Chapter 24
STONE
The next forty-eight hours are a blur of logistics and cleanup.
FBI agents crawl over every inch of the warehouse.
Statements are given, evidence catalogued, and deals struck.
Caruso’s body is shipped to the morgue, his organization crumbling without him.
Summit’s leadership scatters to the wind, their dreams of developing Stoneheart dying with their cartel backing.
We won.
But I know better than to think it’s over.
“The cartel’s sending an emissary,” Agent Pilkin tells me on the second day. “They want to negotiate.”
“Negotiate what? Why aren’t you arresting them?”
“Because we can’t.” She sighs, and for the first time I see the frustration behind her professional mask.
“Caruso was careful. Most of the evidence ties back to a few underlings and most of Summit’s corporate fat cats.
His lieutenants have plausible deniability, and the cartel leadership is three layers removed.
We push too hard without enough to make charges stick, they lawyer up and we lose any chance of cooperation.
” She shrugs. “This emissary is their attempt to cut a deal. They’re testing the waters. ”
“So they get to walk?”
“Some of them. For now.” Her jaw tightens. “I don’t like it either. But sometimes you take the win you can get and live to fight another day.”
I let that sink in.
Alex leans against her car, crossing one ankle over the other. “Caruso was their point man for East Coast operations. Without him, they don’t have the infrastructure to continue here. They want out—but they want assurances.”
“What kind of assurances?”
“That you won’t come after them. That what happened here stays here. In exchange, they’re offering to leave Stoneheart territory permanently.”
It’s more than I expected. The cartel cutting their losses, ceding ground without a fight.
“Set up the meeting,” I say. “But on our terms. Our territory.”
The meeting happens at Devil’s Bar.
Neutral ground, recently rebuilt after the fire. The cartel sends a single representative—a gray-haired man in an expensive suit who introduces himself only as Mr. Reyes.
He’s smooth. Professional. The kind of man who orders deaths with the same tone he uses to order dinner.
“Your club has caused us significant problems,” Reyes says, settling into a chair across from me. “And significant losses.”
“Your people kidnapped my woman and beat her face in. They’re lucky they only lost Caruso.”
“An unfortunate miscalculation.” His expression doesn’t change. “One that cost us dearly. Ivan was... overzealous.”
“Ivan is dead. So is his boss. And the FBI has enough evidence to dismantle every operation you’ve run through this state for the past five years.”
That gets a reaction—a slight tightening around his eyes. “Which is why we’re here. To ensure this situation doesn’t escalate further.”
“Here are my terms.” I lean forward. “Your organization stays out of Stoneheart, and away from any Stoneheart MC territory. Not just the town—the entire country. No drugs, no trafficking, no intimidation. If I see so much as a suspicious vehicle crossing our borders, I’ll personally deliver the rest of the footage we have to every federal agency in the country. ”
“That’s a significant demand.”
“Take it or leave it.”
Reyes is quiet for a long moment. I watch him calculate—the costs, the benefits, the risks of continuing a war he can’t win.
Finally, slowly, he nods.
“Agreed. The Stoneheart MC is off-limits.” He stands, straightening his jacket. “You’ve made a powerful enemy, Mr. Armstrong. But you’ve also earned a measure of respect. We won’t forget either.”
“Just remember our agreement.” I don’t stand, don’t offer my hand. “And don’t come back.”
He leaves without another word.
When he’s gone, Hawk lets out a breath. “Holy shit. That actually worked.”
“For now.” I stand, stretching muscles tight with tension. “We’ll need to stay vigilant. Cartels don’t stay gone forever.”
“But for now?”
“For now, it’s over.” I pull out my phone, text Josie
Stone
Coming home. It’s done.
Her response comes immediately.
Josie
Good. Hurry, I miss you.
Smiling, I tuck my cell in my pocket, climb on my bike and ride home to her.