BLOODLINES OF BETRAYAL

wood. His men were scattered around, waiting for him to speak, but Ryan was deep in thought. The report that had landed on his desk this morning still burned in

, he was waging war. Ryan knew it was only a matt

ou alrig

face scarred from years in the game,

ickered up, co

ed a line and he'

een gathering support from some of the smaller gangs

ing him, I'll make sure I end

wer was infuriating. They had been in a cold war for years,

l's playing with fire, and I'm going to make sur

rous glint in his eye.

beneath him, the twinkling lights of the streets and buildings masking the violence simmering j

hurts, His clubs, his mone

already gettin

htened for a moment, and he hesitated before answering. Sofia was Daryl's sister, and that made her a complication. But there was something about

all, his voice ca

: So

ere was an edge to it. I heard what happened

fia completely, but she had her own issues with Daryl,

do you wa

other end, the silence ha

I want

brow fu

And why woul

t laugh, but there

us all down with him. I'm not asking you to trust me, Ry

s. If Sofia was playing him, it could be a deadly trap.

said, keeping his tone neutral. "B

upted, her voice stea

eaving Ryan staring at th

NGE HI

side, the music pulsed, and the crowd moved like a wave, but Ryan's focus was elsewhere. Tommy was waiting at a seclu

got a crew set to hit Daryl's s

, his expre

feel the pressure. We're n

of his drink, the

Word on the street is there's a

eyes na

hat do

gged, his

gathering intel on both you and Daryl. The rumor is he

t thing he needed right now. If there was one thing that co

me? Ryan asked, his v

nd out,Tommy promised. We've

this detective quietly and quickly. If the cop got too close,

him tonight, Ryan

grin r

der it

*

toward one of Daryl's clubs. It was a seedy, rundown place on the outskirts of the city, a stark contrast to th

, his mind focused on the task at hand. He wasn't just going to

ping out of the vehicles with a silent, practiced efficiency. Jake, one

this, boss? Jake ask

ed, his j

get i

ng them like a wave. Inside, the club was packed, people dancing

It didn't take long to find them. One of Daryl's lieutenants, a burly man wi

raised. The moment the lieuten

DE) stammered, his e

deafening over the music. The lieutenant collapsed, blood pooling

brutal efficiency. Shots rang out, glass shattered, a

nant, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He

knows. He's c

into his pocket. Let him come, he thou

at I want. L

*

Daryl was going to retaliate, that much was certain. But Ryan had the upper hand now

ooking worried, Ry

His name's Callum Price.

in his glass, a cold smile

s voice dripping with menace. W

s, but it also presented an opportunity. If they could turn Callum Price, or at least keep him busy c

ith a sharp clink. He had too many problems stacking up, and

low and controlled. I want to know everything about him. Whe

lready moving t

l have it

yl was heating up, and now this detective could complicate everything. But Ryan was

hit on Daryl's club. His men had destroyed the place-thousands in damage, a few of Daryl's key players taken out,

d. It was a mes

e tonight. We

ned him about her brother, and Ryan knew she wasn't lying. But the bigger question still hung in t

or a moment be

e place a

ater, Sofi

Midnight.

part. That was dangerous. But h