“What’s the problem?” Ginger asked, poking her head out of the window. “Are you boys fighting? Should I talk to Tricky’s mom about setting up a makeup playdate?”
Rock kissed the top of his mom’s head and gestured for her to get back in the warm car.
“Don’t maneuver me, boy,” Ginger muttered.
“You need to stay safe.”
“He’s right, woman,” Oz grumbled at Ginger. “Behave, will ya?”
“I’m going to kick all your asses,” Ginger said despite getting comfortable back in the car.
“Before we left, I texted the Black Rainbow club,” I told Oz. “Zodiac might send someone to check things out. Tricky is bound to pitch a fit over that.”
Oz shrugged. “Well, if things get dicey and punches are thrown, I’ll be sure to hide behind Ginger.”
“Don’t talk to me,” Ginger snapped at her husband. “I’m pissed.”
Oz leaned into the car and said something that made her laugh. Rock must have overheard what it was because he frowned like they were being nasty.
“Tricky might only be here to stalk Cher,” Rock said to me and gestured at our club sister currently sitting on the curb with her face hiding against her knees.
“Hey, butt-blaster, get behind the line!” Sabrina yelled at Tricky. “You don’t have clearance to pass!”
Tricky got in Sabrina’s face, trying to intimidate her with his size. She instantly shoved him while Vanessa threw out her leg to trip him. He yanked at Sabrina’s hair and attempted to do the same to Vanessa’s. Once Sabrina ran her shoulder into his rib cage, Tricky gave up.
“I’m not looking to get hurt for real, dumbass,” he muttered at Sabrina who bowed in reaction to the applause she received from our club and the local cops.
Irritated now, Tricky stomped over to me. “Anything you know, I need to know. Why are you keeping secrets?”
Without missing a beat, I lied, “I knew you were right behind us, so there was no reason to tell you anything.”
Tricky narrowed his gaze, smelling my bullshit. He glanced at Oz and nodded.
Before Tricky bitched again, Oz asked, “How’s your dad?”
With Tricky preoccupied with Oz, Rock had me walk with him away from the SUV.
“A few strangers showed up yesterday. They were dressed in slick suits and driving blinged-out SUVs. They drove around town, making sure people noticed them. They rolled out of town with eyes on them. Then, before midnight, locals heard shots here and an explosion. The meth lab’s security footage showed four masked men storm the location before the footage went out.”
“If they rolled out of town with eyes on them, did they do this?” Tricky asked, having sneaked up behind us.
“Of course. Who the fuck else would do it?” Rock growled at Tricky.
I didn’t waste time tugging at Rock’s leash. He wasn’t a man I wanted controlled. Tricky felt like he knew me inside and out, but he didn’t have such a casual relationship with Rock.
“This might be the Void,” I announced and watched Tricky for recognition.
He instantly demanded, “Why the fuck would you think that?”
“Whoever did this wanted us to know this was the work of outsiders. If you or I planned to wreck a drug house, we’d slip in quietly at night, take people out with minimal noise, and burn the house to the ground. No one would know anything was happening until we’d left town.”
Tricky nodded. “But they made a lot of noise to ensure everyone got out here quick. Think they’re watching us now?”
We looked around the area. The sun had broken across the horizon, illuminating the smoldering house and surrounding fields.
“We should assume someone is watching.”
“Why not hit Little Memphis?” Tricky asked.