Duke leans back, arms folded. “Had a long talk with Ragnor. Man knows his numbers. He’s got plans that’ll stack some serious cash if he pulls even half of it off.”
Axel nods, a slow grin tugging at his mouth. “And in turn, that means stacks for us. Anyone got a problem with that?”
No one speaks up. Heads shake around the table. Even mine. Ragnor rubbed me up the wrong way, hanging all over Remi like she was already his. But I can’t deny it—he came off solid when it came to club business.
Axel raps the table again, cutting off the last of the murmurs.
“Good. Then we’ll move forward with the Hell’s. Now, other club business.” He flips open the worn leather ledger. “First order, shipment outta the docks Friday night. Need a full crew on it. No fuckups. Fletch, you’re running the show.”
Fletch gives a sharp nod. “I’ll have the boys lined up.”
Axel’s gaze shifts. “Second, the prospects have been dragging their heels at the garage. Customer complaints are bad for business. I don’t care if it’s oil changes or rebuilds, the shop keeps us clean on paper. Someone’s gotta light a fire under their backsides.”
Atlas smirks from across the table. “I’ll handle it. Nothing like a little motivation.”
“Good, keep on their arses,” Axel says flatly. He scratches something into the ledger before looking up again.
“Last thing, rival activity. The Steels have been sniffing around. Anyone seen them on our turf?”
A few brothers exchange looks, then Fletch clears his throat. “Caught two of their patches at The Bar last night. Didn’t cause trouble, but they wanted it known they were there.”
A low rumble of voices follows, chairs creaking as tempers flare. My fists clench under the table. Steels don’t “accidentally” wander onto our side.
Axel lets it boil for a second then slams the gavel again. The room snaps quiet.
“Alright. They’re probably just pissed we took their strip club from them. Speaking of which, the new sign goes up today, andShadow, I want you with me and Grizz when we go over to talk to the staff later. In the meantime, let’s keep eyes open. They push, we push back harder. Until then, no one makes a move without it coming through me. Understood?”
A chorus of “yeah” and “got it” echoes around the table.
Axel leans back, satisfied. “Good. That’s church.”
Chapter Five
Remi
“I swear I’ll be off your couch the second I get paid,” I call after Roxy, half jogging to keep pace as she cuts across the empty dance floor, heels clicking against the scuffed wood.
She waves me off without slowing. “I told you, it’s no big deal. I’m hardly there anyway.”
“Yeah, but still, I can contribute. Groceries, whatever.” I dig in my pocket and pull out a crumpled twenty, smoothing it against my palm like it’s worth more than it is.
Roxy halts at the edge of the stage and narrows her eyes at the note. “Where did you get that?”
“I told you, the bikers hired me to work their bar.”
“And they paid you already?” Her tone is sharp, suspicious.
I hesitate, my thumb brushing the creases in the note. “Well . . . no, not exactly.”
Her eyes go wide. “Then whereexactlydid you get it?”
I shift from one foot to the other, heat creeping up my neck. “Look, that’s not the point. The point is, I’m trying to pull myweight. You’ve been more than kind, and I don’t wanna take advantage.”
“Remi, tell me you didn’t steal that.”
“It was behind the bar, not even in a till.” I pause, frowning. “Not that they have a till.”
Roxy pinches the bridge of her nose. “You have to put it back when you’re next on shift, Remi. They’ll know it’s gone.”
