13. Typical Trip to Target
Chapter 13
Typical Trip to Target
Steel
Things in Jacksonville were worse than I’d suspected.
Very few hang-arounds meant no fresh blood to revive the chapter. Worse, if the rumors were true, the Corrupt Chrome MC was making inroads with the Southside Slayers – our main competitor in drug distribution in Jacksonville.
Jackhammer and Warden took direction well, but neither one of them had leadership skills. From what I could see, neither one of them wanted to lead a chapter.
On top of that, I’d been too lax with this chapter. Some neighbors had complained to the code enforcement department about the state of the clubhouse. The last president had gone the cheap route for the building. Two single wide trailers were on the property and they were connected by a ramshackle roof. The walls were nothing but screens.
It was embarrassing.
Maybe Tie was right. We should cut our losses and eat the lost dues coming in every month. It wouldn’t take much to convince Warden and Jackhammer to move to another city.
If we went that route, I’d see far less of Simone.
It also left things open for Corrupt Chrome to gain more ground, which would bring them more money and it stood to reason that they would funnel that money toward their efforts to fuck with us in other cities. Augusta first, if I were running that club.
This was a complete clusterfuck.
I had to confront this head-on, and to do that, I’d need other brothers to come to town. I could bring the whole Augusta chapter down here, but that wasn’t ideal either. With a sigh, I ran my hand through my hair. Atlanta could spare a few brothers for this, and possibly Raleigh as well, but none of them would be eager to make such long rides on the heels of Bike Week.
A few of them had narrowly escaped being arrested earlier in the month.
Tough shit. They’d have to suck it up and pitch in for this.
“I’m sorry about Mom,” Simone said, as she settled in the armchair adjacent to the couch where I sat.
I stretched a leg out and locked eyes with her. “Come over here.”
“What’s wrong with where I am?”
“It’s not close enough for me to put my arms around you.”
Her lips pursed, but I didn’t miss the way her head reared back a fraction of an inch. She rose and sat between my legs, resting her back on my chest.
I wrapped one arm around her waist and slid my other hand down her arm until I found her hand and laced our fingers together. “Don’t apologize about Jackie. Hell, I’d be more concerned if she didn’t bust my balls.”
She chuckled and twisted her head to look at me. “Oh, she wasn’t busting your balls. She’s just overprotective of me.”
“And she should be.”
“Not like this, I don’t know how you kept your cool.”
I squeezed her hand. “Her questions were all valid. The situation between us is tenuous and the moment someone puts it together, you’re going to be in danger.”
“Here we go again,” she breathed. After a beat, she shifted more of her weight on to me and rested her head against my shoulder to make eye contact. “Who exactly is going to put me in danger when they realize we’re a thing?”
“A thing?”
She tossed a hand out. “I don’t know what else to call this. So, who are the bad guys here?”
“You don’t—”
She sat up and twisted her body toward me. “Oh no, you’re about to say ‘You don’t need to know’ or I don’t need to worry about it, or some variation on that theme. But you’re wrong. Knowing who and what I’m up against is good strategy, Steel.”
I took a breath and held it. “This isn’t about strategy.”
She dipped her chin. “Bullshit. I’m better off knowing if the threat is from a street gang or some rival MC, so which is it? Or is it both?”
“It’s a rival MC, but depending on things, there could be a street gang involved too.”
“Sweet.”
I choked on a chuckle. “That is not sweet, Simone.”
She smiled, reminding me how much I loved seeing her eyes light with her grin. “It’s sweet because it’ll keep me on my toes. Might have to tussle with a biker one day and deal with a gang member the next.”
With a low growl, I pulled my leg up and shifted so I could look in her eyes. “You aren’t doing any of that shit. You’re pregnant.”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah, and most people don’t even know since I’m not quite showing yet. Pregnant doesn’t mean I’m an invalid.”
“It also doesn’t mean you’re an MMA fighter.”
“Who said anything about fighting?”
“Tussle?”
Her lips twisted into a smirk. “A gun cuts any tussle short.”
I traced my finger along her cheekbone. “And if that gun gets wrestled away from you, what then? You end up shot, and I’m gonna be pissed.”
“Really?”
My eyes widened at her. “Yes, really. You were there when I told your mom I’d burn down the world for you.”
