Chapter Three –
Buy the toys…
Jett, Hunter, Slate, and Blaze (Slate’s POV).
“Y ou’re fuckin’ kidding me? Are we really meant to buy every toy on here?” Hunter demanded, looking at the several page list.
“Yup, and if those kids don’t get that exact thing for Christmas, there’ll be hell to pay,” Jett replied, wincing.
“Well, this shouldn’t take too long,” Blaze said as he grabbed a cart.
The rest of us followed suit. Judging by the number of toys, we’d need more than four carts. I eyed my brothers. I actually liked shopping. There were lots of things to press, and they made noises. There were often cool toys to be found.
But today, I stared at the large toy store with trepidation. The car park was jam-packed, and the shop seemed horrendously busy.
“Remember weeks ago, we were warned to buy well in advance?” I muttered.
“Don’t worry. There’ll be plenty to go around,” Blaze answered blithely. But Jett looked worried. Yeah, he was thinking along the same lines as me. This was going to be a shit storm.
“Here, we’ll take a page each,” Hunter said, handing out a list to each of us.
“Okay, let’s meet at the Lego aisle in an hour,” Blaze suggested, and before anyone could agree or disagree, he disappeared.
“Fine,” I muttered, eyeing the crowds.
◆◆◆
An hour later, I was ready to yank my gun and blow some fucker away. This wasn’t toy shopping; this was war with demanding mamas who owned sneaky attack tactics.
Those bitches threw elbows, kicked ankles, and pulled hair. What the ever-living fuck? I’d even had one bitch try to steal a doll out of my cart. Seriously, the shop needed policing with these women around.
I was guarding my cart and pissed. Half the items on my list the store didn’t have. The other three, hopefully, had done better than me. This was a task I would never repeat. I’d rather clean the toilets in Rage for a year than ever do this again. How the old ladies coped I’d no idea, but I made a mental note to ensure they all got a special gift from now on. Not just the toiletries I usually bought them.
Hunter approached, his hair a mess—seemed he had fallen victim to that attack as well. He also had a bruise forming under his eye. Good, because I was sure a couple of my ribs were broken. Jett showed up at the same time, looking relatively unscathed. I wondered how he’d managed it. He must have caught my silent question.
“I’ve been shopping with Sin for the kids. The tricks these bitches pull are well known to me, and Sin has some of her own,” he explained.
“Right,” I groused.
Blaze turned the corner frantic. Some woman was dogging his heels, and he was holding a box above his head.
“That’s the last one. My child needs it! It’s at the top of their Santa list and she’s sick,” she was yelling at Blaze.
Blaze hesitated as he glanced at the toy and back at the desperate lady.
“Don’t fall for it!” Jett shouted. “They all say that. Trust me, I know!”
The woman scowled at Jett and lunged for the toy. Blaze quickly raised it above his head with a matching dark look.
“Get lost,” Blaze warned and tossed it at me, and I shoved it in my cart. The woman assessed her chances of getting to it and finally stormed away.
“I’ve got a load of stuff missing,” I announced.
“Snap,” Hunter replied.
“I’m serious, we need to find these toys, or the kids will be total assholes Christmas Day. This is their Santa toy,” Jett explained.
“You said we wouldn’t have any trouble,” I snapped at Blaze, who clearly wasn’t in the mood to be provoked.
“The toy makers do this shit on purpose. They only release so many items, so it drives up demand,” Blaze retorted.
“Yet you knew and decided to leave this to the last minute despite us three all saying we should have gone shopping weeks ago?” I demanded.
Hunter and Jett were shaking their head.
“Shut up. We’ve got a couple of weeks until Christmas; how would I know they’d have sold out of shit already?” Blaze snarled as he glared at a lady who was eyeing a toy in his cart. “Back the fuck off!”
The woman gaped and scurried away.
Hunter snorted in amusement. “What are we going to do?”
“Don’t ask me; I’ve not got a clue,” I replied.
“We will do this together. Take another walk around the store, see if we can find any of the missing items. Then we’ll jump online and see if we can order anything we ain’t got,” Jett informed us.
“Great idea,” Blaze agreed, perking up.
“Idiot,” Hunter muttered. “Half of the shit will be sold out or be double the price.”
“Yeah, you’re paying the extra,” Jett stated, but Blaze shrugged. He really didn’t care.
