6. Dax
DAX
That question seemed to snap them all to attention and bring us back full circle to why we were here.
I wasn’t sure if they had any clue to the seething darkness rolling around in my head as I planned various ways to kill all those involved in fucking me over.
Wes had seen that side of me, and Picasso got a glimpse when he was the man in my basement, but now things were about to get real.
The softer side of Dax that had been coming out lately needed to get shoved back in its damn box for later.
My happily ever after could come once I knew my enemies were buried six feet under, if they got that lucky.
“It would make more sense to deal with the Mad Dogs, but the moment we do, it will set the De Leóns on guard. Yet if we do it the other way, the same could be said for the Mad Dogs. Both parties must know they’re on borrowed time with you,” Sprocket shared as he combed his fingers through his long hair, putting it up in its usual man bun.
“It might make sense to see if there was a way to attack both of them at once or in a way they don’t see coming. ”
I nodded in agreement as my brain started to whirl with ideas.
I didn’t want this to be a quick death. What I wanted was for them to be scared and running, knowing I was coming for them but not knowing when it would happen.
This was going to set the stage for Marco to know what he was getting himself into because, mark my words, I’d take that bastard down.
“Those are good thoughts, Sprocket, but I want them pissing in their pants. They don’t get to knock me down a peg and get away with a simple death.
They might know I’m Two Tricks, but that doesn’t mean the world believes it yet.
They will. I want to know everything about the Mad Dogs…
who they get their drugs from, where the women are kept, who holds the purse strings, and where their biggest compound is. ”
Void beamed a smile at me. “Oh, little demon, I can see the wheels turning in your dark little mind. If it’s blood and death you want, then that’s what I shall give you.”
“This fight was brought to my door, and I’m going to finish it my way. If you’re not ready to take that step together, then now is the time to walk away,” I announced, looking each of them in the eye.
Picasso rolled his eyes. “Spitfire, stop trying to get us to leave you. If we were going to do that, it would have already happened. Your enemies are our enemies. It’s that simple, and you would do the same for us in return.”
“Yeah, sorry, little hellcat, but you’re stuck with us no matter what. We’ll figure out a way to get through this together,” Eagle agreed.
“Loba, it’s only natural that wolves hunt in packs, and we are your pack. Trust us to have your back as you lead this charge,” Cognac added with a wink.
Even though I looked at Wes, I knew he was already working on getting whatever I needed for what was to come. He never had an ounce of doubt in me or my methods, but I also trusted him to tell me if there was a better way since he didn’t have the same problem with tunnel vision I did.
“Ah, shortcake, you better be looking to me for information because I’m your shadow, remember?” Wes teased as he glanced at me over the laptop screen where his fingers were typing away.
Finally, I turned to Cam. “You don’t get a choice in this. The job I’m putting you in charge of is making sure the FBI stays off my ass. I know I’m under a microscope with them, but I won’t let them stop me before the job is done, no matter what it takes.”
“Would you be opposed to working with them in a way if it gets you what you want? A little give and take will get you a long way. Say, letting them take down their drug supplier or busting a transaction? This would also keep them guessing who’s really behind the job since you never work with law enforcement,” Cam suggested.
“I’ll answer that when we come to that situation. If it works and keeps them out of my way, I’m not completely against it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?” I countered, knowing he used that argument on me earlier.
Cam let a smile grow on his lips. “Liked that one, did you? It’s a motto I seem to be living by these days, being deep undercover.”
“Eagle, I know you have the most history with the Dogs since you kicked them out of here in the first place. You got any insight on what will hurt the most for them to get hit with?” I asked, ignoring Cam’s comment, not wanting to get sidetracked at the moment.
The president leaned back as he thought over my question, rubbing his beard as he processed.
“They get most of their money with drugs, meth to be specific, and they get all their working girls hooked on it to keep them in line. They only give it to them if they meet the money goal they need to bring in, or so I’ve heard.
They will even resort to stealing from their johns if needed to make ends meet.
We’ve been blocking them from running guns, but rumor is they got a new supplier who could get around you. My money is that it’s Marco.”
“Yeah, that was my thinking too, along with the drugs. They have to be filtering it through the De León Cartel first because I don’t hear many rumors from my side of the country.
I’ve got people all over the West Coast and in Nevada keeping a cursory eye on them.
I was just curious if there was anything else I missed since they ended up in my warehouse and shot me,” I grumbled.
“Speaking of,” Sprocket broke in. “What are we going to do about that?”
Now it was my turn to mull that over. I’d gone through my people before, a few years back when I had a rogue arms dealer think he could poach my people and clients.
“They know it’s coming or already started since I have Wes combing through all their personal information then picking out people to chat with after that.
Some have gotten smart, but they’re not smarter than dear old Westie.
What we’ll need to search for this time is to see how many they have.
It’s always been a group I’ve already known were unhappy.
This has been going on longer than I care to admit. ”
“Do you have a gut feeling?” Cognac asked, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You have to have any guesses.”
“It’s someone higher up in the organization.
They’re too close to information I keep limited to people who have proved themselves.
Part of me also questions why they killed one of my right-hand men and left the other alive.