She shook her head. “That’s just an expression.”
I lowered my chin. “Not in my world – and you know it.”
She sighed. “Well, I wouldn’t want you going to jail.”
I shook my head. “I’d rather not have to go after anyone because they fucked with you.”
We were quiet for a moment as she mulled that over. She turned to me with a quizzical look. “Something in your tone sounded off. Have you been to jail?”
I nodded once.
“But you got out right away, right?”
Her eyes held so much anticipation.
I pressed my lips together. “No. I served nine months for manslaughter.”
She attempted to hide her surprise, but I could read her. “How did you get out after nine months?”
“Club lawyer appealed, got it overturned.”
“Wow,” she whispered.
“Yeah, I’m not the nice guy Jackie would have picked for you.”
“Like mother, like daughter,” she muttered.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
She twisted toward me. “Grandpa told me how much he, and especially Gran, wanted anybody but Dad for Mom.”
I grunted, imagining how much they’d despise me. Not that I’d care. “Do they know you’re pregnant?”
She frowned. “They passed away a few years back.”
“Sorry to hear that, sweetheart.”
The way her eyes warmed when she looked back to me… I hadn’t felt a punch like that in ages. “Yeah, me too.” She stood and went to the kitchen. “So, there’s maybe one glass of red wine in this bottle someone left, and six chicken wings left over in the fridge. It’s not a decent dinner, but I haven’t hit the grocery store yet.”
I suppressed a groan and stood. “Then put your shoes on. We’re going to get some seafood and then we’ll hit the store on the way back.”
“On your bike?” she asked.
“No, you’re driving, Jade.”
“You should dial it back on the aggression when you’re driving,” I suggested.
She turned just enough to give me side-eye. “And you might dial it back on the commentary, sir.”
I shook my head. “Now you’re fucking with me.”
“You started it. I’m surprised you want to come with me to the grocery store. Aren’t you headed back to Augusta the day after tomorrow?”
“Yeah, but I still have to eat. And you’re going with me to Augusta.”
She turned into the parking lot for a Super Target. “On your bike?”
“No, I’ll be on my Harley. You’ll follow me.”
That didn’t earn me side-eye, it got me one helluva dirty look. “It oughta be that you’re following me, because I got news for you, I might not be showing, but hell if I don’t have to pee like a mother all the damned time.”
I couldn’t help but grin at her choice of words.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked, pulling through an empty parking space so the SUV sat nose-out.
Once she shut down the vehicle, I unbuckled my seat belt. “Your choice of words, Jade. You have to pee like a mother because you’re soon going to be one.”
She let out a cute growl. “Let’s get this done, smart guy.”
I hustled out of the car since she made such a quick exit. Once I fell in step next to her, I said, “You’re pissed.”
“No, but now who’s got jokes, saying I’m pissed?” she asked.
I bit back my laughter and followed her inside the store. She reached out for a cart, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the side. “Why are you angry?”
She glanced up and over my shoulder while taking a deep breath. “I’m not angry. I’m irritated.”
I shifted to catch her gaze. “You’re splitting hairs. What’s got you ‘irritated’?”
She stared at me, looked away, and kept quiet.
“Not being on my bike,” I guessed.
She exhaled, and turned back to me. “Maybe, even if I know it shouldn’t bother me, it does. I’m sorry.”
Again, laughter threatened, and that would only irritate her further. I let go of her hand and wrapped my arm around her waist. “You have nothing to apologize for. If something bugs you, it bugs you. But you’re pregnant, I’m not putting you on my bike with a four-hour ride ahead of us.”
She took a deep breath, her tits brushing my chest. “You say things like that and I want to think you care … and maybe you do … but you aren’t going to stick around.”
I kept eye contact with her, and it nearly gutted me, but I dismissed her words. “Let’s get this done.”
Some people despised grocery shopping. If it wasn’t too crowded, most of the time it didn’t bother me. The way Simone maneuvered the cart through the aisles, she didn’t like getting groceries one iota. We had the cart half-full and from her demeanor, we couldn’t finish fast enough.
“You, uh, do a lot of grocery deliveries in college?” I asked.
She whipped her head toward me, her eyes narrowed. “Not any more than any one else.”
I did a slow nod. “Right.”
