Chapter Eight
“S omething’s not right ,” Bull said, looking around yet another abandoned location. This one was a three-hour drive from Carnage.
Pat was tired but he couldn’t argue with his Prez. This time, only he and Bull had come out to this location.
In the past few weeks, they had taken out a lot of known locations. The deal between the club and the cartel had been running for years. So much so, they knew a lot about their enemies, possibly even too much.
“It’s quiet,” Pat said.
“No retaliation. I know we’ve got what happened to your bike, but that is all it is.” Bull put his hands on his hips and spun around. “It makes no sense.”
Pat didn’t see a reason to speak. Bull didn’t need him to say the obvious.
“They’re planning something,” Bull said.
“We already know someone is in town,” Pat said. “Or, someone in town is working for the cartel, and it is a local that has a beef with the club.”
“I checked out Dylan. He is not touching this. He is loyal to the club and to Carnage. He doesn’t want to see war on the fucking streets, and he certainly doesn’t want to take orders from people he hates more than me,” Bull said.
Pat waited. This was getting ... irksome. He expected more retaliation by now.
“What’s the word from William?” Pat asked.
“Fucker has gone missing again. Probably working for the cartel to keep his ass alive,” Bull said.
Pat shook his head. “No, he wouldn’t.”
“You believe in his bullshit.”
“I’ve watched you and Grant. Yeah, you hate each other’s guts, but if someone was to send you Grant’s head and a few pieces of his body, it would drive you crazy. You’d go hunting for him. That is what William is doing. He’s not going to turn on us. He wants blood. Cartel blood.”
Bull gritted his teeth. “You’re right. I wouldn’t settle. Not until I had Grant’s body, and everyone responsible in the ground.”
“Then you know what William is going through. He lost his brother. That is all he is dealing with.”
Bull rubbed his eyes. “Between guards for Maddie, Aria, as well as the town patrols, they’re being pushed to the breaking point. If that happens, the cartel will find it easier to ride all over us.”
“Simple, we don’t let it happen. That is all we’ve got to do,” Pat said. “Halloween is coming. Plan a big fucking party. Even the girls would like that. You know it as well as I. We can take turns caring for Lindsey.” He frowned. “Or, how do you feel about Hazel Beckett taking care of her?”
“I don’t need anyone looking after my daughter,” Bull said. “The party sounds like a good idea. Maddie and I will make it work. I don’t need a break myself, but the boys need a party. That’s what we will do.”
“We can have the arrangements all made,” Pat said. He looked around the building. “Are you wanting to keep this one?”
“No, we’re burning them all to the ground. Everything associated with the cartel is gone. No questions asked.”
They left the building, and Pat put everything in place, lighting the match that would add to the list of places they had removed from the cartel.
“For real, Pat, do you think we’re making the right decision?” Bull asked.
He turned toward his friend and President.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” Pat said.
“If you think about it, with the dogfighting ring, that is what started it, and now it’s going to get worse.
Miguel was the start, but there is a reason your father reached out to them in the first place.
Carnage is a good base to pass through. There’s plenty of places to hide shit, and to .
.. fade away. We knew this was a good distribution center. ”
Bull sighed.
“The only problem is, your dad didn’t see the way the tides would turn. Even if you hadn’t dealt with him, do you really think they were going to keep him in charge here?” Pat asked. “From the moment the deal got struck, our days running it were numbered.”
Bull laughed. “You didn’t think to speak up.”
“I was away most of the time on tour. I didn’t have a vote, and if I recall, I gave my vote to you and you cast it.” It didn’t matter if he and Bull didn’t see the value in the cartel deal.
Bull’s dad had made it without consulting the club. The club was just to follow his instructions. It went against everything the club stood for, but at the time, no one would argue with the man. He was a scary motherfucker every step of the way.
After they finished their job, they headed back to the clubhouse. Only, Pat didn’t go to the clubhouse, and instead rode out to the fabric shop owned by Ava’s mom. Ava had told him last night that she was going to be helping with the Halloween orders. He wanted to see her.
