Chapter 6 Crow
“Alright, fuckers. Have a seat. We got shit to plan,” I announced, dropping into my chair as the room fell silent.
“I need to meet with Raven, Hawk, Claw, and Talon. There’re a few things to sort out before we start hunting.
Church tomorrow at noon. Get some pussy and beer because we won’t be celebratin’ until Rook’s murderers are dead. ”
Most of the guys filed out until only the four I mentioned by name remained.
“Tell me about the vandalism.”
Raven leaned back, pulling out a smoke and lighting up. He took a long drag and then nodded. “You know how it is in the Vegas area. Lots of punks and gangbangers who want to make a name for themselves by fucking with an established club like ours.”
Yeah, that shit wasn’t news.
“We didn’t think much about it at first,” he continued. “Some broken windows and slashed tires. A couple of requests for tow jobs, but when we arrived, no one was there. Felt like someone was laughin’ their asses off behind our back and watchin’ us get the runaround.”
Hawk looked pissed. “I didn’t like it then, and I don’t now, Pres. They were fucking with us alright, and it ain’t completely stopped.”
“What do you mean?” I asked sharply, staring down my S.A.A. “Spit it out.”
“Two nights ago, someone left a note on the windshield. Left it under the wiper on one of the tow trucks. Fuckin’ assholes.”
Raven blew out a breath. “We didn’t want to bring it up in front of everyone. Not until we had a chance to talk it through with you first.”
Hawk pulled a piece of paper from his cut and tossed it on the table with disgust.
I snatched up the note, snarling when I read the contents written in all caps with black marker: AN EYE FOR AN EYE.
“What the fuck?” I asked, crumpling it up in my fist. “Lou said my dad got a note too. Somethin’ spooked him about it, and that’s why he took off alone. Where is it?”
“Couldn’t find it,” Talon spat, cracking his knuckles. “Rook was pissed. Never seen him so torn up.”
Raven shook his head. “It was more than that. He seemed almost afraid.” He held up a hand when I started to argue. “Not afraid of any enemy. It was like he was afraid for someone else. Like he was worried about you, Crow.”
Fuck.
“You think I’m a target,” I realized, sitting back in my chair. “That’s what this is about. Getting rid of the competition. The Holmes bloodline.”
“Snuffing both of you out deals the club a harsh blow.” Talon shook his head. “The kind that destroys it.”
“I don’t think we’d recover,” Hawk agreed. “Comin’ for your pops was only the beginning. With you gone, they could target the whole damn club. Pick us all off until none were left.”
“The question is,” Raven spat. “Who is “they”? Ain’t a single soul come forward and claimed responsibility for this. There’s no doubt this was a hit on Rook and the club. We need to find out who and why before we can take them out.”
“Starting with that note and the fucking lawyer pops went to visit. Tell me you already did this.”
“Your dad’s rooms are now yours, Crow. The whole damn area upstairs and his private apartment. Search through it. Maybe you’ll find somethin’ we missed.”
“And the lawyer?”
“No sign of him. The building has been locked since Rook’s murder. We’ve had a prospect watching, and no one has come back or opened the offices,” Hawk explained. “There’s a possibility the lawyer is either kidnapped or dead. Not sure which at this point.”
“Goddamnit!” I roared, rushing to my feet. “Fuck!”
“Or he could be in hiding,” Talon mused, giving a shrug. “It would make sense he’d run scared. Probably saw Rook’s killers. Maybe they threatened him. Maybe he got out of there before they had a chance to snatch him. Who knows? Point is, he’s in the wind.”
“That’s not fucking helpful,” Claw muttered.
“Yeah? You got better ideas, asshole?”
“Don’t get all twisted like someone pissed in your cereal bowl,” Claw quipped, ducking as Talon took a swing in his direction.
Raven gave them both a death stare. “Grow up, fuckers.”
“I forgot this place is a fucking daycare,” I deadpanned. Talon wasn’t wrong, though. He was a good enforcer, and he always thought like one. Made him an asset to the club, and I appreciated his insight. “It’s logical he’s out there somewhere, Talon. You’re right about that.”
