“Right. This f**kwad had Tess, Joey, Rex, I’d be where you are right now. And you’d be right where I am and that is standin’ here tellin’ you to get your shit together.”
Mitch stared at his partner.
Slim kept talking.
“Mara’s good. She’s holdin’ it together. She’s got her girls around her. She’s keepin’ her shit.”
That was his Mara.
A survivor.
Slim wasn’t done.
“You know Chaos has issues and you know they do not team up with the local PD to sort that shit out.”
“He shoulda talked,” Mitch said low. “Women and children are involved.”
“Brother, listen to me,” Slim got close. “Been talkin’ to those guys and not only are you and me surprised as shit Lescheva made a play on a cop’s woman and the kids he’s lookin’ after, Tack, Hawk and Lee had no f**kin’ clue she was even on radar. Tack got word and mobilized. That’s why she’s sittin’ in Chaos’s compound with her girls, a guard of Chaos and not wherever Bud and Billie are. The word he heard was about Mara, not those kids. He moved the minute he heard she was in danger. He’s in this mess because he’s tryin’ to get his boys clean. This is not on him even though he’s feelin’ this shit and he’s feelin’ it deep. It isn’t on him. This is on Lescheva.”
Mitch continued to stare at his partner. Then he jerked his chin up.
Then he got his shit together while walking around Slim to the huddle.
“You and Lucas are not here,” Delgado stated quietly the minute they arrived.
“We’re not wastin’ time with that shit,” Mitch replied. “We’re here. Now we discuss the play.”
Luke Stark shifted and Mitch gave him his eyes.
“Lawson, this shit’s about to get dirty,” Stark warned.
“Is this necessary information for me to have to discuss the play?” Mitch returned.
“It’s necessary information for you to have, this goes south, you and Lucas are involved, you both lose your jobs and got no way to feed your kids,” Nightingale put in.
“We’re wasting time,” Mitch growled.
“You’re clean,” Tack reminded him. “You wanna stay that way, you get in your truck, you go to Ride and you look after your woman.”
Mitch took in a deep breath.
Then he looked Tack in the eyes.
“He has my kids,” Mitch said slowly. “He tried to get my woman,” he kept speaking slowly. “Now, let’s…discuss…the play.”
Tack stared at him.
Then he muttered, “Respect.”
Respect from Kane Allen.
Jesus.
Mitch let out his breath.
“Right,” Delgado spoke and Mitch looked at him. “The play…”
* * * * *