Chapter Four
COLE
Parking my Harley in front of Maple Cityside Diner, I glance around to check my surroundings. It’s a habit, I guess. I know I haven’t even started my undercover job yet, but I’ve always been the cautious type and never taken risks when it comes to my life.
I’m wearing my blue and gray plaid shirt with a pair of black jeans and riding boots.
My eyes catch sight of Theresa’s car, and I glance through the windows, noticing she’s already sitting in the diner with her partner.
Last night, when I got home after Theresa’s place, I grabbed my laptop and searched the Royal Bastards MC, trying to gain further intel on them and see exactly what I’d be dealing with.
Vinney, the president of the RBMC, has been to jail more times than I can count, but somehow, he always gets released on parole. Then you have Mikki, the vice president of the club, whose record shows he’s been in jail for raping women and almost killing another female. As I continued reading further, I saw he hadn’t done much time for each offense.
Spending another hour or so, I continued to search for any information I could gather on the club. They’re known for hanging around the biker bar, Hells Own, which is not far from my place, and at their clubhouse. Other than those details, there’s not much information on them, which has me thinking, why?
Giving up for the night, I finished my glass of whisky and went straight to bed.
***
The door to the diner chimes when I open it, and Theresa looks up. She smiles and turns to who I assume is Ben, whispering in his ear. His eyes land on mine, and he glares at me. His eyes hold something in them, something I just can’t put words to at the moment, but instantly, I decide I don’t like him. Serving in the military taught me to read people, and I don’t like what I see in him. But for the sake of Theresa, I’ll ignore that feeling and tuck it away for another day.
Once I reach their table, Ben and Theresa stand.
“I’m gathering you’re Cole?” He reaches out his hand to mine.
Nodding, I reply, “That’s me, and you must be Ben?” I question, shaking his hand, followed by kissing Theresa’s cheek.
“Please sit,” Theresa offers, pointing to the chair opposite her.
I do, and just as I sit, a waitress is there to meet me with a coffee pot in hand.
Looking up, I notice her eyes travel from mine down to my chest and back up. She smirks, then asks, “Coffee, sweetheart?”
With a smile, I reply, “Yes, please.”
She pours black coffee in the mug, asking, “Cream and sugar?”
Shaking my head, I bring the mug to my lips, take a sip, and then say, “No, thanks. I like it this way.”
“If you need anything else, please let me know. Her eyes promise that anything else, indeed, does mean anything .
I reply with a smile, and she walks away.
“I see you still have your magic charm,” Theresa teases.
I tilt my head to the side, asking, “What does that mean?”
She giggles. “You know exactly what I mean. I was married to Keith, remember?”
Her face changes at the mention of his name, and she inhales. Her eyes turn glassy with unshed tears. Placing my hand over hers, I state, “It’s okay.”
She nods, then looks at Ben, embarrassed, whose gaze is at our hands. Quickly removing mine, I change the subject.
“So, what have you got for me?”
Ben, who’s wearing a casual white shirt with a black leather jacket, sits back against his chair. His brown eyes focus on me. What’s with this guy? He has black hair slicked back with a gold stud earring in one ear. His nose is pointy, and a dark brown beard covers his face.
“Do we have a problem?” I ask Ben, not liking the way he’s eyeing me, as if he’s judging me.
He sits forward, his hands clasped in front of him on the table. His eyebrows raise.
“Problem? No. But I do think this is a big mistake.”
Frowning, I also sit forward. “Can I ask why that is exactly?” My voice sounds pissed.
“Stop it!” Theresa interrupts. She turns to her left, staring at Ben.
“Ben, we discussed this. I’ve explained why Cole would be the right person for the job based on his experience in Joint Task Force 2. Don’t do this again.”
My eyes flick over to him. His eyes are glaring into mine. He chews on the inside of his cheek, his focus moving from Theresa to me, then back to Theresa.
“How do we know we can trust him?”
That’s it! I've had about enough of this. I don’t need this shit.
Standing, my chair scrapes against the floor, giving out a screeching sound, and all eyes in the diner turn to me. My mind is telling me to get the fuck out of here. I don’t need to prove myself to this asshole that I can be trusted. They’ve come to me for help. Not the other way around.
Theresa stands and pleads, “Please, Cole, sit back down. Ben’s just being a little cautious.”
