22. Riley
Maddoc looksexhausted when we all gather in the living room the next day, like he hardly slept at all after we finally went our separate ways last night. But despite that, I see a new determination in him that sparks warmth in my chest. Especially once he starts to discuss his plans for the Reapers.
As grim as the subject is, I know that I helped him make his peace with what needs to happen, and being able to give him that after he’s given me so much means more than anything to me.
“McKenna’s going to come at us hard after you put him on his ass like that yesterday, Madd,” Dante states matter-of-factly.
“He was always going to come at us hard,” Logan says. “This has been personal for him from the start.”
Maddoc nods. “You’re both right, and starting now, every time he attacks, the standing orders are going to be to fall back.”
It’s a testament to their trust in him that the only reaction Dante or Logan have to that statement is a widening of their eyes and a tense silence.
I’m seated on the couch, next to Logan, while Dante stands with his arms crossed and one hip resting against the window sill. Maddoc paces in front of us, but comes over and squeezes my shoulder as he looks between his seconds and explains. “We don’t have the resources to go head to head with him. Our only choice is to play the long game.”
They both nod, and it feels good to have them validate what I told Maddoc last night, even though I don’t know all the ins and outs of their operation.
“We can’t waste our resources by trying to hold territory under West Point’s mercenary attacks,” Maddoc goes on. “We’re going to have to give up ground.” His hands clench into tight fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white, but he keeps his voice steady. “I’m not willing to throw our people’s lives away on something we can’t win.”
I can tell it kills him to admit that. He’s fought for every inch of territory that the Reapers have claimed in this city, and he’s earned what he’s built in a way that Austin’s money—my money—never will.
I’m proud of him for choosing to put his people first, though. I never doubted he would once he made his peace with where things stand right now, but it makes me love him even more to have him move forward with that plan so decisively.
I can tell all of my men have feelings about Maddoc’s decision, but none of them waste time whining about it. Instead, they jump into logistics planning, with Logan taking the lead on pulling some of their resources back, arranging for their people to transport as much of their equipment, product, and other material goods relevant to the Reapers’ operations from locations closer to the perimeter of their territory to areas that will be more secure.
“This shit ain’t gonna be sustainable long-term though, Madd,” Dante says with a frustrated huff once they’ve shot off messages to key players and put some of that in motion. “We can’t move everything, and if we give up too much territory, we’re gonna lose the resources we need to continue to function as a gang. You know you’ve got your people’s loyalty, but they also gotta survive, and if we can’t protect them, can’t provide for them…”
He trails off with a low curse, and when he looks away, the rage and grief that flash across Maddoc’s face while he thinks his brothers aren’t looking almost breaks my heart. But as quickly as his emotions break free, he shuts them down again, refocusing on what has to happen.
“If we let it go on too long, McKenna will eventually roll right over us anyway,” he agrees. “This isn’t a retreat.” He grimaces, then corrects himself. “It’s a short-term, tactical retreat, but we need to use the time it buys us wisely. He’s got Riley’s inheritance. That’s just a fact, and we’re never gonna match that. We need to come up with another way to beat him, and we need to keep everyone alive to fight another day if we want to keep that option on the table.”
“It’s not ‘an option,’” Logan says, cold fury blazing from his eyes even though he keeps his voice steady. “We will beat him. We’ll fucking destroy him. This isn’t negotiable.”
“Right,” Maddoc says, his shoulders pulling back and raw power in his voice, like hearing Logan’s utter conviction gave him strength and reminded him who he is. Who the Reapers are. “Okay, so let’s get fucking proactive. Who else can we make alliances with?”
Dante frowns. “Depends? Who’s McKenna likely to go after next? The Scorpions? Mathis?”
I wish I had something to offer as they toss around a few more minor gangs’ names, weighing the likelihood of convincing them that they’ll be able to hold West Point off if they all work together against the grievances and alliances that already exist, but for all that I’m in it now, I really don’t know this world well. And I sure as shit don’t understand all the ugly history that seems to exist between some of the players they mention.
