L is For Larceny (Horsemen #2)

Chapter One

Leighton

"Get him on the table," Harrison barked as he stormed toward the cabinets lining his dining room wall, gathering medical supplies.

We hadn't wasted any time after Rich collapsed; Craig and Joey loaded him into the back of Craig's Mercedes while Az helped Victoria into the front passenger seat. Az had taken the driver's seat while the other two worked to maintain pressure on Rich's wounds, tearing out of what remained of the garage with me close behind on my motorcycle. By some miracle, Rich was still breathing when we hauled him into Harrison and Mags' apartment above the Spotted Cobra.

Victoria stumbled forward, reaching out for Rich's prone form just as Craig and Joey laid him out on the dining table. Tears tracked down her cheeks, and her body shook with silent sobs, but her eyes never moved from the slight rise and fall of his chest.

"What the hell have you boys been into?" Harrison scowled, producing a pair of safety sheers to cut away Rich's tux jacket and button-down shirt. "On second thought, don't tell me. I don't want mixed up in whatever caused this."

My hands curled into fists at my side as I watched him work. We'd been in plenty of tight spots before, but it wasn't looking good for Rich. I'd done enough damage to our enemies to recognize a man on the precipice of death. Victoria's wail broke through my thoughts, and my eyes flitted in her direction just in time to see her knees give out. Az made it to her before I could react, wrapping her in his arms as he went to the floor beside her.

Without a word, I grabbed some gauze and tape from the open cabinets behind Harrison that were filled with medical supplies. I quickly bandaged the bullet wound in my shoulder before I turned and slipped out of the apartment into the night.

The emotions in the place were stifling, something I was wholly unequipped to deal with and still maintain some sense of self-control. But there was something I could do. We needed information before word got out that Rinaldo was dead. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I shot off a quick text before heading to my bike, intent on seeing what would be found in Marino's home.

Forty minutes later, I was deep in Jackal territory. Stashing my bike behind a dumpster, I pulled a hoodie from my saddlebags and put it on over my bloodied tux. Pulling up the hood, I crept through the shadows toward my destination. I stopped at the edge of the manicured lawn that Marino's old Victorian was nestled on. My gaze remained locked on the darkened house as a mousy brunette approached in my peripheral vision.

"You crack it?"

"What do you think I am? An amateur?" She scoffed. "I'm no Craig, but I know my way around tech, Leighton. Speaking of, why did you call me for this instead of have him do it?"

"You know better than to ask questions, Sarah. Just tell me what I'm looking at inside Marino's and then get out of here."

"Whatever you say," She shrugged, sliding a backpack off her shoulders and retrieving a tablet. Her fingers tapped rapidly against the screen before she turned it to face me. "As far as I can see, the place is empty. No security around the property. No alarms silent, or otherwise, either. It's like everybody just up and left the place unprotected, which is strange for your lot."

"Good, now show me the fastest route to the main office and my quick exit. Without the additional commentary."

Sarah cut her eyes at me but wisely launched into the information I needed. "Take the stairs straight from the front door; as soon as you're upstairs, hook a right here." she continued, her finger lining a path on the screen. That's the main office, as far as I can tell. If that's not the one, then take this hallway, here, all the way to the last room on the left. There's only two ways out of this place, though, Leighton, and they're both on the first floor. You might have to jump from a window or something if you get in trouble."

"Worried about me, Sarah?" I chuckled.

"You? Never. I just don't wanna explain to the rest of the Urchins why I got caught up in Jackal territory packing your ass to safety."

"I doubt they'd be surprised considering the trouble we all got into before I found my family." I shrugged, reaching into my pocket and pulling a handful of bills. "Here, for your services, and extra for the risk of being caught with a Horseman this deep in Jackal territory."

"Nah," Sarah shook her head, shoving my hand away. "I did this for old times sake. Just because you moved on to bigger and better things, Urchins stick together. We'll always have your back, Leighton."

"Sentiment is gonna get you killed one day, Sarah. I hope you don't expect me to come to your funeral when it does."

She threw her head back and laughed before stuffing her tablet into the large zipper pocket of her backpack. She didn't bother responding as her laughter died, shooting me one last broad grin before disappearing into the shadows

.

I strolled across the silent lawn toward the house's front door once I was sure she had been gone long enough not to be suspected if something went wrong. On a whim, I turned the knob and couldn't help laughing when the door creaked open.

