“I wanted to talk to you about how we handle this.It’s going to need to go to a vote, but I’m hoping to get a few of you to see my way so you can convince the others, because it’s not how we would usually handle things.”
“All right, lay it on me.”Smokey slid backward in his chair, shifting Carter in his lap so they both were more comfortable.
“Normally, we would go nuclear.Teach whoever has crossed us better, usually the physical and permanent way.”
Smokey nodded.He’d been part of doing just that with the Iron Demons several months ago.
“But with everything else going on, your woman’s divorce, the custody of that one,” he nodded toward the baby, “the issues with her inheritance, we need to let the law handle it.”
Smokey took a deep breath and held it for several seconds as he considered it all.He saw the president’s point and he could even admit he was right, but he still wanted to make an example of the older Werner.Hell.He wanted to make public examples of both men.But that would only end up with a spotlight on the Fallen Angels and they didn’t need that.
“So we just turn what we have over to the cops and hope they do the right thing?”
“Yes and no.Mostly it takes patience.We turn over what we have.We let them investigate and carry out their form of justice.Then, once they’re in prison, then we can call in a bit of revenge of our own.I know it’s not as satisfying but it’s better in the long run.Plus, then your woman won’t know about the blood on our hands.I get the feeling she won’t like it when she does find out.”
Smokey looked at his son, sitting in his lap and knew his president wasn’t wrong.Tania wouldn’t like that they got their hands dirty.But she would like it less if she found out about it from someone else.He’d have to tell her, at least some of it.He had no clue how she would take it but knew he had to do it.After a moment he nodded, looking back up to meet Raven’s gaze.
“You’re right.I’ll take care of her.Anything else?”
“You locked her down yet?”
Smokey frowned.“What do you mean?”
“Has she agreed to be your old lady?”
“She did yesterday,” Smokey said with a frown.
“No, she said she was good with you making her yours.That’s not the same.Make sure she knows about property patches and the like.”He nodded down at Carter, who wore a black t-shirt with the Fallen Angels colors and the word “Patchling” on the back.“I don’t think she’ll have too much trouble with it.”
Smokey nodded.“Speaking of, I’ll need a cut for her.”
“Already ordered.And you know the house we just broke ground on?The four bedroom?”
Smokey nodded.They were in the process of building houses for all the brothers on the compound behind the clubhouse.Someone had told them they needed to build them one at a time, and while that made sense, someone else suggested they have several going at any given time, ala different stages.That meant workmen could go from one house to the next with whatever their craft was.It might take longer to get the first houses done but in the long run, they’d get everyone in their own homes faster.
“I’ve set that one aside for you and your family, unless there’s something there one of you objects to.You might take her out to look at it.I’ve got the plans for it if she wants to see those.Because you’ll be taking it as soon as we finish, when we get there, we’ll let the two of you pick out some of the details like paint color, flooring, that kind of thing.”
Smokey nodded.That was a good idea.But he wasn’t sure he wanted to take Carter out in the cold again.The wind was blowing and there wasn’t a lot of shelter for him out there.It might have to wait until they laid him down again or maybe one of the women would watch him?
“I can see what you’re thinking.Why don’t you go talk to your woman?When you’re ready to go, bring the boy to me.It’s been way too long since we’ve had any small kids around the clubhouse.I could use a refresher or two before my own gets here.”
“You sure?What if he needs to be changed?”Smokey hated changing diapers, but Carter was his son, and he’d already missed so much, he would do what was needed in order to take care of his family.
“Leave me his diaper bag.I’ll figure it out or I’ll get one of the women to come help.”
“If you say so.”Smokey paused for a moment, waiting to see if Raven had anything else to say.When he remained silent, Smokey spoke up again, “That all?”
Raven nodded.“Go see your woman, show her what you’ve got planned.Lock her down before she realizes what a dumbass you are.”
“Thanks, boss.”Smokey stood, shifting Carter to his hip then headed for the common room, and Tania.
