Page 64 of Graveyards & Greed

“Sometimes a few well-placed knife cuts are more effective than an entire army,” Kilian replied.

Declan’s phone started buzzing. He let it go, but then Callum’s phone rang. He picked up, and we could hear their CFO, Griffin, on the line. Callum’s face went dark as he listened.

“Put him on speaker,” Declan instructed.

Callum set his phone on my desk. “Griff, what’s going on? You’re on speaker.”

“Our dispensary on Tropicana was hit. A few bikers came in right after it opened this morning. They beat Mitch to a fucking pulp, and one of them cut his Achilles tendon as he tried to crawl away. Then they stomped on the back of his head and left him for dead before they robbed the place.”

“Jesus fuuck,” Declan breathed out. Fenn started pacing again.

“Was Terrance LeBaron with them?” I asked. We’d sent photos of LeBaron and Carver, along with a few other MC members, to our employees after what’d happened at the mortuary.

“They wore masks. I looked at the security camera feed and didn’t see LeBaron, but that younger asshole, Carver, was one of them. I recognized his hideous swastika neck tattoo. He’s the one who cut Mitch and stomped on him.”

My stomach soured, and nausea crawled up my throat. I knew Mitch. He had impressive dreadlocks, was vegan, and adored his two sweet little kids. Fenn was right about one thing. We needed to send a fuckingmessage.

Declan stood. “We’ll be there in fifteen. I’ll also send someone to keep an eye on Mitch at the hospital.”

“Okay. I’ll email the video over. I’m warning you now, it’s hard to watch. I need to go, the police have a few more questions.”

When Callum hung up, Fenn turned to us. “Do you still want to take the subtle route?” Declan and Callum shook their heads.

“No,” Kilian conceded. “We need to hit back, but I still don’t want to start a war.”

Drakos had quoted something to me the morning after the mortuary had been hit. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting,” I murmured.

Fenn shook his head. “You’re quoting Sun Tzu? Really?”

I shrugged sheepishly. “He makes an excellent point.”

Kilian turned to me. “Is Carver the one who attacked you at the mortuary a while back?”

“Yes. He’s a vile bastard.” I glanced at Fenn and chewed on my thumbnail. “I have an idea. But it’s… unconventional And brutal.”

Fenn nodded. “Brutal is good. What’s your idea?”

“Have you heard about an ancient Persian method of torture called scaphism?”

Kilian shook his head. “No. What is it?”

Fenn wrinkled his nose and studied me. “I have. Where are you going to get two boats?”

“Two boats? What are you talking about?” Kilian asked.

Declan shook his head. “Spit it out, we need to go.”

I didn’t take offense. Most of their long-time employees were considered family, and I knew he felt responsible—just like I had. “The ancient Persians used it to slowly torture people by putting them between two boats or hollowed-out logs and force-feeding them milk and honey every day. They’d also rub it into their skin to attract insects. Between that and the explosive diarrhea, flies and maggots would burrow into their bodies and eat their rotting flesh. I heard one man lasted seventeen days, but usually, it took about a week for them to die or go insane. We can send him back to their clubhouse rotting and half-alive.” They stared at me as they digested my plan.

Kilian slowly nodded. “That would work. We could video it for maximum effect.”

Callum grimaced and gagged a little. “That would definitely send a message.”

Declan studied me carefully. “We take Carver, I get to help, and we still look at ruining them financially.”

Fenn gazed at me admiringly. “You have a twisted, fucked up mind, Syl. You do the Spade family name proud. Let’s do it.”

I vacillated back and forth about telling Drakos, but in the end, I chickened out. Two days later, Declan and Fenn brought Carver to the mortuary. In the early morning, as I lay fast asleep curled into Drakos's side, my phone vibrated several times on the nightstand. I peeled myself away and grabbed it, pushing hair out of my face and trying to focus my eyes enough to read the screen. When I saw Declan’s text, suddenly I was wide awake, sick anticipation pumping through me.

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