Chapter Seventeen
Dagger
Hendrix gestured up to the TV screen in Church and pointed out a section of the picture. “There, see those buildings? That’s where they keep their women and kids.” His finger moved right to the massive house. “Bear’s in there with the other Sinners. The mayor visited, but he’s hunkered down with Monica Barrington on the other side of town.” He clicked his cell phone and the image changed to another house, but smaller. “The address has been sent to you already, Colt.”
“Monica always was an evil cunt,” I muttered, disgust clenching my gut. “She’s all about the money.”
“She won’t be for much longer,” Colt interjected. “Henderson’s accounts are in the process of being frozen. The FBI’s workin’ on gettin’ a search warrant on a shipping container that’s due to leave the Port of Los Angeles in the next couple of days. I’m hoping we’ll have Henderson and Bear Rawlins in custody by then.”
“What time is it all kickin’ off?” Atlas asked.
Colt tapped on his cell. “As soon as we get the warrant. The judge starts taking calls at nine A.M. If everything goes to plan we’ll have it signed off by nine-oh-two.”
“That’s just past eleven A.M. for us,” Cash clarified.
I sat back in my chair and rubbed my beard. “The second Henderson finds out he’s broke, they’ll start to scramble.”
“We’ve got agents watching the container, Prez,” Colt assured me. “It won’t be goin’ anywhere. Hannigan, Shepherd, and two other agents from my department will be on a plane headed here by tomorrow, and a task force will start to surround Mapletree and Hambleton. Anyone trying to flee town will find themselves a problem.”
“Why don’t they just come in and arrest them?” Abe asked.
“They’re still gathering evidence. Barrington sang within minutes of bein’ picked up, but they're still trying to reconcile what he told them with not only the evidence we’ve already gathered, but all the new evidence too. This can’t go wrong, and it’s gotta be done by the book, or they’ll walk away and move to South America to carry on doin’ their sick shit down there.”
My mouth twisted. “Where it’s easier, and the authorities can be bribed.”
“Bingo,” Colt muttered.
“Cool,” Atlas said breezily. “So what do you want us to do?”
“Be prepared,” Colt told us. “Get your plan together, just in case, and I’d advise you all to send the women and kids away. I’m takin’ Freya and Adele to the airport when Church kicks out. I want ‘em outta here.”
Atlas rose from his seat. “The fuck?”
“Cara and Wilder are stayin’ here,” Cash protested.
Bowie tipped his head back.
Breaker sighed.
“Boys,” I murmured. “We need ‘em out the way. We’ve got a war comin’. While the Feds are gettin’ their shit together, we gotta think of our ol’ ladies and kids. It’ll just be for a few days.”
“Kennedy’s house in Vegas is perfect for them,” Kit stated. “She’s got plenty of beds, a pool, a massive room where the kids can play video games and watch TV.” He leaned forward to address Cash and Atlas. “Think about it, they’ve got Hustle’s MC on hand to protect ‘em, and if worst comes to the worst, Kitten’s gotta panic room.”
“Why?” Abe asked.
“She used to take pro-bono work helping victims of domestic violence. She worked with charities all over the country, giving free legal advice. One time, one of the victim’s abusers found out where she lived and sent her threatening notes. The pigs got him, but she had the panic room built soon after, which I’m glad of, seeing as she’s never given up the work.”
“Does she still do it now?” Drix asked.
Breaker nodded his reply.
I brought a hand up to rub away the ache in my temples. “Sending Leesy away feels almost unnatural, especially when all I wanna do is keep her close.” My eyes lifted to meet Colt’s. “D’ya really think it’s gonna get that dangerous?”
“I dunno,” Colt replied. “But something’s nagging at me.”
Abe cocked his head. “Tell us, Son.”
“I’ve been profiling Bear Rawlins for the last six months,” Colt explained. “The fucker won’t go quietly into custody. He knows as soon as we nab him, he’ll never see the outside of maximum security again.”
A brief silence fell over the room as we digested Colt’s words.
“He’ll have nothin’ to lose,” Cash muttered.
Atlas nodded. “He’ll go on a rampage.”
“A kamikaze one at that,” I added.
