Chapter 7
SEVEN
NOTCH
“I’m worried about him, Notch,” Ella said.
“He’s okay, El. I promise,” I said.
“But it’s looking a little bruised around the wound. Is that normal?”
“He had lead penetrate his skin. Yes, a bit of bruising is normal.”
“Let’s tone down the harsh talk with my girl. ‘Kay?” Texas asked.
“Then, take off your shirt so I can get out of here,” I said.
Ella shooed Keva off to her room as Texas sat down in the kitchen.
Off came his shirt, and there was the gauze.
Freshly changed, probably from Ella poking around at it.
I pulled the gauze back and tried to keep my face as stable as possible, but holy fuck.
The guy was really bruised. I mean, Texas was ripped on his back, and this bullet had torn through some serious muscle tissue.
But the bruising spanned out an entire inch from his wound. All the way around.
“See what I mean?” Ella asked.
“She’s just worried about me. Honey?” Texas asked.
“No, I’m not leaving,” she said.
“You really need to,” I murmured.
Texas looked back and shot me a look that told me to can it. Which I was happy to do.
Yet another reason not to get attached to women. They’re annoying as fuck.
Texas calmly got Ella out of the kitchen, and I started running a few tests.
Well, not formal tests. Just poking around at the bruising and asking Texas how much pain he was in.
The wound wasn’t oozing. He didn’t seem to be in an existential amount of pain.
The stitches were almost ready for removal, honestly.
“We need to keep an eye on that bruising. But as long as it doesn’t get any worse, I’m not too concerned about it,” I said.
“So, it’s bad. Like Ella said?” Texas asked.
“It’s a little more than I would expect, yes, but not by much. There’s no infection, and you aren’t in any more pain than I figured you would be. The stitches are almost ready to come out. So, as long as things don’t swell or start to stink, it’s just your body reacting to having a hole in it.”
He chuckled as I smoothed the gauze back against his skin.
“And let Ella know she’s doing a hell of a job keeping it clean. Whatever she’s doing, let her keep doing it,” I said.
“I heard that!” Ella exclaimed.
“Thanks a lot,” Texas murmured.
I grinned. “Not my fault you fell in love.”
“Yeah, yeah. Well, it’ll happen to you one day when you least expect it.”
“Not a chance. You guys call me ‘Notch’ for a reason.”
“And one day, your bedpost will be whittled down, and the only woman you’ll have at your side is the one who wants to help you fix it.”
“Or buy me a new one,” I said, chuckling.
“Well, when you do fall in love, I’ll be right there to tell you ‘told ya so.’”
I snickered as I headed out of the kitchen.
I walked out the front door and closed it behind me, but something caused me to look back.
I peeked through the kitchen window and saw Keva rushing into the kitchen.
She launched herself into Texas’ arms, and he swung her around as if there was nothing bothering him.
Ella was all smiles as she went in for a kiss.
A long kiss that made me uncomfortable for staring.
So, I turned on my heels and made my way for my bike. I needed to get away from this safe house for a little bit. I needed to clear my head before my lunchtime tattoo brainstorming appointment with the lovely Maya.
I didn’t even get my foot slung over the bike before Stone called church.
I sighed as I waited on my bike because I knew Texas would be coming out any minute to beckon me back in.
Just a moment’s peace was all I needed. He stepped out onto the porch, his head nodding in my general direction, waving me to come back in.
And as Ella slipped her hand into his, tugging Texas back into the safe house, my heart lurched against my chest.
For some reason, it was almost painful to watch.
I got off my bike and sighed. So long as this church meeting didn’t run long, I didn’t give a shit.
Motorcycles rumbled in the distance, signaling the Celtic Riders coming to try and help us.
I rolled my eyes at the idea of it all. We shouldn’t have asked for help until we had a plan in place, because it felt more like Asher was running this damn show than any of us.
I didn’t trust them. Not Asher, not his wife, and not the Celtic Riders.
Hell, I’d just come to feel as if I didn’t have to look over my shoulder and keep peering at Freya.
And that was mostly for Bronx’s piece of mind.
“Glad we caught ya before you left,” Stone said flatly.
“Well, don’t bank on it. I got another tat appointment at noon. So, let’s make this quick,” I said.
“I think digging our asses out of this hole is more important than a tattoo,” Texas said.
“Says the man I’m getting the tattoo for,” I said flatly.
“You’re still doing that?” Bronx asked.
“Yep. Got you and Stone on my shoulder blades,” I said.
Everyone fell silent as the Celtic Riders arrived and came through the door.
“That my men I hear?” Asher asked.
“Yep. The gang’s all here. Let’s get down to business,” Stone said.
“Please tell me someone’s got a damn plan,” I said.
“I had the Celtic Riders following the Chinese around. I figured since they’re looking out for us, they won’t look twice at some tourists riding bikes around San Diego,” Stone said.