With the cart angled toward the pre-packaged salads and spinach, she turned to me. “What are you getting at?”
Some twisted part of me found her attitude refreshing. “I’m not getting at anything, Simone. Just seems that you’d rather be anywhere but here.”
She glanced to the side for a beat, then back to me. “It’s not my favorite, but I know it needs to be done and the quicker we start the sooner we finish.” Her eyes darted to the salads and back to mine. “Do you eat salad or can we skip the obligatory rabbit food?”
I choked on my laughter. “Obligatory?”
“Salads are supposed to be good for you, but I can’t stand them.”
“That’s a first,” I muttered without thinking.
Her head tilted. “What’s a first?”
I sighed. “Most women love salads. You might be the first one to admit to hating them.”
She grinned. “Mom loves them enough for me, my brother Bobby, and fifty other people over fifty.”
I felt a sneer hit my lips and my head twisted. “Your mom isn’t fifty.”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah, even more reason for her to lay off the green stuff.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re hangry, but… I saw how many shrimp you put away during dinner. So, what’s the story, Jade?”
“You dodged whether you’re going to stick around. But more than that, you dodged whether you care or not. I suppose the latter will become clear soon enough, but going it alone… that’s something I’d like to know sooner rather than later. And somehow, I think you know if you’re going to bail on me for Augusta and your club.”
Damn, she did not mince words. I loved that about her. I hated the idea of leaving her to go it alone.
I grabbed hold of the cart handle and pushed it around the corner to the next aisle. “I’m not certain what the future holds, but if my club needs me, then I’m gonna have to hit the road. Like this weekend, though you’re coming along.”
“A tag-along,” she muttered.
“Didn’t say it like that,” I muttered.
She sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t know what my problem is.” She grabbed a small jar of green olives and looked to me. “Do you eat olives?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Not usually, but if you want ‘em, get ‘em.”
She put the jar in the cart and moved to take control, but I held firm to the handle.
“You cool now?” I asked.
Her brown eyes gleamed in the florescent lights. “I will be.”
I nodded and let go of the handle. “Good.”
We faced forward and saw two bearded men walking our way. They both wore leather cuts with the Corrupt Chrome logo dominating the left side. As they came closer I saw one had the road name ‘Scar,’ and the other went by ‘Pump.’
“They’re not from here,” Simone muttered.
“Be quiet, and let me handle this,” I whispered.
“You’re a hard man to find,” Scar said, propping his foot on the bottom rail of the shopping cart. He stood an inch shorter than me, but it appeared he had at least twenty pounds on me. Probably fat, but I didn’t want this to get physical with Simone next to me. His hazel eyes bored into mine, and I wondered if he even knew anyone else was around.
Pump, however, had his eyes locked on Simone, practically salivating the way he licked his lips. “Who’s your friend, Steel? She a secret daughter you been hiding?”
Simone opened her mouth, and using my index finger I gave a subtle tug on her belt loop.
My gaze never left Scar and through clenched teeth, I asked, “What do you want?”
After a long, loaded moment, Scar’s eyes shifted to Simone and back to me. “Knuckles asked you for a sit-down before Bike Week, you too good to respond?”
“He didn’t ask me, since this is the first I’m hearing of it,” I said.
Scar narrowed his eyes. “Your club runs the titty bar in Augusta. He left word there.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m busy.”
Scar glanced around the aisle as though he’d never been in a grocery store. “Sure, so busy you can wander around a fuckin’ grocery store.”
“Why did you follow me here? Why not talk to my VP?”
Pump’s blue eyes slid to me. “Don’t think we didn’t. He’s gettin’ a message right now.”
Scar nodded. “Same one you’re gonna get.”
Three things happened at once. Scar made to shove the cart into me and Simone, but she’d already jerked the cart back. Pump reached for a gun, but didn’t pull it free before Simone’s voice cut through the air.
“Freeze right there, asshole,” she had taken a gun out of her purse —which sat inside the top of the cart— and had the gun aimed at Pump. “I will shoot your balls off.”
Surprise suffused both men’s faces.
“Jade,” I said in a warning tone. “Put the weapon away.”
“I will, when they calmly walk away.”
The way Scar stared at her, like he was cataloging everything about her, I wanted to carve his eyes out.
