“To collect your stolen goods. For your sake, I hope you were telling the truth.”
“You’re just going to leave me here?” she asked incredulously.
“Pretty much,” he said and left the room with Batta on his heels. I followed them out and locked the door behind me.
Copper stopped before ascending the stairs. “I’ll have Spazz and Drew box up Kalen’s stuffed animals and blankets. I want you to go pick up what they find. We’ll search through everything once you get back. And for fuck’s sake, don’t speed.”
“I won’t,” I promised and kept my word all the way to Blakely’s and back.
Copper had me meet him in the basement when I returned with the box. I really hoped Spazz and Drew had found everything because I had absolutely no interest in driving through town with a box that potentially contained illegal narcotics ever again.
Surprisingly, Dani was telling the truth. We found two large bags and five small bags of pills exactly where she said they would be.
“How much do you think this is worth?” I asked.
Copper shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe around twenty thousand?”
“Holy shit,” I breathed. “No wonder Hook was pissed.”
“He’s not the only one.”
“I’m sorry, Prez. I can take these somewhere else if you don’t want them here,” I offered.
Copper looked at me like I’d grown two heads. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for. Do I like having a pile of pills in my clubhouse? No. But you didn’t bring them here. Well, technically, you did, but you know what I mean. Shit like this happens from time to time. It comes with the territory.”
“Understood.”
“Good. Now help me get these in the safe. I’ll feel better once they’re locked away.”
After Copper closed the door to the safe, he turned to me with an appraising look and laughed. “Go ahead and ask whatever it is before you explode.”
I laughed, embarrassed that he’d been able to read me so easily. “I was just wondering what happens next.”
“I need to call the brothers in for church. We’ll go over everything and come up with a plan. Since all of this revolves around you and your girl, you’ll be in there too. Anything else?”
“Actually, there is one other thing,” I said. “Batta said he thought Dani would trade Kalen to save herself. Is that a possibility? I mean, can we do that?”
“You want Kalen?” he asked.
“I’m sure Blakely does. And if for some reason she doesn’t, then I’ll gladly take him. He deserves better than the parents he was given,” I said, meaning every word more than I’d ever meant anything. Kalen was a blessing. He deserved to be loved and to be raised in a happy home.
Copper smiled. “I can’t make any promises, but if that’s the outcome you want, we’ll do what we can to make it happen.”
21
GAME
Copper called everyone in for church later that evening. I stood to the side while the officers took their designated seats around the table.
“What are you doing over there acting like a wallflower?” Savior asked and gestured to the empty chair beside him. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks, man,” I said and joined him at the table.
He seemed to know I was slightly uncomfortable. “It’s formal but not. Speak when spoken to, but make sure to catch Copper’s attention if you have something to say. He doesn’t tolerate outbursts, so keep yourself in check.”
Copper took his seat at the head of the table and called the meeting to order. Even though the officers had a good idea of what was going on, Copper started at the beginning and went over everything to make sure everyone was up to date on all the details.
“We have a meeting tomorrow with the top members of RFG at a warehouse that The Manglers own. The purpose of said meeting is to make sure they know Blakely is under our protection, as well as Kalen. Since Kalen is Game’s great-nephew, he’s granted protection as family. Blakely falls under our protection as his caretaker,” he said and directed his attention to me. “Or, if you want to claim her as your Old Lady, we can go that route.”
