Page 37 of Demon's Angel

The implications hit him fast. “We need to talk to everyone. See who could be in contact with the Silvestri. See who could have opened their mouths and let anything slip to the wrong person. We’ve been sending the girls out to buy baby shit, Prez.”

“Wouldn’t mean much unless he knew Vi and Theo were here.”

“Before we alienate everyone in this club, Cad, any technical way he could have traced her?”

I notice my temporary VP has gone still, his brow furrowing.

“Thunder?” I encourage him to continue.

“Just hit me, Prez. What if they found out accidentally? I mean when they were listening for something else. We have product moving around our businesses. For all Lucio spouted, I still think his crew is behind that. What if they’ve found a way to watch us? Bugs in the club? Hell, I don’t know, but I’d rather look for an answer before we start throwing accusations around.”

It takes no more than a second for the implications of that to sink in. Then I’m blasting at Cad. “Could we be bugged? Watched?”

“Whoa.” Cad holds up his hands. “Back up a bit, Prez. Someone would have needed to have planted shit like that. It would take a mole.”

“Hangarounds coming to the parties? Couple of the guys have brought chicks back, too.”

Cad’s lips press together, his hands rub his temples. My fingers drum on the table, wondering why he’s not jumped up and is tearing the club apart. “I’ll do a sweep, Prez. Check it out. But this Angel has an obvious interest in Violet. He could have physical eyes on her, or virtual ones.”

“You think he’s tracking her? Thought of that, Brother, but she ditched her phone long before she came here.”

Cad grins, leaning forward. “How about I tell you how I’d do it? What’s the one item a woman always has with her?”

Hell’s the one who answers. “Her fuckin’ purse. Mo won’t leave the house without it.”

Could it be that easy?I was about to tear the club apart and she might have brought the Silvestri bug into the compound herself? Completely unknowingly, clearly. Placing my palms on the table, I start to push myself off the seat.

“Where you going?”

“To get her purse.”

“Demon, sit down. You plan to walk in and take it?”

Of course, why not? “Yeah?”

“Well you might need to do some explaining when taking a woman’s prized possession.”

That’s one reason why I never wanted a woman. The explaining myself part is not what I’m good at.

“Then,” Hell continues, “you’ll get into where you’ve been and why. Scare the shit out of her that Angel knows her location. And then have to tell her the decision you’ve unilaterally made. Think you need to plan how to approach it a bit more carefully.”

“What do you suggest?” I glance out of the corner of my eye and see Cad listening intently.

Hell jerks his chin toward Cad, then his gaze comes to me. “How isn’t the most important thing right now. Dealing with the implications is.” Hell’s face looks pinched. “Not the way I’d have wanted you to get hitched, Son.” For the moment, he’s my father. His lips press together, then he continues, “But this has to look right if you’re going to fool Angel. You need to get everyone on-side to back up your story, which, if I’m allowed to point out, is as full of holes as a fuckin’ sieve. It has to be watertight, so you need everyone behind you. You also need to know how to approach this legally. Marriage, paternity rights. You’re already talking about changing the birth certificate. When you talk to Violet, you can’t be all ifs and buts, you have to know what you’re doing.”

Cad looks at Hell, his eyes going wide, then he turns back to me and nods. He’s added all that data together fast. “I, we, will be behind you, Prez. Whatever you need. We will all have your back. Tell me what you want and I’m on it.”

For a moment I stare at the ex-prez who I’m thinking should rightly still be sitting in this chair. He’s right. To pull this off, I need to convince her I have a plan, and that it will work. Knowledge, that will be my weapon.

“Order of play, then. I’ll start to look everything up.”

Christ, I don’t even know where you get a marriage license or how long it takes to do things right. But I will. Before I see Violet.

“Her car’s in the compound, isn’t it, Prez?” When I nod, Cad continues, “That’s where I’ll start. Could be as simple as he’s put a tracker on it.”

“Then we have church. Bring everyone in…”

“Before or after you tell Violet?”

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