Colt jerked a nod. “And where’s the first place he’ll go?”
Slowly, I closed my eyes.
Nobody needed to answer him.
We all knew.
There wasn’t a man on this earth I was scared of, including Bear Rawlins, but I’d have to be a damned fool to underestimate the sick fuck. He’d caught us on the hop once before, and I was determined it wouldn’t happen again. He feared nothing, including death, and was crazy enough to go on a killing spree and try to wipe out the entire club—including the women and children—and then turn the gun on himself.
And he’d do it with a smile on his face.
I turned to Cash. “Remember when Bear came here to get April? Cara sacrificed herself so Sunny could get away, and he held a gun to her head.”
Cash’s lip curled. “Yeah.”
“I don’t want to risk it again. If he got ahold of one of the girls, God knows what he’d do to ‘em. He’s crazy enough to try just about anythin’.”
“You sayin’ we should send ‘em away, Prez?” Atlas asked thoughtfully.
“I’m sayin’ we talk to ‘em and go with whatever they wanna do,” I suggested.
Cash dipped his chin in assent.
Atlas grunted his agreement.
“Okay,” Bowie relented.
“I’m good with it,” Breaker confirmed.
“Is Iris flying out to Missouri?” Hendrix asked Abe.
“Asked her to,” he answered. “Begged her, in fact, but she won’t leave the kids, especially while Mason’s in that club. She needs to be close for her own peace of mind. If the ol’ ladies go to Vegas, though, I reckon I could persuade her and Sera to go, if only to help out.”
“Has anyone heard from Mase yet?” Atlas interrupted.
Abe’s mouth turned down. “No, and I’m worried. Rissy’s beside herself. At one point, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to come today ‘cause she was gettin’ herself all upset, but I made her. She needed somethin’ to take her mind off it.”
“Fuck!” I cursed. “You want us to pull him out?”
“Maybe,” Abe replied. “But I’m hoping when the Feds swoop in, he’ll take the opportunity to get the fuck outta there.”
“Brother,” Atlas muttered. “We told him to only make contact if they brought him in on somethin’ important or if things were gettin’ too heavy. Give him a chance. He’s a smart kid.”
Abe jerked a nod of agreement.
“I’ll let my boys know to look out for him if he’s there when we move in,” Colt assured him. “We’ll bring him straight home.”
Abe dipped his chin in thanks. “Obliged, Son.”
I sat forward, arms to the table, and looked at each man in turn. “We have to roll this out to our brothers. Call Church for tomorrow mornin’. We need to give ‘em the heads-up. Want them to make informed choices when it comes to their women and kids.”
“I’ll send a group message,” Abe told the room. “Nine o’clock?”
“Make it eight,” Cash countered. “If any of the men wanna ship their women and kids out, we should give ‘em a couple of hours head start.”
“Good idea,” I said, shooting my eldest an approving smile.
Abe pulled out his cell phone and started tapping on it until our phones all beeped with notifications.
“Done,” he confirmed, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
“Any other business?” I asked the room.
A chorus of “nays” filled the air.
“Meet back here at seven-thirty to go over the agenda for the meeting. All of you, go talk to your women. Remember, club business is just that, but tell ‘em enough so they can decide if they want to go on a little Vegas vacation. Now, get the fuck outta here,” I drawled. “Hendrix, can you stay back for a powwow?”
Chairs scraped across the wooden floor as the men stood and made for the door, giving Drix and me chin lifts as they walked past.
I waited for the last one to walk out and close the door behind him before lounging back in my seat, studying Drix. “What did you see?”
“Nothin’ good, Prez,” he muttered. “They were all out back, drinkin’ and partying. The place is in the middle of nowhere, so nobody can hear what they’re doin’, and they’ve got complacent. One of ‘em was beatin’ the shit out of his woman, and I had to stand there and let it happen. Can’t say I’m feelin’ too good about it.”
“Greater good, Hendrix. Just remember, the Feds will have her outta there in a few days. I know it doesn’t feel like you did the right thing, but if you’d have walked into the fray, you would’ve fucked up the mission.”
“Yeah,” my bud agreed, though there wasn’t much enthusiasm in it.
