Chapter 23
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
Riptide
Teddy, our friendly Texas Ranger, stayed in the parking lot watching over us after we arrived and then followed us until we were out of his territory where he could no longer guard us.
The rest of the way home was smooth sailing.
Doesn’t mean we let our guard down, but we didn’t come across any more of the Dragons which was a relief.
There’s only so many shootouts we can be part of and be lucky enough to not have any injuries.
Thank fuck those assholes couldn’t shoot worth shit.
Bullets soared past us, but none of them hit their mark.
When I told Indiana about Zoey’s parents being held captive for interrogation, he made the decision to keep it from his old lady, and I respect that.
At some point, he’ll have to tell her so she’s not keeping a lookout for them anytime she leaves the clubhouse.
Too bad we can’t say that in regard to the officials of the town and the Dragons who are actually the ones in charge.
That shit is going to come to an end. AS-motherfucking-AP.
Even if I have to sacrifice myself to see it done.
Doing time behind bars is nothing but a thing, I’d do anything to keep the women, kids, and my brothers safe.
That’s my top and only priority. It’s my job as their president to make those hard decisions and take the fall if it comes down to it.
As long as they’re breathing easy, any and all risks I’ll take to ensure that, is a goddamn good deal.
Every bit of tension I’d been carrying during the second half of our journey lifts when we pass through the gates leading to our clubhouse.
The clanking sound of them closing as the gears turn behind us and the lock clicks into place has all of us whooping and hollering.
“Damn, it’s good to be home,” Scripture says through the airway.
“There’s no place like it,” I tack on.
Slayer comes strolling out the front door with a cigarette dangling from his lips. “I even missed that ugly motherfucker,” Rebel laughs.
“I wouldn’t say that too loud. We have special guests in the bunker that need tending to. I bet these guys wouldn’t mind a break from that tedious activity,” I warn.
“Awe, pres, don’t threaten me with a good time,” Rebel rebuts. “Who are the guests of honor, anyhow?”
“Zoey’s parents,” Indiana growls.
“Yeah, I volunteer for the next round of checking in on them,” Rebel offers.
“I may just join you, brother,” Indiana spits out. “I’m still amped up from our earlier altercation.”
“Wouldn’t mind a sit down with them myself,” Icer reveals. “How long are we keeping them alive for, Rip?”
“Since they’re more than lackeys, I was hoping we could convince them to volunteer some information about where they’re hiding out. We could use deeper intel into their inner workings, too.”
Jerome, the leader of the Onyx Dragon gang in our area, and Patrick, his secondhand man, have kept themselves burrowed deep in the underbelly of the town’s criminal occupants.
With Jerome’s father being the sheriff, and Patrick’s mother the district attorney, we have to tread lightly.
They’d love nothing more than to lock the entire East Texas chapter of the Kings up behind bars.
Although, I would love nothing more than to bring those corrupt politicians here and ask a myriad of questions and possibly add them to the list of those missing.
I won’t.
Even though I’d love to choke the life out of them.
I can’t.
Especially with Van’s boss’s wife coming into the picture and running an undercover operation. I plan on turning in some evidence to her—anonymously, of course, so that we don’t have to be called to court to testify if our information is what ultimately sends them to trial.
We don’t do shit like that. We aren’t the testifying kind of guys, but that doesn’t mean I mind giving them a little intel to kickstart things off with.
Fuck knows we’ve gathered enough already that will have them doing time.
I’d hoped that they’d see the incinerator, but now that they’ve gained the attention of the feds, that’s an impossible dream.
I get off my bike and head over to where Van parked so I can help her with little man. “This is where you live?” she asks, grabbing his diaper bag and the lunchbox cooler she keeps in her passenger seat when commuting.
“Nah, this is the clubhouse. I need to catch my men up to speed then I’ll take you two over to the house so you can start settling in,” I enlighten her. I place my fingers between my lips and whistle. “Slayer! Come here and meet my woman and our boy.”
Slayer laughs as he walks our way. “You work fast, Rip. I thought it took nine months to get yourself one of those,” he jokes, reaching out to little G who’s hanging onto me like a monkey and tickles him around his ribcage. “He looks nothing like you, lucky kid.”
“Fuck off, asshole,” I scoff before scowling at him. “I’m a good looking fucker or I wouldn’t have landed the hot chick.”
