Chapter Thirteen
Abel
“Tark, Saxon! Get your asses in here!” I yell from down the hall, heading to the office. I called them here early to go over the plan for the meeting with Santiago, but when I walk into the room, it looks like I’ve stepped into an intervention. “Why does it feel like this is my intervention?”
“It’s been three weeks. Three fucking weeks of you moping around here looking like you’ve lost your fucking puppy. What the fuck has gotten into you, man?” I know what Tark’s getting at, and I’m not in the mood for it.
“Nothing. Everything’s fine. I’m fine” I grunt, not looking at any of them, praying they don’t see through the lie.
“That’s fucking bullshit, and you know it.” Saxon says, slamming his fist on the desk. “We need our Prez back in the game because we got things to do, and they can’t be done without you.”
“What are you talking about?” I know they’re anxious to know what the deal is with Santiago. Newsflash, I’m right here with you guys.
“We just need the Prez, we know will get shit done, back. We don’t know anything about this guy and can’t afford to fuck this up. You need to get your head in the game.” Tark doesn’t know when to quit. “Look, if that girl is the reason you’ve been acting like this-”
That’s fucking it! “Don’t you take that tone of voice with me, boy! I’ll toss your ass out in the streets so fast it’ll make your fucking head spin!” I scoff, pacing the floor. They are right, I need to show them who’s boss. My wild eyes roam around my guys before settling back on Tark, daring him to fucking say one wrong thing because I’m ready for him.
He fucking knows I mean business. I have never called him a boy before, but he was really getting under my skin.
The frown on his face and the crease in his brow tells me he’s both sorry and pissed. “I’m sorry, President Abel, it won’t happen again.” He mutters through clenched teeth.
“You better make sure it fucking doesn’t. Get your shit together and don’t you dare bring up my personal life unless I ask you to.”
He dips his head, turning away from me. I know he means well, but I don’t need anyone’s pity or them prying into my business.
I never get hung up on a girl after just one night, so why is she any different?
I don’t have the energy to deal with this shit right now, “This meeting is canceled until further notice.” I walk out of the room filled with too much testosterone. Heading into the kitchen, I find Foxy standing over the sink, holding a pot while Ginger tosses potatoes inside. “What are you ladies up to?” Foxy screams at the top of her lungs while Ginger laughs her head off.
“Damit, Abel, you scared me half to death.” Foxy says, clutching her chest as the pot falls into the sink with a bang.
“Ooh, mama said a bad word and unless you give me a dollar, I’m telling daddy.” Ginger giggles, hustling her mother using the old trick I taught her.
“Why, you little shit.”
“That’s two cuss words now, mama.” Ginger says, snorting as her mother turns beet red.
“We’ll talk about this later, young lady. Finish putting those potatoes in the pot and add some water while I talk to your Uncle Abel.”
“Hiya, Unk. Mama owes me two dollars.” She grins a toothy grin at me, getting to work on those potatoes.
“She sure does. I taught you well.” I say, holding my hand up, waiting for her to high five me.
“You sure did. I almost have a hundred dollars now, thanks to mama.”
“Keep up the good work and you’ll have two hundred in no time.” We share a laugh before Foxy ushers me away. “See you later, Ginger.”
“Bye, Uncle Abel.”
“I outta beat your ass for teaching her that.” Foxy says. I’m about to call Ginger when she slugs me in the stomach. “Shut your trap! Don’t you call her in here to tell on me some more, Abel.” She says, placing her hand on her hip.
I toss my hands in the air, surrendering, “Okay, okay. I quit.”
“It’s nice to see you smile.” She says, taking on a serious tone.
“Oh no, not you, too.” I groan.
“What do you mean, not me, too?” She smirks. “We just want to see you happy, you deserve it.”
“Thanks, Foxy, but I’m doing just fine.” I say, pulling up a seat.
“Are you? You’ve been moping.” She points out. “It’s not the kind of moping you were doing when we first met, but it’s pretty close.”
“Thank you for your amazing observation skills. It’s chef’s kiss as always.” I say, smacking my lips together trying not to roll my eyes at her. “Where are the other ladies?”
“Here and there, you know how we all do.” She shrugs.
I silently nod, “Sure I do.”
Pushing me down in the nearest chair, taking a seat next to me, she says, “Abel, don’t you want to settle down with a nice girl? Raise a family?” I get she’s got my best interest at heart, but I tried it once, didn’t like it.
“Ten out of ten… Will never do it again.” I answer, watching her shoulders sag. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Fine. Do you know your niece over there has a dance recital coming up in a couple of weeks?” She asks, filling me in on all the upcoming things Ginger has.
I’m not sure how long we sit there and talk before a few of the guys walk in with solemn looks on their faces.
“I don’t mean to cut our time short, Fox, but duty calls.”
“I know.” She gives me a half smile.
“I’ll make sure I’m available for every program Gin has coming. You can count on me to be there, cheering her on.”
“Thanks, Abel, now go on… Git.” She says, shooing me out of there and in the direction the guys are heading.
“What up, Abe?” Knuckles asks, bumping my fist once I make it near him. “You ready for all this?”
All I needed was to cool down, talk with Ginger and Foxy to get my head back on straight.
“Not really. I don’t know who or what this man named Santiago wants or how he was one of many to contact me directly. We don’t deal with just anyone we don’t know. We’ve all got each other’s back and we ride or die, but I’m not ready to sacrifice anyone.”
“You know that’s our motto ‘Ride with Me’ and that’s what we plan on doing, until the end.” Ironclad speaks up.
“Come on, let’s ride. I don’t need anyone else hearing about what’s going on. The less they know, the better.” We say our goodbyes, hop on our bikes, and ride to the club.
The pit is where we go to talk business and get our hands dirty. Parking the bikes, we all head inside. Nodding to Tats on our way in.
“Tats, what up?” Capone drawls, dapping him up.
“Holdin’ down the fort. It’s all clear down there.” He knows when it’s business and when it’s time to get dirty.
Everyone takes a seat once we’re inside. “Tark, have you found any information on Santiago?” I need to know what we’re up against before I have this meeting with him.
“Nah, nothing. It’s like he doesn’t exist.” Tark says, pissed that he’s come up empty handed.
“All good. I have a feeling he’s affiliated with the mafia.” The thought crossed my mind a time or two. There have been a few times members from other clubs have tried to come and negotiate deals with us. Like I said, everyone wants to be a part of what we have. It doesn’t surprise me that the mafia would seek us out, too.
“Yeah, the mafia has been hot on our balls ever since one of their own stumbled into the club one day.” Saxon speaks up. “At first, he appeared to be a regular Joe in the club, having a good time. Then, he started asking where the club owner was and where he could find him. I didn’t think anything about it at the time, but maybe he was scouting for this Santiago character.”
“Why wouldn’t you tell me about this sooner?” I bark, a little off kilter because he failed to give me valuable information.
“Look, it slipped my mind because he didn’t do anything but ask who you were and how to find you. Nobody gave him what he was looking for, he was refused service after that and finally left. Clearly, he was a lower level member of the mafia because someone with more rank would have beat it out of anyone here.” He says, lowering his voice. “My apologies, sir.”
“I’ll let it slide this time, but make sure it never happens again.” It’s a direct order and if he doesn’t follow, brother or not, it won’t be good.
“It won’t happen again.” Saxon promises.
We talk more about all the open possibilities, the new avenues to explore, and I tell them about my plans for the upcoming meeting with Santiago.