“Pft, cautious? He doesn’t even know me,” I state, grinding my teeth as I glare at him.
“Look…” Theresa begs, “… let’s all just calm down and sit back down.” She looks back at Ben. “Ben, give Cole a chance. I vouch for him.”
He stares at me for a minute before he nods. “Okay,” he agrees.
Slowly taking a seat, I lean back in my chair and focus on Ben. “Let me remind you, I’m doing you a favor, not the other way around,” I growl, vocalizing my previous thoughts, then take a sip of my coffee.
Ben doesn’t say a word. He just sits there staring back at me. I turn to Theresa.
“So, what’s the plan?”
Theresa leans toward the floor, grabs a large yellow envelope out of her bag, and opens it. She pulls out a folder and slides it on the table to me.
“Just warning you, there might be some disturbing photos in there,” she adds.
Opening it, I see right away images of the club members individually. Mug shots of them that would have been taken at the police station when they were charged with something. Underneath each photo is their name, then in brackets, their MC name.
Flicking through the photos, I catch sight of an image that must have been taken under surveillance. Photos show Vinney talking to a man wearing a suit at a warehouse. Looks like they’re exchanging something. I turn to the next photo, which shows Vinney shaking the man’s hand while the other members of the RBMC are storing something in the back of a black SUV. Two large men wearing dark glasses hold open the van’s doors. Other photos show the men outside their clubhouse on phones, with women, but as I turn to the next few images, my stomach churns.
There’s a photo of a woman lying dead, blood streaming from her mouth. She’s naked and covered in bruises. I’ve seen dead bodies in my time, but nothing quite like this. Others show a dead man on the bank of a river, looking bloated, obviously from water drowning his lungs. Blade slashes are on his chest, making marks I can’t comprehend. More images of dead bodies go on and on. I shut the folder, unable to look anymore.
How in the hell does Theresa deal with this daily? You have to have the stomach for it.
“Was all this done by the RBMC?” I ask to clear my throat before drinking my coffee.
Ben is the one to reply, “Yes. That’s what we think. However, we just haven’t been able to prove it. You need to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. This is no joke, Cole. This is some serious shit, and once you’re in there, we can’t help you. It’s all on you. If, at any time, you want out, you let us know. You need to understand, though, that you will then be put into protective services, and life as you once knew it will no longer exist. Cole, do you understand what you’re getting yourself into?”
I inhale, and my gaze moves from Ben to Theresa, who has hope in her eyes. Hope that I can’t let fade.
Nodding, I say, “I understand.”
“Are you sure about that? Because once you’re known to them, there’s no turning back.”
“I get it.”
“Okay, well then, let’s give you the rundown.”
We spend the next hour discussing the Royal Bastards and how the club began. It seems that over the years, the Royal Bastards have grown in numbers and are an unstoppable force with chapters all around the world. According to Ben, once a year, there is a catch-up between all chapters.
The Royal Bastards founding chapter was built by President Bulldog Jameson in Port Townsend, Washington. Bulldog died in 2012, leaving his son Elrik to take over. Ben explains the Royal Bastards creed, which is the law they abide by in the biker world, and how Elrik’s most trusted friends and acquaintances are given the privilege to have their own chapter, which is how Vinney became President of the Royal Bastards in Toronto. According to sources, Elrik is all about loyalty to the club. He has trust issues and is very apathetic.
“Something just doesn’t make sense,” I state. “If Elrik is all about loyalty and trust to the Royal Bastards MC, then how does Vinney get away with all these killings and not pay the price of losing his patch and his colors?”
“We have no idea, and with Vinney in the limelight on the news, Elrik’s gotta be pissed,” Theresa explains.
Theresa continues to describe each of the members in the Toronto chapter and explains exactly where the clubhouse is and how protected it is, with a steel gate securing the front.
The bar they hang out at, which I already found out on the internet last night, and where the whores they like to visit are located.
Ben gives some examples of what I can do to get noticed and possibly become a club member.
Theresa pulls out a piece of paper from the yellow envelope with images of the RBMC in ranks like an organizational chart. It’s displayed in a way where the president sits at the top of the chain, then underneath is the vice president, followed by the road captain, sergeant at arms, treasurer, and secretary. Then, all the other club members fit in underneath.
