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“What’s Ranford’s position?”
“He’s been in town and again, I don’t know where.”
“Carnage is a big place. It has a lot of old abandoned farms and shit like that. It’s not hard to get lost,” Grant said.
Bull blew out a breath.
“What is it?”
“I keep thinking about our old man,” Bull said. “What he’d do in a situation like this?”
“Why are you thinking about him? He got us into this mess.”
“Did he?” Bull asked.
This was new. Other than Maddie, Grant couldn’t remember a time Bull doubted himself, and certainly not his leadership.
“Am I dreaming right now? Seriously, we both know Dad did this. He got us into this mess and you got us out.”
Bull snorted. “I didn’t get us out. We’ve still been making the fucking runs.” Bull shook his head. “We’ve been nothing but fucking messengers, keeping the vultures at bay, and now they’re coming to pick us off.”
“Dude, even vultures can be shot down. Sure, they’re scary fucking birds, but last time I checked, a bullet still killed them.”
Bull laughed. “When was the last time you killed a bird?”
“Never have, but I’ve seen those wildlife documentaries. Trust me, everything can be killed.” Grant took a long swig of his water. “We just need to know when to strike.”
“We’ve got to draw them out.”
“Well, I know we’ve got at least two draws,” Grant said. “Actually, make that three.”
“What?” Bull asked.
“We’ve got the dogs, Ranford, and Julio’s resting place.”
“All three of them are risky,” Bull said.
“I guess we’re going to have to take risks to protect everyone in the club,” Grant said. “And you’ve got me, so four. I’m your brother, so you can offer me up as bait. You know I’d be awesome.”
Bull shook his head. “I’m not going to do that.” Bull ran a hand down his face.
“Don’t go doubting yourself, Bull. You’re better than our old man, and you can’t forget that.”
“What has gotten into you to be so nice?” Bull asked.
“I guess I’m in better company.”
Bull laughed. “Aria. She was never your type before.”
Grant looked at his brother and it was on the tip of his tongue to tell him to go fuck himself. “When I was nine years old, I ran home and told Dad about an amazing girl at school. She was smart and nice and kind. Dad knew her name. It was Maddie French. I never had the guts to actually talk to this girl, but when I told him about her, not that I liked her or anything, he removed his belt and whipped me real good. Told me that under no circumstances would a son of his ever be with a fat whore.”
“Grant?”
“That wasn’t the only time that happened. Whenever he thought I was staring at a woman he believed to be a little on the large side, I’d get a beating. I’m no fucking coward, Bull, but at nine years old, I didn’t think to hit back. I learned how to survive. It was easier to bully women like Maddie, look away from what I wanted, and screw who I thought would impress Dad.” Grant shook his head. He’d never gotten real with his brother. This was a first. “I could lose Aria.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Before I met her, I had a one-night stand with a woman I met. Turns out, it was her sister. I’ve already lied to her, Bull. If she finds out the truth, she won’t forgive me.” Grant had done enough soul-searching for the night. He got to his feet. “We’ll figure out the Cartel problem. We have ways to do it that won’t harm the town.”
