Page 167 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

“Agreed. We were all kind of hoping the trash would take itself out, anyway. Looks like we got our wish,” Torres said.

“As long as innocent bystanders don’t get caught up in the crossfire,” Crew said.

“Or Fletch and Wilder,” Nox murmured, then asked, “But was it a true war? Sounds like the Russos went tactical. Did the Demons even have an opportunity to fight back or were they all ambushed?”

“Tactical?” Rodgers huffed. “The Russos are definitely not Navy SEALS. They don’t have the training to be fucking stealth.”

“But they hit the Demons when the MC wasn’t expecting it. The same way we would have when we served the warrants. They’re definitely smarter than those bikers.”

“True. But my guess is they’ll end up with casualties, too.”

“No loss,” Cabrera said.

“Just like in the Army,” Nox started, “I’m sure they sent in the soldiers to do the dirty work and not the generals.”

Crew raked fingers through his short hair. “Yeah, I’m sure the boss and underboss are somewhere safe until the dust settles.”

“Or the blood stops running,” Cabrera added.

“What businesses did the Russos hit?” Nox asked Crew. “Do you know?”

“All of them. All at fucking once, too. This was a planned and coordinated attack. They lit buildings on fire. They threw smoke bombs in others and took out the bikers and their women as they escaped. Pizza Town is gone. The reports I received said that the Viper’s Den exploded and turned into a five-alarm fire because of the surrounding woods. Anyone inside was blown to fucking bits.”

Rez did the sign of the Holy Cross. “Rest in pieces, you motherfuckers.”

“The Peach Pit?” Finn asked.

“Not sure. I told you what I know so far. I’m sure I’ll get updates throughout the day.”

“We did all this goddamn work for the Russos to steal our thunder. I was looking forward to breaking in doors and cracking some skulls,” Rez admitted. “They couldn’t wait a day or two and let us have some of the fun? Assholes.”

“It just makes it less for us to round up in the end, that’s all. They’re lightening the load for both us and the court systems,” Crew assured him. “The Russos are doing what we hoped. Once the smoke clears, we’ll get a better picture of who’s left. I’m sure the Demons didn’t just throw their hands up in the air in surrender and accept every bullet pointed their way, they probably fought back against La Cosa Nostra.”

“Survival of the fittest,” Nox murmured.

“That’s one way to put it. Once we know who’s still standing, the teams can go in and serve warrants to who remains. The bonus is, with the Russos getting involved, the feds may be able to rope in some of them, too.”

“A two-for-one special?” Cabrera joked.

“It’s a good way to thin the herd when it comes to the Pittsburgh Mafia. Let’s not forget, they’re the reason the Demons were trafficking meth into Pennsylvania in the first place.”

“I figured the FBI, DEA and ATF would be all over the Russos,” Nox said. He didn’t know the ins and outs of how the federal agencies dealt with criminal organizations. As part of the Tri-State Federal Drug Task Force, he only followed orders.

For the most part.

“I’m sure they are,” Crew said. “The FBI had Wilder undercover with the family. I have to assume they have other agents planted, too.”

“Then whoever is in charge of this whole fucking thing should’ve gotten word that the Russos were about to go Demon hunting,” Rez continued to complain.

“Are you about to shed some tears over the loss of Demons?” Torres asked him. “Do you need a hanky or something?”

“Fuck no. I was just looking forward to seeing the results of our work.”

“You will. In court,” Crew assured him.

“That’s the boring part. I was talking about taking part in the stuff that would get our blood rushing,” Rez said. “Our hearts pumping. Our adrenaline rushing.”

“Can someone look out of the window to see if pigs are flying? Crew is being way too reasonable about all of this,” Torres said, laughing.

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