men who raped Tessa two months ago.
“Have you heard anything? Has the fucker really squealed already?” I ask in a rush.
“You’ll find out the details as soon as I do,” Winston responds. “Roman did say that Hugo and Marcus were able to get names out of Joey,” our VP adds as he takes a seat and rubs his fingers over his growing black beard. I’m pretty sure he’s even smiling underneath the facial hair, a rare occurrence that I seriously doubt has anything to do with torture.
“Names? All three of the other men?” I demand for clarification.
“Yeah, the other men,” Winston replies. “But that doesn’t mean they’re legit. The asshole could’ve made the shit up just to try and get us off his back, so we’ll finally kill him.”
Winston may have his doubts, but I know in my gut that this is it. It’s taken us a little over two months, but we’re finally going to make the bastards who hurt Tessa and those other three women pay.
“How’s your leg?” I ask when I remember that he took a shot Friday night.
“I’m fine,” he answers with an actual smirk rather than scowl. “Better than fine, actually. Zoe’s moving in with me.”
“Good for you,” I tell him, even though I’m jealous. Not of his stepsister, Zoe, but of being able to go to bed and wake up with the woman he loves each and every day while the woman I care for was hurt so badly that she can’t stand to be touched. At least not by me, a man. It takes every ounce of willpower in me not to wrap her in my arms whenever I see her, wishing I could make everything better.
Finally, the rest of the men hurry in with Roman on their heels, taking his seat at the head of the table.
“Thanks for coming in so early. I figured you would all be happy to hear that we were able to get what we needed out of Joey,” Roman starts. “After…applying a little more pressure yesterday, he didn’t change his tune, insisting that the three names and addresses he gave us will lead us to the last of the bastards who were kidnapping and hurting women.”
“So when are we going after them?” I ask.
“Soon,” Roman answers. “But you know how this works. First, we need to confirm their identities. I’ve asked Reece at our mother chapter to do some digging and email his findings to me. I want to see where these fuckers live, who they know, and the best way to isolate them.”
“How fucking long is that going to take?” I snap at him.
“As long as it fucking takes,” Roman replies with his eyebrow arched in warning.
“What if they’re out there kidnapping other women while we’re sitting here screwing off?” I demand.
“You’re right,” Roman says as he leans back in his chair and narrows his eyes at me. “We should all just hop on our bikes right now, swing by the addresses, and blow the heads off everyone who lives there in broad daylight to end these assholes without any concern for our own lives.”
“You know what I mean,” I grit out.
“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in prison. I doubt you and the other eight men at this table want that either.”
“I’m not saying we have to be careless, just quick,” I mutter.
“You’ve always been too goddamn impulsive, Verek. And one of these days, that character flaw is going to bite you in the ass. You know I want these men dead as soon as you do, but there’s a certain way to go about it! We have to be smart, methodical. Consider every option to take them out and everything that could go wrong before we act.”
I get it. I know we can’t go off half-cocked, but fuck, I want to end these assholes for Tessa.
“If they had done this to Charlotte, do you think you would still want to wait?” I ask him.
“You better watch your fucking mouth,” Roman warns, pointing his finger at me. “You’re on thin ice for showing up at the safe house and seeing Tessa after I forbade it!”
“I’m sorry. I forgot you think you’re her father,” I retort as the rest of the table falls so silent you can’t even hear anyone breathing.
“While she’s living with me and Charlotte, it’s my responsibility to keep her safe and happy. Not yours. I’ve told you a thousand times, Tessa doesn’t