"Thanks for making it easier, arrogant prick." I chuckled to myself before slipping inside.

Following Sarah's directions, I made my way to the first office on the second floor. Even in the dark, I could make out the sparse furnishings and bookshelves that lined the walls. My gut told me there wouldn't be much to find, but I pulled my phone out of my hoodie pocket and switched on the flashlight anyway.

I tore through the office as quickly as possible, ripping open drawers in the small desk and pulling books from the shelves. It became clear as I worked that the office had been set up for Victoria. I'd found her donor list from the youth center tucked away in a ledger on the bookshelf and various stacks of blank paper with the Bristol Foundation header. Part of me appreciated how thorough Rinaldo had been in ensuring Victoria would have everything she needed to continue her work had he managed to take her. The rest of me raged at the thought of anyone other than the five of us laying a finger on her.

Satisfied that there was nothing to be found in the first office, I slipped down the hall to the second one Sarah had pointed out on her tablet. I knew I'd struck gold when I stepped into the oversized space. Unlike the barren desk in the first, this desk was laden with papers and books, a laptop as the centerpiece of the organized chaos.

Not wasting any time, I rifled through the desk drawers, grabbed anything that looked important to Jackal business, and laid it all on top of the laptop. Marino's office was more utilitarian than the one he'd created for ma petit démone, making it easy to grab anything that might be useful to us. Taking one last look around, I grabbed the stack of papers, ledgers, and Rinaldo's laptop and stuffed them against my chest beneath my hoodie before deciding to check out the rest of the house.

I methodically searched the remaining sixteen rooms and closets in the old Victorian, taking care to check every so often for any Jackals roaming around the grounds. It was nearing four in the morning when I finally slipped from the house, confident that I'd gathered anything that could give us an answer, an edge, and had it safely tucked against my chest beneath my hoodie.

It wasn't until I'd nearly reached my hidden motorcycle that I ran into trouble. Lenny Moretti leaned against the dumpster while another person rolled my bike into the open. My upper lip curled in disgust as I pressed myself against the nearest building and slipped off my hoodie. Folding it so everything I'd stolen from Marino's wouldn't shake loose, I tied the arms tightly to secure it and set it carefully on the ground.

"Shit, boss. This looks like a Horseman's bike." The man pushing my motorcycle hissed.

"Pretty sure those fuckers are pushing up daisies about now," Moretti snorted. "Rinaldo sent a strike team to take them out and grab that bitch that he's had us running around like headless chickens over. Someone probably just brought it back as a trophy."

"And stashed it here?"

Peeking around the corner, I saw Lenny shrug. "Probably didn't want Rinaldo getting wind of it, you know how he is about that shit. Gotta claim territory and property by the book and all that. Besides, no way a Horseman would be this deep in our territory without the alarm being raised, even if they pulled off a miracle and survived what the boss had scheduled for 'em."

The second man muttered something under his breath before turning so his back was fully toward me. Seeing my opening, I crept toward Lenny, snagging the gun he had tucked in the back of his pants just as my other arm wrapped around his neck.

"Boo." I cackled, aiming the pistol at the other man and pulling the trigger.

Lenny's grubby hands shot up to claw at my arm as his comrade collapsed to the ground. I was no Joey when it came to marksmanship, but I suspected even Victoria could have dropped a body at such close range. Lenny continued to struggle against my hold as I squeezed my arm tighter, crushing his windpipe. As much as I wanted to draw out his death and make him suffer forever, making us doubt la petit démone , I knew I needed to get out of Jackal territory before the rapidly lightening sky gave way to the sun.

"Consider this a fucking gift," I gritted out as I placed the gun against his temple and fired.

Doubling back, I grabbed my folded hoodie, making sure to put another bullet through each Jackal's head before I made it to my bike, and stuffed my prize in my saddlebag. I didn't bother giving either body a second glance as my motorcycle roared to life, and I took off, heading back to the Spotted Cobra.

Harrison scowled at me when he cracked open the door to his apartment over the bar. Stepping back, he pulled it open to allow me to step inside. My eyes bounced from his blood-soaked shirt to my friends seated around his living room. All three faces wore grim expressions, their eyes rimmed with dark circles, and their shoulders slumped forward. Glancing toward the kitchen, I realized Rich wasn't on the table where I'd last seen him.

"Where?" I asked.

