Chapter Twenty-Two
The air wastense and punctuated with rage as the brothers talked loudly amongst themselves before Steel called the meeting to order. The only thing on everyone’s mind was when they were going to exact vengeance on the Satan’s Pistons. Diablo’s clenched jaw twitched as the memory of Maria’s fallen body on the barroom floor played in his mind.
The gavel went down and the brothers focused their attention on the president and vice president. Both Steel’s and Paco’s faces were etched in fierceness.
“You all know why I called church.”
“The fucking Satan’s Pistons,” Crow grumbled.
Steel and Paco nodded. “What the fuckers did was a declaration of war.” Steel waited until the noise died down.
Paco pushed off from the wall with his foot. “Army secured the arms deal. Hawk and Banger were right—Liam’s trustworthy. We’re gonna blow their fuckin’ clubhouse up.”
“They’ve been itching for a fight ever since they set up shop in Alina with that fucking strip bar. Then they put money into the warehouse fights. They’re trying to get a goddamn hold in southwest Colorado. Count me in on going to Arizona to beat their asses,” Crow said. Many brothers voiced their support.
“That’s never gonna fuckin’ happen. The Insurgents aren’t happy at all with these fuckers. They own Colorado. Banger told me that they’re taking what the Piston assholes are doing as an act of aggression. I told him we’ll handle it, but he’s ready to come down with a few of his brothers and join us in beating their asses.” Steel crossed his arms and scowled.
“How deep is Bloody Knuckles in with these fuckers?” Paco asked Diablo.
“Seems like he hooked up with them for the money to get the warehouse going, but when he tried to pay them back, they didn’t want it.”
“You mean this dumbass thought he could just pay up and they’d be gone? What a fuckin’ loser,” Goldie said.
“Is he with them or just tied to them?” Paco picked up his bottled water.
“Stuck with them. From what Sam told me, Charlie wants out real bad, but the fuckers aren’t letting him.” Diablo crossed his arms.
“What a bunch of yellow-bellied pussies. First they hide behind some punk gang to open their strip bar, and now they’re hiding behind this dumb fuck for their interest in the warehouse,” Skull said.
“Yeah. It’s time we show them what happens when they try shit in Night Rebels territory,” Diablo added.
Steel fixed his gaze on Diablo. “Is Fallon involved with any of this?”
Diablo kicked over a chair and pounded on the table. “Why the fuck would you ask me that? You think I’d be with her if she was? Fuck no. She’s clean.”
“You know I had to ask. Sometimes a woman can make a man blind to some things,” Steel said, all eyes on Diablo.
He shook his head. “She’s not. But her step-bitch is fuckin’ a Piston. Fallon saw them together in the bedroom when we went to get some of her things. She told me later. Otherwise, I would’ve gone in and beat the shit outta him.”
“Did they see her?” Paco said. Diablo shook his head. “I bet he was probably fucking the bitch and some of his brothers came down with him to see the fights the first time you ran into them.”
“I’m fucking sure they weren’t expecting us. Ran away like a bunch of pussies,” Sangre said, and the room exploded in laughter.
Steel held up his hands and they quieted down. “I’m sending ten of you down there to torch their fucking clubhouse. The first couple of nights you scout to get the layout, see what security is like and when it’s best to attack.”
“We got to make sure we don’t kill citizens,” Paco said.
“Right. I want you to move in and out fast. You’ll take the cages so you don’t announce to the whole fucking town you’re there. This town is small, like two thousand people, but that’s good for us since law enforcement is practically nonexistent. I’m sending Diablo, Army, Chains, Paco, Sangre, Goldie, Brutus, Skull, Muerto, and Eagle.”
Crow jumped up. “What the fuck? I need to go. I’ve been waiting for this day ever since they cut me.” He lifted his T-shirt, showing off the red, angry scar from his ribcage past his belly button that decorated his skin.
“I need you to watch Balls and Holes. Muerto will be with the group going to Arizona.”
“Let Muerto stay and watch it and fucking send me.”
“You’re too involved with this. To make sure no mistakes are made, you have to be detached and cold.”
“I can be. Anyway, that was my home turf for a couple years. I know it real well.”
