they nodded, he followed Gunner.
“Everyone’s in the big conference room. Are you armed?”
Gunner shot him a puzzled expression. “Always. Why?”
“You’ll be relinquishing it at the door,” Rock answered. “Once you’re inside, you’ll discover why.”
Halting feet from the conference room, he fisted both hands at his sides. They never surrendered their weapons while on Brethren property.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“We’ve got non-members inside. Chaos and Wrath, with Grayson’s approval, set it up. Seems you’ll be meeting Katrina’s father sooner than you might’ve expected.”
Gunner sat between Fargo and Rock at the opposite end of the table from Wrath, Ghost, and Chaos. Raider and Wrangler were also there, but no other Brethren. Men wearing Dark Disciples cuts took up the rest of the seats, backs rigid, features set.
In the center on one side, a well-muscled man with broad shoulders and dark hair peppered with gray stared at Gunner. His gaze sliced through him in an attempt to make Gunner squirm. It wasn’t going to happen. Better men had tried to intimidate him and failed. No one made introductions. They didn’t have to.
Zeus. The national president of the Dark Disciples. Katrina’s father.
Next to him sat Einstein, the national vice president. Across from them was Big T, the chapter president, and his VP, Cracker. The fifth man leaned against one wall. Ox, Big T’s sergeant-at-arms.
“All right. Here’s the deal.” Wrath’s voice boomed down the table, commanding, taking control with a few words. “I requested a meeting with Zeus, Big T, and their officers. We have a mutual enemy. The Chicago Mob is after a family with connections to the Disciples and Brethren.”
Zeus’s gaze flicked to Gunner. “Are you the one with my daughter?”
“I’m pretty certain you already know that.”
“Gunner.” Wrath glared at him, the warning clear.
His lips pulled into a tight line. “Yes. Katrina is mine.”
Something flashed across Zeus’s face before he concealed it, giving a curse nod at Wrath to continue.
“The reasons for their interest in Katrina, Teri, and Brady Snowden aren’t important. What we must focus on is locating who the Mob sent.”
“And kill each and every one.” Zeus leaned forward, resting beefy forearms on the table. “There’s history between me and the underboss, Salvatore Ricca. Ricca is coming after me by toying with my family. Soon, he’ll order his men to do more.” He struck a fist on the desk. “They must be stopped.”
Wrath shot a look at his men, brows drawn together. He and Chaos had met with them earlier, explaining everything they and Gunner knew. The need for them to be included had come sooner than expected when Zeus contacted Wrath, asking for a meeting.
It had taken convincing for the Disciples’ national president to agree to meet at the compound. He’d wanted neutral ground. The issue had become the number of those attending and the extreme secrecy of what they planned.
“We’ve learned the location of where the two Mob members are staying. The one Chief Bettencourt took into custody, Tony Carparelli, is still in jail, awaiting his bail hearing. Tonight, we pick up the others. Zeus and his crew will handle interrogation and punishment.”
They all knew what the outcome would be if the Disciples were in charge. The men wouldn’t be seen again. The Brethren would be risking too much by leading the questioning and subsequent penalties. None of this could blow back on them, something the Disciples cared nothing about.
“That won’t stop Ricca from sending more men,” Gunner said. “What about money?”
“Negotiating with Ricca doesn’t work,” Zeus answered. “We’ve offered money, and it almost worked to pacify him. His boss may have accepted it, but Ricca wants revenge.” Shifting in his seat, his jaw clenched. “I’ll be taking my family home to Vegas.”
Gunner sprung to his feet. “The hell with that.”
“Gunner,” Wrath gritted out, but he continued.
“They’re no longer your family, Zeus. You could’ve figured out another option years ago to keep them away from the Mob. Instead, you allowed them to leave, ordered your men to stand down so they could escape.”
“You don’t know that,” Zeus roared, his glare narrowed on Gunner.
“Are you denying it?”
His nostrils flared, Zeus’s only response.
“They’ve built new lives. Trust me when I say they won’t leave willingly.” Gunner shifted his focus to Wrath. “I’ll move them to a safe house until this is behind us.”
“Count me in on guarding them,” Rock said, followed by the other Brethren announcing their support, knowing the final decision wasn’t theirs.
Big T leaned forward. “Let ‘em keep your family, Zeus. You never did want them. You’ve got