Chapter 47 Bane
Bane
I didn’t sleep last night. Instead I tried to figure out what the hell had happened.
Trinity found me after Slade went to her room and told me about seeing Destiny and four other Bunnies approach Slade. They surrounded her but didn’t touch her and only spoke with her briefly. The views from the outside surveillance cameras didn’t catch anything, either.
And I’ve yet to find Jez. According to Badger, that motherfucker disobeyed orders and left Slade alone to run back to the shop to get his phone. He’s going to feel my wrath, and if I find out he was involved in this, a bullet to his head will be his ending.
I watched and rewatched the security recordings. After finding nothing to explain what happened with Slade, I went to her bedroom. Even though my gut told me not to push her right now, I still tried to open her door.
Of course, it was locked. So, I unlocked it, but still couldn’t get in, and quickly realized she had barricaded something in front of it.
I was about to drop my shoulder and ram through it like I was a pro running back breaking through the defensive line, she stopped me by telling me to fuck off and go away.
The only reason I didn’t put my shoulder through the door was because of the anger in her voice and that she hadn’t fully returned to that numbed state. I hated being apart from her and that she was refusing to speak to me, but I walked away.
I ordered Sten to stay outside her bedroom door to guard it, and had Liam outside her window just in case she tried to escape that route. Ash, Breaker, Tyr, and I then left in search of Jez. I sent them back to the clubhouse at dawn, but I didn’t stop my search for him.
And now I’m at Gilly’s, and it’s late morning, and I’m sitting across from Vito Santoro.
I have many questions about why him and Raf showed up at Ed’s place last night like a bat out of hell.
I study Vito sitting across from me, his back against the wall at his usual table. His blue-green eyes are cool, his expression unreadable. But he looks like he was up most of the night as well.
Gus, the manager of Gilly’s, comes up to our table. He has a crooked nose, and he’s built like a short brick house. He used to be a pro boxer, and I’ve seen him move—still agile, and with a fist like a sledgehammer.
“Gentlemen,” Gus greets in his hoarse, raspy voice, caused years ago from an opponent damaging his throat. “A bit early for a drink, even for you two. But bourbon, Vito?” He turns to me. “Jack?”
“Coffee,” Vito and I say in unison.
Gus chuckles. “I see it was a long night for both of you.” He knocks his knuckles on the table. “Two coffees, coming up.”
Ed walks in from the back hallway, and Vito’s eyes pass over her as he scans the barroom. There are a few groups sitting at the tables farther away from us, but for the most part, it’s quiet in here since a significant part of the criminal underworld is nocturnal.
Even though Vito’s gaze didn’t linger on Ed, I wonder again about his and Raf’s presence at her personal residence. But like Ash said, if they killed Cutt and got rid of his body like we suspect, then they did us a fucking solid.
“I have a few prototype EMP grenades that I just happened to intercept.” Vito hikes a brow. “You interested?”
Electromagnetic pulse grenades that emit short bursts of electromagnetic radiation to fry nearby electronic devices?
“Hell yeah. Of course, we are interested.” I turn the conversation back to the main reason I’m here. “Your text said you wanted to talk about the Mambo Posse.”
He waits until Gus gives us our coffees and leaves. There are security cameras here, but as per the strict rules that govern this place, none of them record audio.
“You’re aware I’ve been helping Dom and the Saints strike against the Mambo Posse and stopping them from pushing into the city?”
“I’m aware.” I take a drink of my coffee, hoping the kick of caffeine will burn my fatigue away. “What of it?”
“One of the soldiers we…uh, intercepted”—he smiles—“said something about the Havoc Guardians and a little bird hiding at the MC compound.”
I stiffen. The intel Digits intercepted was about the ‘little bird returning home,’ but this takes it to a new level.
He watches me closely. “You need backup for something, Bane?”
Someone has clearly been sharing with the Mambo Posse, and my money is on Cutt or Jez.
I lean in closer, angling my body so no one can read my lips, and speak low. “I need one of our Prospects found. Jez, full name Jezariah Voss.”
“Raf and I will personally be on it.” Vito regards me with a dark look. “If the Mambo Posse is interested in this ‘little bird,’ then that's not good, given the human trafficking Mambo Posse is deep into.”
My jaw ticks.
He smiles, a predator, wicked smile. “Their gang is dwindling and scattered throughout the city, hiding from us and the Saints. But Raf and I might have a lead on where two leaders have been holing up.”
“Where?”
“It’s not confirmed yet, but as soon as we nail it down, I’ll let you know.”
The thrill of the hunt buzzes through my veins at the prospect of finding two enemies who could be a threat to my woman.
She’ll always be my woman, whether she views me as her man or not. There’s no other for me—that much is clear—and I’ll defend and protect her, even if she tells me to get forever fucked.
As I stand, Vito leans back to look at me. “We ride at dawn, bitches?”
I huff a laugh. “Fuck yeah. We ride at dawn, bitches.”