Beast (MC Fables #1)

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

B EAST

The moment we pull into the parking lot of the town park, I know something isn’t right. Usually the barbeque is bustling with families and townspeople, and kids running around with cotton candy and corn dogs.

But tonight very few people have shown up, and the park is almost empty.

“What the hell?” I mutter.

Over by the food tents, I see Mya and the club girls comforting Viking’s wife, Demri, who is visibly upset that no one has shown up to the fundraiser she’s worked hard to put together.

This has Mayor fucking Boney written all over it.

“Where is everyone?” Belle asks, looking around at the empty outdoor tables.

“Someone has scared them off,” I say, feeling the anger unfurl in my chest.

“Who would do that?”

“Mayor Boney, that’s who.”

“Why would the mayor want people to stay away from a fundraiser that benefits the local hospital?”

“Because he’s a slimy politician who is determined to run the Knights out of town.”

God, I want to shoot him in the face.

Belle frowns. “Why?”

“Because he wants our land.”

Since Boney came into power four years ago, he’s had a stick up his ass about the Knights, and he’s campaigned to run us out of town for just as long.

He says we’re holding this town back. Keeping it from prospering so we can get rich off our illegal phantasia trade. He’s made no secret about wanting to tear down the clubhouse to make way for a green space he’s been promising the townsfolk. A park on the hill that overlooks the town and the ocean, where families can grill in summer and walk through quaint snow-capped parklands in winter. And we’re the assholes for stopping it from happening.

Over time, he’s taken the town’s eighty-year appreciation for the Knights and turned it into fear and resentment.

Tonight is a flex. He’s showing us the power he has over this town.

Belle frowns. “What does he want your land for?”

“He says he wants to clear it and give it back to the townsfolk.”

“But why your land?”

“It’s prime real estate. Ocean views. Valley views. Town views. That’s why I know it’s a lie.”

“I’m not following.”

“He’s telling the town one thing, but he’s planning something else entirely.”

“Can you prove it? Because if you can, then we need to start spreading the news,” she says so fiercely it makes me want to kiss her again.

“No, it’s only gut instinct, but my gut is usually right.”

“But if that’s true, then the town won’t put up with it.”

“It’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission, little one. Whatever he’s got planned, then I think it will be too late once it’s done.”

“If you’re right, then all you need is the proof, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then you find the proof.”

“Which is more than likely behind those impenetrable walls wrapped around his giant mansion.”

“Can’t you blow them up or something?”

I can’t help but chuckle. I love her spunkiness. “Not if we want to stay out of prison.”

She bites her lips as she considers what I just told her, and damn it’s a distraction. “Then you need to figure out a way inside.”

“Like I said, we want to stay on the right side of the prison bars. And until we figure out a way to do that, then we’ll have to keep deflecting his attack on us in other ways.”

A young woman with two little kids at her side approaches us. I recognize her. She used to date Balls a few years back.

Dressed in a short denim skirt and a tight tank, she looks empathetic as she hands me a crumpled flyer. “I thought you should know.”

I look at the flyer.

Together we will make St. Boniface thrive. Choose not to support criminal organizations that plague this town with their illegal drug trade and violence, and every single one of you will benefit. Enjoy this twenty dollar voucher for groceries from The Super Mart. From me to you. Let’s make St. Boniface the best town in America.

Anger bubbles up from my chest in the form of a growl. The fucker bribed the town to stay away.

Also on the flyer is the word bikers inside a circle with a line through it. There’s also a picture of the land where the clubhouse stands, minus the clubhouse. In its place is the planned greenspace he’s been promising the town if the Knights leave. Or are run out of town.

The fucker doesn’t mention the club’s name. He’s not going to leave himself open to being sued. But the message is crystal clear. The Knights are the enemy and anyone who supports them will miss out.

“I’m sorry, Beast. Mayor Boney has most people in town convinced they’d be better off if they didn’t support the Knights.” She screws up her nose. “But he can go to hell as far as I’m concerned.”

“Thanks, Tammy.” I hold up the flyer. “I appreciate it.”

“It arrived in the mail yesterday.” Her expression saddens. “It’s a shame, because I think everybody wanted to come.”

Despite the fury taking hold, I give her an appreciative nod. “Go help yourself to some barbeque. This one is on us.”

She walks off as Lars joins us. “What the fuck is going on? Why is no one here?”

I show him the flyer. “One guess.”

“Asshole,” he seethes, reading it. Demri is his mom and he’s not going to take this lying down. “I think now is a good time to start breaking his bones one by one.”

“I don’t understand how he can get away with this,” Belle says, taking the flyer from Lars and studying it. “Surely there’s something we can do.”

I note the fierceness in her voice. And it doesn’t go unnoticed that she said we and not you .

“Yeah, there’s a lot we can do,” I say. “But nothing legal.”

Viking joins us, his face tight with rage. “Whoever is responsible for making my old lady cry is going to be crying even harder when I get my hands on him.”

“Looks like we’ve got company,” Lars says, nodding toward the sleek black car rolling slowly through the parking lot. The midnight black windows make it impossible to see who’s inside. But I don’t need to see to know.

Mayor Boney.

“I’m going to break every bone in his goddamn body,” Viking growls, stalking toward the parking lot. “And when I’m done, I’m going to start all over again.”

“One of us needs to fucking shoot this fucker in the goddamn balls,” Lars says, storming off to join his father.

It’s not the first time someone has suggested it. Boney’s name has been thrown around Church a lot, and it’s usually followed by a lot of suggestions like take the fucker out and make it look like a fucking accident .

