Page 5

Maddox

I turn off the security feed. Watching Mindy work has told me absolutely nothing about her except that she likes to talk to my pets and that the only time her smile goes away is when she’s alone. It hasn’t gotten me any closer to figuring out what’s wrong with her.

Her credit is fine. Mindy lives well within her means. She has no outstanding medical bills. Though she should get her routine checkups done. It’s been years since she’s had one.

She had plenty of money in the bank, except she wrote a check to Waylon Gilham. A very large check.

Who is he to her, and what was it for?

Gilham is a happily married family man with a growing business. It’s a little cash-strapped, but they have enough contracts that they’re going to end the year well in the black.

Nothing explains what Fea saw. Or a woman working herself into the ground.

“So?” Fea walks into my office way too early to be coming for the meeting.

“She’s doing fine.” I close the curtains for her.

“That’s not what I heard. I heard she’s doing amazing. Otto keeps singing her praises far and wide. He can’t stop talking about how organized and efficient she is. That the animals are completely comfortable with her.”

That’s because she talks to them.

“And that the space has never been more organized or cleaner.” Fea grins.

“She was a good pick for the job.”

Fea leans back and folds her hands. “Thank you. Did you figure out what’s going on with her?”

“No. Can’t you just ask her?” It would be so much faster. Though figuring Mindy out hasn’t been boring.

“I wish I could figure out a way. We barely know each other, and I haven’t met a person with as many walls up as she has.”

So, it’s like looking in a mirror, is it? Fea’s mind is an impenetrable fortress when she wants it to be.

“We’re meeting again on Saturday. I’ll try to feel her out. Gotta go. I’ll be back later for the council meeting.”

I flip back on the security feeds. Mindy strokes Sweetie.

What kind of trouble are you in?

***

The number of meetings we need to have has gotten out of control. After this, I’m going to either sit down with a beer and watch a game or see if I can go a round or two in the ring with Taylor. Is he in town?

Taylor’s private security job keeps him hopping all over the world.

A trip far far away from here sounds amazing right about now. A ten-minute debate about the color changes in the barbershop is the last thing I want to be doing.

Maybe I could sneak away on the rescue mission…

“Fine, we’ll agree on baby pink and navy.” Fea jots the colors down.

“Are there any other—” I really want to say trivial. “—décor related issues we need to discuss?” Please say no.

Fea checks her list. “I think that’s it.”

“Then that concludes this part of the meeting. The next part is Deathadders only.” People file out, leaving just my brothers and me. “I need updates on our rat.”

Not one person speaks up.

“Nothing? You’ve gotten nothing?” That’s impossible. “Didn’t you go through their apartments?”

“Jacko and I tossed every one of them.” Canyon shakes his head. “Nothing. We found absolutely nothing. There’s got to be some other way they got to Marlie.”

We all want that. But there isn’t. “It’s time to check their devices.” I turn to Enzo.

He shakes his head. “This feels wrong. They aren’t prospects. These are our brothers.”

I know that. Even the idea of having to do this turns my stomach. “Our brotherhood works because we trust each other. Which means this needs to be fair across the board. All the brothers will show up for a meeting in my office tomorrow. No exceptions.”

“What do we say the meeting is for?” Jacko asks.

“A trust fall.”

“I ain’t doing a trust fall,” Canyon grumbles.

It’s not often that I need to push my rank in a brother’s face. Without hesitating, I get into Canyon’s face. “If I say you will do a trust fall, you will. I tell you to pull your gun and shoot someone, you will. Because I’m your president and brother. Be there tomorrow.”

Not that we’re doing an actual trust fall. That’s kind of stupid.

***

“Are you sure about this trust fall thing?” Ace walks in. “It sounds kind of stupid to me.”

That’s because it is kind of stupid. Not that I’m going to say that.

Pit walks in behind him. “Ace, you saved my life. Brie absolutely loved dinner last night. She said the baby has never been so happy.”

Ace smiles. “I’m glad. But hopefully, she doesn’t get a craving for it again. I almost vomited making it. Your wife’s cravings are disgusting.”

“I know.” Pit grins. “The baby brothers should be here soon.”

Pit does know how to irritate people.

Dyce strides in and my day gets harder.

“I’m not trust falling with a girl.” Enzo steps farther away from her.

“Like I’m doing your asinine exercise.” Dyce grabs a drink and climbs up onto the bar. “But I’m going to enjoy watching you all look like idiots.” Her eyes never leave Ace.

He winks at her.

Why am I watching my cousin flirt with one of my brothers? Because as gross as the thought is, it’s better than what’s about to happen.

All the newer brothers file in as a pack. We don’t usually… ever do odd meetings like this, which probably has them all a bit nervous.

Or that could just be me projecting.

As the last one steps in, I close and lock my office doors and put a block on the elevator up here.

This meeting needs to stay private.

