Page 9 of C is For Corruption (Horsemen #3)

Craig

“Come on, we're meeting in Ian's office,” Az said as he poked his head into the room I'd claimed.

“Mmmm, five more minutes,” Victoria mumbled, snuggling deeper into my side.

“You can stay in bed if you like, Love. I just need Craig.” Az’s voice was soft in a way I don’t think I’d ever heard as he addressed her before turning his attention back to me. “Five minutes.”

He ducked back out of the room and quietly shut the door before I could respond, leaving me to disentangle myself from Victoria gently.

I moved to the dresser, snagged the black sweatpants I'd tossed aside the night before, and pulled them on along with a shirt I pulled from the drawer.

I didn't bother looking for socks or shoes as I padded out of the room and headed to Ian's office.

Az nodded from where he sat at Ian's mahogany desk, gesturing toward a cup of coffee near the edge.

Noting the dark circles beneath his eyes, I grabbed it and took a sip before settling into one of the empty armchairs.

Leighton followed not long after with a scowling Joey in tow.

I couldn't help grimacing at the bruise that had fully set in along his jaw, but the way Leighton, of all people, gripped Joey's collar and steered him to a seat was enough for me to know it wasn't the time for apologies just yet.

“I’ve been fielding calls all night,” Az started with a tired sigh. “Our people are scattered to kingdom fucking come, and nobody has any idea of what’s left standing. I can’t even get an accurate tally of who’s left alive. Leighton, I need you out there. If you’re up for it, you too, Joey.”

“Who the fuck left you in charge?” Joey sneered. “Pretty sure if my brother had an heir it would be me. I should be the one making these calls.”

Az rubbed a hand over his face and pinched the bridge of his nose in a move startlingly similar to Rich's.

“It's not about heirs or being in charge, Joey.

If we don't sort out who's left and what territory is still intact so we can shore up before the vultures descend, there won't be anything left.”

“Az is right, Joey. Right now it doesn’t matter who’s giving the orders.” I added. “You and Leighton are the most familiar with our boots on the ground, you know where they’d hole up, and have the connections to mark them off the dead rolls if they’re alive.”

“Oh, fuck off, Craig. What are you even doing here? We don’t need a fucking hacker for this. Your precious computers are useless here.” Joey snapped.

“Woah, woah, woah. He does more than that, besides, he can check the camera feeds and narrow some shit down for us.” Leighton said my brows arching in alarm that somehow he was acting as a voice of reason.

Joey narrowed his eyes at Leighton and scoffed. “Figured he had better shit to do,” he said before turning to look at me with a malicious smirk. “Ran right up in that poisonous pussy as fast as you could last night, huh?”

My eyes widened at the vitriol in his voice before narrowing in anger. Before I could open my mouth to put Joey in his place again, Leighton reared back his hand and slapped him across the face.

“Two, god damn it.” Leighton said in an exasperated tone. “You’re my hetero-life partner dude, but I will fuck you up if you keep going on about our girl this way.”

“And you three can share her ‘til you come to your senses.” Joey started, sneering at Leighton. “And—”

Az sighed heavily. “Enough!” he bellowed. “He did warn you. Now, if you don’t mind, we have actual business to deal with and not whatever this childish bullshit is.”

“I will need a laptop, at minimum. Unless you three have secured the house?” I posed my question to Az.

“We haven't. Nothing is secure at the moment. We have been here, looking for you and Victoria for the last few days while Ian and Dawn managed the arrangements for the funeral. You weren't with us, so I don't know if your lockdown protocol was enabled when we left.”

I heaved a little sigh, looking around as I considered the property we were on.

“Any digital footprints or fingerprints we might have left at our place, safehouses, or warehouses are gone.

We won't have to worry about anyone getting anything they shouldn't from those access points.

If the computers aren't completely destroyed already, they're no better than empty personal PCs.” I instinctively reached for my phone and huffed when I remembered it wasn't there.

“I'll need to make some stops, but I can get us set up here. I need a phone, and more computing power than the dinky back-up I have up there right now…” I was mostly talking to myself when I registered Az speaking to me.

“Make a list, we’ll make sure you get what you need. Phil, thank fuck, is still alive and kicking. He can make the run.” Az said, his tone bordering on being an order.

“I’m perfectly capable of going to an electronics store.” I deadpanned.

“The city is still gunning for us, and you’re barely in the condition to walk from here to your fucking room. I’m not risking your safety for your pride. Make the damned list.” Az barked.

