Chapter Nine #3
“I had to let Carlos go. I dismissed him on my way into Church. While Anatoly wasn’t here for nefarious purposes, Carlos still let him and the other Bratva guys into the compound when they threatened to shoot him.
Then he led them straight to my house and my pregnant wife.
So we’re down to two prospects for the time being. ”
“You don’t think Carlos will team up with the Cartel and give them inside information?” Scratch asked. “Was he pissed about you kicking him out?”
“He looked pretty pathetic. Said he was sorry and knew he’d fucked up. He didn’t fight me on it or cuss me out or anything. Just accepted his dismissal gracefully and walked out the gates.”
“You going to check with your friend about more allies joining us?” Havoc asked.
“I’ll text him.” I pulled out my phone and did exactly that.
“If I go out there and see Dakota, it will be hard to come back in here. I know Clarity and Meg will be kind to her, but she’s had a really rough time.
Always scared. Not just for her safety, but she constantly worried when you found out about her that you’d kick me out of the club or do something worse to me. ”
It only took Anatoly a moment to respond. Four. I can commit four, including myself. It wasn’t the big number I’d hoped for, but I would take it. That put us at nineteen extra men.
“Bull can stay with us,” Scratch offered. “He’s family and might enjoy spending time with the kids.”
“Drifter can stay with us,” Phantom said.
“The little apartments are set up to sleep only one or two adults. We can let the Bratva have them,” I said. “Not sure I want them staying in the clubhouse. I’d trust Anatoly, but I don’t know the men with him.”
“That still leaves thirteen men and six rooms at the clubhouse,” Shade said.
“Won’t be comfortable, but we can send Hunter out with the truck to pick up a bunch of those camping cots.
Not the cheap ones. The kind that hold men over two hundred pounds.
Sporting goods store should have some in stock.
” Havoc looked to me. “What do you think, Pres? One cot per room would let the clubhouse sleep twelve instead of thirteen.”
“That’s going to be cramped as fuck,” Scratch said.
I texted Anatoly again. Do you have an issue staying at my house and your men sharing an apartment? One might need to sleep on a cot.
Instead of texting, he called.
“A simple yes or fuck off would have sufficed,” I said when I answered.
“I don’t want to intrude on you and your bride. Put all four of us in one of the apartments. My righthand man can have the second bed. The other two can each take a cot. Or they can sleep on the floor. Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Thanks, Anatoly.” I ended the call and conveyed his message to the club. “That means we have two apartments open and four beds, plus the six beds in the clubhouse. All we need are two cots for the Bratva and place three more in each of the other apartments.”
Cinder frowned. “I lost count somewhere along the way. I have no idea if that’s enough beds or not.”
I ran my hands down my face. I was tired as fuck and had a feeling things were just winding up.
It was going to be a hellish night. “Have Hunter get at least a dozen cots. If the store doesn’t have that many, tell him to wipe them out and hit up the big box stores or the next closest sporting goods place.
I’d rather have too many than not enough, and who the hell knows when we might need them again. ”
“Pres, the club is growing. I know it’s not the first time we’ve talked about it,” Scratch said. “But I think it’s time we build a little more around here. Our families are expanding. Some of us have kids who will be old enough to start their own lives soon.”
“We need a few more apartments. We can add on to what we have already. Add a firepit or something next to the current set, then put three more on the other side of it, each with two bedrooms.” I rapped my knuckles on the table.
“I also have an idea for the property behind us. I want to lock up the barn so that only club officers have access, with a spare set of keys in my office at the clubhouse for emergencies. But the house… I’d like to set up as a refuge for children who need a fresh start.
Like Phantom’s kids, and some of Havoc’s. ”
“Damn,” Cinder said. “You know we don’t get those kids legally. That’s a lot of hacking for Shade to tackle.”
“Which brings me to another point. Wire said there are some kids out there who are closing in on his skill level. He thinks when they’re all grown up, they might surpass him.
Scariest fucking thing I’ve ever heard. But it means there’s talent out there we should be recruiting.
No offense to Shade, but he’s just one man. ”
Shade leaned back in his seat. “None taken, and I’m intrigued.
I may also know of a potential recruit. I’ve run across them a few times when I was digging through the dark web for intel we needed.
Goes by Lazarus. No fucking clue how old they are much less where they are, or their true identity. They’re that damn good.”
“See what you can find on them, or if they would even be interested in joining our ranks.” I looked around the table. “Any objections?”
“Sounds good to me,” Scratch said.
“I’m fine with it.” Havoc folded his arms. “Some of us are getting too old for this shit. Time to get some younger blood in here.”
“If we’re taking on new prospects, I may know a guy,” Irish said. “Little brother to someone I served with. He’s getting out of the military in three weeks. I have a feeling he’s going to need a support system.”
“Invite him out,” I said. “We’ll see if he’s interested and whether he has what it takes. Anyone else?”
“You care if the guy is missing two legs?” Rebel asked.
“He has below the knee prosthetics and sometimes uses a wheelchair around the house. Both lower legs were blown off by an IED. However, he used to ride motorcycles. Last I heard, he’d been talking to a custom shop to make adjustments so he can still ride while wearing his prosthetics. Name’s Nick Barker.”
“Tell him to stop by, maybe after all this shit is over and done with,” I said.
“Can we break for food and beer, Pres?” Gator asked.
“We can do that. I want to check on Dakota anyway and get Hunter out searching for those cots. We’ll reconvene in an hour in case anyone wants to go home for a little while.” I slammed my fist onto the table. “Church dismissed. Temporarily.”
Everyone filed out, and I went to find Dakota.
Clarity and Meg sat with her in the middle of the main room, drinking what looked like sweet tea.
I noticed a basket of fries in the center of the table.
The moment Dakota saw me, she got up so fast she nearly tripped over her feet.
She threw herself into my arms, and I held her tight and breathed in her scent.
The fact she trembled slightly told me how concerned she’d been.
“Everything’s fine, sweetheart. The club isn’t quite so pissed anymore, and I think we’re going to cobble together a plan for the Cartel with little trouble. Help is on the way.”
“I’ve been so worried,” she said, burying her face against me.
“Promised I’d keep you safe, and that’s what I’m going to do. Whatever it takes.”
I looked at my club over the top of her head and let every one of them see what she meant to me.
The woman in my arms was my entire world.
I’d keep her safe, because without her, I’d be a shell of a man.
I wasn’t sure I’d want to keep going. I didn’t know how the pint-sized beauty had come to mean so much to me so soon, but I was grateful to have her in my life. She made every day worth living.