Chapter 17
WAR
T he Crue SUV is drivable. I maneuver it through the trees and up to the road.
The hot rod car’s wheels are stuck, so it’ll need a tow.
Trick is already on it, arranging for a tow truck to transport it to a specialty garage in Boston that restores old vehicles.
It’s the place Ash always uses, and she calls the mechanics to give them a heads up that the car was vandalized and she needs it completely checked for damage during the repair.
When they tell her it’ll be a few days before they can start on it, Trick takes the phone.
“Hey, this is Trick from C Crue. I’m paying for the repairs, and there’s a twenty-k bonus for starting on my sister’s car within an hour of it getting to the garage.”
There’s a beat of silence.
“If you can’t make that work, let me know. We’ll find another garage that will make the Crue a priority.”
Ash’s brows shoot up, and her mouth drops open.
My gaze slides to C, wondering how it’ll land with him that Trick’s dropping the Crue name to get work done on a non-Crue vehicle.
As usual, if one of his partners’ actions doesn’t sit well, you would never know.
They are a hundred-percent united in front of outsiders.
“Great,” Trick says. “The car should reach you in a couple of hours.” He ends the call and hands her back the phone.
“They’re nice there, Scotty. They don’t mind when I want to come and watch them work on her. I’ve learned a lot.”
“Now they’ll be even nicer,” Trick says, dismissing her concern that he’s fucked up the vibe with her favorite garage.
It interests me that her passion for the car made her want to learn its inner workings. Until now, it’s not been clear what, if anything, she cares about, beyond her family and friends.
“War, have you moved your stuff into the empty rooms in the Crue house?” C asks.
My attention shifts to him. “No.”
“Good. Callahan and O’Rourke will be moving back in by the end of the day.”
“Without their women?”
“No. Keep the gear locked up and discussions low, but we trust these girls enough to let them stay in the house.”
“Right. Strength in numbers.” It’s something they talked about during our training. C’s place—the original Crue house they built—is sometimes used as a stronghold. When they were under threat a few years ago, they hunkered down together and got battle-ready.
C nods. “The river house isn’t fortified enough to truly be a stronghold, but with the three of you together, you’ll be able to cover each other’s backs.
Anvil’s gonna stay and do a threat assessment.
If we think you’re outnumbered, we’ll have more guys stationed nearby until we neutralize whoever’s left. ”
“The blue couch downstairs is a pullout.”
“Nah, we’ll put the extra guys in a local motel. Five people in the house is plenty.”
Five? “How about her?” I incline my head toward Ashling. “Can’t let her stay in the dorm now. Too easy for someone to get to her while she’s alone. Since the other women are staying in the house?—”
“Don’t worry about Ashling,” C says.
I’m not so much worried about her as trying to arrange things so I continue to have access. “Ashling,” I say, bending my index finger to beckon her over.
She joins us, and so does Trick. In fact, he’s got a shoulder in front of her as if shielding her from any sudden moves I might make. As though he could stop me with force. No way. A well-placed bullet, sure, but not a body block.
Looking up at me, she tilts her head. “Yes?”
Her tone is neutral. I would’ve preferred her to sound a little more enthusiastic in front of C while I’m sorting living arrangements, but at least there’s no hostility.
“Killian and J are moving back in. You should stay with us.” When she smiles, I know I’ve calculated correctly. My girl likes to be in the fold.
“Like hell,” Trick scoffs. “You think I’d leave her in Foxgrove before ‘Vil’s even had a chance to call the campus clear?” His brow cocks. “No.”
“The girl’s got serious gun skills,” I say smoothly, keeping my own tone friendly. Or as friendly as it gets. “It’s why she didn’t have a bodyguard, right?”
Trick’s eyes narrow. “Her skills are no one’s business, so keep what you saw to yourself.”
So, it is a secret. “Understood.” My attention shifts to her. “You sure you wanna leave town?”
“C,” Trick says impatiently, “Deal with this shit.” He puts an arm around Ash’s shoulders and steers her away.
Looking over her shoulder at me, she mouths one word. Later.
She doesn’t need to reassure me of anything. I know we’ll be talking later. Among other things.
C waits until the girl and her brother are in the SUV and rolling out before he speaks. “Listen, I get it and so does he. You want the girl to see you in a certain light, but disrespect is gonna land you somewhere you’re not prepared to go.”
We stare at each other with equal measure and the same eyes. It’s one thing I inherited in the McCann half of my DNA.
“I don’t think you know where I’m prepared to go, Uncle C. Or where I’ve already been.”
“Enlighten me.” His voice isn’t harsh now. It’s curious.
“You’re about eight years too late with that question.
” I exhale, glancing off into the middle distance as though I can see across the world to a freezing barn floor.
Yeah, no. I have zero interest in rehashing that shit with him.
Since I’m not looking for pity and don’t need help settling scores, there’s no point.
Directing my attention back to the present, I say, “What I’m saying is, everyone’s gotta grow up sometime.
It’s her turn. My putting Trick on notice is more than I would do for any other brother of a girl I’m making my business. ”
“Overplay your hand, and he will kill you.”
“I know. And you’ll help him dig the grave because that’s where your loyalties lie.”
“What’s this about? You want me to tell him to let you do whatever you want with his little sister?”
“No, but you might try staying neutral. If blood meant anything.”
“Blood is the reason I moved you up the ranks and started grooming you for leadership. It’s the reason you’re not in the ground after the shit you’ve said today.” C shakes his head. “But it ends now, you feel me? Rein yourself in, or you’re gone.”
I exhale slowly. If death doesn’t scare me, then of course being banished doesn’t either.
But, if I were out of the Crue, my ability to cross paths with a certain girl would be hindered.
Unless I took her with me. Would be a challenge if she didn’t want to come willingly. I have to think that through.
C watches me as though he expects something. An acknowledgment that I’ve heard what he’s saying? Some words of regret? If he’s waiting for an apology, he’s gonna be disappointed. Again .
“That what you want? Say the word,” C says.
“It’s enough.” This comes in a low voice from over our shoulders.
We both glance at Stroviak whose eyes are trained on the pair of us. Rare for one of them to interrupt another. I watch him, studying the cold set of his jaw. He may have been born and raised in America, but he’s Russian to the core.
“No,” I say. “I don’t want out.”
Driving his hands deeper into the pockets of his wool coat, Stroviak says to C, “He knows the terrain here better than the guys we brought. I’ll take him with me.”
“Take him,” C says with finality.
So, for the first time since I set foot in Massachusetts after a twelve-year absence, I’m alone in the company of the man I came back to meet.