If they wanted to cripple me, then that would have been the way to do it, not just clip my wing.
Although, they didn’t plan on you guys pulling that kidnapping shit, so maybe there’s another part to it that didn’t happen because I was unavailable,” I said.
“Give me time to dig into that, now that I’m recovering or trapped in a house against my will. ”
Picasso snorted at that. “You know as well as we do you could have gotten away from us whenever you wanted, but you didn’t because you liked us.”
“I’m so glad you realized that,” I answered with a smirk. “What can I say, I was curious about an MC that would have the balls enough to kidnap the enforcer of the Hidden Empire. That, and Eagle makes some damn good food. That’s absolutely a way to my heart.”
“So that’s how Westly did it,” Cognac teased, knocking Wes with his shoulder. “Looks like I might need to dust off my skills in the kitchen to make you some good Mexican dishes since you like spice so much.”
“Let’s not get distracted just yet,” Wes butts in. “They hit us at our home and the warehouse. They knew to contact Tilly which means they have people on your compound as well. So where do we make our headquarters while we plan all this?”
At this, I got the expectant looks. “What? You act like I have a bunch of secret hideouts like a paranoid person.”
“That’s because you do,” Cam stated. “There have been more than a few times you disappeared off the radar, and it wasn’t in this area. You have places all along the West Coast if I were to take a guess. One near whoever you made partnerships with.”
“You’re close,” I answered as I got up from the couch and paced as I thought about the problem. “Where would be the last place they would expect us to go?”
Eagle’s face lit up as I spoke. “You want to be right outside their door with them none the wiser, don’t you? To watch what you have in store for them unfold right before you?”
“That wasn’t what I was thinking, but I like your idea better. I was gonna say back at the warehouse, but that would be boring, wouldn’t it?” I chuckled. “Wes, out of the three properties we have in Nevada, which one would have the most things we need right away?”
“The ranch house outside of Blue Diamond would be the best and closest without drawing attention since it’s way outside the city.
We could move about freely without being noticed by any of their people,” Wes shared.
“The property has all the tech we’d need and the safe with the weapons stashed in the floor of one of the outbuildings, not to mention the ATVs. ”
I walked behind the couch to where Wes was sitting and grabbed his face to plant a kiss on his lips. “You’re the best, and don’t let anyone tell you different, you hear me?”
“Who’s saying I’m not?” he questioned with a furrowed brow.
“Leave it to you to focus on the details of things.” I huffed, pressing another kiss to his lips before he could pull me back for more. “Let’s settle things here with the Hidden Empire and the Phantom Saints so when we leave, we can trust who’s in charge.”
“Dax, it’s going to take time for me to work through the background of everyone we have in the area. There’s even more since many stayed after the shooting to make sure you lived,” Wes argued.
“Then it sounds like I’m going to need to go to work tomorrow.
Things have to appear normal while I meet with those managing my other branches.
Once they hear that I’m back and acting like nothing is wrong, then they’ll come after me again, or we’ll just plant a trap for them to fall into.
Either way, we need to get it done efficiently so I know my empire will still be here when I get back from destroying my enemies. ”
Void growled at my suggestions. “There’s no fucking way we’re letting you be bait after what happened. You’re barely patched together right now as it is. No, we’ll draw them out another way that doesn’t include you being the target.”
“Couldn’t have agreed with you more,” Eagle muttered.
“Dammit, hellcat, why is that the first thing that goes through your head? You have all of us to use, and we have just as big of a target on our head as you at this point. Stand down and let us do some work. I’m getting bored sitting on my hands through all this. ”
I knew Eagle was playing me as he phrased it that way since I’d resent being seen as weak, but he had a point.
I wasn’t in the best of shape to make this happen or defend myself in a way that wouldn’t get me killed.
“Fine, then you come up with a better plan and let me know what it is. I’m going to take a pain pill and a nap while you all argue who gets to be the prey.
” Sprocket pulled the pill bottle that Dani had given him out of his pocket and handed me two of them.
“You don’t have to guard the bottle, you know. ”
“Yes, I do. The day I let another person I love become addicted to this shit is the day I quit life,” Sprocket answered, his voice hard with anger as he held my gaze.
Knowing that look firsthand, having given it to my brother, I didn’t argue and just swallowed my pills and headed to the bedroom.
As I guessed, I wasn’t alone either. My second shadow was following me, although he liked to believe we were soul mates.
The jury was still out on that for me, but I did feel a connection to Void that was a little different from the others, just like I did with Wes.
I was falling in love with all of these men, but it still amazed me they could be such different types of love, each powerful in their own way.
“You don’t have to watch me sleep. I’m not planning on sneaking out of here or anything,” I sighed as I removed the sling and climbed onto the king-sized bed.
Without a word, Void joined me and wrapped me up against him as he molded himself to my back. “I let the others have their time with you, but right now, it’s my turn to have you to myself, even if it’s watching over you as you sleep.”
“Who would have thought the man who speaks with his fists would be so poetic?” I murmured, snuggling into him.
“You have your art, I have poetry,” Void said, combing his fingers through my hair. “Rest, little demon. We have a war to wage when you wake up.”