Joey's eyes snapped up from the floor, his features twisting in rage. "Where the fuck did you go?" He demanded, stomping toward me. "You just fucking vanished with Rich on his fucking deathbed. I know you don't feel shit like us, but even you have to know how fucked that is."

"There was nothing I could do here." I shrugged. "So, I went somewhere there was. I raided Marino's house." I held up my still-bundled hoodie.

"Do you have a death wish?" Joey bellowed, moving close enough to jab my chest with his finger. "You should have been here. You never should have gone into Jackal territory, not with Rich bleeding out, and not alone."

"That's enough," Mags' voice cut through the room. My eyes flicked over Joey's shoulder to find her stepping into the living room from a connected door. "Your friend is in there barely hanging on and your girl is a wreck, refusing to leave his side. She doesn't need y'all at each other's throats right now. Whatever this is," She continued, motioning vaguely toward us. "Stow it. None of you get to be angry, not when you're the reason she's in this now. So, settle the fuck down and take care of her."

"Mags is right." Harrison interjected. "Your boy isn't out of the woods yet. I did the best I could, but his gut wound is worrisome. I couldn't find the bullet without risking more problems. If he makes it through the night, he'll need the vet bright and early. You can stay until he's stable, but you all know my rules. Whatever this infighting shit is, it's not gonna happen here. Outside of patching you gangsters up, your fighting doesn't come into my territory. If it does, well, you know the rules. We'll leave it at that since I know emotions are running high right now."

Mags looked at her father and gave him a quick nod before turning her attention to us. "Get cleaned up, take care of your girl, and get whatever shut eye you can." She ordered before moving to head down the hallway next to the kitchen.

"You need to get checked out and patched up, Leighton." Az spoke. "Mags already took care of the rest of us while Harrison worked on Rich."

"I'm fine, I was just grazed. Already stopped bleeding hours ago."

Harrison snorted, shaking his head. "Come on into the kitchen, let's get it cleaned up anyway. I won't have one of you chucklefucks dying from an infection on my watch."

Grinning, I stepped around Joey and followed Harrison into the kitchen, dropping my bundled hoodie on the coffee table as I left the room. I stripped off my tux jacket and button-down so he could access the wound on my side. Harrison pinched his lips together and snagged the first aid kit and a bottle of antiseptic from the counter. Without any preamble, he sprayed the antiseptic solution on my side, causing me to hiss at the sudden stinging sensation as he worked to clean me up.

"Doesn't need stitches," He grunted, wiping away the last of the antiseptic and taping gauze over the area. "Keep it clean, and you'll heal up fine; probably have a scar, though."

"Just another for my collection." I chuckled.

Harrison shook his head and stood. "I need to hit the rack and get some sleep. Me and Mags will take turns checking in on your friend tonight, but gonna need all the shut-eye I can get to fix him up completely if he makes it overnight."

I muttered my thanks and pulled my button-up back on before following him out of the kitchen. Az, Craig, and Joey were silently sitting in the living room when we reentered. It wasn't until Harrison broke off to head up the hallway that anyone spoke.

"What did you find?" Craig asked once Harrison was out of sight.

"Documents, ledgers, and a laptop." I grinned, strolling to the coffee table to snag my hoodie and hold it up.

"What you did was stupid and reckless, Leighton."Az spoke from the couch as Craig moved to take the bundle from me, "But I can't say I'm mad about the information you came back with. Especially not when we have to go to ground for a while."

"The call already go out?" I asked, moving to sit in the recliner at the other end of the room.

"While Harrison worked on Rich." Az confirmed. "Once Rich is stable, we need to get out of Sacona while we recover and regroup. The rest of our men have been told to pull all the product into the heart of our territory and to stay off the streets until we give word."

"What about our pest problem?" I asked, my lip curling in disgust.

"Phil's going to work through the suspect list and report back to us." Joey said. "Right now, he's the only one we can trust."

"Good," I nodded. "I have a place we can hole up in the meantime. I'll make the arrangements in the morning."

"No more slipping off alone again, Leighton." Az warned. "I mean it. If Marino's attack on us tonight wasn't enough to declare war, his death sure as hell was. We can't risk any of us getting caught out while we're weakened. We have to be smart about this. When the time is right, we'll make our move, as a team , and wipe the fucking Jackals off the map. But until then, you need to keep your shit together and not go off on your own again."

"Aye, aye, captain." I smirked with a mock salute. "Now, if you're done scolding me, I'm gonna go check on our girl."