It’s tempting. Life would be easier if he was dead and buried, but the fallout would be a fucking nightmare. Even Dodger knew this and it’s why he never acted on it.

But right now, seeing the empty barbeque tables, it’s more than fucking tempting to throw caution to the wind and take the fucker out. In my head I’m already ramming my gun down his throat and pulling the trigger.

The car screeches away when Viking reaches the footpath.

“Fucking cowards,” he yells after it.

If I’m honest, I’m surprised he didn’t pull out his firearm and unload a clip in the direction of the car.

You don’t fuck with Viking’s family and get away with it.

And you don’t fuck with the Knights without retribution.

Unfortunately, this minute our hands are tied.

I look at the old ladies behind the tables of food, waiting to serve visitors who aren’t coming. I look at the band waiting to play, at the flashing lights on the empty carnival rides that should have kids and their parents lined up to climb on board. My blood boils in my veins.

Belle and I join Mya, the club girls, and the old ladies at the chili tent. Defeat hangs heavy in the perfect fall night and only gets heavier when the flyer gets handed around.

“What an asshole,” Isla says.

“But we’ve got all this food,” Bambi cries.

“Well, this sucks big dog balls,” Annika says after reading the flyer.

“It was going to be such a fun night,” Mya says, her big eyes welling with tears.

“Well, just because no one is coming doesn’t mean we can’t have a party,” Belle says brightly, looking around at all the disappointed faces. “After all, we do have something to celebrate.”

She holds up her hand, and the diamond ring I slipped on her finger earlier sparkles in the light.

Mya’s face immediately brightens. “Hot dang! You got engaged?”

Everyone in earshot turns to look.

Then the rush is on.

Club girls. Old ladies. My brothers. They crowd around us. Like a murder of crows.

“You’re fucking engaged?” Lars looks from me and then to Belle. “You know he’s punching above his weight, right?”

She grins. “Oh, I’m well aware.”

She laughs, and it’s genuine and tightens the knot in my chest.

“Well, then, this is a cause for celebrating,” Demri says, swiping her tears from her cheeks.

“And if there’s one thing we Knights know how to do, it’s how to fucking celebrate,” Balls says with a grin.

“Fuck yeah, let’s party,” Sticky yells.

Mya squeals with excitement.

The other club girls and old ladies smile in agreement.

Except Annika.

Our eyes meet through the excitement, and she shakes her head.

She senses something else is at play here but doesn’t know what, and I know I’m going to have to tell her eventually.

But not tonight.

My gaze drifts back to Belle where she’s showing the old ladies her engagement ring, and before I know it, I’m fucking smiling.

Lars puts a big hand on my shoulder. “You sure this is fake, brother?”

My smile fades. “She knows there is a lot at stake. She’s playing her part.”

“I wasn’t talking about her.” He lifts an eyebrow. “The way you look at her…”

“I’m playing my part too.”

He side-eyes me but doesn’t say anything else. He doesn’t need to.

When the band starts to play, the party really starts. My club brothers dance with their old ladies. Sticky and Balls grab a club girl each, and I don’t really know what they’re doing. I suppose it could be called dancing. But hell, those boys have no rhythm.

Those not dancing eat bowls of chili and barbecue at the outdoor tables, and the sound of laughter rises above the music.

It doesn’t take the sting out of what Boney has done to the fundraiser. But it does create a sense of celebration. It vibrates in the twilight as my club brothers, their old ladies, and the club girls continue to make a fuss about my new fiancée.

When Lars leaves me to dance with his mom, Belle makes her way over to me and hands me a beer.

“You’re a good actress,” I say, taking the solo cup from her.

“It’s hard not to be when I’m wearing a giant glacier on my finger.” She holds it up and it glitters in the streetlight. “It’s beautiful. Where did you even get something like this?”

“It’s a family heirloom. My great grandfather bought the diamond overseas and had it made for my great grandmother when he returned from the war.”

Her arm drops and she looks up at me with wide eyes. “You mean, this isn’t a fake?”

“Who said anything about it being a fake?”

She looks at it again, her brow furrowed as she whispers, “I thought it would be.”

She studies the ring, admiring the beauty. When she looks up, her eyes are soft.

“I can’t take this,” she says softly. “This means something to you.”

“So does remaining president of this club.”

I sound aloof. Like the way she’s looking at me right now doesn’t make me want to spend the night devouring her dewy lips.

Our eyes meet, and I know mine are betraying me, despite my blank expression.

She holds her hand against her chest. “I will look after it,” she says gently.

She smiles and the knot tightens in my chest again. I decide I’m going to kiss her. I mean, we need to sell this union in front of my club.

But before I can, my phone rings, and it’s Gambit who is leading the patrols tonight.

“Yeah?”

“It’s the Psychos all right. We’ve been tailing one. Want to come join the fun?”

I look at Belle who is looking up at me. I want to stay just so I can kiss her again. But this needs to be done. “All right, send me your location.”

Belle bites her lip, and I have a feeling she’s hiding disappointment which lights me up inside.

“You have to go?”

I put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You okay to stay?”

She looks up at me and light dances in her beautiful eyes. “Of course, I’ll help clean up and see you back at the clubhouse.”

“You want me to come back and pick you up?”

She shakes her head. “Go do what you’ve got to do. I’ll get a lift back with Mya.”

Then surprising me, she hops up on her tiptoes and kisses me.

And for a moment it almost feels real.