I’m not complaining about the view.
Jesus Christ, I need to get out of here before anything else is going to happen.
“Hey 5-0,” Her voice stops me in my tracks, I turn to face her, she is leaning against her door frame to her office. Her purple hair cascading around her shoulders, her eyes full of fire, and yet a hint of softness.
“Yeah, angel.” I smirk, she winces with surprise.Gotcha.
“Next time you want to tell me how I handle my students and how I get involved, it won’t be me you have to deal with. I’d watch your back. Or your ass.” She turns back and slams her door, going back to comforting her student.
I’m in trouble now.
In the morning, I prepare for the day ahead, as we head out of the compound for church. After that “business partner” had ghosted me last night, I knew I would have to tackle it later. Rawlings called for church in a matter of hours after our phone call last night.
Rawlings believes in the traditional, true aspects of our club functioning, but lately he’s had a different perspective. Well, at least, until a certain stubborn woman came into his life and the clubs. That and after Tessa thought it was a “good idea” for us to utilize the foundation to volunteer our time and possibly provide a good image in case something were to go awry. It keeps the feds from randomly targeting and keeping things quiet within the area. The less eyes, the better.
A brisk fall turning into a winter spell. Normally I would have taken the bike, but decided to take the truck, knowing that I would have to make a couple visits that I needed to be less noticeable than on my bike.
I pull up to the gate, seeing Brennan at the front. He waves me through, nodding his head towards me. I don’t see Greer. Truth be told, some of us are still worried about him. He’s been like a dark shadow, picking fights when he disagrees with someone, or even disappearing here and there. We’re afraid that he’s not going to make it, the kid has a bloodthirsty spirit. The brightness in his eyes has dimmed. I’ve seen this back on the force, when the rookie would lose their first soul.
The questions and what ifs that roll through their head, sometimes it was too much. I think that is why we are all concerned with Greer. Most of the prospects and ones that needed a place of their own were at the compound, unlike most of us like myself, Jackson, Rawlings, and most of the board.
Down the winding road and to the main building where the main bartop and meeting rooms were held, I see Memphis smoking a cigarette, rocking in one of the chairs. He sees my truck and smashes the stick with his boot and stands up to stretch.
Once I get out of the truck, his voice booms through the early morning, “Well mornin’ brother.”
A wide devilish grin plastered on his face. He may look “big and scary” but the man is a ball of sunshine and high energy. But he is hiding something or the very least knows something, he doesn’t have the best poker face.
“What do you know?” I simply ask, making my way to the front door. The sound of gravel under my boots. The one thing I never thought would happen is trading my sandals from the islands to boots in cooler weather. But that is all in the past.
Memphis chuckles. “More like, what don’t I already know,” he wiggles his eyebrows. “Sounds like someone was knocked down a peg or two.”
I groaned, either Rawlings or Jackson opened their trap. If Memphis heard, I can only imagine who else is about to give me a hard time.
“I wasn’t knocked down a peg, just reminded to never underestimate a small-ass woman.” I’m not completely wrong, but I’m not about to admit that she stood her ground and possibly sent a threat my way.
“Then why are you looking like you liked it?” He questions. Always the damn perceptive one.
Was it a turn on? Yes. Am I going to act on it? I have no fucking idea, I shouldn’t for so many reasons.
I start to open the door, looking behind me as Memphis follows, “I’m not discussing this with you.” I push open the door with Memphis on my tail and head into the meeting room.
Seems like everyone has arrived, we are just missing Jackson and Joaquin. Jackson I understand, and call it jealousy but lucky bastard. Joaquin, I’m not sure, usually he is on time.
Rawlings, the grizzly man, as he is, commands attention, everyone to remember why we’re here. His eyes narrow as we enter the room, we typically start on time and I had just made it by a minute to spare.
“Do I want to know where our VP and enforcer would be?” He questions the table, as I take my seat.
“I don’t think you want the answer.” D.R chuckles across the table.
Rawlings rolls his eyes, leaning against the table. He checks his phone, my take, looking for messages or missed calls. He starts to mumble something under his breath.
Coda hides at the corner of the table staring at everything, Memphis twisting in his chair with a damn smile on his face. D.R taps on the table, everyone seems to quiet.
I start to bubble in rage, “Does everyone know?”
“Now you know no one can keep a secret in here, bud.” Rawlings pipes in from the front of the table.
“You didn’t have to open your trap about it. Hell, you all going to bust my balls about this aren’t,” I say.
