“Not my business.”
“Correct answer.” She cocked her head. “So, why are you telling me about Waverly? You don’t normally gossip.”
I frowned. “You think I’m gossiping?”
“No, that’s why I’m asking. This is something big. Something she probably doesn’t tell many people, so you would hold her confidence.”
I sighed. “I have a feeling that if and when this goes tits up, I’m going to need you.”
“You really think she’s going to bolt?”
I nodded.
“Razor.” She reached over and squeezed my arm. “You’ve got to tell her, obviously. Don’t let her find out on accident, then give her the chance to prove you wrong.”
“Yeah. I’ll do that as soon as my PT’s done.”
“Or,maybe sooner?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to risk it.”
“I thought I heard your voice,” Hatch said, walking into the room and leaning down to kiss Katie’s cheek. “How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m good. How are you?”
He grinned. “Fan-fuckin-tastic, now that Razor’s pulled his head outta his ass.”
Katie laughed as I flipped him off.
“Katie, would you like some wine?” Maisieasked.
“Yes, please.”
The rest of dinner went off without any drama, or other visitors, and I recognized what a lucky son-of-a-bitch I was to have my friend back.
Razor
EARLIER IN THE day Hatch put the word out for an AFH, ‘All Fucking Hands,’ meeting at the compound tonight. The place was so full, some guys were forced to sit in the open windowsills. Every Dog within a hundred miles was there, as well Minus, the president of longtime allies the Burning Saints, and Sundance, president of the Primal Howlers in Colorado and business partner in our weed growing operation.
After being cooped up for so fucking long, it was good for my soul to see all my brothers gathered together, even if I was envious seeing them on their bikes. Before the Spiders did their little tap dancenumber on me, I don’t think I’d ever gone more than two days without riding since I was fifteen years old. Beyond the beat down I took, beyond this fucking leg cast, and even beyond the pain in my shoulder, not being able to ride was the worst part of the whole experience. I dreamt of riding almost every night and in the morning would wake up disappointed with reality.
“Thank you all for being here, tonight,” Hatch said, addressing the room. “I called this meeting on pretty short notice , and it speaks volumes to me that you’re all here. I’m sure some of you already know about our troubles with the Spiders, but just in case you haven’t heard, let me get you up to speed really quickly. Warlock, the Spiders’ new president, has demanded we give up one hundred percent of our interest in our cannabis grow business in exchange for peace between our clubs. Ten days ago, Warlock gave us ten days to turn over all aspects of our operation to him.”
“Earlier today we made a counteroffer of ‘Go fuck yourselves,’” Booker, our VP, said, causing a wave of chuckles and grunts to travel all around the room.
“We sent Warlock a gift basket filled with an assortment of our best product,” Sundance chimed in. “Buds, vapes, edibles, wax, the works. In the basket was also a card which read,‘Dearest, Warlock. Thank you for your recent show of interest in partnering with Monumental High. Unfortunately, we currently have no open investment opportunities at this time, therefore we must decline your invitation.Neither the Dogs of Fire MC, nor the Primal Howlers wish to stand in the way of any competing business interests you may have and wish you the best of luck in finding a suitable partner for your particular needs. Please enjoy this sample basket as a token of our goodwill. Inside it you will find several products which will greatly reduce any stress caused by the disappointing nature of this note.’”
“How’d Warlock take the news?” I asked.
“Not great,” Hatch replied. “I’ll be honest, I skipped through parts of his voicemail, but I get the general impression that he’s ripshit pissed.”
“It’s war, gentlemen,” Flea said.
“That means, we’re still in semi-lock down mode,” Hatch said. “Keep your eyes open and your heads on swivels. We’re hoping Warlock wants to avoid a full-scale war, but we need to be prepared for acts of retaliation.”
“My cousin did eleven months with Warlock in the Oregon state pen,” Ryder said. “I don’t get the impression he’s a go with the flow kind of guy.”
Ryder left the Spiders years ago, taking with him several of the other descendants of members and officers within the club. Although, he wasn’t officially a patched member of the Dogs, he knew the inner workings of the Spiders better than anyone and often consulted in an effort to bring the club down.
