Milner let out a sob.

“You’ve lied to me about a lot of things, Milner. You see, I know all about your little problem. Gambling debts, and you thought you could use your connection to me at the club to help your problems. Throwing my name and my club’s name around to make people afraid. I bet it started out fun, didn’t it? You liked the power it gave you. You knew I’d come after you. There was only so much you could take before I got a call. Knowing there wouldn’t be a chance in fucking hell of you getting away from me. You’d still risk it?”

“I don’t want to die. Please, Preacher, I can give you what you want and need. I admit the gambling, it got out of hand, but I didn’t mean for it to. I had it under control. We’re friends. O’Klaren is an asshole. I can help you. I can give you all the information you need. I can be your informant.”

Preacher threw his head back. “You really think I’m going to help you out? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Can you believe this guy?” he asked, looking at his men, who were laughing.

He liked Milner, or at least he used to. Now, he was more of a liability than a friend.

“O’Klaren will use any means to get to you, Preacher. He’s got ways and knows how to find a weak link.”

He sighed. “Milner, O’Klaren isn’t the first person who has come after me. They’ve been doing this for years. You think I’m not used to having a snot check through my shit? I’d be offended if they didn’t.” He laughed. “You should have come to me, but you tried to trick me and I don’t like that.” Preacher slammed the tip of the blade into Milner’s eye.

The screams were deafening.

He’d lost interest now.

He wanted to get back home, check out his businesses. He didn’t doubt he had everything in the right place and was in control. Never had he left anything to chance.

Bored, he poured some gasoline onto Milner and set him alight.

Stepping back, he watched as the man screamed and thrashed around, trying to put out the flames.

It didn’t take too long for him to die, and when he had, Preacher gave Bear the order to bring in the cleaning crew.

Stepping out of the warehouse, he spotted Dog waiting for him.

“I want you to check out the offices and clubs. Make sure no one has been hired without my say-so within the past six months. I want a thorough background check on anyone who hasn’t had one.”

“You think we’ve got some rats in place?”