“Jade’s a pretty name,” Pump said. “And it’s easy to remember.”
Her head cocked an inch to the side and I knew she had a smart retort.
“Keep quiet,” I ordered.
A woman pushing a jumbo-sized cart with room for two kids entered the opposite end of the aisle. Scar glanced over his shoulder and I saw why he likely had his road name. A thick scar lined his neck and I wondered how he’d survived such a vicious cut.
He turned back to us. “We’ll leave, but your time is up, Steel. We’re taking over whether you like it or not.”
A lecherous smile twisted Pump’s lips. “And we might take more than just your territory.”
Scar turned on his heel and Pump trudged after him.
In a very low voice, I said, “Uncock that piece and put it the fuck away, woman.”
She did as I asked, then glared up at me. “Why are you pissed at me? I kept those assholes from getting the jump on you.”
I widened my eyes. “I told you to let me handle this shit.”
She shook her head. “Thanks to the fabulous nickname you gave me, they don’t even know who I am.”
I scoffed. “They know who you are now. Grab your purse, we gotta ditch the fucking food or they’ll follow us to your place.”
She dipped her chin and smirked. “Honey, not to be cocky, but I can lead those morons on one helluva wild goose chase on the way home.”
I tore a hand through my hair. “Not happening. I’m driving and we’re hitting the Devil Lancer clubhouse.”
“That’s out by the docks.”
“Yep.”
She started pushing the cart forward. “No. I’m not heading there, Steel. They aren’t forcing me out of my home.”
Grabbing the cart, I halted her progress. “They found us already. We need to be where I can protect you.”
She twisted her body so she could put a hand on her hip. “And we can do that at my place. However they found us, they probably already know where I live.”
The mom with her two kids pushed past us and I waited until she was out of earshot. “My bike stands out, Simone.”
She nodded. “Right, and seeing as it’s parked outside my apartment, that means the die is cast. Let’s have these mofos arrested or take them out ourselves.”
I shook my head. “This is real life, Jade, not some episode of a biker show.”
She straightened. “Believe me, I know that. But I told you I fight back when someone fucks with my family.”
A warm sensation gathered in my chest. “I’m not your family.”
Her brows arched. “You’re my baby-daddy, so think again, tough guy.”
She motored the cart out of the aisle and moved toward the check-out. I couldn’t remember the last time a woman was so stubborn. For some bizarre reason, I enjoyed the fuck out of that about her.
I stopped the cart. “Will you humor me and go to the clubhouse tonight?”
She grinned. “Sure, if it’s the Riot clubhouse. First, we need to pay for the food.”
“We need to ditch the cart and go, Simone.”
“Why? So they can follow us and we’ll have bare cupboards. You could call Warden or Jackhammer to help you out.”
That was the next thing I was going to do… maybe an MC princess wasn’t the right choice for me.
At my lengthy silence, she aimed a shy smile at me. “Oh, did I take the wind out of your sails with that one. Sorry. I’ve spent most of my life watching Dad call in brothers for support or handle ‘situations’ that I wasn’t supposed to know about.”
I dug a credit card out of my wallet. “Go pay for the damn food.”
In the parking lot, I wished the sun had already set. Instead, there was more than enough light for bystanders to see Scar and Pump standing at Simone’s SUV along with a third man. He had his back to us and no club colors stitched on his cut.
“You know this new guy?” I asked.
“Shit, that’s Rafferty,” Simone hissed.
“He got a thing for you?”
She laughed. “Not a chance. He’d tell you otherwise, but he’s got a thing for Alexandra.”
“Then, why’s he following you ?”
“If I had to guess because he thinks it’ll make him look good to my Dad and the other brothers. They haven’t approved him to be a prospect yet.”
I wondered why they’d keep him from prospecting, but kept focused on the situation at her vehicle. “How would he know to follow you? Did you realize he was following us?”
“No to your last question, and I have no idea how he’d know to tail us. Maybe he thought I’d lead him to Alexandra.”
“Not likely. How about you hang back at the doors?”
She pointed a sly smile my way. “Not likely, tough guy.”
I sighed. “Keep your damn gun in your purse, then.”
She faced forward. “I make no promises.”
“Jade,” I said in a warning tone as we came within earshot of the men.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered.
