is dismissed.”

“Hold on one fucking second. For those of us who don’t want to shit their pants at how you’re all reacting, do you want to tell the rest of us that don’t know what the Karamazov bullshit actually is?” Bolt asked, raising his voice to be heard in the room.

Venom looked toward Maverick.

“For the longest time, Karamazov was considered a nightmare story people told each other to make them afraid. Mainly because no one who came into contact with them survived. All that was left was a bloody mess,” Maverick said. “Some believed it was shit the mafia made up, we’re talking Italian, Spanish, even the fucking Irish mafia made this shit up. But then, slowly, word spread, as did the mess. Karamazov became a voice no one messed with. They spread and take over.”

“Okay, so why is this such a big deal? Seriously, if they’re so bad, why don’t people take them out?” Bolt asked.

Venom looked to him. “No one knows who they are. They’re like ghosts.”

“What?” Bolt asked.

“How can someone come in, kill everyone, take over, and no one knows?”

Venom shrugged. “It is what it is. And it can start with the craziest of things, like drugs in an area.”

He didn’t like this.

“They could already be here,” Venom said. “We’re closely connected to the Romano. We could be their target as well.”

“Why do you think I want to act quickly?”

Venom didn’t like this. People could be watching, waiting, lurking for the truth.

Maverick had already dismissed the club, so Venom made his way outside. Like always, he didn’t sit, so it was easy for him to get to the exit, and as soon as he was able, he was out of the damn club. He made his way toward his bike, and as he did, Bolt arrived.

“You need to tell Morwenna to come to the club,” he said.

Venom knew it was going to put her in danger.

He needed to cut ties. This was fucking bullshit.