Chapter 5 Raven #2
Nodding, I cracked my knuckles, tapping the table as he dropped his hand and moved into the chair at the head of the table, taking his place again.
“But I won’t let innocents suffer either.
We rescue Brianna first, then focus on this map and visit your childhood home.
There’re still too many questions and not enough answers. ”
“Agreed. I don’t want to sit on this, so we move fast.”
“What do you want, Pres?”
He poured a glass of whiskey from the bottle he’d brought with him and took a long sip. “Club business first. Financials. Claw?”
Claw stood, clutching a sheet of paper in his hand.
He hated staring at a computer screen for too long and preferred to do the books the old-fashioned way.
Still, he entered the info into the club’s private accounts on the laptop kept in Crow’s office that was password protected, and a bunch of other high-tech shit Eagle Eye figured out for us since most of the brothers weren’t as savvy with computers.
“The towing and repo business is booming. Never has been an issue being so close to Las Vegas. We’re bringing in consistent income and could afford to buy a couple of new trucks and replace some of the equipment.”
“That’s fine. Run the numbers for me, Claw. I need to see that shit on paper.”
Crow, like most of us, hated being cooped up inside and staring at a computer all day.
“You got it, Pres. The pawn shops do well, but the guns-for-hire business is our cash cow. That’s where we make the real money. And we need to be vetting our clients well before agreeing to take them on.”
A few of the others agreed. We couldn’t be too careful right now.
“The only issue I’ve seen is the one we discussed, Pres. The robberies at the pawn shops and the vandalism on our repo trucks. Can’t shake the feelin’ it’s connected.”
“And the losses?”
“Not much. Yet. But it could be a problem in the future.”
Crow finished his drink, pushing the glass aside. “Yeah. I hear you. One of the reasons we’re bringing it up in church.”
As V.P., I managed the towing and repo business for the club.
It was my job to ensure shit went smoothly and the books for Rook’s Towing & Recovery, LLC were clean before they were scrutinized by Claw and the numbers crunched.
Since that was what the tax man saw as our primary source of income, I made sure everything was by the book.
Our club earned with multiple ventures, though, because that was the smartest way to ensure we never got pinned down with too much cash in one spot. Hawk, our Sergeant at Arms, managed the pawn shops.
The other business that generated cash for the club and the one Claw referred to as “guns for hire” was our business, Jackdaw Security.
The books showed legit jobs and a modest intake of funds.
That was for show. A legitimate way to clarify how we ended up with extra cash that couldn’t be explained away by the pawn shops or towing company.
The truth was, our club had been hired many times to take down undesirables in the Henderson and Las Vegas area, mostly Clark, Lincoln, and Nye counties.
Nearly all of us held a Nevada Security and Private Investigator License thanks to Rook and his agreement to help the club fund the start-up over fifteen years earlier.
All the paperwork was legit. The clients and their needs? Not even fucking close to being legal on a good day.
Crow’s elbows came down hard on the table when he leaned forward. “We need to talk about the fuckers trying to hurt this club, starting with the murdering bastards who killed Rook.”
The room went quiet as an uncomfortable silence spun out, no one daring to speak until our pres made a decision and put it up for a vote.
His jaw locked, and the struggle to remain in control and not lose his shit was obvious to us all. When he finally spoke, his tone was calm, measured, and carried a conviction not a soul in this room doubted.
“This club became a target. I don’t know how or why yet, but I’m going to find out. This envelope proves our enemies are closing in after my father’s death. I don’t know how it’s all connected, but I do know Bella and her sister Brianna are part of this too.”
He took a deep breath, pushing it out as he stared at each of us around the table.
“The women are innocent, and I won’t let them suffer for shit that ain’t their fault. That’s not how this club is gonna run. Rook didn’t allow it. I won’t either. So if anyone disagrees with it, there’s the fuckin’ door. Show your way out and leave your cut on the seat before you do.”
No one moved. I didn’t think they would.
“Good. Now let’s get down to business and figure out the plan for tonight.”
TWO HOURS LATER, I rode out of The Roost next to my pres, followed by Hawk, Claw, Cuckoo, Talon, and Carrion.
Falcon, Eagle Eye, Jay, Swift, and the prospects remained at The Roost with Bella.
No way pres was letting his new woman place herself in danger.
We arrived at the address Boris had given us, stashing our bikes far enough away that they didn’t betray our presence.