Pulling into the parking lot, he saw there were a lot of cars already parked. He slotted his bike into a place, turned off the ignition, and made his way toward the doorway. There were a lot of women, only a few men, but he stepped inside.
He saw people suddenly whispering to themselves, and he turned to find Ava lifting her head, and she smiled at him. Damn, that smile she had always made him think of stupid shit.
“Hey,” he said, coming toward her.
“Looking to buy some fabric, Mister Biker?” she asked.
“Nah, I wouldn’t know the first thing to do with it.”
She laughed. “It’s all right. What can I do for you?”
He looked at her, and the truth was, his fucking words got caught in his mouth.
He never had this trouble with a woman. But then, he hadn’t taken time to get to know other women.
Ava was different. The women at the club, and throughout his life, they rode his cock, and he didn’t care if they were happy or sad.
They were meant to get the job done, that was it.
Ava truly was different. He cared what she thought.
“So, there is something I want to ask you,” he said.
“Ask away. You don’t mind if I keep cutting fabric, do you? There have been a lot of orders and we want to get them ready to send out.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Do you like Halloween?” he asked.
“I love Halloween. Going out trick-or-treating, begging for candy. There is nothing better.”
She continued to cut and the way she just made herself sound was like she was a child.
She burst out laughing. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Trust me, I haven’t gone trick-or-treating in years. Like years ago. Possibly even longer than ten years. Since before my dad died.”
“The club is having a party,” Pat said. “I’d like you to come.”
She looked up and for several seconds she didn’t move. At one point he had to wonder if she was even breathing. “You would?”
“Yeah, I’d like you there.”
“Okay.” She stopped and he watched her lips press together. “As your ... date or as your friend?”
“My date, Ava. I want you there as my date.”
He watched her face bloom into a smile. “Okay, then consider me there.” She pressed her lips together. “Wait, what should I go as?”
“Surprise me.”
And with that, he turned on his heel and left the store.
He was aware of Hazel watching him, and Violet, but he didn’t stop to talk to them. This was not about them, it was about him and Ava.
****
“S o, you’re getting little visits by your boyfriend now?” Violet asked.
Ava had finished all of the day’s orders. She knew her mother was just sorting out the till. She needed to get ready to leave for her actual job, which started in thirty minutes.
“He’s not my boyfriend. He is just a friend.”
“You know Mom’s worried, right?” Violet asked.
She looked toward her mother who was writing something down. “It’s nothing.”
“Ava, come on. You never have a guy visit you at work. Is this thing with Pat getting serious?”
Ava saw that her sister was worried. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “We talk. Okay. He stops by the coffee shop. I serve him cake and coffee. Sometimes he follows me home, and we talk.” Actually, that wasn’t accurate. They hadn’t talked.
She got him home, and Pat kissed her. It was a kiss that always seemed to go on for a long time, and it felt so good and she wasn’t about to complain about the kiss. She loved it.
“Talk?”
“Violet, don’t. I know what I’m doing.”
“Babe, you’ve never had a boyfriend, and the first guy you show an interest in is a mature guy. A mature guy wearing a patch, and I know not to play with those guys,” Violet said.
She looked at her sister and pressed her lips together. “I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m not doing anything stupid. I haven’t been to the clubhouse, I’m not doing anything crazy. We’re getting to know each other. Besides, you saw that Bull and Grant have settled down.”
“Maddie and Aria are not you, Ava,” Violet said. “Mom’s worried, and to be honest, I’m worried. Your first real boyfriend should be...”
“What?” Ava asked. “Should be what? Someone you approve of? Someone my own age? You saw the way they acted in school.”
Violet sighed. “I was going to say, will want the same things you want.”
“You don’t know what Pat wants,” Ava asked.
“Yeah, and I bet you haven’t even asked him, have you?
Look, I get it, have fun, enjoy him. He’s the mature older guy, but remember, you might not want the same thing, and Ava, there is a reason you’ve not just gone around dating random guys and sleeping with them.