“Thank you all for coming. It isn’t often we have an unplanned meeting. I want to thank you all for making time in your day to come.” Not that it was optional. “You’re probably wondering why all the brothers are here. When you all came up as prospects, we took the time to get to know you as you took the time to get to know the founding members of the Deathadders. Once you became our brothers, that effort stopped. Between us, there should be no secrets or lies.” But there obviously is one. “Today, I want you to take the time to get to know your brother. Would each member of the council line up over here?” I set them with their backs to Dyce to give her a better view of the newer brothers. “And everyone else line up here.”

The corner of Dyce’s lip lifts. For once, our minds are in sync.

Jacko, one of the larger guys, stands in front of our shortest member, Colton. “If you drop me Colton, I’m going to punch you.”

Though Colton looks small, he spends more time at the gym than the rest of us. “You can try if you want.” Colton grins.

Before they beat each other up, I better get on with it. “We aren’t going to do a trust fall literally. But today you’re going to show your trust in your brother. Everyone, take out your phones and unlock them.”

Eyes widen with shock even among the council, but there isn’t one speck of fear in anyone’s gaze.

“Pass your phone to the brother across from you. I want each of you to go through your brother’s messages, emails, and search history. Really take the time to get to know them. At the end of the exercise, you’re to tell the group what you learned about your brother.” And find the rat for me.

Dyce scans the group just as thoroughly as I do.

“Wait, you want us to read each other’s messages? I can’t wait to see what that hot wife of yours says, Pit.” Dawson holds his hand. “Gimme.”

Really? “Spouses and girlfriends are excluded.”

“What, but she’s—”

“Lesson?” Pit asks.

“Second,” Jacko answers immediately.

“What? Brie is—”

I whap him upside the head. “Respect.”

Dawson shuts his mouth.

“Get to work.” Hopefully, Dyce sees something I don’t.

“Um, what am I supposed to do?” Otto doesn’t have anyone across from him.

I forgot to count. There is an even number of us, but only if I’m in the mix. “You’re trading with me.”

Otto, who happens to be the nerd of the new bunch, stares like he’s about to pass out. The kid cleans the non-venomous snakes’ room. It’s not like he doesn’t see me on a regular basis. I’m not that scary.

This is going to be a long day.

***

“Pit takes amazing photographs,” Dawson shares with the group.

And with that, Otto and I are the only ones left to share.

“What did you learn about Maddox?” Jacko pets Pretty Girl, my rainbow python.

Otto stands up blushing the entire time. That kid needs to learn to hide his emotions. “I learned that Maddox doesn’t do anything but work.”

“Tell us something we don’t know,” Enzo shouts from the back.

“There isn’t anything else. Not one fun picture outside of the Adders. Nothing.”

The group turns to me with pity in their eyes. Don’t they know all of this takes work to run smoothly?

Time to get the focus off of me. “I learned that Otto got into the best vet school in the country.” Which doesn’t happen to be in Urbium like we had planned. Plans change and we adapt.

The guys let out a rowdy cheer.

“Take out the good stuff. It’s time to celebrate.”

A while later, as the guys start to filter out, I say, “Otto and Dawson, don’t leave. I need to talk to you both.”

Dyce hasn’t moved from her spot on the bar. I’m just going to pretend she’s not there for a while.

“I just want to say congratulations again. Getting in that school is an impressive accomplishment.”

A smile breaks across Otto’ face.

“As you know, all the costs are covered by the brotherhood.”

“Yes, I know. About the location—”

There hasn’t been a Deathadder that moved away for school before. “Is that where you want to go?”

He nods.

“Then it isn’t an issue. You need to get set up there soon or all the apartments will be taken.”

“I…Um…”

“The money you need will be in your account in the morning. And the jet will be ready for you then, as well. If there’s anything the brotherhood can help you with while you’re there, reach out.”

“Um… Yes, sir.”

It feels like I’m sending another of the kids off into the world. Only Otto will be back. “And we expect you back during breaks and holidays.”

When Otto leaves, I turn my attention to Dawson.

“I’m sorry. I thought it would be funny. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

That I believe. “What is one of our founding principles?”

“Respect,” Dawson answers instantly.

“You didn’t show that to a brother’s wife. Two brothers requested a lesson.”

Dawson’s shoulders sag.

He should know by now the lesson I divvy out suits the offense. “For the next month, you’re going to work as security at a women’s shelter.”

“A month?”

“Care to make it two?”

His head shakes so fast.

“Try to learn something while there.” How anyone could go to a women’s shelter and not come out changed is beyond me

Dawson stops by the door. “I really am sorry.”

“Noted, but I’m not the one you need to tell.”

He nods and walks away.

The door closes and I turn to Dyce. “Did you see anything?”

“No. But you really need a date.”

“Thanks, that was helpful.”

She climbs down off the bar. “Well, you do. You need to get out and meet people. Right after we figure out who the mole is.”

“Pot meet kettle.”

“You don’t know who I date.”

And I don’t ever want to know. But she’s not pursuing the right person, that’s for sure.