Chapter Ten
Leon knows he’s long overdue for a conversation with Duke Salvadore.
This thing with Sara turned serious back in L.A. and that was over four months ago. He needs to sit down and be straight with the other man because they’re going to be working together and he doesn’t want any bad blood between the two of them.
The deal that Leon’s spent months putting in place is finally signed and sealed, the future of his chapter secured.
Rose Kush, a local business in Pinehurst that specialises in pot cultivation, is looking to expand. The need for its product has grown exponentially over the past six months and the projected growth is astronomical.
Sunridge has the right heat and temperament for a high-quality yield, and the chapter has the land for a large-scale farm.
They’re willing to provide the services and lease the land if owner Lila Rosenhurst provides the training, licences and permits.
It’s the first of a series of legitimate long-term investments Leon’s made on behalf of his club.
The Pinehurst chapter are stretched thin running security for Rose Kush up and down the state. They need help, help that Leon can provide in terms of manpower and skill set since most of his guys were ex-military.
They also need help with their less legal services - Pinehurst has a side hustle helping victims of sex trafficking that come through the truckstop just outside of town.
They needed more bodies to help man the temporary safehouses and get survivors to where they need to be in order to start their new lives.
The jobs paid well but there was an increased risk due the issues surrounding the legality of helping people disappear.
“I won’t make it mandatory,” Leon had told King as the other man had sat in his seat at the head of the table, his fingertips rapping out the tune to AC/DC’s Highway to Hell.
His silver rings glinted in the light from the chandelier above, allegedly made from the bones of his enemies.
King has never confirmed or denied the rumour, but it would be a dumbass move to have the evidence of multiple murders literally hanging over you and Leon knows that King is a hell of a lot smarter than that.
“They can take the job if they want to, but it has to be their decision.”
“That’s the way I work with my guys,” King had rumbled from deep within his barrelled chest. At 5’9” he may not be tallest member of the MC, but he’s certainly the most formidable.
With three tours in Iraq under his belt as a Marine, he has an intimidating and imposing presence that commands complete obedience, and a reputation of ruthlessness that long precedes him.
“It seems like we’re on the same page,” Leon had said before shaking King’s hand and the deal was struck.
It’s after the meeting that Leon sits down at Duke’s table with a cup of coffee in the clubhouse. The Vice President’s boxer’s frame is situated in front of a newspaper, his nose crinkling as he studies the article in front of him.
Leon clears his throat before he leans forward, his elbows coming to rest upon the table.
“I need to talk to you about something and it’s kind of awkward.” Leon bites his lower lip before he meets Duke’s gaze. “I’m seeing Sara. It’s getting serious and I didn’t want you to hear it over the grapevine, I wanted to be respectful and come to you man to man.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Duke tells him, shrugging his shoulders. “Me and Sara were over a long time ago.” Duke gestures between the two of them. “We don’t have beef over this. If you make each other happy, that’s the best that anyone can hope for, and I don’t begrudge that.”
Leon’s fingers rap out a pattern on the surface of the table before he opens his mouth to speak.
“When I took over the club after Concho was killed, we were in a bad way. I’m not just talking about the money situation; morale was low, and we were in a fucked-up place.
I had to carry all of that. I had to be strong for my club and to do that I had to shut down every other part of me so I could focus on getting us through a really dark time. ”
Leon shakes his head, his lips pursed together grimly. He doesn’t recognise the man he became back then, the one that had to fight for his club because Concho had disgraced them.
“The problem is when you do something like that, you can’t just let it go. You become that person and it eats you up inside. There’s no joy, no light, there’s just this weight and you have to carry it day after day.”
When he looks to Duke, he knows the other man understands what he’s saying. Sunridge isn’t the only club that’s been through hell, Pinehurst had their own troubles a few years back.
“When I met Sara, it felt like I could breathe again. All the parts of me that shut down, they started coming back to life.” He trails off, because he can’t quite find the words to explain it. “She saved me, and I don’t think she realises just how much.”
Duke bows his head, and Leon knows it’s because he knows what it’s like to live in that darkness, to have someone reach in and pull you out without them even realising that they’re rescuing you.
“I’m happy you’ve found that,” Duke tells Leon, meeting his gaze. “I’m glad that you’ve found someone who makes you happy.”