This news gets my attention because the women at the club are supposed to come to us with any problems they’re having in or outside the club.
“That fucker’s been roughin’ her up. He shows up drunk, waits for her outside, and grabs her. She tried to handle it on her own, but he’s not backing off. Even followed her home a couple times. She’s scared, man.”
“Why didn’t she come to us about this?”
“When I pulled her aside to ask, she said her pride got in the way and she didn’t want to ask for help or cause issues. But it’s getting worse, and if we don’t step in, it’s only a matter of time before something bad happens.”
“Is this why you’ve been so distracted?”
With his head lowered in shame, he mutters,
“Yeah, Prez, it is. I thought it was a minor situation where I could rough him up and he would leave her alone, but, turns out, he’s a member of the Road Reapers.”
Well, fuck! That’s a big ass problem. The Reapers are an MC located in south Georgia and always in trouble with the law. Known for taking over small towns, they brag about killing, raping, and robbing people who can’t defend themselves. Needless to say, they’ve never tried that shit here.
“Alright. We’ll handle it. Nobody messes with our people and lives. Make sure she’s safe until we get this taken care of,” Iassure him, thinking we should bump up security at the club. Maybe hire some outside people to free up some of my guys.
“Since you mentioned it, do you mind if I bring her here so I can better protect her? I know it’s a big ask considering I fucked up with the drug runner, but I won’t be able to protect her if she’s at her place.”
“Let me think about it and I’ll have an answer for you soon. In the meantime, make sure she gets home safely and try to keep your distance, Lone. Understood?”
As if I have any right to talk or stop him from moving her in. Even though Ember doesn’t live here, I not only fell in love with her… I married her. So yeah, I’ve got no room to judge him.
“Understood, Prez,” he replies, rising from the chair.
“And if he shows up again, make sure he knows exactly what happens when you mess with someone under our protection.”
“Glad to,” he says, walking toward the door, grinning like he hopes that motherfucker tries him.
When it rains it fucking pours, I think to myself as Lone leaves, no doubt heading to pick up Bianca. Although he said he would keep his distance, that look in his eyes said it was already too late. That will have to be tabled for now because we have bigger fish to fry. Just when Nightmare, Steel, and I start devising a plan, my phone vibrates on my desk. Seeing that it’s Becks, I immediately answer.
“Tell me you got news.”
“Hell yeah, I do. Caught this asshole at a motel about thirty minutes from the Georgia line. He’s not talking, but I figured you’d want to handle this personally.”
“You figured right,” I say, feeling slightly relieved that we’re making some headway with this thing. “We’ll be there soon.”
“I’ve got him locked up tight. Paid the front desk lady a grand to keep her mouth shut if she got any noise complaints from this room. It shouldn’t be too hard to crack him, though.”
“Good. Keep him breathing until we get there. I want answers, not a corpse.”
“Understood,” he laughs. “I’ll make sure he’s ready for you.”
After jotting down the address, I round up Avalanche, Hellhound, Demolition and Dementor, letting them know that we’re about to take a ride. I leave Steel and Nightmare in charge. Telling them to hunker down just in case some shit pops off. Accessing the cameras at the house, I see that Ember and Londyn are watching a movie in the living room. Piper is nestled right in between them. My heart settles a little, but I have to wonder why the Savage Knights would send a lone rider ahead. While I’m sure he’s scouting for them, checking to see when is the best opportunity to strike, something’s not right.
We’re just turning out of the compound when we’re stopped short by a few cars and an SUV, their headlights obscuring my vision so I couldn’t tell who was driving. I have a pretty good idea of who it is, but I don’t know why they would show up at my clubhouse unannounced. The door of the SUV opens and the cars follow suit, slamming doors, walking to stand in a united front. Sure enough, it’s Stack’s big brother, Legion. He’s a scary son of a bitch but he’s no match for us, and I really have no time for this bullshit retaliation attempt. Cutting our engines, wesit and wait for them to make the first move, not bothering to dismount.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t come for you, Maverick?” He asks, voice a little shaky, but bold. “You thought I would let that shit slide?”
“Legion, I really don’t have time for this. You got something to say, say it and get the fuck off my property!” I tell him, the warning clear in my tone. He may intimidate his minions and everyone else in his neighborhood, but he’s just an annoying fly to me.
“Do I have something to say?” He scoffs, looking to the sky and shaking his head. “Oh, I got plenty to say. First, you take our corners, push us out of the business. Then, you cross the line and put a knife through my brother’s skull. You know this doesn’t end with just talk. Stack’s death, the business… all of it, this is war now. You sure you're ready for that?”
“You mean the street rat who thought he could cut my shit, lace it, and sell it behind our backs? His first mistake was thinking he could get away with it. He fucked around and found out he messed with the wrong one,” I tell him, my tolerance level diminishing because I don’t explain myself to anyone. “What you’re gonna learn here today, just like your brother, is that I’m always ready little boy.”
“That wasn’t your call to make! Stacks was following my orders and you don’t have a right to play judge and executioner. Now you're taking over our turf, moving weight like it’s your own shit!”
“Hold on a fucking minute. You mean to tell me you had your brother cut my shit to recover the chump change you were making and you didn’t think about who you were fucking with?” My guys and I laugh, wondering what the hell they were thinking. Everyone and I mean every single person in the SWATs knows who we are and not to cross us. “Listen, asshole, Idon’t owe you a damn thing, so last warning…get the fuck off my property!” I threaten, no longer amused with this disruption in my day. “You want to fight for your little drug empire, or you just here to cry about it?”
