Page 54 of Clover

“Dead? Who the fuck killed him?”

Arrow shrugs and shakes his head. “No fucking clue.”

“What do you mean you have no clue?” Again, Arrow turns his attention to Leo, unsure if this particular subject matter is appropriate to be talking about in front of him. My patience is running thin, and I need to know everything he knows—now. “For fucks sake, Arrow, he works for the McKinney’s. Spit it out.”

“They found him dead in his penthouse.”

A surge of relief, joy, and anger flood my system. I wanted him dead, but I wanted to be the one to deliver the sentence.

“What kind of dead?” I ask.

“Slit throat. Cut ear to ear. No signs of a fight. He was found sitting on his couch. —covered in his own blood—but there wasn’t any on his hands. He didn’t even try to stop the bleeding.”

“And no one’s claimed the kill?” Usually, if one of the higher-ups is taken out, there’s someone somewhere who wants to claim victory. To either threaten or control, and the Shaw’s had a lot of enemies.

“No one. So far, everyone’s staying quiet.”

“What about his security?”

“They were all knocked out prior to it. None of them know what the fuck happened. There were a few strippers there, from what I heard, and I guess one of them lured a couple of the guys away. After that, they don’t remember much. Just waking up, finding the girls gone and Braxton dead.”

“Anyone been able to find the girls?”

“Nope. Vanished.”

“Shit—I really wanted to be the one to take that dick head out.” Setting my tattoo gun down, I remove the black latex gloves and run my hand through my hair. Standing to pace, my nerves are on edge. I need to move before they burn through my skin.

“I know, but someone else beat you to it.” Arrow, still standing near the door he burst through shifts to sit on the empty stool nearby.

“What’s the council doing?”

“Fuck if I know. Probably nothing yet. The Shaw’s will obviously think you did it.” He doesn’t expand on the why since we’re in front of Leo. I’m sure the story will circulate through the families and Syndicate in due time. Right now, however, it’s still unknown to most.

“If I’d done it, they would fucking know. I’d plaster it on a billboard for all to see, so they knew what happens when you fuck with a Colton.” From behind me, Leo’s deep voice surprises me when he asks his own question.

“Who do theythinkdid it, if not Phoenix?” Arrow and I both turn to face him. He’s still reclined in the chair, tattoo half done on his chest. He just stares right back at us. Guys got balls. He’s not a head family member nor a top position in the ranks. Just one of the many worker bees in the hive.

“Um, I guess maybe Archer making a power play. Fuck, it could have been an ex-girlfriend or disgruntled employee. He wasn’t exactly known for making friends. Could be anyone.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” Leo agrees, smirking. One more for the anti-Shaw train. Good to know. Then it hits me.

“Does Clover know?”

Arrow furrows his brow. “Not sure. I just found out and came to tell you.”

“Okay, call Beau at the bar and find out. I’ve got to finish up with Leo.”

“On it, boss.”

Arrow leaves, shutting the door behind him, and for the next couple hours, I’m so out of it I don’t even realize I’ve finished the tattoo. Ironically one of my best. Guess when I just let intuition take over is when I do my best work.

On my way out, Arrow informs me that Clover does know. Rosie told her. She’s at home now, waiting for me.

I find her sitting on the couch talking with Rosie when I get home.

“Is it true, Nix? Is he actually gone?” Clover stands and crosses the room to meet me. Eyes wide and curious.

“As far as I know, yes.”

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