“Time to go quiet,” Crow ordered. “That means you, Cuckoo.”
“Shit, Pres. Why you always bustin’ my balls?”
Crow didn’t bother to answer him, not that Cuckoo was lookin’ for an actual reply.
As we approached the building ahead, I crouched outside the fence, tapping into my crow and his sight.
Each of us could use the crow to see through his eyes and often did so to scout the area around us.
Our individual abilities varied depending on our familial roots and DNA.
Some of us could even shift into the crow’s form.
I didn’t have that skill and wondered if I would have enjoyed it.
Above, higher than anyone would catch from below, I rode on the current of the wind, catching Crow’s bird flying a little higher than mine. My wings spread out, gliding over the grounds below, and the motorcycles gathered in a long row. A dozen lined up outside the house, and they weren’t friends.
The logo painted on one of the tanks proved we weren’t the first to arrive and that our enemy was inside. A loud caw escaped, warning the others. Flapping wings joined my own as I swooped down, landing on a bike and dropping a little present on the chrome.
“Motherfucker,” Crow cursed, opening his eyes as I smirked. “Dirty Death MC.”
“Fuckin’ knew it,” Hawk spat, cracking his neck.
“We’re ready,” Talon added, slipping on his brass knuckles.
I had my Glock and the two blades I always carried strapped to my back in their leather scabbards. Guns were too easy, too quick. Swords and knives required skill and finesse. Weapons created for warriors.
Cuckoo tilted his head back, belting out a melodic “Kraaaa!”
Crow shot him a look like he was an idiot because it wasn’t quiet and could have alerted someone of our presence.
“That’s why the pres already warned you,” Hawk chastised, elbowing Cuckoo.
I might have laughed if not for Cuckoo’s ridiculous outfit. Rainbow hair stuck out in all directions from his head, the wig he wore unruly and full of tangled curls. Clown makeup added to the demented vibe when combined with the fake vampire teeth in his mouth and the red bulbous nose.
Claw lifted his hand and squeezed it hard, eliciting a yelp from Cuckoo.
“I swear to fuck,” Crow threatened, “I will fucking scratch both of your eyes out. Pay attention.”
Droplets of fake blood had been splattered onto Cuckoo’s face like he had just walked off the set of a slasher film. When he grinned in response, it was undeniably sinister but also ridiculous. Beneath his cut, he wore a tie-dyed tee shirt with more blood splatter and little rainbows all over it.
Fucking hell.
“I’m not going to comment anymore about you,” Crow growled as Cuckoo laughed with glee, holding up a machete.
“I can’t wait to see their expressions when I run in.”
Sick fucker.
Hawk slapped him on the back hard. “You’re a goddamn sexy clown like Pennywise.”
Cuckoo sniffled. “Don’t make me emotional, man.”
“Focus,” Crow ordered, pleased when the smiles faded and they grew serious.
I heard a faint scream, and my body tensed. We needed to move. A woman was in trouble, and we were wasting time.
“I heard someone crying when my crow flew over the compound. I’m bettin’ it’s Brianna. She’s in the corner on the northern side, east of our position.”
Not far from us. Good.
“We move in fast, and if you encounter any Dirty Death members, we’re taking them back to The Roost. We need to know their plans, how they’re involved with this kidnapping, and the envelope we received.”
“What about anyone else?” I asked to clarify.
“Kill anyone who tries to stop you. The kidnapper is mine.”
“You got it, Pres.”
The fence didn’t hinder us as we hopped over it, landing together as a group in the dusty dirt not far from the DDMC bikes covered in bird shit. We needed a distraction.
Crow ticked his head at Hawk. “Burn ’em up.”
Hawk flashed a grin, moving through the shadows, keeping hidden before he reached the first motorcycle.
The Harley parked in front belonged to Undertaker, the pres of the Dirty Death MC.
That club had been a rival with ours for over a decade thanks to the feud over territory and Undertaker’s infamous temper, not to mention Rook’s refusal to back down.
Hawk pulled out a cheap bottle of whiskey, taking a couple of quick swallows before pouring the liquor over the row of bikes. When it was empty, he opened one more, ensuring there was enough liquid to accomplish destruction.
He ran back to the shadows, dropping next to Crow’s side as he panted. “Too fucking hot for this shit, Pres.”
“It’s about to get a lot hotter,” Crow replied, ticking his head toward the Harleys.
Cuckoo clicked his vampire teeth together. “I’ve got the starter, brothers.”