“First.” He pointed at the window. “That fucker is not here just for Bren. She might be part of the reason, but she’s not the only reason. I talked to Brock and Gramps today, and a cop I know on the force back in Cain. It’s the same situation in Fallen Crest. There’s some corrupt cops and some decent ones. There’s enough decent ones that are using Brock’s team to help round up the Red Demons, so that’s saying a lot. Don’t go to the cops. Secondly, they have one big case that spans a shit ton of them with one eyewitness. That witness, I’m going to try to figure out who it is. From the rumblings we’re hearing, the Red Demons are trying to find out who it is, too. Someone local, and someone powerful. Or someone who has local ties, let’s say that. I’m also hearing that there’s a Red Demon at Cain U.”

I frowned. That was definitely news. “As a student?”

His face was grave. He nodded. “Yeah, so heads-up about that. I got no clue who it is, but we’ll do what we can on our end.”

My frown only deepened. “I thought you were friendly with the Red Demons?”

“Friendly. At an impasse. They drink my beer. I make sure they stay out of Roussou. It’s a tentative peace, and if somehow this rolls over to Bren, that peace is over.” He paused, his jaw clenching. “I hate saying this, but they’re too big for me. They got ties to a lot of people, ties I don’t know about, and they expanded fast since Raith moved into power. The good thing I found out is that they’re keeping Derrick out of it.”

I knew there was animosity between Channing and his dad. Bren had said as much, but hearing him talk about his dad as if he were a stranger, or even an enemy, was a different thing altogether. I was remembering times I wanted to tear my dad’s head off, too, and it wasn’t the same thing. Not the same at all.

I felt a twinge of regret. Maybe I’d overreacted when it came to my own?

Channing was still talking, looking back outside again. “Remember this. If they get rid of that witness, then that case is gone. There’s major tension in Cain because of it, and they’re focused on Cain because it’s the middle ground of a bunch of networks. There’s territory beefs going on down south, but from what I’m hearing, the cartel has a few people operating up here too. Red Demons are going to go after them, but while there’s warrants out for their key people, they’re laying low.”