Mace did not like the turn of the conversation.
“Don’t piss me off,” Mace warned.
“We’re not tryin’ to piss you off, Mace,” Lee bit out, his voice hard. “I’m guessin’ Stel a sat, alone and unprotected, in the back of that limo and Preston Mason threatened her and that pisses me off. She’s yours and you’re a member of my team which makes her mine. Anyone messes with you, or her, they mess with me. No one f**kin’ messes with me. We got enough on our plates with Carter; we don’t need your Dad havin’ a way in. I’m cuttin’ off al his routes.
That costs money, f**k it. Bottom line, a woman’s dyin’ and that woman is Stel a’s mother and your father is leanin’ on them. Suck it up, we’re al steppin’ in.” Without waiting for a response, Lee turned to Brody. “Find me something on Preston Mason and if he’s got in anywhere, I want to know.” When Brody sat staring at Lee and not moving, Lee leaned forward. “Do it, Brody. Now.”
Brody nodded, jumped up and actual y ran out of the room.
“I don’t like this,” Mace was back to sitting, apparently relaxed but anything but. His eyes were sharp and angry and they were trained on Lee.
“I know you don’t. I was in your spot, I wouldn’t either. I’m sorry, Mace, but you got no choice,” Lee replied.
“Don’t like that either,” Mace told Lee.
“We gonna have a problem about this?” Lee asked.
“Yeah,” Mace responded instantly.
Hank intervened. “Mace, you know Luke took a bul et for Roxie.”
Mace knew immediately where Hank was heading and shot back, “Flesh wound.”
“Lucky chance, it could have been worse,” Hank returned and Mace pressed his lips together because he knew Hank was right.
Hank went on, “You know what Eddie and Darius did for Indy. You know that gets out, Eddie’s f**ked; his career in the toilet. Eddie’s also pul ed back from Marcus, he hates it but he’s done it, for Jet. And you watched Jet get shot and we al know what that meant.”
“Hank –” Mace broke in but Hank kept going.
“We al know what Darius had to do to disentangle himself from the shit swirling around Jules too. We know what Hector’s livin’ with because he f**ked up and nearly got Jules kil ed tryin’ to protect Roam’s street cred, of al f**kin’ things.”
“I get it,” Mace snapped.
“You don’t,” Hank replied. “You’re new to this so I’l tel you, bein’ tangled up with a Rock Chick means makin’
certain sacrifices and livin’ with your decisions. The time to make yours is now.”
The vibe in the room stayed hot as the three men stared at each other.
Final y, Mace muttered, “Fuckin’ hel .”
Hank glanced at Lee. Lee returned his look, took in a breath and Lee’s gaze moved back to Mace.
“Turner cal ed last night.”
As Mace’s head snapped toward Lee, the vibe in the room shot back to hot, so hot it was combustible.
“He’s on side,” Lee finished.
“What the f**k does that mean?” Mace asked.
“That means he quizzed Stel a. He didn’t find out dick and encouraged me to look into your Dad. He told me she didn’t know about your sister but I’m guessin’, since they obviously had the conversation, she knows the basics now and she’s curious. He’s on board with keepin’ her in the dark. I know you don’t like it but you got an al y in that guy.
He’l take care of her.”
“I’m gettin’ her back,” Mace returned.
“Hold off,” Lee advised.