We found ten of the missing toys on our second sweep. But it left us with a good thirty that we couldn’t get. Those sneaky mamas were even worse at the tills. We had to have Hunter and Blaze packing the toys into the carts while Jett and I guarded the ones that hadn’t been scanned.
I’d sell my soul to the devil not to have to do this again as I slapped some thieving fucker’s hands away. Christ, we needed eyes in the back of our head. A howl came from behind me, and I saw Blaze dart past me and tackle some woman to the ground.
My jaw dropped open as he wrestled a doll from her.
“You stole that from my cart!” Blaze yelled as staff stood around and gaped. Blaze got to his feet and handed the cashier the doll.
“Call for backup,” Hunter said as women began eyeing us as a group. If they attacked as a clique, we would be fucked. I’d never hurt a woman, but at the same time, I wasn’t letting our spoils be stolen. We’d fought for them fair and square. Well, maybe a few dirty tricks had been thrown in.
“Should have done that an hour ago,” Jett muttered as he watched over two full carts.
I shoved the items inside them onto the belt as quickly as possible for the cashier to get them through. Blaze now guarded the two full ones at the other end that had been scanned. Someone yanked on my head, and I howled and dropped the action figure I’d been holding. A pair of hands shot forward to grab it, and Jett elbowed the guy out of the way and snatched it back.
I was a hot, sweaty, irritable mess by the time we paid and dragged our carts out to the waiting trucks. After locking the toys in the trunks, we headed to Rage and drove into the compound. After all we’d gone through to find the items, we weren’t going to risk them being stolen. I swore to God that I recognised the woman following us as one who’d tried to steal the doll from Blaze. She sped off when we turned into Rage. Jesus, these mothers were fuckin’ insane.
We all jumped in Blaze’s pickup and began searching the internet for the missing toys.
“Jesus, this is just as bad as the store. I add a couple of things to the list and go to pay, and half of it is gone!” Blaze bitched.
We all glared at him because we were having the same issue. If the fucker had listened to us three weeks ago, we wouldn’t be in this predicament.
Jett’s phone rang, and he blanched.
“Hello, babe,” he said, answering.
“Hey, my gorgeous hunk. How’s the toy shopping going?” Sin questioned cheerfully.
We all joined in with Jett’s wince this time.
“We’re missing a few, but we’ve got most!” Jett announced, trying to be upbeat.
Sin was gloating when she next spoke. “Don’t think you can miss one or two, babe. The Hellions have asked for those toys, and Santa will provide them. Or Santa might just find himself cut off and in the doghouse. I do not care if you have to fly to another country, Blaze, you find them. And I know this is your fault, which is why I’m blaming you! Mr Oh So Cocky when we warned you to shop early. You’re the one who stopped the others shopping early! Payback’s a bitch, and the old ladies are the biggest bitches walking this earth!”
We all winced as Sin slammed the phone down.
“Fuck,” Jett hissed.
“Good news is Phoe has a private plane,” I said and laughed as they sent me dirty looks. “I ain’t got an old lady to bust my balls!”
“Just you wait, motherfucker,” Hunter growled out, and I chuckled again.
We all jumped back on our phones, and finally, there were twelve left we needed to find. We began scouring the net.
“I got Eddie’s!” I exclaimed, hit the shop selling it, and quickly bought it. It was in a store in Wyoming, but it was open till late, and I’d paid for collection. I dialled Harley.
“Get on your bike, you’re heading to Gillette in Wyoming and collecting a fuckin’ parcel for Eddie. I used my name, so stop by and collect my card. I’ll forward the email to yours,” I ordered the prospect.
Harley left his shop and jogged towards his wheels. He did not look happy as I passed him my card, and I smirked. I’d done shit like that as a prospect. It was part of the role.
Harley huffed but didn’t argue. He couldn’t as a prospect, and I didn’t care. Eddie would have sought revenge on those of us who’d forgotten her Santa present. It didn’t matter that Eddie did not believe in Santa anymore. She still wanted it.
“There’s a shop in Sioux Falls; I’ve reserved two of our missing items. We have to pick up by ten when the store shuts, or they go back on sale,” Blaze informed us.
“I will go. Can I carry them by bike?” Hunter asked.
I glanced at my mobile. “Yeah. Linton in North Dakota has another toy. Let me see how far that is.” I searched on my phone. “Five-hour drive and the shop shuts at nine.”
“I’ll get it. Sin will kill me if we don’t have all these gifts,” Jett announced and jumped out of the car and headed to his bike.
