Chapter 10: ZAK

The others were already acting like the pigs they were when we returned, but thankfully Gaby had save us some. "You two okay?" Logan gave me the big brother's watching look and I just nodded my head and sat my woman next to me after kicking Ty off his chair.

"The fuck?" he didn't let go of the bacon strip he was inhaling; greedy fuck. I made her a plate before getting my own and dug in. The others started asking her shit about what she was doing back in NOLA and shit about why she'd timed out so soon from the service.

Some of her answers were sketchy at best, but no one pressed her, it was just like old times. Except there was no mortar in the background and no impending danger.

Gaby and Dani who was looking like part of the living again, were asking her questions about her time in the service and some of the hairier escapades she'd been a part of. The conversation was making my gut burn but I kept my lips sealed. I didn't want to start world war fucking four by airing my true thoughts and having to battle the fucking suffragettes. These fucking Southern blossoms can be vicious with their tongues.

I just listened and glared at my idiot brothers whenever they encouraged her when she told one of her tales. We all knew she was badass, that she was a demolition expert among other things.

"Well those days are behind you now; thank fuck." What, I couldn't hold it in any longer. She just did her eye roll bullshit, like I gave a fuck.

After breakfast we left the women at Lo's place and headed back to the cottage after I gave her ass a stern warning. I wasn't too sure that Gaby wouldn't talk the other two into some shit.

She seemed to have wedding fever and not even Lo's threats seemed to be working. He did whisper some shit in her ear that made her pout right before we headed out, so maybe we'd have some peace today for fuck sake. "So brother, you and Nessa?" I knew what he was asking as the others slowed down to hear my answer. "If I have anything to say about it, yeah." They each offered their congratulations in some way or the other, and Ty of course started his bullshit.

"Who the fuck is that now?" Someone was at the gate? Quinn checked his watch and looked at Cord. "You expecting company?" Cord looked fifty shades of confused as he shook his head no.

"It's your girl and her brother." He didn't even wait for the rest of us to react, just started walking towards the gate to let them in. "Hold it." That was Logan for you, he didn't give a fuck kids or not, he wasn't trusting shit.

"Zak, check the perimeter." That was easy, all I had to do was pull that shit up on my phone, it was like Google earth but with a twist. "We're clear, it's just the boy and the girl."

Cord went ahead as the gates slid open. We were already standing in formation just in case, but the gates closed again behind them without incident. Davey came towards us while his sister stood in front of Cord. What a pair, it was like watching a cartoon or some shit. He towered over her by a mile, but it wasn't just his stature, it was knowing what kind of man my brother was, and seeing him with someone so tiny.

I hope he knows what the fuck he's doing. Plus the fact that she has a mouth on her, somebody better keep an eye on that shit.

"What's up kid?" he looked to where his sister was still talking to Cord before turning back to Lo. He looked worried as fuck too. "There were soldiers in town earlier, I think somebody's missing or something."

No wonder the kid looked like he was ready to shit in his drawers. Cord came over to us with Susie in tow. "Con, Lo, Zak, I'm leaving her with the girls, these two are scared."

"I'm not..." she puffed up and started to get huffy.

"Quiet." She piped down. Damn, how come I can't tell Red that shit and have her stand the fuck down without giving me headaches?

"What about the boy?" Lo asked as Con and I nodded our agreement. If Cord trusted her around our women, then there was no question, plus I'm pretty sure Vanessa could take her if she had to.

"He's in this, no use keeping him out." He had a point. The kid had shared some shit with us about the commander's last days that we hadn't known about, and wouldn't have without him. "Fair enough."

Lo gave his consent as I called Red to give her the heads up that the girl was coming. Then the rest of us stood back and listened as Cord lectured her on how to behave while she was out of his sight. "You have got to be shitting me. I'll meet the rest of you pussy whipped honchos in the cottage."

Ty walked off shaking his head. I'll deal with him later; right now it was more fun watching the drama unfold.

"What do you think I am two? Look, my brother and I may not come from money and we may not be as lofty as you and your friends, but we do know how to act. We know how to eat with utensils too, and look..." she opened her mouth and showed him her teeth, "We have all our teeth and we're hard workers." Oh shit.

"Brothers and sisters." That's all he said and confused the hell out of her. I for one was wondering where the fuck all this calm was coming from. Cord isn't exactly Mr. Cordial for all that he's the quietest one of the bunch. "What, what are you mumbling about now?" She looked at him like he was crazy.

"They're my family not my friends, and no one ever said you weren't good enough, now be my good girl and come along." She folded her arms and looked ready for battle.

He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. What the fuck? I just looked at the others and followed after Ty. "Lo, Con, you two are the leaders of this outfit, I'm hoping you're keeping your eyes on that shit, because that right there, is a domestic situation waiting to happen." I thought I had problems.

***

We had already decided on which of the three to turn. It was easy enough, you find the weakest link and you turn the screws. But we had to use common sense, we couldn't let the other two know what we were up to, so we separated them. He was hungry, hurting and scared. "So, Adrian, let's talk about your future."

I pulled up the file we had on him on my tablet. "Is this your family? Cute wife, you wanna live to see her again I suggest you not fuck with me on this." He started sweating and I hadn't even begun.

"You say you don't know who's calling the shots and we believe you, for now, but we're gonna need you to do something for us. We need a man inside." He opened his mouth but I held up my hand.