I use the hand pressing into his skull to choke off his words. “We’re way past cheap denials, Senator. We both know what you did.”

Outside, raised voices infiltrate the heavy wood door. Fuck. Time’s up.

Kelly takes a deep breath like he’s about to scream for help and I grip his throat tighter. “I wouldn’t if I were you.”

He closes his eyes.

“I’m not killing you today, Senator. Probably not tomorrow either. I plan to enjoy the trial. You’ll see me again, though. Don’t worry.”

“They’ll put me in protective custody!”

What a pathetic plea.

I step back and spin him around so fast he loses his footing and lands hard on the open toilet. Leaning over, I slap his cheek a few times. “That’s cute you think it matters. It won’t matter. Now that I know who you are and what you’ve done, there won’t be a place anyone can put you that I won’t find you.”

Chapter Seventeen

Z

“Glad you’re finally back, Prez,” Shadow calls out.

Is that disrespect I sense in his snide tone? He’s such a jerk in general, it’s hard to tell if this is his normal or if he has an issue with me.

“Miss me, bro?” I sneer.

“We may have a problem, Prez,” Rooster says.

Now Rooster, I’ve been able to depend on. I trust his judgment. Still don’t care for the way he’s standing around uneasily staring between Shadow and me. “Don’t stand there with your mouth open. If we have a problem, get everyone to the table.”

“Panic and Eazy are on the road,” Shadow reminds me.

Fuck, if something’s going down, I’d really like to have everyone here.

“That’s fine.” They’re on a planned run. Nothing I can do about it at the moment.

While Shadow stalks through the clubhouse calling brothers to the table, Rooster jerks his head toward the office and I follow him inside.

“What’s going on?”

“He says he got word that Vipers are meeting with DeLova on our turf. Tonight.”

“Bullshit.”

“DeLova’s not thrilled we’re no longer collecting money for him.” Rooster shrugs. “So anything’s possible.”

Shit. That’s a call I made to try and distance us from the mafia. “You don’t seem a hundred percent.”

“DeLova’s not dumb. I can’t see him getting close with an MC that has the reputation the Vipers have. Especially when he knows the history between our clubs. He’d kick that action back to his son-in-law or some of his lower guys before going to the Vipers.”

“Where are you at tracking down that black caddy?”

“Fuck, Z. You got any idea how many black caddies people rent every month? It’s taking forever to comb through them all.”