My stare roamed over him, taking in how much better he looked compared to the last time I saw him.
“How’s the Virginia chapter? I mean, you don’t write, you don’t call…”
Hendrix chuckled. “It’s goin’ good. Giving Blade the VP patch was the best decision I’ve ever made. He’s a fine soldier, and a talented one at that. He’s the type of man you wanna do well for. I can understand why Kit thinks so much of him.”
“It’s weird,” I murmured. “Deep down, I always blamed him for Kit’s PTSD, but then I talked to his doctor at Grand Junction, and she made me realize I let him swing, too.”
“Hollister saw it and tried to help. Made him go to the Army psychologist, but Kit knew what to say to slip through the net. He didn’t wanna pop smoke, and he ensured he wouldn’t be forced out.”
“Yeah, he told me after the fact,” I admitted. “Got nothin’ against Blade. I blame myself more than anyone else.”
“We all had a hand in it, Dagger,” Hendrix pointed out. “We all knew; we didn't wanna face it ‘cause it meant facin’ our own demons, too.”
“Never thought of it like that,” I replied.
“I got a club full of talented brothers,” Drix went on. “And every one of ‘em’s fucked up in their own way. The military made my men soldiers, but they stripped their humanity away, and I’m there tryin’a feed it back into them. They work hard and play hard. They fight and fuck it outta their systems, but that’s okay as long as nobody gets hurt. I have an ex-army shrink who comes in weekly, and it’s helpin’. I get ‘em down the gym all hours. We talk, we laugh—fuck, Dagger, at times we cry, but we do it together.”
I grinned. “Sounds like a trip.”
“Never a dull moment.” Drix snorted.
I paused briefly before asking, “You found a woman?”
A flicker of pain flashed across his face. “No.”
“You still beatin’ yourself up over Anna?”
His hand came up to rub the back of his neck. “Not exactly, but I miss her. Heard she’s met somebody.”
I gave him a tight-lipped smile. “I heard the same.”
There was another pause before he muttered. “Should’a told her everythin’.”
Our stares met. “Yep.”
“Got spooked,” he admitted. “Thought it was what I wanted, but when it all came on top, I was terrified.”
His sadness was so palpable that I wanted to reach over, grab his arm, and pull him in for a man hug, but I didn’t. He already had a dad to do that shit; now he needed a prez. “Had three boys, all with their own issues, who finally got their heads outta their asses and grabbed hold of their happy, do you know why?”
He shook his head.
“They talked to people, Drix. Bowie talked to Atlas and Kit, Cash talked—and still talks to a therapist, and I don’t know what my Kit would do without his military brothers and counselors at the Vet Center. I know you’ve got Will, and I know he’s a good, solid man, but sometimes you need to get out there and work through your shit with somebody who isn’t gonna blow smoke up your ass because you’re his only boy, and he loves the bones of ya. Speak to somebody whose job it is to be honest with you. You went through somethin’ terrible, so go work it out. It’ll make you a better prez and, more importantly, a better man.”
Hendrix nodded, deep in thought. “Yeah, Dagger. It’s time.” He let out a snort. “Shame you didn’t tell me this a year ago. I may have treated Anna better.”
“Would you have listened a year ago?” I asked.
He smiled the crooked grin that I’d seen disintegrate a lotta panties over the years. “Guess not.”
I grinned back at him. “I’ve learned somethin’ lately, Drix. You never know what’s around the corner. If somebody had told me six months ago that the love of my goddamned life, who I thought had fucked me over to marry another man, would be living in this clubhouse, I would’ve had ‘em committed. Never give up hope, and trust in God’s plan.”
Hendrix opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by the beeping of his cell phone, still sitting on the table. He grabbed it, tapped, and read the message before his eyes lifted to mine. “Iceman and my boys catch a flight in two hours. They’ll be here by mornin’.”
“It’s gonna be a tight squeeze, especially if the rest of the ol’ ladies come in for protection, but we’ll find ‘em places, even if it means they share some of the club’s properties.”