“Yeah, you need to just sit tight and look pretty until your Frankenstein scars heal up.” Leighton cackled. “Let ma petit kiss all your boo-boos.” he paused, a dreamy look crossing his face. “I need to get stabbed real quick.”

Az pinched his nose again with a groan. “Can you not? We have enough shit to deal with as it is. We don’t need another one of us out of commission.”

“Yeah, besides, who knows what sort of infection you’d get from that. ” Joey snarked. He didn’t say her name, but something in his tone made it obvious Victoria was the ‘that’ he meant, not the stabbing.

“Leighton, while you’re out, secure a location to stash two guests securely. Per the deal Craig made, we only have two weeks until they arrive.”

“It needs to be extra secure,” I added. “Candy will do anything, including self-inflicting bodily harm, if it means she lives. I can only imagine what sort of person she has as a second.”

Joey huffed, and Az snapped his head in his direction. “Something you'd like to add?”

“Yeah,” Joey said, standing from his seat. “That deal is bullshit and we all know it. Nobody gives a fuck about her second. I want Tiffany. Candy and Tiffany. The bitch who set shit into motion and the bitch who pulled the trigger. Nothing else makes us square with the Devils.”

“The deals made, we’re not going back on it.” Az replied.

“Fuck your fucking deal!” Joey shouted, stalking forward and slamming his fists on the desk. “It wasn’t Craig’s to fucking make. It was mine , and I say it’s not fucking good enough.”

Az pushed his seat back from the desk and stood slowly, a thunderous look on his face.

“That is enough. We may generally make decisions together, but I was the second in command. That means that I am in charge with Rich gone, whether you like it or not.” his voice was like steel as he continued to speak.

“Furthermore, Joseph, Rich didn’t even want you in this life in the first fucking place.

You forced your way in against that better judgement, and now here you sit.

But do not forget, Craig was here first and even Leighton outranks you.

You have one of two choices. You hit the streets with Leighton or you stay.

Either way, one more outburst from you and you will be taking licks as punishment like the petulant child you’re behaving as. ”

I looked at Az momentarily, unsure when the last time I saw him like this, if ever.

It was like looking at Rich reincarnated, right down to the hard stare and how he pinched his nose to ward off the headache in his eyes.

My mouth opened as if I was going to tease him about it the same way I'd done Rich so often before I caught myself and snapped it shut.

Joey bared his teeth at Az, his fists curling tighter until his knuckles were white. “Fine.” he gritted out. “I'll hit the streets, I need some fresh air anyway.”

“Good,” Az replied, holding Joey’s gaze until Joey finally stepped back.

“I expect regular reports and check-ins. We need to know exactly what we’re working with so we can right this ship.

” He paused and flicked his eyes to me. “I don’t like the idea of sending anyone in blind, so get your list together.

Phil will get what you need and bring it to me at our drop point.

Once you’ve had a chance to scope out what you can, Leighton and Joey can head out. ”

Leighton moved first, grabbing Joey by the arm and pulling him further away from the desk. “Come on, Pookie, let’s go to work.” Leighton’s words were light, but the look he gave was hard. He didn’t give Joey a chance to respond before pulling him from the room.

Once they were clear of the door, I turned to study Az. He had settled back into his chair and had his elbows propped on the desk, head in his hands. Exhaustion deeper than any I'd seen on him was evident in how he held himself.

“How are you holding up?” I asked, causing him to startle and jerk his head up.

“Figuring out why Rich was always so goddamn tired…” He said softly, “That man had stronger shoulders than we realized.”

“I think we knew, we were just grateful he carried that weight for us. He didn’t have to deal with this infighting going on either.

We fought, but.. Not like this. We always knew we had each other’s backs at the end of the day.

” I trailed off, considering my next words.

“Was he like that the whole time we were gone?”

Az was quiet for a moment, looking like he was sorting through memories he could barely recall. “No. He was mostly just… quiet. This started the moment he laid eyes on Victoria again.”

“He’s just looking for someone to blame. Something to do with the shit he’s not working out.” I offered, though it didn’t mean the hatefulness was any less grating.

“Fuck, I hope you’re right.” Az puffed out a breath.

“He’s trying damned hard to force us to choose, and I’m not sure I can stop Leighton if Joey keeps pushing.

” Az raked a hand over his face and into his hair, tugging at the blond strands.

“I don’t know how to stop it. Rich would have known exactly what to say to make him see sense, but I’m completely at a loss here.

I’m afraid none of us will be able to make him see sense before it’s too late and he’s done damage to our family he can’t undo. ”