Raider and Terro share a look I can’t even start to decode.We all wait for someone to give us an answer when Raider stands and leans on the table.He makes eye contact with every man in the room to be sure that we’re all paying attention to the information he is about to give us.
“When Giaco and I spoke about Shea, we also talked about the matter of Auntie Lynn, the Italians, and our part to play in the matter,” Raider starts, a look between annoyance and anger on his face.“Giaco stated the deal stays as it has always stood.We’re to do our part, not ask questions, keep all products off our properties, and take the income and be happy.If we choose not to do that, then the Italians will have to consider all the options they have to continue their business uninterrupted.”
“That's fucking bullshit.You're standing there expecting us to take whatever the goddamn Italians are offering, no motherfucking questions asked?”I growl.Anger and frustration at the never-ending secrets of this place and the slime of deception eats away at me.
“Do you or anyone else here have some bright fucking idea of how to replace the income for not only guarding the product in storage and during shipping but also the business that they provide us?The people sent for our specialty construction.Jackasses that need our special brand of clean up because they or their asshole kids got too carried away on a weekend in Savannah.Again, do you have a plan you haven’t shared with everyone?”Raider growls, glaring, throwing his arms out wide.
When no one says anything, he continues, “Now that we’ve got that shit out of the way.I do not like it, and you best believe we’re still digging into who and what.At the end of the day, it’s what is best for the club right now.Are we on board?”
There is a round of “ahhs” before he moves onto the next topic of conversation.“I got a call from our boys in Arizona.They’ve had an issue arise, and Bullseye is requesting help with the rebuild of their clubhouse.”
“Fuck, and I thought we had some shit going on,” I grumble, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms over my chest.
Raider levels his two-toned eyes on me and glares.“Blitz, you seem to have a lot to say today, so I’m sending you, Token, and Rhino to Arizona to help our brothers.Bullseye let me know several chapters will be there, so play fucking nice.”
Shrugging, I smirk.“A long fucking ride across the country doesn’t sound too fucking bad to me.Would give me some time to think.We’ve got serious projects going on.Terro, you good to cover without us for a month or so?”
The evil grin that spreads across his face causes dread to slide down my spine.“Blitzy my friend, you're only going to be gone a couple of weeks.You see, they need you men ASAP.”
It takes everything in me not to react as icy dread finally takes hold of my chest.“Absolutely the fuck not.No fucking way.Find someone else, no.”
I watch as Raider leans back in his chair, smirking at me with a knowing smile.“What’s the matter, Blitz?Are you not okay with going to help our brothers in a time of need?”
My body flashes hot, then cold, coating my entire body in ice-cold sweat.The need to rage is taking hold, and I want more than anything to burst out of the room, climb onto my bike, and take off without looking back.I know I’ve been a complete ass as of late, but this shit is too far.
I swallow the lump clogging my throat.“Prez, we’ve got a long list of guys who can go out there.Do you really think it’s necessary to send me?Terro’s knowledge and abilities far outshine mine any fucking day of the week.”
A self-satisfying grin spreads across Terro’s face before he leans forward onto his forearms, looking down the table at me, “As much as I appreciate your words of flattery, brother, with everything we’ve got going on here we feel that it's appropriate for both the Prez and Vice Prez to stay around just in case something is to pop off.”
“This is fucking bullshit!”I hiss, rubbing my hands over my face.Dropping my hands into my lap, I lock eyes with my Prez.“Is there anything else that you need from me, or are we fucking done here?”
“Take a deep fucking breath,” Rhino chuckles, patting me on the back.
“Now that we’ve got all of that out of the way, we need to talk about the issue of the Lucifer’s Knights and how we’re going to handle that fucking situation.”Raider rubs his hand over his face.
It takes all my self-control not to have an outright reaction to his words.I can only pray that I can get my shit together and the truth told before secrets that aren’t just mine come out.Shifting in my seat, I catch the attention of Mercy.He watches me as if he can see through the perfectly placed mask I’ve been hiding behind for longer than I can even remember.I cock an eyebrow in silent dare, knowing that pushing his buttons could end church faster than anything else.A slow, unnerving smirk crawls across his face before giving me a nod, then he turns back to Raider.
“Hermes did some digging, and it appears that until around five years ago we actually had a half-decent relationship with them.Relic was president when whatever the fuck went down, and we no longer had anything to do with them.From what Hermes has pulled, they’ve gotten tied up in some pretty fucking nasty shit and are involved very heavily in the sex trade,” Raider informs us.
“What the fuck happened that would cause them to just fall off like that?”Remedy wonders, looking at the images that Hermes had put on the screen when Raider was talking.
“I remember them coming to a couple of parties.The Prez at the time was in talks with Dreamer about possibly working together.Nothing ever came of it, and then Relic had taken over and they were never around again,” Rhino says thoughtfully.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mercy stand and walk over to the TV, his hands fisted at his sides.The air in the room goes still as we all seem to wait on what is about to happen.
“Mercy?”Anvil questions with caution and authority.
Mercy just tilts his head slightly, the only acknowledgement that he heard Anvil speak.
“What do you see?”Anvil’s question is once again cautious, almost as if he is bracing for something.
“Hermes, go back to the image of their colors,” Mercy snaps, completely ignoring Anvil.“Also, that one traffic cam we got of the assholes that blew up the bar where we found my Little Lamb.”
Hermes does some clicking, and then the video pops up.Mercy leans in a little closer and watches intently.Suddenly, he points to the screen.“There.Take it back and blow the gas tank up.”
Hermes clicks through and does what is asked.Fucking hell, on the side of the gas tank are the Lucifer’s Knights’s colors.Mercy seems to grow in size, his entire body coiling tight.Blender pushes off the wall and stalks toward him.Both of them seem to vibrate, barely containing the violence fighting to get out, but not saying a word.Everyone tenses, waiting for the explosion we all know is coming.Mercy turns his head, first locking eyes with Blender, who doesn’t so much as blink, before then looking at Raider.
“They will burn,” he growls, though the words seem to be pulled from his throat.