“I’ve been thinkin’ about somethin’. It may be better if we keep our heads down. Hollister’s a tactician and can plan operations like a fuckin’ machine. He ran something by me before I flew over, and I think it’ll work.”
A sense of pride washed over me.
Months ago, Hendrix was a mess, because the year before, he took on a new club and got hit with a big betrayal by a man he saw as family.
But now, the military Scout was back, and he was on form. Every regret I had for giving him my club’s name instantly fell away. My Veep was back and ready to rumble. I couldn’t have been more proud.
So, I did what came naturally.
I leaned forward and conveyed in one word that I trusted him with my life and all the other lives connected to my club.
“Shoot.”
Seven hours later, I looked around the table at my officers. “I think we’ve gotta plan, boys. Are we all good with it?”
A chorus of “ayes” filled the room, and for the first time that morning, my gut stopped clenching and finally settled.
“It’s nearly time,” Abe informed me. “The brothers will be waiting.”
We all stood from our chairs and made for the door.
Atlas got there first, pulled it open, and waved us through.
I gave him a chin lift as I walked past him with Cash by my side, and the rest of the men walking behind us in heavy silence.
The position of president of the Speed Demons was a legacy passed from generation to generation. Granted, I was only the second prez in the club’s history, but Cash would be up soon, then one of my grandsons, and then the generation after.
I’d learned a lot as keeper of the club; the main lesson was that forcing things never worked out well. My dad always told me the gavel should go to the oldest son of the oldest son, but I saw the pressure it put on my boy’s shoulders.
Plus, I had a feeling I knew who the prez after Cash would be.
Kai, the oldest son of the youngest son.
He had the right temperament. He was family-oriented, smart, and fair. But most of all, he was born to be prez. The club was in his blood and bones, and it was the one place he felt he belonged.
The legacy would be in safe hands with Kai.
And I didn’t care that Bandit was likely rolling in his grave at the idea.
But first, we needed to ensure we had a club to give him.
We had to keep the legacy safe for him and future generations, or what was the point?
A loud roar went up from the brothers the second we entered the bar.
It was a packed house. Brothers stood, lining the walls because there wasn’t a spare seat left in the room. The early morning sun shone through the windows, picking out the light and casting shadows in the corners. The smell of coffee filled the air, and laughter, hoots, and hollers filled the ether, conveying a sense of impatience within the four walls.
My boys wanted some action.
They fuckin’ lived for it.
We filed up to the makeshift stage, where three tables had been placed side by side to make one long one. Coffee cups sat waiting for us, no doubt put there by Billy just before we entered if the steam floating up from them was any indication to go by.
The officers sat, their stares glued to me as I stood front and center to address my brethren.
“Brothers,” I began, holding my hand up in a silent command to settle the fuck down.
When silence eventually fell, I continued, “At approximately eleven hundred hours, the Feds will move in on Robert Henderson’s operation by freezing his bank accounts. Barrington, the owner of the bank, will not be available to take his calls, neither will his lawyer, nor his business manager, seeing as they’ve all turned rat on him to save their own asses. I think we can safely assume, boys, it’s the beginning of the end.”
I couldn’t help laughing as the men stood and began howling to the moon. They were fuckin’ crazy, and I wouldn't have them any other way.
I held my hand up again, waiting for silence to fall once more before I continued.
“First on the agenda is the fact that it’s more than likely we’re gonna get caught in the fallout of what’s about to go down. We’re here today ‘cause we need to be prepared for it.”
Mutters of agreement floated through the room.
“You need to assess your families’ safety and decide a way forward. If you feel they’re compromised, send ‘em on vacation for a week. You can bring ‘em into the club, but it’s likely they’ll attack us, so make sure you think it through.”
“Do you think the Sinners will go after our families?’ someone called out.
I rubbed my beard thoughtfully. “Up to now, they’ve only gone after the officers’ families ‘cause Bear’s issue with the club is personal. Back in the day, I had beef with Thrash and beat his ass on more than one occasion. I also killed Bear’s granddaddy when the sick fuck snatched Abe’s old lady. To go after all our loved ones would be a big operation and use up a lotta manpower they haven’t got, so, no, I don’t think it’s on their agenda, but I’d rather you’re safe than sorry when it comes to your wives and kids. Think about what it would be like if the Sinners did nab any of them.”
