Chapter 4
Vex
“Where the hell is this fucker?” Dex growls, looking around the dive bar we’re standing outside, waiting for the old guy’s grandson to show us around.
“What’s the fucker’s name again?” Prez slaps at a mosquito on his neck. Damn swamp.
“Damian Devereaux,” Sniper answers, head tilted. “He’s here.”
The rough sound of a motor comes from behind the bar so we follow the direction, coming to a stop on the rotten wood boards.
“Salut! Thanks for stopping by, gentlemen.” Damian waves at us, throwing a rope onto the short pier then heaving his massive body up out of the small boat he’s traveled here in.
“You’re late,” Dex says, arms crossed over his chest.
Damian clearly isn’t bothered, he just grins and rubs the back of his neck. “Swamp time, cher.” He grins at us. “Come on, let’s poke around this joint.”
We follow behind him as he unlocks the back door.
Or maybe even the front door. It’s hard to tell as there are entrances on both sides of the building.
Inside the bar has a large area with high top tables and bar stools dotted around out here, overlooking the water.
He flicks on some lights, constantly narrating his every movement.
“So, to the left are the bathrooms. Got one for the fellas, one for the ladies, and one that’ll suit whoever’s feelin’ bold enough to pick.
Manly women, womanly men, take your pick,” he waves a hand in the air.
“Lemme flip on the rest of the lights, you take your time pokin’ round, see what you think. ”
I look at Prez, and then Sniper. Sniper has his usual mask on, seemingly relaxed but I know there’s more working under the surface.
Prez looks…intrigued. Glancing around the bar room I can see it’s been well maintained, everything looks like it was updated not that long ago.
Obviously not with high end shit, this is a bar that probably sees its own fair share of fights, but still.
The booths are taken care of, there are no holes in the walls or ripped upholstery.
“If you look to your left, that’s the very spot Louis and Milly-May went and made themselves a little one.”
My head snaps to Damian, arms crossed leaning on the bar, a huge grin on his face. “You’re just fucking with us.” My eyes narrow.
“I gar-ron-tee. It’s right there, on the wall.” He nods his head.
What the fuck? Looking around I beeline to the booth Damian pointed to.
There, hanging on the wall is a security still of a woman riding a man in this very booth.
Next to it appears to be the same couple in the same spot, this time eating fried fish holding up a pregnancy test and thumbs up.
Well, she is; he looks shellshocked. I share a look with my Prez then I turn to look at Damian who has moved on to talking the ear off Sniper about what cleaner he uses to make the bar top shine.
“What do you think?” Dex murmurs.
“The bar itself seems solid. Clean, good view, hook up joint,” I smirk.
“I meant Damian.”
My eyes dart to Prez whose gaze is narrowed in on Damian.
“He reminds me of Mira.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
I stare at Damian who’s in the kitchen, steam billowing out as he busies himself doing something or other. “Not at all. She’s one hell of a woman, but I never know when or if she’s stopped talking.”
Dex snorts at my comment, watching Damian with interest as he comes out of the kitchen holding plates of fried fish.
“Go on and sit, boys. I’ll catch y’all up on the town gossip, make it easier to see if the bar is the kinda spot you wanna claim for your books.”
“And your mom just wants to get rid of it?” Sniper asks.
“The old girl is getting long in the tooth. But shit don’t tell her I told you that. She’ll whoop my ass.” I mime zipping my lips. “Besides, she ain’t got no business runnin’ security at her age,” Damian continues.
My brows hit my hairline. “You mean your mom runs security here?”
“Does a gator shit in the swamp?” Damian answers like I’m an idiot.
“No offense man, but you’re massive. Why aren’t you running security?” Dex asks, head tilted waiting for his answer.
“Mom is scarier and better at sniffing out the drugs. She has a really good nose. Super sniffer type shit fo’ true. I’m a people person. I like jawin’ and listening to people’s problems.” He throws a fry into his mouth, chews loudly then swallows. “So, wanna go check out the BBQ Shack?
* * *
“Well, what do we think?” Dex asks, leaning back on his bike staring at the BBQ Shack aptly named “The BBQ Shack.”
Sniper stares in the same direction as Dex for long moments. “I like them. The numbers add up.”
“I agree. They look like they both run a good trade, or will do with new management. Keeping Damian on to manage and work the bar helps too.”
“So, what do you think?” Damian shouts from his place in the open BBQ Shack doorway. The rundown here was pretty much identical to the bar. He gave us a tour and more than enough local gossip to last us at least three years.
Prez stares at him for a long moment. “What type of read are you getting on him?”
Sniper watches him thoughtfully for a moment, never giving anything away. “Chewy looked into him. His background check is clean. He seems solid, well-liked around town and has a social justice bent.”