“If they took him, I’m bettin’ they would’ve killed his ass and made an example of him already.”
“Exactly.”
“I can find him.”
The calm tone was a direct contrast to the tense voices in the chapel.
I turned toward the door, catching Eagle Eye. “Yeah?”
“Ain’t possible to hide in this world for long without popping up somewhere. I’ve already been tracking him. Not found him yet, but I will. Fucker ain’t using credit cards, and that’s smart, but he can only go so long without accessing funds, and when he does, I’ll know it.”
“Hell yeah,” Talon exclaimed, fist-bumping Eagle Eye.
“You come to Crow first when you find out, then me,” Raven ordered. “Don’t care what time it is, day or night. When he surfaces, it won’t be long. He’s got to know he’s being hunted.”
“He does,” I agreed. “That’s the plan then. I’ll search for that note and Rook’s stuff. See if I can’t find something useful. Get the fuck out of here. We got shit to do.”
Everyone left but Raven, reaching for the bottle of Jameson and pouring a shot.
He tossed it down, then poured another, staring at the liquor thoughtfully.
“You seem different,” he mused, lifting his gaze to meet mine.
Icy blue eyes, almost too pretty for a man, assessed me with a quiet resolve that was almost unnerving and might have been if I didn’t know him as well as my pops.
I didn’t say anything, letting him work through what was on his mind.
“You’ve grown up, son. I see the same qualities in you that I always respected in Rook.
Same leadership, honesty, and loyalty, but there’s also a deadly viciousness hidden within, and when unleashed, it’ll rain hell down on those who harm you or the club.
Damn proud to have you back, Crow.” He gave me a small smile.
“And I’ll follow you into hell, Pres. Just say the word. ”
Touched, I swallowed hard, giving him a slap on the shoulder. “You’re like a father to me, Raven.”
He dipped his chin. “Means a lot to me to hear you say it.”
“It’s true. You, Lou, and pops were all I had growin’ up since mom split. Had to grow up fast with a dad who was the pres of an MC. Rough life, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Just want you to know, I love you too, you old fucker.”
He wasn’t old, not really. Raven was about twenty-five years older than me, pushing fifty. Same age as my pops before he died. Lucky Lou was closer to seventy.
Raven’s head tilted back as he belted out a laugh, chuckling for almost a full minute before he sobered up. “Right back at ya.” His smile slowly disappeared, and he clenched the glass in his hands, now empty. “Just got one worry, Pres. Hopin’ this isn’t the Dirty Death MC.”
None of us brought it up until now but I’d thought about that too. I wouldn’t be surprised.
“I know. Same thought entered my head,” I admitted, “They’ve been quiet for years.”
“Too quiet. I’ll have Eagle Eye do some diggin’. He already watches out for them, but maybe we haven’t been paying enough attention.”
“Do it. Can’t take the risk that they’re a part of this. Until we know different, we continue as if nothin’ has changed. Carry on with business and keep our noses clean. If the feds come snoopin’, we ain’t got shit to hide.”
Raven winked. “We tow, and we repo, Pres. That’s about it. The Devil’s Murder MC? Stand-up, law-abiding citizens.”
I shook my head, chuckling at his description. “Right. Listen, I got a date tonight. Need a couple of the guys to tail us in case of trouble.”
“I’ll send Talon and Cuckoo.”
“Good choice.” Cuckoo was about as nuts as you could get this side of sober, but he was also one of the fiercest brothers in the club. He’d have my back in any situation.
Raven stroked the beard on his chin, giving me one of his bemused smiles. “A date? With who? You sure I ain’t gotten to her first and ruined her for other men? She one of those sexy broads Lou hired to bartend for him?”
“Fuck off,” I growled, annoyed he saw right through me, leaving the chapel with a scowl. Asshole.
Raven’s laughter followed me down the hall and out into the common room, and I had to keep my head turned so he didn’t see the humor I tried to hide.