“Hi,” Van snorts, holding out her hand and shaking her head at me. “I suppose I’m the hot chick, otherwise known as Savannah. People call me Van for short.”
“You are,” I adamantly say.
Slayer outright laughs before introducing himself.
“Van. Nice to meet you. How much did he pay you for the right to call himself your man? Ain’t no way in hell he could’ve gotten you with his charm.
The asshole ain’t got none.” Slayer, my VP and one of my closest friends continues digging himself into a deeper hole each time he opens his mouth and spews out a load of crap.
Indiana passes us by with one arm slung over Zoey’s shoulder and the other one holding Elodie. “Now you know how I feel, Rip. Doesn’t feel good, does it? Maybe it’ll make you think twice before you tear me down.”
“Your ego is showing, Harrison,” Zoey scolds.
“Harrison? Who’s Harrison?” Van asks.
“Shit,” Zoey hisses. “I’m sorry, baby. I screwed up.”
“No you didn’t, baby girl. Van’s family, you can call me by my birth name in front of her anytime you want to,” Indiana excuses.
“Like Harrison Ford who played Indiana Jones?” Van giggles. “That’s appropriate.”
“When I first met him when we were teenagers, he wore that Fedora hat Indiana does in the movies. It’s why the guys dubbed him with that road name to begin with and it stuck,” Zoey explains to Van.
“It was my signature,” Indiana says with a cheesy smile on his face. “It got you talking to me, didn’t it?”
“No, that’s a lie. I talked to you because of those sparkling blue eyes of yours,” Zoey says, letting the cat out of the bag.
“All these years I thought it was the hat,” Indiana sighs. “I don’t know why you’re all bursting my bubble lately. I feel like my entire life has been a lie.”
“Boo hoo, you poor baby. I’m over you guys acting your shoe sizes, I’m ready to start dealing with adults,” I scorn.
Indiana looks dejected when he spits out, “Done, I’m over this. Let’s go home, Zo.”
“You can’t. We need to debrief the rest of our brothers on our trip home. Zoey, do you mind taking Van and little man into the common room and hanging out with her until we’re done?” I ask.
“You make me sound like a charity case,” Van exclaims, pinching the cheek of my ass.
“Never, Van. But we’ve got some club girls who act like bitches around here. They forget themselves sometimes and don’t always remember their place. At the bottom.”
“Literally,” Indiana laughs.
I give him a ‘shut your damn mouth’ stare before continuing from the point where I was interrupted. “You being with an established old lady will keep them off your back. They can be catty, baby, and I’d hate to have to toss them all out on their asses during my first hour back.”
“He’s right,” Zoey conveys. “They don’t bother me but you’re unknown, they’ll see you as competition.”
“They sound… lovely,” I say as I grab Gagey from Rush’s arms.
“Come on, I’ll tell you all about the ‘lovely’ ladies. It was a shock for me the first time Indiana told me about them and why they’re here. I’ll grab you a cocktail from the bar before I give you the low down on them,” Zoey offers.
I give her a kiss on the lips, making sure we have an audience before calling church with the guys who happen to be around. After getting her seated, I promise, “I won’t be long.”
“Don’t rush on my account. Take care of what you need to because once we’re home, I have a feeling you and I will be due a conversation,” she harrumphs.
“I’ll answer all of your questions, Van. All I ask in return is that you don’t make any judgments until you and I talk.”
“That’s not who I am, Rush. Or should I be calling you Riptide? This is all so damn confusing,” she mumbles, raking her hands through her hair.
“You can call me whatever you want while at the clubhouse, but when we’re home and it’s just the two of us, I’d prefer you call me Rush,” I confide.
“Okay,” she whispers, sending me a shy smile. “Now hurry along, Rush, I’m ready for a shower and jumping into some comfy clothes. I’m exhausted.”
Since she admitted that to me, I plan on making this the quickest church we’ve ever held. Unable to resist, I plant a long, lingering kiss on her lips. As I pull away and turn around I notice the club girls standing there, their jaws hanging.
“That’s my old lady, you better give her the same respect you give me. Understand?”
“Yes, Rip,” they synchronously mumble.
“That’s what I thought,” I express with a warning inserted. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d give them all the boot. They’ve started becoming more of a nuisance anyway and it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to start cleaning out my house.