I nod for Teller to open the door. “Let’s go before everyone thinks you’re jerking me off in here.”

Teller rolls his eyes. “You really are crabby.”

“I’ve got enough to worry about without this asshole stirring up trouble for no reason.”

“Why not just call DeLova?” Teller suggests.

“And say what? ‘Hey, bro. You bitter we won’t collect your debts anymore? Going behind my back to the Vipers?’ I don’t think he’ll be real receptive to that sort of accusation.”

“It might make things worse,” Murphy agrees. “Or give him ideas.”

“Exactly.”

“They’re ready for you, Prez,” Rooster says.

“Let’s hear what Shadow has to say.”

The guys follow me inside and I take my place at the head of the table. I wait until everyone’s seated and then nod to Shadow. “All right, VP. Let’s hear it.”

By the way he jerks his head back, I don’t think he expected me to give him the floor. But fuck that. When this goes to shit, he can be on the hook. And if by some miracle he’s actually right, I have no problem giving him credit.

Shadow stands and clears his throat. He jams his hands in his pockets and stares at the table for a few seconds before speaking. “You cuttin’ off DeLova was a bad move, Z. He’s pissed and he’s going to the Vipers to pick up the slack.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Steer blurts out. “DeLova hates the Vipers more than we do.”

Shadow stares at our SAA and flexes his jaw. Guess he wasn’t planning to be questioned so early. I keep quiet and give Shadow all the time he needs to hang himself.

“He might not want to do business with them, but we didn’t leave him a choice.”

“His son-in-law practically runs the Devil Demons and he’s got more than enough minions,” Steer points out. “Our relationship was always supposed to be temporary, anyway.”

Maybe Shadow wasn’t aware of that fact because he frowns at Steer. “It brought in money.”

“It’s dirty business,” Rooster says. “It’s beneath us to be DeLova’s bitches.”

“It sure as fuck wasn’t bringing in enough money to justify the headache,” Hustler adds.

Well, all right then.

Murphy dips his chin at me and flashes a discrete thumbs up.

“What are you asking the club to do, Shadow?” My tone leaves no room for weaseling around.

“Malone’s bowling alley.” He points at Murphy and then me. “You two been there, right?”

“Yeah,” I answer slowly. “We did a pick-up for DeLova not that long ago.”

“Well, Malone’s up to his neck again. He’s renting out the place for a Viper/DeLova meet to work off some debt.”