Sinner's Creed (Sinner's Creed #1)(70)
Small talk is made and I’m sitting on pins and needles waiting for him to get to the reason for our visit. He finally motions for me to walk to the other end of the outside patio with him. I look back at Saylor, who is being offered a cup of coffee by Shady. He sits down next to her and even though I don’t like it, I’m glad he is there to warn off any men with death wishes.
After about fifteen minutes of bullshitting, Roach leads me over to the other side of the patio, away from everyone else. “We got a problem, Dirk.” I freeze at his words. Not because of the weather, but because for the first time in my life, I’m not gonna be around to handle the club’s problems. I’m going to have to say no to him. To the club. I’m not torn about deciding between the club and Saylor; I’ve made up my mind. I choose her.
“Death Mob set us up, Dirk. They baited us and you took it.” Roach seems to age a year every second that passes. He’s scared. And because he’s scared, I’m scared too.
“What do you mean they baited us?”
“They ain’t building no army. They rolled up a few guys just to send them to Texas to die. The plan was for them to find your weakness. They found it when they found Saylor. They knew you would retaliate if they f*cked with her. They didn’t do enough to warrant death though, Dirk. All they did was speak to her. It wasn’t bad enough for twelve brothers to die. They knew that. Now they have the ammunition they need to start a war.”
If Death Mob was willing to kill twelve of their own, then I know their reasons have to be good. I can’t imagine what could be worth so many lives. “What do they want?” I ask, already dreading the answer.
“They want Texas.” Roach’s words are whispered, but there is no denying the powerful impact they have. Texas couldn’t be traded. Sinner’s Creed needed it to survive. Death Mob knew there was no way Dorian would just take it from us without probable cause. But to prevent a war, they would.
It was all about the business with them, and business couldn’t be conducted if we were too busy killing one another. So they forced me to kill, and were going to take it to Dorian if we didn’t hand them Texas. They would simply tell him of my transgressions, prove they have every right to retaliate, and inform him of a brewing war. To prevent it, Dorian would simply pull the plug on Sinner’s Creed, and Death Mob would take over our entire territory. We would become nothing. Our patches would burn, our brothers would be out of work, and our legacy would die.
“Put in a call to Dorian. Beat them to the punch. Tell him what happened. Don’t give them any names, just let them know that there was an altercation and one of your men took it too far. See what their solution is.” I can see the wheels turning as Roach contemplates my advice. It might not be the smartest move, but it’s the only one we have.
Roach starts to shake his head, already weighing the options and not liking the outcome. “I’m afraid that when this news hits the Underground, they’re gonna make Sinner’s Creed pay for it.”
“It’s the only shot we have. If we don’t give Death Mob what they want, then a war starts. More lives will be lost and Sinner’s Creed will still bleed, if not fold altogether.” I place my hand on Roach’s shoulder. “It’s our only hope. Maybe they have a solution. If we can stay whole, keep Texas, and get Death Mob off our asses, then it’s worth whatever price we have to pay.”
It takes a few minutes, but Roach finally agrees. “I’ll make the call.”
—
Shady took me and Saylor home and is staying for supper—Saylor’s request, not mine. They laughed the whole way here. It’s innocent and doesn’t piss me off. I like that they get along, and it gives me time to deal with what’s weighing heavy on my heart—Sinner’s Creed.
I leave them, mumbling some excuse for going out to the garage. In the cold night air, I try again to process everything I’d learned only hours ago. I didn’t know what the outcome would be once Roach notified the Underground of my transgressions, but what I did know was that it wouldn’t be something we liked. Being an outlaw came with a price. And I had a feeling we were fixing to pay for it.
“Dirk?” Shady’s voice cuts through my dark thoughts. Shit. From the look on his face, I can tell he has no clue. “You okay, man?” He knows something is wrong, but he is probably thinking of anything other than the truth.
“I need to do something. I’ll be back in about an hour. I need you to stay with her.” He nods his head, and I avoid his stare. I’m not one that is easy to read, but I don’t want to take any chances.
I take Shady’s car to the bar, where I find Roach along with all the other Nationals, still seated outside. An uneasiness begins to settle over me at the sight of all of them together. If they’d called a Nationals meeting, then I should have been invited.
Roach asks everyone to leave us, and they do. On their way out, not one of them can meet my eyes. When it’s only the two of us, Roach gestures to the chair next to him. “We need to talk.” His voice is weak and it’s like he isn’t here. He is only the shell of the man I once knew. He shifts, flinching as he does. When I lean in, he waves me away. I can’t make out much in the darkness, other than his face. It’s illuminated by a fluorescent beer light that hangs on the wall next to him.
“My days are limited, ya know?” I know, but it’s not something I want to think about. He has been old since I’ve known him. That’s been for over twenty years.