21. Iron

I hop in the truck, knowing what's going to happen and dreading it. It's not like I want to do this. It's just that the bitch isn't giving me any alternative. Ghost is so glued to her side that I'm not going to get many more chances either. It's basically a now or never scenario. I almost feel a little guilty. I like Ghost. I even planned on keeping him in the club once I took over. That's probably not going to happen now and it's Lennox's fault. She's ruining all of my plans. Plus, she's bringing up the past when I thought I had put it behind me.

I hated that motherfucker Bones with a passion. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about that. Still, he made me rich and cut me in on every deal he had running—especially the ones that went against Ivan Levkin because those were the most lucrative ones. In return, I did his grunt work. I didn't mind. I kept my face out of it. No one—not even fellow club member—knew I was in on it all. I was meticulous in protecting myself. The only ones I got to help me do Bones' bidding were hired friends that had no association with the club. I played things smart.

At least until Bones had me off a fourteen-year-old kid.

I didn't want to kill Lennox's brother. I'm not a monster and he was just a kid. I simply had no choice. You don't make these deals and back out on them. Besides, it's not like I knew the kid. When he started crying for his sister, getting louder and louder, it bothered me to the point that I got rattled. I shot him and while my buddy was filming it for proof, I used the wrong hand and revealed the tattoo of my mother in the film. It was a stupid, fucking amateur mistake. Still, I figured once Bones died my secret and the video died with him. So, I put it all behind me.

I had plans. I've been working on them silently in the background for the past year. I'm going to eventually challenge E-Z for president. One day this is going to be my club and the money will be in my control. E-Z and Shadow are the only ones standing in my way. I'll deal with them. I was already in the process of dealing with Shadow when Lennox showed up and began fucking with my life.

I've taken great pains in hiding my tattoo from her, but wearing long sleeves are killing me. Phoenix can be damn hot. I know the men are starting to wonder, because I barely wear shirts, let alone ones that cover me completely. Still, I had no choice. The tattoo starts at my elbow and continues to just above my wrist. I could have covered it up with more ink, but I wasn't willing to do that. It's a tattoo of my mother and there's a reason I have it.

So, I've just been biding my time. The minute Lennox saw it, I knew she would start blabbing to Ghost and E-Z. They'd piece it together pretty quickly from there. I just have no choice other than to get rid of her—no matter how much I like Ghost.

I take out my phone and text Deuce. He and I go way back. He helped when I was dealing with Bones and he'll step back in now.

Plan starts today.

I wait to see if he replies. I'm on edge. Ghost will be watching everything like a hawk. It would have been smarter if I'd stayed behind at the garage and let my guy deal with Brick. I couldn't do that. I needed to make sure this was taken care of personally. Too much is riding on it—namely my own ass. My phone vibrates, getting my attention.

Where do u want me?

"Where we headed, Len?"

"First, we're going to have breakfast at the coffee shop I used to live above. If you're nice to me, I'll buy you breakfast."

I fake a laugh. This bitch really needs to be taken down a peg or two. I type in my message on my phone.

Coffee shop downtown. Songbird. Meet in alley. She will be with me. Play it cool until my signal.

"This is fate, Len. I've been thinking of renting a place downtown. I need a break from the club sometimes. Ghost actually mentioned your apartment was pretty decent. Maybe you could show it to me."

"Sure, that is if Mrs. M. hasn't rented it yet.

"Sounds like a plan," I murmur with a grin.

Everything is coming together I just need to make sure we handle this just right. I can't allow Ghost to be suspicious of me. I need a solid story here. I'm also going to have to ask my guy to give me some kind of injury and make sure that injury isn't fatal. This is all her fault. I'm going to make her death hurt just for causing me extra trouble.