Page 34 of Ethan's Sky

Gabe follows him up and holds him with an arm across the chest. “Sit the fuck down.Now, Ghost.”

“Ethan!” Gabe shoots, leaning forward on the table on his hands to get closer, the warning in his eyes unmistakable.

“You ungrateful little…”

“Ghost, for fuck’s sake, sit down and shut the fuck up! Ethan, not another word, or I’ll put a bullet in your ass myself. You got me?”

Everyone slowly sits back in their places. Mack and Declan stay planted on the wall behind me, close enough to grab me if Gabe orders it. Caleb and Gus do the same for Ghost. The air between us, thick with tension.

Mack looks to Gabe who subtly nods allowing Mack to speak. “We believe George was approached by some men when he was picking up a load a month ago. We caught them approaching him on camera in the yard, but they walked out of view and there’s no sound. As of now, we have no idea who they are or what was said. Based on the way George was shoved out of view, we assume he wasn’t too keen on the conversation. We questioned George about it the following week. He told the security team they were asking about jobs on the docks. When George said he couldn’t help them, he didn’t work for the harbor, he’s an independent contractor for West International, they left pissed off.” Mack looks about as convinced as the rest of us.

“I call bullshit.” Walker scoffs. There are several grunts of agreement around the table.

“We think George not only knew what was going to happen to him, but he knew who was behind it.”

“He just didn’t knowwhenit was coming.” Jameson adds. “So, he had a fail-safe, Parisi, in place for his daughter. Makes sense.”

The fuck?

“Why would Sky need heavy protection like Parisi’s men? Obviously, the club would protect her,” Hawk turns asking Ghost. “Why cut a deal with Vincenzo? He knows we don’t pull other people into our shit.”

“You answered your own question, Hawk.” Walker pipes in. “He knew we wouldn’t ask Parisi for help. Club business is our business. If George gets Parisi involved, the club must make him privy to what we’re doing.”

“It’s his back-up plan.” Cash adds. “If we fail to protect her, Parisi will take over.”

“He didn’t trust the club.” In my eyes it’s the only thing I can see making sense as to why he did what he did.

“No. He doesn’t trust his enemy.” Eli looks to Gabe who agrees with his deduction.

“Skyler moved into an apartment complex owned by Vincenzo not too long ago.” Ghost informs the room. “I didn’t think much of it at the time. Figured he just wanted her to have a place outside of town in case people weren’t so accepting to her returning.” Ghost glares at me, before scrubbing both hands down his face. “I don’t know what the hell my brother-in-law was thinking or doing getting mixed up with Parisi, but we’re going to have to find out.”

Jake’s fingers are tapping on the table. The sound grating on my damn nerves. I’m still on edge and things aren’t getting any clearer.

“Someone could be using Skyler as collateral, to force George’s hand.” Eli elaborates.

It’s Caleb who speaks up next. “If George did in fact refuse a job, and if the guy on the docks had done his research…” Caleb pauses, rubbing his beard between his fingers as he looks to Ghost. “Like following George around for a while.”

Wait. What?

George told me he hadn’t seen or heard from Skyler in years. Has everyone been lying to me all this time? I’m about to ask, but Jameson speaks up first.

“His daughter would be the only thing that would persuade George to do something illegal. Maybe they were enemies of the club. I could see giving Parisi a call if he thought telling us would bring shit to our door. Especially if he knew we would be hiding Sky from whoever the fuck this is. He would betray whoever he had to if it meant saving himself and his kid. Who wouldn’t?”

“George wouldn’t give two shits about himself, but for Skyler…yeah, he’d scorch the Earth to save her.” Ghost agrees. “She was his whole fucking world, man.”

“He’d sacrifice himself.” Eli states. “Like father like daughter.” He grumbles softly, but I hear him.

“So, George knew where she was this whole time. And now, you’re saying sheissomehow involved in her father’s death?Fucking shocker.”

A low “Fucker” comes from across the table where Cash stands against the wall. Eli’s eyes snap to mine. Not liking my legitimate question.

“If she is, it’s because someone used her as leverage against George. Skyler’s got nothing to do with why George was killed.” Ghost growls.

I scoff. All eyes turn to glare at me like I’m in the wrong for asking this shit. But can they blame me? It wouldn’t be the first time Skyler found herself in a predicament and someone else lost their life.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Eli’s eyes hold mine in a steely glare. “I don’t answer to you, motherfucker. Or have you forgotten the order of things?”

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