“It’s about Ruby.”
I don’t even hide my sigh or my eye roll. “She complaining or some shit because I spoke the truth down there?”
He shakes his head. “Ain’t about that, but I’m not keen on how you talk to her, even if she needs someone to call her on her bull most days.”
I’m a bit taken aback that the prez agrees with me. But not enough to express it other than to keep listening to what he has to say.
“What happened tonight with Chains’ soon-to-be woman has me thinking. Club’s got enemies. Some we know; others we don’t. And as the president, more than one is going to think that a club issue should be dealt against me. Got no issue with that. I took the chair knowing the risk and ain’t stepping down unless it’s pried out of my cold, dead hands.But despite that, and despite what we Hounds think, there will be a point where it could slip through my fingers.”
I adjust in my seat, not liking where this conversation is going. I’m not a lifer to the club. Did some time in the military as a cop, then moved to diplomatic security for a bit. It was a Hail Mary career choice someone in Uncle Sam’s pocket threw my way in hopes that I’d stick around longer. It worked for a bit, but not as long as I’m sure they’d hoped for. Guarding diplomats has you seeing a different part of life. Not only in the bodyguard world on how to keep things operational, but some of the shadier shit people do that others trust. It made me physically sick one too many times, and I hung up my badge before going out drinking one night. Which led me to a bar, and then another bar, and then I stumbled into Law, literally. A couple of hours later, and after a hell of a lot of coffee, I agreed to prospect and have been here ever since.
“Spit it out, boss. Ain’t one for reading between the lines.” I can do it if I have to, but why guess when you can get it directly from the horse’s mouth?
“Got one weakness in this world. And it ain’t a secret. If something happens to Ruby, I’m not sure which way I’d go. I can claim all I want that I’d choose the club or a brother, but I don’t know, and I ain’t willing to find out. I know your past. Know what you’re capable of. And I want you to be permanently assigned to Ruby.”
“Say what?”
“Don’t need you tailing her all the time, but if she needs someone to call, I want it to be you. I want you to check her place and make the security safe. To look into guys who fuck with her, and you fuck back. It ain’t the perfect plan,but I’d feel better knowing it’s more than just me looking after her.”
“And if I fail and she still gets nabbed or worse?”
Law lets out a deep breath. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. All I want to know is I’ve got someone on the inside who sees something I might not.”
“Why me?” Some might see this as a punishment, others as a promotion. I’m holding back on what I think till I get the full story.
“You ain’t been around like everyone else. She’s got no ties to you. No way to twist you off what I want.”
At least he’s smart enough to get that Ruby has a pull around here with the brothers, even if it’s a little sister pull. I don’t think any brother is dumb enough to want to try something with her. It’s not that Law won’t allow it, but I don’t see anyone stupid enough to deal with her type of crazy. And she is. Crazy, that is. There’s all types of crazy. Some are cuckoo in the head, and then others are like Ruby—a loose cannon that you don’t know when it’ll go off. And when it does, the destruction can be massive or minimal. It’s all unknown till it happens.
I rub my index finger just under my lip and think through his words. I might not be the smartest man alive, but I’ve learned to consider multiple scenarios before ever agreeing to anything. And I only do it when I can see more than a 60 percent chance of this going in my favor.
Like how I ended up with theHounds. They showed up when some might say I had no other choice but to join them. They’d be wrong. I always have a Plan B, C, and D when Plan A goes to shit. Joining a club was Plan L if I really thinkabout it. But they spoke pretty words, and the more I thought on it, the more I saw possibilities I couldn’t get on my own.
I was coming off diplomatic duty. Most of my connections were still tied up in red tape, and if I wanted to venture out on something alone, I would be. Sure, I had a few favors to call in to help set shit up, but other than that, it was just me. Having a club gave me more than one door to go into. The odds were overly in favor of club life then, and still are. Even if I’m not so sure about the latest door presented to me.
“What do I get out of this babysitting gig?”
He shrugs as he leans back in his chair. “What do you want?”
I lean forward and rest my clasped hands together on the desk. “The club. I protect your daughter, and I get your chair when you’re ready to step down.”
Silence.
To his credit, Law doesn’t protest outright or shoot me. Both would be understandable reactions. But there’s a reason he’s the boss. Like me, he takes the time to think everything through. To weigh it all before reacting.
He keeps his face neutral, like I do. I’ve got no read on him other than knowing he’s considering it.
“Ruby doesn’t come with the chair.”
I shake my head. “Never said I wanted her.”
His eyes narrow at my words before they even out again. “Can’t promise the club’s vote.”
“You can make a recommendation,” I say with a tilt of my head.
He takes a deep breath. “What if I had someone else in mind?”
I don’t fault him for already thinking ahead. That’s what he does, sees the problem seven paces down the line. And I’ve got a feeling I know who he’s thinking, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be just as good. When I became a Hound, I saw possibilities for more. More opportunities, more resources. Sure, the “power” is cool too. But if I lead the Hounds, the mother chapter, my resources would be endless. I could take this club further than what others might do. I want more than just monitoring our area. And I’m not alone in that. Not sure how this will pan out, but I’ve got to at least get my hat in the ring first before I start making changes.