Rafferty had a thick build, dark hair, brown eyes, and a firm grip on a nine millimeter he had pointed at Scar and Pump.
“Is there a reason you’re pointing a gun at these two in broad daylight?” I asked.
“Really, the sun’s setting,” Simone muttered.
“Jade, don’t.”
To my relief, Rafferty didn’t flinch or show any confusion at the nickname.
“These two were looking into her car, and I approached.”
“He with you, Steel?” Pump asked. “Devil Lancers must have lowered their standards.”
A hot-head would rise to that bait, yet Rafferty ignored it. He’d make a decent Devil Lancer if he weren’t loyal to the Riot.
I locked eyes with Scar since he seemed to be the smarter one. “The two of you are foot soldiers at best for Corrupt Chrome. Tell Knuckles, I’ll meet him next Saturday.”
Scar’s eyes narrowed. “That’s nine days from now, motherfucker.”
Rafferty shifted his stance as though he were offended.
After a beat, I shrugged a shoulder. “I got shit to do before I head back. He can leave word at the Player’s Palace strip club if he’s down or not.”
While Scar mulled this over, a police squad car pulled into the lot. He noticed my gaze shifting and glanced over his shoulder. His demeanor changed instantly. “Let’s go, Pump.”
They hurried toward their bikes. In a smooth motion, Rafferty tucked his gun into his waistband, then leaned against Simone’s Ford Escape. His head tipped toward the cart. “Need help with the bags?”
“Sure,” Simone chirped.
We had half the bags loaded in the back when the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer drove by with his window down.
“There a problem here?”
“No, sir. Just loading the car,” Simone said.
She didn’t blink at the officer’s hard stare.
Finally he nodded. “I’ll leave you to it.”
We closed the hatch and she blew out a sigh. “That wasn’t my typical trip to Target, but let’s go home.”
“You aren’t serious,” Rafferty said.
More and more, I liked this kid.
Simone tossed her hands out. “They approached us inside and were milling around my SUV. They probably already know where to find me.” She jerked her head my way. “He set a date for a meet. It’s done. I’ll take all the back roads home to be safe. But there’s no point and you know it.”
Rafferty lowered his chin, his anger plain in his eyes. “A clubhouse would be better and you know it.”
Yep, I definitely liked him.
With a grin, I said, “Now, you’re outvoted.”
She leveled a dry look at me. “Or it’s a tie because the baby likes me sleeping in my bed. And we need to leave before I have to pee.”
Rafferty shook his head. “Guess I’m watching your new pad all night.”
Simone chuckled. “Not necessary. I think Jackhammer has that duty tonight.”
Rafferty’s eyes slid to the side and back to her. “He’ll have company then.”
We missed the green light to leave the parking lot. While we sat at the red, using the side mirror I watched Rafferty on his bike behind us. He wore a helmet with a visor, preventing me from seeing his eyes.
“Why isn’t he prospecting? Do you know?”
Her head turned toward me. “Why? You gonna recruit him?”
I glanced at her. “Yeah.”
“What? Are you serious? Why?”
The light turned green and I tipped my head toward it. “Focus on the road, woman. To answer your question, he stepped in without either one of us there. Kept his cool more than twice during that encounter. I respect the hell out of that, and I don’t see it every day.”
“Wow,” she whispered.
“So, why isn’t he a prospect?”
She sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know. My hunch is that they’re waiting for him to turn twenty-one.”
“How old is he?” I asked.
“Nineteen, but he turns twenty soon.” She paused. “I could be completely wrong about the reasoning Steel. The last four years, I’ve been in Gainesville and that isn’t info Dad would tell me anyway.”
“Fair enough.”
“His mom’s gonna lose her mind.”
“But not his dad?”
She chuckled. “Him too, but Aunt Trixie loves the club with her heart and soul.”
I hummed as her words replayed in my mind. “Wait, he’s Roll’s son?”
“Yeah.”
I chuckled. “Then I really don’t understand why he isn’t prospecting early. It’s in his fuckin’ blood.”
“Yeah, I don’t get it either. Seeing as you know the Riot is in his blood, maybe it’d be a good thing to keep searching for your next recruit.”
“No,” I said.
“No?”
With a curt nod, I said, “No, and that’s final. Should be his decision any damned way.”
“Can’t argue with that.”