I’ll learn, though. Their world is my world now, and even though I know I’m missing some of the nuance as they discuss which strategic alliances to go after, I follow along as closely as I can, determined to gain as much knowledge as possible so that I can be a true asset in this relationship.
Without turning to look at me, Logan reaches over and covers my hand with his, twining our fingers together like he can sense my feelings somehow. It grounds me, and I remind myself that I do have something to offer. These men count on me too.
“You know, it’s really too fucking bad that The Six won’t step in on this shit,” Dante says with a scowl.
Maddoc grinds his teeth together, then visibly forces himself to relax. “They won’t, at least not yet.”
“The disrespect McKenna showed them yesterday was a mistake,” Logan says flatly.
Maddoc nods. “They’re not gonna forget it. You know The Six keep a tally of everything that happens here in Halston. But McKenna acting like an ass isn’t enough on its own to make them act. They didn’t get to the position they’re in by being impulsive, and West Point isn’t a threat to them, no matter how much posturing McKenna does.”
“But he’s the reason the cops and fire department got involved at the warehouse,” I blurt, pissed off all over again at how fucking unfair it is. “Isn’t that what they’re mad about?”
“Yeah, princess, but I don’t know if ‘mad’ is quite the right word. There’s always infighting amongst the gangs. Alliances come and go, and grudges can be held for fucking ever. Right now, the way The Six see it, McKenna’s beef is with the Reapers, and they’ve got no reason to choose a side in this fight at the moment. Like that Ayla chick said, their only objective is to maintain order. They’re not gonna police how we all operate, they’re just gonna make sure that we can all operate, you know?”
I grimace. It does make sense, and I even feel a grudging respect for The Six for not being drawn into fights that aren’t theirs. I’m starting to understand just how powerful they are, and that impartiality they insist on, even in the face of a complete asshole like Austin, shows why they’ve managed to stay at the top of the food chain in Halston.
Still, I wish we could have them on our side. Ayla Fairchild feels like a kindred spirit, in a way. I don’t know her well, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s one of the few women I’ve ever come across that I feel a connection, almost a sisterhood, with.
“We’re gonna handle this, princess,” Dante says, tipping my chin up and searching my eyes. “We’re gonna come out on top. No need for the long face.”
I blink. I didn’t even realize Dante had crossed the room, much less that the men were finished talking already.
Shaking my head to clear it, I give him a smile. “I know.”
I mean it, and I know Dante does too, but our conviction is put to the test an hour later when Maddoc gets a call from one of his people about another attack on a building in Reaper territory.
“You have your instructions,” I hear him say grimly, once he’s received the report.
We’re all in the kitchen this time, Logan plating food for us.
“They’re going to fall back,” Maddoc confirms once he ends the call.
I can tell the admission tortures him, but it’s the right call, and even though the mood is somber, none of us voice any doubts or second guess it over the next twenty minutes as the reports come in from the organization, confirming the retreat.
Dante was right earlier when he said we won’t be able to do this forever, though. The Reapers are going to have to find a way to stop Austin once and for all, before it’s too late.
My stomach knots, and I push the last of the meal Logan made around on my plate, my hunger fleeing.
Logan makes a small, disappointed sound, and I look up quickly to find him eyeing me with concern.
I smile despite myself. He’s such a contradiction, his need to hurt me just as strong as his need to take care of me, to feed me and bandage my wounds and protect me from the real monsters in this world, like Austin.
I fork up the last bite of food and eat it despite the way my stomach is still twisted into a cramped ball of anxiety, willing to do anything and everything I can to show him that I appreciate it.
It works. He smiles back before turning away, that tiny, fleeting one that always gets me right in the heart, and I remind myself that if earning a smile from Logan is possible, then anything is.
Just like he said earlier, we will defeat McKenna.
That’s not negotiable.
Even if I still have no fucking idea how we’ll actually manage it.