Page 12 of Breached

Cole sat in his usual seat at the head of the table and looked around as everyone settled. He raised a hand, and we all went quiet. “First, I’d like to address why we’re all here.” Savannah reached over and squeezed his hand then tucked hers back under the table. “I know things have changed at our safehouses, not only here at Shadows, but at North Rock,” he nodded toward Davie and Steve, “and at Dusk.” He looked at Quinn. The guys nodded back.

“The attack on our people on our soil has devastated us all.” Cole’s voice broke a little, but he swallowed and continued. “We will never, ever allow ourselves to be caught off guard like that again. The hit on our family is the worst blow we’ve ever taken. Their deaths will never be forgotten, nor will their loss be the beginning of the final chapter of this organization.

“If my father were still here, he would tell us not to back down to grief, but to surge on and honor our dead by fighting back and eliminating the threat that dared to touch us.” He paused for a moment and let his fierce gaze go around the table. “We will soon teach anyone who tries to do us harm that we won’t back down—not from anyone or anything.”

“Hear, hear!” Mark shouted.

“Let’s use our sadness to fuel us,” Cole held up his glass, “and be our fuel to conquer.”

He stopped speaking as Frank stepped into the room. Frank didn’t speak, just nodded at me and motioned for me to join him in the kitchen.

I stared at him but didn’t move. I knew I shouldn’t disobey a direct order, but he was disrespecting Cole’s moment, and I wouldn’t allow that.

Cole licked his lips and shot a nod of respect toward me. Frank sat down, and Cole continued. “From now on, we take every precaution and then some when coming and going from this house. No one is to leave here alone. That doesn’t just apply to the wives and kids. That goes for us too. Two or more and always be carrying.” We all nodded. “This is our new reality. We will not lose any more family.”

“Copy that,” several of us called out.

“Good.” His tone softened. “Now, Nicole Winter,” he looked at her, “meet your new housemates, Quinn and Davie.” He pointed, and they each gave a friendly wave. “And Chamness, who will be overseeing you and Chase whenever Paul isn’t available.”

Nicole nodded at Cole, then turned to Steve. “Nice to meet you. I’ll do my best not to make your job any harder.”

“Well,” he gave a controlled laugh, “from what I hear, you’re like one of the wives already, so with all due respect, ma’am, I don’t believe that as far as I can throw Irons over there.” He pointed at Mike with his beer. That made the table break out in laughter, and of course Mark was the first to jump in to pile a little more shit onto Mike.

Dinner went well and the conversation stayed light, which all of us needed. Frank was the only exception. He stared begrudgingly at everyone until his daughter, Mia, got up and went over to him. I didn’t hear what she said, but after one more pissed look at me, he nodded and picked up his fork. Mia went back and sat next to Mark, and he pulled his wife in for a hug. I knew Frank’s behavior affected her more than any of us.

After dinner, we all gathered in the living room for drinks.

“Paul?” Mike joined my side as I stood next to Nicole. He handed me his phone, and Nicole politely turned away as I scanned the words on the screen.

I looked up at Mike. “Shit, when did Rafe Hunter surface?”

“Last I saw him was two years ago.” Mike rubbed his face. “Why he’s there now has my head in a twist.”

I nodded as I thought about the text Mike got from our friend in Vegas, Grim Gates. “There’s only one way to find out.” I signaled for Cole that we should gather Blackstone and talk.

I glanced at Nicole, who had raised her own phone and stared at the screen. Jesus, was Grim texting her too? I knew better—Grim would never, but Hunter was a legend, and maybe him suddenly showing up back here in the States was something she’d hear about.

“Nicole,” I stepped closer, and I could see something was going on with her, “Blackstone is going to meet downstairs.”

“Sure.” She sounded a million miles away.

I leaned down. “What’s going on?”

She blinked like she tried to rewind my words. “Yeah, I’m fine here.” Her phone rang then, and she put it to her ear. “I need to get this.”

If it wasn’t for the fact that I knew her phone was highly monitored, I’d be concerned about who she was talking to. I didn’t have time to discuss it with her because with what Mike had just shown me, I knew we had to move fast.

“Chamness.” I pointed to Nicole, and he nodded, understanding he was to watch her. In spite of the fact that we were in the house, I knew something was up with her.

I joined the guys in the large conference room, and as we took our seats, it finally came to me what I had been trying to remember earlier. “Son of a bitch,” I muttered, and John looked at me.

“Speak for yourself,” he shot back with a chuckle.

I leaned into him. “Sorry. Nicole sparked something for me today, and I just remembered what it was.”

Cole and Frank were the last to join us. “All right, Paul you called this meeting. What’s up?” Cole said.

I cleared my throat and wished Frank wasn’t there.