11. Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINE
GENE
“D eccan,” Gene greeted as he walked into the Springfield Sinners’ president’s office.
“What can I do for you?” Deccan asked.
“I need to talk to you about the supply.”
“Sit,” He gestured toward the seat in front of his desk.
Gene did as asked, and the two men stared at each other for several seconds.
“Would you mind if Xavier came in and listened?”
“Sure.” Gene crossed his arms over his chest.
After a few minutes, Xavier entered after Deccan texted him.
“Yes?” Xavier walked into the office, shutting the door behind him.
“Gene is here to talk about supply.”
Xavier leaned against the door, keeping his eyes trained on him.
“How much more are you wanting?” Gene asked. “I’ll need to confirm with my guys first before I can guarantee anything.”
“How about we do two times as much for a couple of months and see how it goes before we up it again?” Deccan suggested.
“I’ll contact my guys and let them know. I’m being upfront, but it might be slower right now. Waiting on an ingredient, I’m sure it won’t take long.”
Or he hoped it wouldn’t take long. His supplier had told him a date, but that could change.
“Just keep me updated and we’ll be good. I still have some product left,” Deccan said, leaning back into his chair. “While you’re here, I do have something else to discuss with you.”
Nerves raced through Gene at those words. The two men were on good terms, but you never knew with the Sinners when that would flip.
“What’s that?” Gene asked.
He had brought up something like this before, a talk when he first had come to him. The last time, it was about one of his men and a gambling problem. Gene had talked to him and set the guy straight.
“One of your men owes me money,” Deccan stated.
“Shit,” he muttered to himself. “Burt again?”
Burt was the man Gene talked to and set him straight. Or so he thought.
“Yes, more than last time,” Xavier chimed in.
Gene sighed and nodded. Last time, Gene paid off the debt of Burt and told him never to do it again or there would be consequences.
“Going to pay it off again?” Deccan asked.
“That’s none of your fucking business… but no. Do what you normally do.” Gene looked him in the eyes. “I told Burt there would be consequences if he did it again.”
“Even if it results in death?” Deccan tilted his head ever so slightly.
“Even if it results in death.” Gene clenched his jaw.
Did he like it? Absolutely not, but that was the way these things went. He had talked to Burt about it, let everyone know on the farm if it happened, he wouldn’t bail anyone out again.
Gene had to set an example, and it was going to be Burt.
Deccan grunted. “Interesting.”
“How?” Gene asked.
He wasn’t sure he really wanted to know.
“Thought you were going soft, but you aren’t.”
The only person he was going soft for was Sammi. She had him wrapped tightly around her pinky, and she didn’t even know it. He would do absolutely anything for her... within reason. He had a feeling deep down that she had a little rebellious side to her, and he couldn’t wait to see it.
“Like you’ve gone soft with Echo?” Gene asked.
He had been shocked when Deccan and Echo had got together, but even more shocked when apparently they had known each other for almost their whole lives. Echo was someone everybody looked out for and still did, but ever since Deccan laid his claim, he had been taking real good care of her.
Deccan growled, and Xavier chuckled.
“Don’t you even talk.” Deccan glared at Xavier. “Somebody’s got you wrapped around their finger.”
“Ooooo, do tell. Do tell. Do I know them?” Gene moved his body so he could look at both Deccan and Xavier.
“He won’t tell anybody. She is a secret.” Deccan shook his head.
“Not a secret,” Xavier mumbled. “She’s innocent, and she doesn’t know that I’m part of an MC. Doesn’t know yet . But nobody’s going to work out who it is.”
Gene knew how he felt. He didn’t know if he was ever going to tell his life partner that he manufactured drugs on the side. How did you tell somebody that? Who would be okay with that? That was the real question. But if Deccan could find somebody, then there had to be somebody out there for Gene.
Sammi.
Sammi was the person for Gene. He could feel the connection with her, and he had no doubt that she was the one. Now, it was a case of getting her to trust him, telling her about the drugs, and hoping for the best.
“Well, I’ve got to get going. I’ll let you know what my guys say later today.”
Gene stood, shook Deccan’s hand, and nodded to Xavier.
“I look forward to hearing what your guys have to say,” Deccan replied.
“Before I forget, Pres,” Xavier started to say as Gene made his way toward the door. “Someone who owes us money wants to know if you would be willing to wait a little for the next payment so their sister can put her house up for sale?”
Poor people. Getting involved with Deccan was dangerous. The interest he charged, along with the money people owed was astronomical. To be so in debt that your sister had to sell her house to pay the debt off. Gene couldn’t wrap his head around it.
“Get all the details and see how much the house would be worth. Then we’ll make our decision,” Deccan retorted as Gene walked out the door.