“You guys figure out anything?” Asher asked.
“We did,” one of the men said.
“From what we can see, the Chinese are moving their headquarters,” another said.
“Wait, you figured out where they’re hiding out?” Bronx asked.
Asher paused. “You guys don’t know?”
Holy fuck, we were making ourselves look more idiotic by the second.
“Where are they stationed, and where are they moving?” Stone asked.
The guys looked over at Asher before continuing. Something I didn’t like. This was our show, and they were here to help us. Asher wasn’t running this thing, Stone was.
The action apparently didn’t sit well with Texas, either, with how tense he became after it happened.
“They’re clear on the other side of San Diego.
It’s not really a headquarters, but it’s where they’re set up in the area.
They’ve been hauling out boxes of shit. Chairs.
Desks. Loading it up into a massive van.
We’ve watched them take three van loads of stuff now to the eastern part of town.
Away from the ocean,” one of the men said.
“And out toward the desert,” I said.
“Exactly,” another man said.
I didn’t know their names, and I didn’t care to know them.
“Any ideas as to why they’re moving?” Stone asked.
The man shrugged. “My guess is they’re either moving to a bigger space or moving somewhere else because they feel they’ve been compromised.”
“The latter is almost always true,” Bronx said.
“But it’s possible it’s the former?” Stone asked.
I furrowed my brow. “Why? What are you thinking?”
“Shit,” Texas murmured.
“Yeah,” Asher said.
“Someone want to fill us in?” Bronx asked.
“Reinforcements,” everyone said.
Holy fuck. We were about to deal with more of these asswipes.
“Okay, okay. Look, we don’t know that’s true. Right? It’s just speculation?” I asked.
“Right,” one of the men answered.
“So, that means we need to end this shit before they get here. That way, we stand a chance at keeping the numbers even,” I stated.
“Sounds easier said than done,” Stone grumbled.
“Well, unless we’re all ready to take on the horde of Chinese men about to descend on us, we kind of have to make it a reality,” I bit back.
“Easy on the attitude there,” Texas replied.
“Look, we can get ourselves out of this, but floating ideas without settling on something isn’t going to work. We’ve ruled out killing the detective. Got it. But we’ve got other plans,” I said.
“Like what?” Bronx asked.
“For starters, research. We don’t want to go into this blind. We approach this as if we have a client to protect. Only, the client is really our own asses,” I said.
Stone paused. “He’s got a point.”
“We research all the guys we know are working with Cheng. Working with this group. We piece it all together, and maybe there’s a weak link.
Or maybe we can get in good with one of their family members or find a way to persuade someone on the inside.
You know groups like that always have a few members forced into it because of their family legacy.
Ones who don’t really want to be there,” I said.
“That’s a damn fine idea, if you ask me,” Asher said.
“Yeah, well. No one asked you,” I said.
“Notch,” Stone said gruffly.
I growled as I stared down our president. He eyed me until I backed off, and then I nodded my apologies to Asher. I sighed as everyone went back and forth for a little bit, debating on whether or not to take my route.
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do,” Stone said.
“We’re all ears,” Asher said.
Damn straight, you are.
“Notch, you and the Celtic Riders are going to keep doing research. Bronx, help him with that venture. Texas is going to help me back here to keep this place fortified in case anything else happens, and Asher?” Stone asked.
“Yep?” he asked.
“Can you keep an eye on the Chinese? Keep us informed of their timeline?”
“I can do that. I’ll head out now,” he said.
At least he took direction easily enough.
“We need someone on the inside. At the very least, a family member who can help us wiggle our way in. It’s our only hope at taking this down before it escalates, and we can’t let the Chinese get control of this area. This is our town. Our families. Our turf. Always,” Stone said.
“Hell yeah,” Asher said, grinning.
“It’s not our turf any longer, but at one point in time it was. You have our full support,” one of Asher’s men said.
“Good to know,” Texas said.
“Notch, you said you had somewhere to be?” Stone asked.
“Not for another half hour. Why?” I asked.
“Consider this the only time you get to leave this post. After this, it needs to be business related or you stay here. We need all the numbers we can get right now. And we don’t need people off gallivanting and pulling other people into this mess we’re in.”
I grinned. “You’re scared I’m gonna bring home a woman I love, just like you guys did.”
They all fell silent, and Asher chuckled.
“Funny how that works sometimes,” he said.
“You don’t have to worry about me on that point. You know this,” I said.
“Yeah, well. Just keep it in the back of your mind,” Texas said.
“One last personal trip, and then it’s all business. You have my word,” I said.
“All right. And with that, church is dismissed,” Stone said.
Finally. I could get my ass to my tattoo appointment.
And hopefully get my dick wet before I was put back under house arrest.