Page 84 of Double Standards

I roll my eyes as she playfully spanks the air.Enough.

“Okay, what time?” I ask, forcing cheer into my voice.

“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he states more than suggests, but I swear I can hear the smile in his voice.

“See you then,” I stammer, nerves prickling my palms. Suddenly, I don’t know why I’m this rattled.

Until Axel drops the line that cements everything.

“It’s a date.”

The line goes dead before I can object, the dial tone humming in my ear as Lexie lets out exaggerated moans beside me. I stare at her, speechless.

“Did he just say ‘it’s a date’?” she asks, practically bouncing beside me.

I nod, my voice barely a whisper as it echoes her excitement. “Uh-huh.”

Chapter Thirty

“Are you sure?” I growl, eyeing the crappy surveillance pictures Hunter just tossed on the table. There’s Daniels—caught red-handed meeting with other slick-suited assholes; buying a fucking Beretta; slipping out of the Mayor’s place like it’s his second home. Every candid feels like a loaded gun pressed against my head.

I knew the DA was gunning for me—hell, for all of us—but I never thought it’d come to this kind of dirty, personal shit. Maybe it’s all coincidence. Yeah, right. I don’t believe in luck or chance—I believe in getting even. And if this bastard’s trying to pin his crimes on me, he’s gonna wish he never crossed that line.

Hunter shrugs like it’s just another Tuesday. “On a scale of one to ten? I’m giving it a nine. There’s always a chance I’m off, but how often does that happen?”

Ryder leans in from the couch, his eyes sharp as a knife. “Word is the NYPD’s working with him.”

“Word?” I repeat, narrowing my eyes.

Ryder’s old man digs up dirt that’s harder to find than a needle in a haystack. I trust the guy about as far as I can throw him, but still, it’s better to get the facts straight before I start blowing shit up.

“Yeah,” Ryder nods. “Santos’ crew might be in this mess too.”

Hunter rubs his chin, interested. “Santos’?”

I lock eyes with Trigger. A silent, tense conversation passes between us. Then I slam my fist on the desk. “I thought you had this under control?”

Trigger stands, defensive but calm, pacing like a caged animal. “I do.”

“Then why the hell are Santos and his thugs buying out our guys?”

That thought sets a fire under my skin—a slow burn that quickly turns into a raging inferno. This isn’t just some petty, one-man vendetta anymore. No, this is something much bigger, a calculated, full-on war aimed right at my throat. He’s not playing small anymore; he’s pulling in heavy hitters—muscle and influence alike. Gangs I thought were rivals or on the sidelines are suddenly showing up on his payroll, and every move he makes sends a clear message: he’s got the resources, the reach, and the ruthless intent to dismantle everything I’ve built. This fight just escalated, and I can feel the stakes pressing down like a noose tightening. There’s no turning back now.

Hunter tries to play diplomat. “We don’t know that for sure?—”

I’m already seeing red. My stare cuts him down, and he shuts the hell up. “I want those fuckers shut down. And I want to know who the hell they’re working with,” I bark.

Trigger and Ryder snap their attention to me. “We’ll get on it,” they say like soldiers, even though they’re far from that. This is their territory—their wheelhouse. Trigger’s a ghost when it comes to tails, skilled at following without being seen, while Ryder’s got his ears glued to the ground, catching whispers no one else hears. His stuck-up father might turn a blind eye to real talent, but I know exactly what these two are capable of.

They bounce fast, and I’m left with Hunter, his arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.

“So, what now? What do we do with these?” he asks, nodding at the photos on my desk.

I tap my chin, thinking fast. Truth is, I’m fucking wary of chasing the guy Max caught on tape. He’s dangerous. Too damn clever. Maybe he doesn’t know how much power he’s got over me, yet. But I’m not about to give him the satisfaction.

“We need eyes on him. Like a goddamn hawk,” I say, jabbing a finger at the photos.

Hunter’s eyes narrow. “You think they’re gonna try something else?”