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“She doesn’t stay here anymore. That’s a good thing.”

Cue nodded and started his engine.

It was a long ride back to the clubhouse. It would give each of the brothers time to think about their meeting and possibly come up with a prospective plan to deal with the Satan’s. Though, he was sure Cue’s mind would be elsewhere.

*

The ride took longer than expected with the storm. Jekyll could ride in any weather but drenched and dodging lightning put him in a mood. Ace insisted on getting the discussion taken care of before Wraith and Cypher headed out for a transport. He’d grabbed a bar towel on his way into the meeting, drying off his arms and face.

“How was the ride, Jek?” Gent taunted.

“Fuck off.” He yanked his chair from the table and sat. A quick glance around the room showed everyone was in attendance. He was turning in his chair when he caught Cypher staring.

Jekyll cocked his brow. What? It was at that exact moment Ace started the meeting. Then Cross took charge, giving a rundown of their meeting with the Satan’s. A few had been confused, which was to be expected.

“You really think they’ve been keeping a physical log of their transports?” Hyde scoffed.

“We know they haven’t, but when I ordered them to provide one, Griggs got nervous. He knows he can’t account for the sales, because there aren’t any. When I joked about him stockpiling, all the fucking blood drained from his face. His reaction alone confirmed what we suspect.” Cross folded his arms. “They got someone backing them, and they’re probably gonna move it soon if they think we know.”

Ace sighed, dragging his hand down his jaw. “Fuck.” He jerked his eyes to Cypher. “And we got no idea whose cash is behind this?”

“Not yet. I need more to go on, Ace.” Cypher grasped his hips. “They got over two hundred thousand in product. They’re gonna move it and probably cut through Ghosttown. I don’t know any associate stupid enough to try that knowing the Riders are under the protection of the Underground.”

“Gotta be someone outta state. No one’s gonna risk going up against the Underground for a couple hundred grand.” Wraith said.

Jekyll had given the deal a lot of thought. It could go deeper than just a transaction.

“Maybe.” Jekyll leaned back in his chair, grabbing the arms. “Or maybe someone’s looking to shake up power. Oz has been reigning King for a long time. Could be someone trying to dethrone him. Solid way would be to infiltrate an unsuspecting area that won’t see it coming.”

“We could give Ghosttown the heads up,” Oak said.

Hyde blew out a heavy breath. “That would rock their fucking world.”

It would. The Riders had been players in the Underground for a long time but had gotten out of it. Well, most of it, years ago.

Oak chuckled. “Tough love, man. Sink or swim.”

Jekyll swiveled in his seat, facing Oak. He didn’t have any ties to that club. Crossing paths a while back was the extent. But underestimating Ghosttown wasn’t smart.

Jekyll lifted his chin. “You think they’d sink?”

“I mean” —Oak smirked— “it’s fucking Mayberry.”

Jekyll snorted, shaking his head. Ah, the youngbloods, they don’t fucking get it.

“What? Am I wrong?”

Yeah. Jekyll couldn’t fault Oak and the younger members for discounting the Ghosttown Riders. They only saw one side. But for those who had been around a long time? We know better.

“It’s dangerous to underestimate them. You know who they are today.” Jekyll arched his brow. “I remember who they were back then. They may have changed their lifestyle, but they’re the same guys. And now they got a lot more to lose. If you think they’d sink with their women and kids on the line” —Jekyll paused— “then you don’t fucking know them.”

Oak shrugged. “Then why have protection?”

Jekyll narrowed his gaze. “Because they fucking earned it.”

He wasn’t taking a hard stand for Ghosttown. He had no skin in that game. There was a good chance that, given the intel, the Riders would hold their own, but not without casualties.

“Doesn’t matter,” Ace snapped. “’Cause we don’t deal with Ghosttown. Ever.”