Page 75 of Dash

People like Dayna.

“Fuck this.”

I move before he can stop me, fury bubbling through me. Crank doesn’t look up until I’m standing right at his side.

“Good to have you back, brother.”

I grind my teeth at him calling me that. ‘Brother’ implies loyalty, family, bound by more than blood.

“You got any leads on who attacked us?” I demand.

He leans back in his chair as if he doesn’t have a fucking care in the world. As if the rot in the club doesn’t start with him.

“Attacked you?” He scoffs. “It was hardly an attack. Wrong time, wrong place, that’s all.”

I stare him down, trying to keep a tight rein on my anger. If I show my hand now, it’ll be all over, but if I do nothing, that might also look suspicious. As always, when it comes to the club, I’m straddling the line between two worlds, both of which can swallow me.

“It wasn’t random. There was a fucking note?—”

He waves this off. “Probably just pissed-off patrons trying to get back at that idiot who owns the bar.”

I count back from ten, my nails digging into my palms as I fist them at my sides.

“A note that was directed at us.”

He dismisses this too. “A vague threat that could have meant anything.”

“You don’t think it’s coincidental that the bar was attacked at the exact same time two patched brothers happened to be inside?”

“I don’t believe in coincidence, Dash. But I had no idea you were so fucking superstitious.” His eyes are cold. “I’m not goingto tear apart the city looking for answers that don’t go anywhere. Besides, you’re fine, aren’t you?”

Like a busted skull and dodging bullets are just minor fucking inconveniences. Like I didn’t pass out covered in blood next to my brother in a shithole bar.

I could fucking kill him right now. Just end this without any fucking fanfare. It would be so easy…

“Brother.” Diesel’s voice cracks with warning. As if beneath all the quiet weirdness, he knows this is a crossroads, understands it’s one I might not come back from.

I step back, one pace, then two. I don’t take my eyes off Crank. “There used to be a time when protecting this club meant something.”

Crank twitches in his seat, his shoulders pulling back as if he’s ready to fight the world. Except the man can’t even fight for the people in this room. “You got something you want to say to me, kid?”

I think about flipping the table for half a beat and calling him a coward. But Diesel squeezes my arm in warning.

I take it. I know I’m treading on dangerous ground here.

I shake my head. “Not a thing.”

Diesel steers me away, out into the fresh air. I ignore the disapproving look Nicky fires my way.

Fuck him.

He didn’t have to watch his girl fall apart at his bed side.

The breeze ruffles my hair, and I take my anger out on a nearby bin, kicking the trash everywhere. Diesel watches my outburst with his usual indifference.

“Feel better?”

“No,” I growl.

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