TOOK ME OVER AN HOUR to figure out where I wanted to take Bella on our first date.
I went through nearly half a pack of smokes until I thought of something perfect.
At precisely six p.m., I pulled onto her street and then slowly glided to a stop on the driveway.
I’d worn my best jeans and favorite midnight blue tee and shined up my boots. Yeah, I cleaned up good.
Before I left The Roost, Raven had given me a once over, shaking his head. “You shine like a new penny, Pres.”
I flipped him off, ignoring the catcalls and whistles from the rest of the guys as I strutted toward the exit.
“Thought you might want to update your cut,” Raven casually announced, snagging my attention before I left through the door.
I spun around, noticing the patch he held up. “Shouldn’t have nomad on your cut anymore, Pres. Ain’t right to ride around without the proper patch.”
Damn. He was right. I was so distracted by seeing Bella I forgot all about it. “You gonna sew it on for me, honey?”
A few chuckles erupted around us.
Raven held up a needle and thread. “Sure. Want me to stitch anything else up?”
Snickering, I gave him a wink. “Nah, need to stay pretty for Bella.” I shrugged off my cut, and Raven set to work, taking off the nomad patch and replacing it with president.
Felt good to see it, if not a little emotional.
My pops would have been so proud to see this as I reverently slid my cut back on.
Something shifted in the room, and everyone sat up a little straighter, my brothers’ smiles settling any doubts that still lingered in my head.
This was how it was supposed to be, meant to be.
Wasn’t the first time those words popped into my thoughts.
Coming home felt like all the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.
Shouldn’t have taken Rook’s death to bring me back.
Not everyone in the room seemed thrilled, though; I knew there were still members I needed to convince.
Didn’t make me angry to see it. I’d rather know up front and deal with it than have everyone smiling as they shoved the knife in my back.
I wasn’t stupid. Sliding into Rook’s shoes and leading the club effectively would take time, but I was willing to put in the effort.
If I knew anything about the men in this room, it was how deep their loyalty ran.
With a tick of my chin, I acknowledged them before heading outdoors.
As I straddled my bike, firing up the engine, I caught the two hogs idling by the gate.
Talon and Cuckoo were ready to ride, and I hoped they would keep enough distance they didn’t spook Bella.
As I caught his gaze, Talon gave me a chin lift, but Cuckoo made me do a double-take.
Deranged fucker was wearing a goddamn Scooby-Doo mask.
Seriously. With the fucking tongue hanging out too.
And he had the audacity to laugh like Scooby when I sent him a glare.
“HeeheHeHEHeHe.”
Fucking hell. Closing my eyes briefly, I shook my head, trying not to get annoyed.
“Ruh-roh,” he laughed, noticing my reaction.
Talon bent over, laughing so hard I thought he would piss himself.
Christ. What the hell did I get into coming back to Nevada?
Without a word, I pulled back on the throttle and sped by the two jokesters, hoping they focused on their task tonight and stopped fucking around once I picked up Bella.
That was twenty minutes ago.
Kicking down the stand, I stood up and walked with purpose to her door, knocking loud enough she couldn’t miss the fact that I was there.
Didn’t think she did, though, not with the unmistakable roar of my Harley.
I lifted my shades and placed them over my head, wanting to get the full effect of her beauty when she opened the door.
Bella slowly turned the knob, and then there she was, as fucking gorgeous as I remembered.
“Fuck me,” I blurted, taking in the loose shirt she wore, exposing one shoulder as the dark purple material slipped to the side.
Jeans so goddamn tight they looked painted on made my mouth water.
And then there was that sensual, pouty smile that usually annoyed the fuck out of me with other women but just seemed right somehow on her.
“You sure you don’t want to marry me? Tonight? ”
Her head tilted back, and I caught the slim column of her throat as she laughed, wishing my lips could trace every inch of her skin along with my tongue.
Instant. Fucking. Hard-on.
I wasn’t gonna last the night without kissing her.