“Take this home and study it. You need to know who you’re dealing with.”
“And who not to piss off,” Ben adds.
Nodding, I fold the paper and place it into my back pocket.
“Oh, one more thing… this is who you are now.”
She hands me a card which is my new driver’s license. My image is the same. However, my name and address are totally different. Seth Hawkins.
I speak the name to see how it sounds on my lips. “Seth Hawkins.”
“That’s right, that is your new name from now on. You need to get used to it,” Theresa explains.
Looking down at the ID again, I ask, “What address is this?”
Ben answers, “It’s your new apartment, well, for now anyway, just until this is all over. You can’t stay in your current household. They will follow you, and you don’t want them in your personal life. Anything you once knew about Cole Brennan no longer exists. This is your new life now.”
Ben taps the ID, and I look over at Theresa.
“Who is Seth Hawkins?”
Theresa clasps her hands together in front of her on the table.
“Seth has no family. His parents died in a car accident when he was young, and he has no siblings. He went to juvey when he was twelve for stealing cars for parts and selling them. Seth also went to prison for grand theft auto when he was twenty, so you have something in common with the RBMC.” She stops for a minute to have a sip of coffee, and I do the same.
“Seth runs a motorbike mechanic shop downtown. A garage that the RBMC visits a lot. It’s their go-to for servicing their bikes, and it just so happens…” she smiles, “… the current owner has chosen to retire early, and he’s sold the business to you.”
She smirks, and I frown. “What do you mean sold it to me?”
“You’re the new owner. This is a way in, Cole.”
“Wow, you guys have really invested in this.”
“Cole…” Theresa says, her voice sincere, “… I will do everything I can in my power to protect you. There’s no way I would ask you to go undercover without being prepared.” She goes on to explain what they hope they’ll gain from all this and finally get proof of the killings the RBMC is responsible for. If the RCMP can just get a confession of the murders they have committed or proof of them murdering a human being, then they will finally go away for a long time.
“You need to move out of your house and into the apartment tonight. So, pack your clothes and anything else you might need in your new place. We can’t take any chances.”
Swallowing hard, it begins to sink in how my life is about to be changed, and not in a good way. But then I think about why I’m doing this in the first place and look at Theresa. I owe it to her to do this.
“Cole, are you listening to me? This means you need to change your life. You can’t return to the military until we know you’re safe. And we don’t know how long that will be.”
While she has my attention, she continues, “This means you can’t have any contact with your parents or friends as no one can know about this. You don’t want any of your friends and family to be known to the RBMC.” We would send one of our own in, but we need someone who’s not known to their club, and with your experience, you are the perfect person for this job.”
She reaches over and holds my hand. “Cole, I’m going to say this again, and if your answer is no, I totally understand.”
“I understand, Theresa,” I explain, patting her hand with my other. “I’m doing this. So, stop asking me that question. I just ask one thing from the RCMP.”
Theresa looks at Ben, who looks at her, and then their eyes both turn to me. “Yes, what is it?”
She sits back in her chair.
“I need to handle things my way. I can’t have either of you telling me what to do. If I’m going to do this, I need to go with my instincts.”
“But, Cole…”
I cut her off.
“No, Theresa, I’m not budging on this. I’ve done some research and will work on a plan. I understand that for them to bring me into their club, they need to trust me. To do that, I can’t have your words in the back of my head. Agree?”
“Agree, but…” Ben adds, “… you need to carry this with you.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cell phone, sliding it on the table to me.
Picking it up, I switch it on. “Okay, please tell me it’s not wired?”
Ben smiles. “How else do you expect us to hear what goes on? How else will we catch them out on any illegal activity? We need evidence to bring these fuckers down, and we need it recorded. These assholes have gotten away with murder, drugs, gun smuggling, and who knows what else. The whole reason for bringing you in is so you can get us that information. Having a wire in this phone means we can hear every conversation, which can give us the evidence we need.”
“I understand that, but don’t you think having it in my phone is risky? The first place they’ll check for any wires is my phone.” Shaking my head, I continue, “I won’t do it. I won’t risk the whole operation because you think this is the best way.”
Handing the phone back to Ben, I add, “I won’t fuckin’ do it.”
He snatches the cell off the table and turns to Theresa.