“We can look after ourselves,” a man yelled.
“Amen to that,” somebody concurred.
“I don’t doubt it, boys,” I fired back. “You’re all here ‘cause you’re the best of the best, and you’ve proven to be more than capable of protecting yourselves and this club. But we all know the best way to make us scramble would be to hit us where it hurts and take out what’s most precious to us.”
More murmurs of assent went up.
I turned my head and jerked my chin at Abe.
He stood and came to stand beside me. “If your families wanna go to the beach or the mountains, we can arrange it. Virginia’s also a good option ‘cause Hendrix’s clubhouse is a big ol’ hotel situated on the Potomac River, and it’s safe. We can cover flights and sub you some cake to give ‘em if you need it. Just make sure to come and see me after the meeting.” He turned and went back to his seat.
I nodded to Atlas and Cash, who stood and walked around the table, passing me as I followed in Abe’s direction and slid my ass into my chair. Sitting back, I folded my arms across my chest and waited.
“Right then, boys,” Atlas boomed as he perched his ass on the edge of the desk. “It’s time to put all our trainin’ into action.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder toward Kit, who remained sitting at the table. “After Breaker’s little trip down EOD memory lane the other day, he’s winning our ‘shoot the Sinner’ competition, but never fear, Atlas is here, and I’ll encourage any man who reckons he can overtake him.” Atlas waited for the hoots and hollers from the men to die down before continuing. “Now, I may or may not have laid my grubby mitts on a couple of M2 .50-calibers, who wants first dibs?”
Roars of laughter filled the room.
“I can fire those babies in my sleep,” a man shouted.
“We can have some fun with them, Atlas.”
“Whose cock did you have to suck for them?”
Atlas raised a hand to calm the men. “No cocks were sucked in the procurement of any weapons, brothers, but I gotta admit, I probably would’ve gone down quicker than a hooker wanting a salary bonus to get those shooters in our arsenal.”
Snorts of laughter filled the bar as the brothers busted a gut.
If Atlas ran a meeting, it would be a shit show, but my SAA could get on the men’s level and have them eating out of the palm of his hand like no other person I knew.
“The Feds are surrounding Mapletree and Hambleton to make sure no Sinners get out once they start swooping in, but regardless of that, we want you riding in pairs at least,” Atlas ordered. “If you’re gonna take your women and kids to the airport, do it in groups, but remember, no man rides alone.”
Sounds of agreement went up, and then the men quieted again.
“Hendrix and Prez went over a plan last night, and this morning, the rest of the officers finessed it. We’re not playin’, so if any Sinners turn up here, looking for vengeance, they’re gonna get more than they bargained for. This bullshit’s gone on long enough, it’s time we put a stop to it once and for all, and our Veep’s gonna assign roles and go over everything, but before we continue, there’s one thing I wanna ask ya.”
The room fell so quiet you could almost hear a pin drop.
Atlas grinned and boomed, “Say it with me, boys.”
Men leaped to their feet and began to stomp on the hard wooden floor. Roars filled the air, along with yells and hoots, as Atlas bellowed, “ Mess with a Demon ?”
I stood from my seat, along with the other officers, as every man in the room got to their feet before yelling in unison.
“… And we’ll raise Hell .”
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about,” our SAA roared before turning to Cash and nodding to give him the floor.
Boots stomped so hard I wouldn’t have been shocked if the floor caved in.
I sucked in a breath, listening to the sounds representing honor, brotherhood, and a brethren that was so loyal, they would give up their lives for each other.
It was the most beautiful sound in the world.
Cash stood to his full height and waited for the commotion to die down.
Eventually, silence reigned, and Cash grinned at the boys from the stage. “So,” he began. “As Atlas said, we’ve come up with a plan, and we’ve assigned roles that we think play to your strengths. Get out your cell phones; you may need to take notes.”
The men went into their pockets and grabbed their phones.
Cash’s grin morphed into a knowing smirk. “Right, boys,” he drawled. “This is the way it’s gonna go. Have any of you seen Game of Thrones ...?”