Don’t change who you are for this guy.” And with that, her sister walked away.
Ava blew out a breath, and then sighed.
She walked up to her mother. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got to get to my other job.”
“You have been a big help today,” Hazel said, leaning over the counter and kissing her cheek.
“You’re not mad that Pat came?”
“No, of course not.”
“Violet said you’re worried.”
“Of course I am worried. You’re my little girl but I’m not going to tell you how to live your life. I raised you to make the right decisions for yourself, not for me, and I expect you to make them.”
“I love you, Mom,” Ava said.
“I love you too, honey. I just don’t want to see you ... hurt.”
Ava took a deep breath and nodded. “I won’t be.”
Hazel looked doubtful.
Leaving the shop, she did so with a heavy heart.
She didn’t want to disappoint her mother, but Pat was different.
Yes, he was a biker, and she had no doubt he had a reputation.
She also had a feeling they were not going anywhere.
It didn’t change the fact he made her heart race, and when she was with him, everything seemed better.
She arrived at the coffee shop with ten minutes to spare. Rushing inside, she went into the back room and changed.
“Anna phoned and quit,” Lauren said, coming into the room as Ava slid the uniform into place.
“She did?”
“Yeah, I put out another ad. I’ll see who applies,” Lauren said with a sigh.
“Are you okay?” Ava asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It has been a long day. I’ve been here since ten.” Lauren gripped her shoulders and then tilted her head from left to right, then back again.
“Ten?”
“The cakes do not bake themselves. It also sucked that the double cream was off. I had to run to the store to grab some more.”
“Off?”
“Yeah, the fridge was left open.”
This made Ava frown. “That’s crazy. We never leave the fridge door open.”
“I guess with how tired I was, I must have forgotten it. Oh well, no harm done, and I got the cakes finished.” Lauren offered her a smile. “You look tired.”
“I’ve been helping my mother today.”
“Are you going to quit on me?” Lauren asked.
“Not a chance. I happen to enjoy this shift.” Her stomach chose that moment to rumble. “But I might have forgotten to grab some food before I got here.”
“You can take your pick from any cake you want, and some coffee,” Lauren said.
Ava thanked her, and they went to their usual places. On her way through to the main shop, she passed the kitchen and saw the mess Lauren would spend most of the night cleaning up.
There were a lot of bowls and spoons. She looked at the assortment of cakes and cookies. Her mouth watered. She wanted chocolate and it would seem it was her lucky day, because Lauren had baked a chocolate mint cake. Cutting herself a generous slice, she took a quick bite, and it was mouthwatering.
The coffee machine was set up. Everything was ready. Lauren always set everything up, and it was up to her to finish serving.
With the doors unlocked, Ava checked the shop, and then got to eating her cake.
It took five minutes for the first customer to come through the door.
It was a team of builders. She knew they used to go and have a drink at the bar, but now they opted for cake and coffee.
She overheard one of the men saying their wives were much happier because they didn’t go home stinking of booze. Ava liked to think she helped.
It was a busy night. There was no sign of Pat, not that she expected him. She could only hope. A few of the guys attempted to flirt, and like so many times before, she kept silent. She would offer a smile that was not overtly suggestive, but enough for them to know there was no opening.
By the end of the night, she was disappointed, and instead offered to help Lauren finish cleaning the shop. This time, she was more tired than she liked to admit.
Climbing into her car, she was tempted to fall asleep right in the vehicle.
She somehow made it home, and she didn’t know if someone was following her.
Randomly she would glance into her rearview mirror.
One glance, and she saw nothing. She glanced again and saw an outline.
It was dark. Riding home, she decided she was too tired to even think.
Her mother answered the door, and Ava didn’t take Bernice. Instead, she stepped into her mother’s home and was close to snoring.
She heard Hazel laugh, and Ava decided going to her bedroom was too far away. She stumbled toward the sofa and fell onto it, falling asleep before she even hit the thing completely.