I stare at my brother for a beat. That’s the most I’ve heard Sniper say in a long time.
“And you?” Dex asks.
I know I’m only new to the MC, and I’m the chaplain, not really a council member, but knowing Prez wants my opinion makes me feel fucking good. “I think he’s the type of guy who has a fuck ton of contacts that could come in handy.” Dex nods at my observation. “I also think the guy might have ADHD.”
Dex snorts and Sniper’s lips tip up. Dex raises a hand and waves Damian over. He scratches the back of his neck before leisurely making his way to where we are sitting, on the side of the road.
“You went and gestured, didn’t ya?”
“Yeah, we’re interested.”
“Sold!”
Dex’s brows raise, “Shouldn’t we talk money or terms first?”
Damian looks over his shoulder at the shack before turning back to us. “We’ll take two hundred, but Mama keeps her security gig. She don’t love much these days, but she sure loves that job.”
I share a look with Dex and Sniper. The asking price is a fuck ton lower than we were expecting. The bar alone is probably worth that, especially with the profit it turns. I mean, I don’t want to rip the guy off, but I also want to get a good deal for the MC too.
“We’ll take it. Tell your Mom we’ll give her a pay rise. You too.”
“Okay now, gotta warn ya, Mama keeps whatever drugs she confiscates. So don’t be thinkin’ she’s handin’ that over to nobody.”
Sniper’s brows pull in. “Why does she keep them?”
“That’s her side hustle. Keeps her rollin’ in jet ski holidays and margaritas.”
Dex shifts slightly, crossing his arms over his chest. “Look man, we aren’t the type of MC to be dealing in drugs, we’re out here trying to-”
“Aw, relax, my guy. She just shares ‘em with her friends, not runnin’ no operation or nothin’.” Damian grins wide and easy.
“So she confiscates them then uses them with her friends but still makes a profit?” I ask. Something ain’t adding up.
Damian lets out a sigh. “Look here, I know you been gone a spell. You was back at the Keep maybe six months ‘fore you took off to patch in with your fancy little club. Lot you don’t know ‘bout Adonner now.” I nod, then gesture to explain. “This place is a haven for the cougars. Don’t ask me why, town is just full of ‘em. And those particular cougars ain’t got nowhere to go. All the youngsters go to the dive bar, but these ladies are grande dames. They want good music, a place to dance, charcuterie boards and shit.” He waves a bug away from his face.
“So Mama got herself doin’ bottomless brunches.
All the ladies show up to drink mimosas, gossip, and eat them fancy meats off them pretty wooden boards. ”
“And drugs?”
“Well yeah. Some of the ladies just lookin’ for a good buzz, some need a little kick to get the house cleaned, and some tryin’ to get all worked up before headin’ to the bar. Whole buffet of choices right there.”
I stare at him. Dex stares and so does Sniper. I’m not too sure what to say and I really hope I don’t meet any of the Adonner cougars after a bottomless brunch.
“Well, OK then. $200k, your mom gets a raise, and ah, keeps whatever drugs she comes across,” Dex offers.
“And I get to keep my shifts at the bar?”
“You’re the new manager.”
“Boom, motherfucker! It’s a deal.” He puts out his giant hand and Prez shakes on it. “Just put the money in a briefcase and we’ll call it square.”
Dex gives Damian a dubious look. “You trust us?”
“Why wouldn’t I? The Keep is full of saints these days, no offence-”
“None taken,” I reply.
“I checked y’all out online, DRMC and all. Looks like you been doin some real good work for your community. Adonner sure could use more of that kinda heart,” he says earnestly. “Besides, if you screw us over, Mama’ll probably blow up your compound or whatever. She’s real proud of her dramatics.”
I suck in a breath. This woman is sounding a little too much like the Girl Gang.
Dex shares a look with Sniper and myself before clearing his throat. “We have another proposition for you, Damian. How would you feel about prospecting with the club? See if you’d be a good fit.”
He raises a brow, pointing to himself. “Can’t say why you’d think I’d be any good at somethin’ like that.”
“Well, we don’t know yet. You could be good, you could crash and burn. Won’t know ‘til we get to know you better.”
“A’ight then.” With that Damian turns on his heel, whistling as he makes his way into the shack.
“We’ll be back in an hour with your money!” Dex shouts at Damian’s back. He just waves over his shoulder, not a care in the world.
“That is one weird guy,” I murmur, my brothers nodding.
“We need to make a pact to never let Damian’s mom anywhere near the DRMC women,” Dex mutters.
“Or Pops,” Sniper adds in his rough voice.
“Or Pops,” Dex and I agree.