“Trigger and Mouse are in custody. They can’t hurt anyone,” I tell him.
Smoke nods. “She knows. That isn’t her concern. It’s the animosity toward women. She knows Trigger and Mouse were angry about Chill and Viper getting their patch. She knows that many of the clubs don’t want women becoming members; hell, many of them don’t want any women but Kutte Bunnies in the clubhouse. Min warned Izzy about coming here. She told Izzy to expect some animosity since she’s a female prospect.”
I share a glance with Chrome, who is frowning at Smoke’s statement.
“She’s a prospect and knows she has to suck it up,” Smoke continues. “She won’t cause trouble.”
“I can have a word with the men…” Chrome starts, but Smoke shakes his head.
“Don’t. Izzy will deal. She wouldn’t want special treatment. Izzy wants to prove herself. She offered to come here knowing what she would face. She has numerous skills and will be key in helping keep your woman safe,” he says to me. “I just wanted you to know why she was acting stiff and unfriendly. I’d appreciate it if you don’t let the guys get too rough with her. She can take a lot, but I’m protective of her.”
“Is she yours?” I ask.
Smoke chuckles dryly. “I keep trying, but she pushes back. She won’t consider it until she either earns her patch or flunks out.”
“Do you think she’ll earn her patch?” I ask, curious. “Dante doesn’t have any women members, but he didn’t oppose Puma’s decision to patch in Viper and Chill.”
“Dante and the others don’t care that she’s a woman. Hell, you know his mom. Do you think Angela Westbrook would raise a son who didn’t believe women were capable of doing whatever they wanted?”
Angela Westbrook is a legend. She’s a successful land developer and business owner who built an empire in San Diego. She’s also the head of the most successful cartel in Mexico. Angela Westbrook has broken more glass ceilings than anyone. We only learned recently just how far she’ll go when someone crosses her. Dante is a take-no-prisoners tough guy, but even he wouldn’t piss off his mom.
Izzy returns a few minutes later with Zara and Tony in tow. Zara is chatting with her about hairstyles and makeup when they join us.
“Ready?” Chill says, coming over. She fist bumps Izzy in greeting.
“We’re ready,” Zara says, beaming at me. “I’ll see you later?”
“You will,” I say, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “Go knock them dead.”
Zara giggles as she takes Tony’s arm and leads them outside. Arson tosses the keys to the SUV to Hunter before they leave.
“Where are we going?” Smoke asks.
“The Windy City Inn,” Mode says. “It’s a small motel about twenty minutes from here.”
We exit the clubhouse and hop on our bikes. The prospects have brought out a loaner for Smoke. We follow Chrome out of the gate and line up in formation. When we faced off with the Bushrangers the previous day, we were twelve members strong; today, we’re at twenty. From a strategic viewpoint as SOA, I wish we had brought Rattler with us. Showing the Bushrangers that we had backup from clubs in other cities would make them think twice about going up against us. However, on a personal level, I prefer knowing that Rattler is helping to protect Zara. She’s much too important. At least Smoke is wearing his San Diego kutte.
When we arrive at the motel, I’m one of the first to realize that we’re too late. I pull up next to Chrome and scan the empty parking lot just as Chrome’s phone rings.
“How long ago did they leave?” Chrome asks. “What the fuck happened?”
Chrome glances at me. “Find her. I want to talk to her when we get back. Do you know where they went?” He listens for a few minutes, his eyes never leaving mine, causing my anxiety to ramp up. This can’t be good. “Okay, contact Chill and give her a heads up. Tell her that we’re on our way.”
When he ends the call, he lets out a shrill whistle to get everyone’s attention. “The bastards took off ten minutes ago. Someone called them and warned them we were coming. That same someone then distracted Mode long enough to keep him from noticing and alerting us.”
“Who?” I ask.
“Crystal.”
“What the fuck?”
“How is Crystal working for them?” Ice asks. “That makes no sense.”
I remember Crystal’s reaction this morning when I exited my bedroom with Zara in tow, and I remember her tantrum this morning at breakfast. Fucking Kutte Bunny. “She wasn’t working for them; she was working against us, or more specifically, Zara. Crystal’s been pushing me to make her my girl. I think she’s trying to get Zara out of the way.”
CHAPTER 22: ZARA
“So, how was it?” Tony asks as soon as we’re seated in the SUV. Hunter is driving with Chill in the passenger seat. Rattler, Bianca, and Viper are in the middle section. Izzy is in the back seat with Tony and me. “Was he everything you imagined?” I chuckle as Tony’s eyebrows hike up suggestively.