“Hey, a message just popped up. Those troll things we needed three of, a delivery is due, at Matteson’s Toys. Someone leaked the information,” Blaze stated, showing me his phone.
“Go! Now!” I demanded. We needed three of those fuckers, and they were the hardest thing to find.
Blaze shot out of the parking lot, nearly knocking Drake and Ace down. I waved an apology as he sped off. As we neared the toy store on the other side of Rapid City, traffic seemed to slow down. I groaned as I saw the queue leading into Matteson’s car park.
Without another word, I jumped out of Blaze’s truck and jogged towards the shop. I could see a huge crowd of men and women in front of me and staff manning the door, keeping them back.
“We’re only allowing a few in at a time!” a guy I assumed was the manager kept yelling. Beside him, five staff sought to control the agitated mob.
The people were far more aggressive than the previous ones we’d met. Desperation soaked the air. I could understand that; I was desperate for these toys, too. I wasn’t facing the old ladies without them. People were pushing and shoving, and there were a lot of cuss words being thrown.
“If you don’t calm down, you won’t be coming in!” the manager shrieked as someone yanked his head and tried to shove past.
I reached out and grabbed the woman and, lifted her up and carried her to the back of the crowd. “Now you fuckin’ wait! There’s no need for assault!” I informed her. She aimed a kick at me, and I put a hand in her face. “I don’t hit women, so do not make me start!” I threatened.
That worked. Of course, she had no clue I didn’t mean it.
A female member of staff was knocked to the ground by a man, and another male dragged her away. I tackled the asshole who was running for the door and took him down. I leapt to my feet, dragging him up with me, and slammed him into the door frame several times before shoving him back out. The baying crowd went quiet.
“Who’s fuckin’ next?” I growled out.
The manager squeaked. “What did you need inside?” he asked quietly as everyone settled a little.
“Three of those troll doll things,” I replied.
“Dude, you provide security for a bit, and I’ll personally go and put them away,” he offered.
I grinned as I saw Blaze approaching
“Hey. Show him our list. Buddy, if you can provide any of our missing items, we’ll both provide security and get some brothers to help,” I said.
The manager frantically snatched Blaze’s list and ran his eyes down it. “I have all but those two. And they are coming in tomorrow. You get me security today and tomorrow, and they’re all yours,” he explained.
“Done. Blaze, call Cody, Christian, and Grey. As soon as someone else arrives, Blaze will pay for the items,” I agreed.
“Deal!” The manager disappeared and returned a few seconds later. “For every person we let out, we let one in. And what colour hair trolls did you want?”
I looked at Blaze and shrugged. “I’ve no idea what colours, but they’re for little girls under eight.” “Okay,” he said again and raced off.
Providing security for ticking off our toy list? Simple.
Hunter
“Get the fuck off me!” I yelled as a woman bit my biceps.
She blinked at me and licked her lips before taking another bite. I was curled into a damn ball around the toy I’d been sent to collect. The stupid manager had not put one away like we’d reserved, and I’d had to fight my way to this, which was the last in the fuckin’ store.
My height had let me reach it, but I hadn’t planned on the sneaky mamas. Two had tripped me, but luckily, I’d kept a grip on it. Fortunately, the idiot had put away the second toy, but the issue was getting this back to the till before I was murdered. And judging by the looks in some of these mama’s eyes, they were considering committing murder.
The lady who’d bit me twice licked her lips again and patted my ass.
“I may have lost out, dude, but that was worth the disappointment,” she said as she climbed off me.
The woman had landed on top of me with four others as I curled into a ball for my own safety. Three still remained, trying to force my arms open to wrench the toy from me. The fuck I was giving it up now.
“That’s my cock!” I roared as a sneaky hand grabbed the wrong package. There was a giggle, and a squeeze, and shock raced through me. I was pinned down and being groped.
“Give me it, and I’ll stop!” a woman hissed and squeezed my dick again, only harder this time and with menace.
That was it! Nobody threatened my manhood over a toy. Gathering strength, I sat up with a roar and shoved women from me. I must have looked like a maniac as I leapt to my feet and swung an arm around me.
I stomped towards the tills, where wide-eyed staff stared at me and glowered at the manager. “Get my other fuckin’ parcel,” I demanded.
The rodent scurried away and returned within moments.
“Here you go, sir,” he muttered, avoiding my gaze.
