Page 19 of Dutch

"We're not looking to start a war. We have to be smart. We're playing chess, not checkers."

The energy in the room buzzed as we bounced ideas back and forth. Some were batshit cray-cray, but a few were good. I lookedat Makari and wondered if she knew she was a part of the family, whether she realized it or not.

Saint clapped me on the back, bringing me back. "You know I got you."

I nodded with my throat tight. God help us all.

The burner phone rang. The number was blocked, but we knew who it was.

"Dutch," I answered, keeping my tone neutral.

"Check your messages and consider it motivation to do the right thing." The call dropped. Jahlil, that sick fuck.

I opened the messages on the phone, and there was a message with a video attached. I hit the play button. Malaki was tied to a chair with blood dripping from his nose and eyes swollen shut while a masked figure circled, taunting him.

"What the fuck?" I passed the phone to Saint. "Tell me my eyes aren't playing tricks on me?"

Saint watched the video. "This has to be old footage, and honestly, with his eyes swollen shut, it could be anyone."

"Let me see?" Makari headed my way.

I shook my head. "Not yet. I got to figure out what the fuck this is first."

"Kane, I need you to see if you can get a timestamp on this video."

Kane grabbed the burner. "I'm on it, boss," he stated.

I barked out orders, my brain already prepping for war as Makari lingered.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"No, but I will be once this is over," I admitted.

Makari nodded, and as much as I wanted to hold her and draw from her strength, there wasn't time for that now.

I was left pacingthe floor when the men entered Dutch's office. I was sick of Dutch and his damned mixed signals. One minute, he was shutting me out, and the next, he was being all protective.

Why wouldn't he tell me who was on that video?I couldn't take it anymore. It was eating me alive. I stormed down the hallway and busted into Dutch's office without knocking. They were hunched over his desk, and suddenly, all eyes were on me. There was something there… concern? Fear? I didn't know, but there was a calm I couldn't explain.

"Give us a minute," Dutch ordered. The members filed out of his office while I stood there with my arms crossed.

Dutch slowly stood. His frame rose like a predator, ready to meet a challenge. "Makari." My name rolled off his tongue like a warning, except I was done with half-truths and warnings.

"Don't Makari me. I need answers."

Dutch appeared to struggle as the lines in his forehead creased. I wanted to back down, but a part of me that was running on adrenaline pushed forward.

"What's got everyone so spooked? What was on that video?" I demanded.

Dutch's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I believed he was going to shut me out. "It's not that easy," he stated in a low voice.

"Then make it easy because I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what I need to know."

There was a war going on behind his eyes, and the air between us was thick enough to choke me. Dutch's eyes were filled with desire versus duty and protection.

"Do you think you can handle everything?" His tone dripped with sarcasm, but it was also laced with concern. "Because there is no going back once you see it."

With my patience wearing thin, I rolled my eyes. "Try me. I've seen worse shit before most people have had their morning bowl of cereal."

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