always tried. And Brett’s worthy of respect. I’m not sure I’d be okay with just any woman stepping in, but her priorities are straight, and she just wants to save this club before some of us end up running it into the ground.”
Frowning, Ethan asked, “What do you mean?”
Kent scratched the back of his neck and nodded toward the door. “I think we should talk outside.”
Ethan agreed. Seeing eyes following them in suspicion, he muttered, “Let’s play it a little tense. I don’t want anyone thinking you’re turning on them.” It would be all about body language, and as they stepped to the side of the building, Ethan lit a cigarette while Kent crossed his arms and jutted his chin.
“Martin took pressure to bring in those Ravens. He didn’t want anything to do with them and their bad business, but he was worried we were too small and that Dylan and the Kings would try to absorb us. He didn’t want that, wanted us to stand on our own, and when the chance presented himself to bring some people on board, he felt like he didn’t have a choice,” Kent explained. “But then, things started to fall apart internally, divided up over what we were going to do for money. And somewhere along the way, those Ravens he brought in turned and basically forced the idea of double crossing the Kings.”
“Which wouldn’t have worked if there wasn’t support on the inside, from prior members,” Ethan concluded.
“Right. Things got worse when Martin turned the Ravens over to Dylan, and some of the guys thought there should be a financial reward for it, at the least.” Kent shook his head. “I’m not sure if there are any Ravens left out there, but I’m sure if there are, they want vengeance. And some of our guys still want retribution for killing what were essentially our members, even if others, like me, never felt like those dirty bastards belonged.”
Ethan had worried the Ravens would be involved in Martin’s disappearance, even though the club was disbanded and there weren’t a lot of them left in the area. The Devil’s Flames and the Diamond Kings had worked together with several other clubs across six states to take out all their chapters, but they just kept popping up again. “How long have you been with the Suns?” he asked Kent, his mind turning and trying to work through all the information he had.
Kent scowled. “Not as long as some, longer than others. I patched in about ten years ago.”
“So, long enough to be able to read where people stand,” Ethan urged.
“Yeah, I’d say so. What are you thinking?”
Ethan blew out a long breath. “I need these guys to trust me, at least to a certain point. I’m not here to take over the club or to push Brett out. I’m here to figure out what the hell happened to Martin so none of us get our asses in a sling. But maybe, if someone spread the word that I did want that top seat, and that I was willing to give Brett a swift kick to the curb, they might look at me differently.”
Kent smirked. “Put her in her place?” Kent shrugged. “Are you planning on discussing this with her?”
Ethan grunted. “I’ve mentioned it, sort of.” He sighed. “To be honest, I need them to trust me, but I also want the target off her back. We’re bringing down some of my men tomorrow so we can make this run for the Diamond Kings. If Brett’s distracted, busy worrying someone’s going to take her out, this whole thing goes south.” And, Ethan admitted to himself, he’d be so distracted trying to protect her, he would be useless of there were troubles.
“I hear what you’re saying.” Kent narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “I’m sure I can put something out there, after this little discussion. But it’s got to be bigger than just me.”
“Don’t worry, I have an idea.” Tossing his cigarette butt aside he added, “One last question. Do you think Dennis had something to do with Martin disappearing?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him, not with the way he’s been acting,” Kent admitted. “At the same time, I don’t know if he has the balls to pull something off, and I don’t know if a threat from him would scare my president enough to send him running. My money is on the straggling Ravens. But that doesn’t mean Dennis hasn’t been a mole.”
Which would cost him his life, Ethan