I paid quickly and raced for my Harley. Just in case the woman who bit me showed up or the cock groper. Jesus, I’d never do this again.
Harley
I could swear I was being followed. There’d been a blue car on my tail ever since I left the toy store. I was grateful that Slate had pre-paid for Eddie’s gift because that shop was a fuckin’ nightmare. It was like someone had chucked a million dollars in the air the way everyone was behaving. Matters were made worse when, as I tried to leave, people attempted to steal my parcel. A desperate father even offered me five hundred bucks for it. Sadly, that wasn’t enough to risk my life.
But now I had a tail on me. I was freaking sure of it. As I headed down the I-90, I kept a sharp eye on my wing mirror. This was nuts. Why the hell was someone following me? Knowing what was happening with Venomous Fangs, I called Dad, and he informed me Rage would meet me, and I had to stay on the interstate.
I was tense as the vehicle remained close by, and finally, I sighed as I saw Harley’s racing towards me. They turned around and came up behind the car, and one raced forward and drew level with me. It was Dad, and my relief was immense. He waved me over, and I pulled up as the car did the same. The guy inside looked terrified, and I recognised him.
I groaned as he got out, waving money at me.
“I’ll pay a thousand, dude,” he yelled.
“Damn!” I muttered, tempted.
“What the fuck?” Dad snapped at the desperate father tried pushing past Ace, Apache, Gunner, and Rock.
“Please, my wife will kill me. I need that!” the father cried, pointing at my package.
“Harley?”
“It’s Eddie’s Santa present. It is a hot potato, and everyone wants one. I got the last from Wyoming, and this guy wants it,” I explained.
Dad’s eyebrows rose into his hairline. “Seriously?”
“Yup. He’s followed me to buy it,” I said.
“Two thousand!”
“Damn, I wonder how high he’d go?” Rock questioned, amused.
“Not enough. That’s earmarked for Eddie. Who wants to be the one to explain why she didn’t get her Santa present?” Dad asked, and we all blanched.
We sent the father on his way even as he offered an extra thousand, and I rode home with the brothers.
Damn, Christmas was crazy insane!
Blaze
I was desperate. For the entire weekend, we’d been looking for the last six gifts. Six fuckin’ presents that were making me sweat. Jett, Hunter, and Slate had all washed their hands of it. Those assholes told me that as I’d been the one to delay, I was on my own. Sin kept sending me devil stares, and I was hoping she’d not informed the others that I had fucked up.
I was ready to hunt the Hellions down and bribe them into changing their minds to something we could find. Then I’d buy their Santa present after Christmas had ended, and they’d no doubt be in abundance because the demand wouldn’t be so high.
I sat in Hell’s Rage and downed a beer. Grey was behind the bar, serving with Harley and looking smug.
“Still not found them?” Grey asked.
“No. The old ladies are going to kill me. Every store keeps telling me the same. They expect stock but aren’t sure when it’s coming, and there’re waiting lists. I’ve basically got no chance of getting them now,” I responded.
“Just those six left?” Harley inquired with an air of superiority.
“Yeah.”
“How much are they worth to you?” Grey asked, swapping a look with Harley.
“What do you know?” I demanded, sitting up.
These idiots were up to something.
“Gonna cost you a marker,” Harley replied. “For all the prospects. One marker each.”
“Done. Where are they?” I didn’t hesitate.
“Meet me upstairs,” Harley said and nodded at Grey as Grey waved him away.
I followed the prospect upstairs and into the empty apartment. We could rent it but kept it free for a just-in-case situation. I gaped as I stared at the toys.
“Are you telling me that you had these all along?” I growled out as I gazed around at the neatly stacked toys.
“We bought them straight away because we knew what you idiots would do. And ya did. And we knew the old ladies would skin you alive,” Harley explained.
“We ran ourselves ragged this weekend! Hunter got his cock groped! I was tackled!” I yelled at the smug prospect.
“Yup, and you learnt a valuable lesson. The women say do something, you do it straight away!” Harley retorted and handed me the six missing presents.
“What are you doing with the rest?” I asked.
“They’re going to the Eternal Trust now you guys have everything,” Harley replied, and I nodded. That was generous of the prospects. They didn’t get a full cut like the brothers.
“I’ll give you two thousand towards that lot. Split it between you all. And prospect, have you made other contingency plans?”
“What do you think?” Harley quipped as he shut the door behind us.
Smug bastard!