“I told you this was a bad idea. If he’s already giving us trouble, what else is he going to bring when he’s in deep with the RBMC? Nah, fuckin’ bad idea, T, bringing him in.”
T? Who the fuck does he think he is calling Theresa T?
Growling, I spit, “Are you saying I’m not a man of honor? Do you think I won’t see this through?”
He faces me. “I’m just saying, if you’re already not following orders, how do we know you won’t tell us what we need to hear.”
“That’s enough,” Theresa growls. She blows out a breath and pulls her ponytail over one shoulder.
“Cole, we need to protect you, and to do that, we need you to wear a wire at all times. If you think having a wire in your phone is a mistake, then what else do you suggest?”
Ben sits back with his arms crossed in front of him. I really don’t like this man. How the hell did Theresa end up with a partner like him?
Shrugging, I think about it. A few moments go by, and then I reply, “In a lighter?”
Ben frowns. “Lighter? He laughs. And why would that be a good idea? Do you even smoke?”
No, I don’t fuckin’ smoke, asshole, but if I’m going to be in a biker gang, I need to fit in, and smoking just comes with a biker’s territory.
“Wait, Ben. That’s a great idea.”
I smile. “Of course it is.”
“So, you’re going to take up smoking? Wow,” Theresa says. “You have always said that you should treat your body like a temple.”
Smirking, I say, “Yeah, that’s true. I can’t believe you remember that.”
“Sorry to break up happy times and all, but we need to devise a plan.”
Theresa answers Ben, “We’ll get Spencer back at the force to organize a wire inside a lighter and get it dropped to Cole tomorrow at the garage.”
He hands over a card. I pick it up and look at it.
Seth Hawkins
Motorcycle Mechanic
Prestige Bike Repairs
I frown. “Hey, I know this place. Wasn’t Brent the owner?”
“Not anymore,” Ben adds. “Like we said, he’s retiring early.”
“And how exactly did you get him to do that? He’s been there for years.”
Ben shrugs. “We have our ways. Anyway, he got paid for it well.”
“Make sure you're there tomorrow morning because you need to start working out of the garage as soon as possible to build your reputation.”
“What’s the rush?” I ask, looking at Theresa.
She hesitates, then answers, “We’ve heard a big shipment of drugs is coming in this month, and we want someone inside to find out where exactly the drop-off point is.”
Theresa hands me a package from a bag on the floor, and I open it. Two sets of keys are in there, followed by what looks like a shirt.
“Those are keys to your apartment…” Theresa points at the set of keys I have placed on the table, “… and the others in your hand are for the garage.”
“And this?” I ask, smirking, pulling out a T-shirt with the Prestige Bike Repairs logo on it.
She smiles. “Thought you’d like to be professional and all.”
I place the shirt against my torso and reply, “You know me well.”
Ben stands, his body language letting me know our chat has come to an end.
Theresa then stands and says, “We’ll get the lighter to you in the morning, and we’ll touch base one last time before we start. If you think of anything tonight, let us know.”
I nod, accepting.
Theresa and I make our way out of the diner while Ben pays the bill.
“You know, Cole, if you need me anytime, you can call. I want to know you’re okay, and I want you to check in with me. Being undercover is not easy. It will play with your mind and make you question who you are. And you’ll have some very dark days.”
“Theresa, stop worrying.” I place my hand on her shoulder. “I’ve got this. I’ve commanded a whole team, been in battle, fought wars. I can do this.”
She leans in and hugs me, saying, “I know you can.” She pulls back, her arms still around my neck and my arms around her waist. Her eyes are studying me.
“You’re family to me, Cole, and if anything happens to you because of me, well… I won’t be able to live with that.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. I promise you that.”
She smiles and pulls away. “Just promise me if it gets too much, you’ll let me know, and we’ll do everything we can to get you out of there safely.”
“Ready?” Ben asks as he makes his way toward us.
“Sure,” Theresa says, and Ben reaches his hand to mine. I don’t want to shake his hand, and if I am honest, the reason why is because I straight up don’t like him. He’s got it in for me, that’s for sure. But I do the right thing and shake it.
“Get some rest tonight. It might be the last time you sleep easily.”
Ignoring him, I lean in and kiss Theresa’s cheek before I turn around and head toward my motorcycle.