Page 60 of Jagger's Remorse
"Your woman?" Squirrel's voice goes soft. Dangerous. "Or your prisoner?"
"My ol’ lady," I say clearly.
Poncho laughs, harsh through his bandages.
"So she's not your prisoner anymore? She's more than that?" he challenges.
The challenge in his voice makes my hands itch for violence.
"Problem with that?" I ask.
"Yeah, I got a problem," Poncho says. "My eye's gone because your ‘ol’ lady’ sent us into a trap. Ripper's kids don't have a father because of her games."
"She didn't pull the trigger," I argue.
"Might as well have," he snaps back.
"Enough." Squirrel stands. "You want to claim her? Fine. But she wears your mistakes. Next brother that dies because of her? That's on you."
"Understood." I nod.
"And Jagger?" Squirrel adds. "If she steps out of line again, I'll put her down myself. I don’t give a fuck if she’s an ol’ lady or not."
"She won't," I promise.
"She better not. Now, what's this about Mel?" he asks.
I pull out the burner, show them the video Diego sent.
Mel tied up.
Crying.
The brothers go silent.
"Who is he?" Squirrel asks.
"Scarlett's trainer. Sinaloa enforcer. Has Mel because Scarlett refused to kill me on schedule," I explain.
"So more cartel bullshit because of your bitch," Digger spits.
"More cartel bullshit because we're in bed with them," I correct. "This was always going to go sideways. At least now we know where we stand."
"Which is?" Squirrel prompts.
"At war. But Scarlett has intel. Says she can prove Three Devils MC orchestrated the ambush, not us. Can turn the cartels against them instead," I explain.
"Convenient," Digger mutters.
"Strategic. She's offering to burn Three Devils to save Iron Veins, and that helps us all. We want the Three Devils gone anyway," I clarify.
"Why would she do that?" Squirrel questions.
Because she's mine, I don't say.
Because somewhere between the hate and the hunger, she knows being mine could be good for her.
"Because she needs us alive for her endgame," I say instead.
