Chapter 30
Jackal
The next few days we were all on high alert. These fuckers were following us around everywhere and we couldn’t figure out how. They clearly wanted us to know, since they kept making appearances. But they were always just out of reach.
“I wonder about their numbers,” Falcon said as we sat around the oval table in Church. “Only one or two ride together. If they had a full club, wouldn’t they make a show of force?”
Hawk rubbed his thumb across his bottom lip, appearing to be deep in thought. “They’re trying to throw us off. Keep us guessing.”
“Well, it’s fucking working, Prez,” Eagle said with a slap to the table.
“Shivana’s not sure, but the dude that showed up at the venue last week could have been Butch. She vaguely remembers him from the attempted kidnapping and whoever that was had been far enough away, she couldn’t make out facial features. Just a big dude but he had a helmet on but she said a blond beard.” I did my best to get something out of her, but she was shaken up. And based on where she saw him, it was pretty far away.
“I just don’t understand how he could build a club behind our backs,” Red chimed in. “He was either here or at the strip club.”
Hawk tapped his fingers on the table. We all watched as he contemplated.
“Unless he’s not the one in charge,” I said.
Hawk looked up. “You mean maybe he’s working for someone else?”
Shrugging, I answered, “I don’t know. But if he was just a pawn, it would make sense. He could be gone long enough to do a few errands here and there and not be missed. Maybe he’s not calling the shots.”
“I still want his destiny in my hands,” Hawk said, looking up at the tapestry that held the names of our fallen brothers.
We all wanted a piece of him. Everyone at that table was affected by what he had done, whether he was the one in charge or not. Falcon and Eagle almost lost their Old Ladies, Hawk lost his pops, I lost an old friend, and we all lost a brother and mentor.
“Eagle, I’m sorry man, but until we find these fuckers, I think you need to postpone your wedding,” Hawk said.
“Shit, man. You got shot and told me it was still okay. I think we should do business as usual. They’re not dumb enough to try some shit with all the other chapters there, plus some ally clubs. If they are, let them fucking come,” Eagle said.
“That was different.” He leaned up, wincing. His gut was still tender by the way he moved. “We were trying to draw them out that night. It just didn’t go the way we thought. There were no trackers on y’all the other day. And none of you noticed the tail. Something doesn’t add up and I’m not trying to put a bunch of women, including my ma and sister, in danger.”
Eagle’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue further. “I’ll tell her.”
“I’m almost at a hundred percent. If we have to, we’ll start checking every fucking alley, old building, abandoned warehouse, or haunted fucking house until we find where the fuck they’re hiding,” Hawk said. “I’m tired of this shit. I don’t want everything on lockdown anymore than you do, but I won’t risk innocent lives.”
“What about the next run?” Falcon asked.
Hawk answered. “I’ll speak to Petrov. I don’t want to leave town right now, and I don’t know how I feel about sending members alone, knowing our moves are being watched. We have enough to get by.”
These assholes were causing so much trouble with so little action. But I agreed with Hawk. Until we found them, not much outside of the clubhouse was safe. Knowing I didn’t have to leave my Lil Bird, even for a couple of days, was a small consolation to all that was happening.
After a little more small talk, we were dismissed, so I walked down the hall to find her.
“Jackal! Oh my God, guess what?” Shivana called as she got up from the table she was at. She hustled over to me, flashing her phone at me, so I opened my arms and she squealed, “I got a job offer!”
“Oh, you did?” I asked, squeezing her as she jumped around in my arms.
“I’m so excited! It’s not the CDC, but it’s still a great offer. And I can always try there again some other time.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell her Hawk wants everything locked down again. She was too happy to rain on her parade. For now, I just held her. “Congratulations, Lil Bird.” I gave her a quick kiss. “Fireball?”
She shook her head and scrunched her face. “Oh, hell no. I won’t be able to handle that for a long time! But maybe a beer?”
She ran back to the table, showing her phone to Daisy, Lacy, then every other woman who walked in her direction. I headed to the bar and asked for a bucket of beers.
“What’s going on?” Squatch asked as he stepped up to the bar.
“She’s excited about some job.”
He raised his brows.
“Hawk already talk to you?” I asked as the bucket hit the bar top.
“Texts move fast, brother. Maybe we’ll sort shit out before she starts. Good luck.”
As Squatch walked off with one of my beers, I turned to look back at Shivana. That wasn’t a bad idea. I could suggest she start in a few weeks. Surely a job like she’d been applying for had waiting periods and lots of paperwork. Plus, if she needed her certification, she’d have to get that handled here in Georgia. And it motivated me even more to find these Hellbound Heathens and take them out.
I promised her I wouldn’t cage her. I had to find a way to keep my word.