Chapter 11 Creature
M addog and Manic were already seated when I entered the chapel.
My pres gave me a smirk and lifted a wooden gavel, slamming it down on the table’s surface as he called the meeting to order.
“Church is in session.” He tossed the gavel aside.
“First, I wanna say that I’m fucking pissed that we’re so vulnerable right now.
We gotta lock this place down tighter. Second, I’m still fucking pissed. ”
Noted. I was fucking angry too.
Manic lit a smoke and inhaled, ticking his chin toward me. “Well?”
“Well, what? Do I want to fuck up Mateo Ruiz? Hell yeah. Do I want to confront the new asshole who’s pres of the Bladed Serpents? Guaranteed, that’s happening,” I growled. “Do I need to figure out who the fuck infiltrated our clubhouse and got past us? FUCK. YES.”
Manic flicked ash into a tray and smirked. “You kinda made that impossible.”
“He had Blair pinned to the bed and was trying to stab her with a fucking knife, you dick. Would you have paused to ask questions?”
Maddog leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “He’s got a point. I wouldn’t hesitate if it were Lark. And don’t fucking act like you wouldn’t do the same for Bianca.”
“I’m not debating that.”
“Then what’s the problem?” I asked.
“Lack of information.”
I scrubbed a hand down my face, weary and wound up. “We don’t know shit.”
“Maybe we’d know more if you didn’t kill the fucker,” Manic deadpanned.
I lifted my middle finger. “Fuck off.”
“This isn’t a coincidence,” Maddog began, popping the top off a beer. He took a swallow and continued, ignoring our jabs. “There’s too many things crossing over for it to be random.”
“I agree. The Serpents. Their attack on the nurse, Phyllis, who helped Blair, the woman trying to find her missing friend. The missing friend, Bells, an heiress, who was last seen with Mateo. Mateo Ruiz, the fucking cocksucker who beat up Blair.”
“And then there’s the incident with your mom,” Maddog added.
Manic rose a brow.
“She was murdered by a rival club when my dad was the V.P. for the Serpents.”
Manic picked up a metal lighter and played with it, flicking it open and closed. “We need to know how Mateo Ruiz is connected to the Serpents. He’s the missing link.”
I nodded. “You’re right. He’s got to be in with them. But why? Drugs? Pussy?”
“Any of it. Maybe that and more.”
“We need to do some digging,” Maddog agreed.
“Who do we know that’s an IT genius other than Firewall? I’m no good at hacking or searching the dark web,” I admitted. “My fucking coffee maker is too complicated for me.”
Maddog snorted. “I’ve seen that shit.”
Manic snickered.
“Firewall won’t be here for another month. He’s gotta lock shit down with his ex and his kid first.”
Yeah, no help there.
“I’ll still see what he can do,” Maddog promised. “You never know what he’ll find.”
True.
“I can talk to my dad,” I offered. “See what he thinks. Maybe there’s something from the past that we’re missing. A clue to help find who’s behind all this shit and how Mateo Ruiz is involved.”
“Smart. Do it. If there’s anything worth remembering, I’m sure Titan will think of it.”
“But we’re still in the same fucking spot,” Manic pointed out. “We don’t know shit.”
The door to the chapel opened and smacked against the wall. We turned, rising to our feet as Skel entered.
“You fuckers look cozy.”
Skeletor. My father’s oldest friend. “Good to see you, brother,” I greeted him as we hugged, and he slapped me on the back.
“You grew up, Creature. Look too much like your old man did at that age.”
I laughed. “I heard all he did was chase tail until he met my mother.”
Skel shook his head. “He was a pussy magnet. Crazy times, man.” He ticked his chin at Maddog. “Heard you needed the best, so I came.”
“Shit,” Maddog laughed. “You haven’t changed at all.”
“Never plan to either.”
Maddog gestured at Manic. “This is our S.A.A., Manic. He’s a tough fucker. You’ll like him.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Skel took a seat beside me as we all returned to our chairs. “Who’s the hired gun out there?”
“Didn’t want to leave the women vulnerable, so I called in a favor. Chip is an old friend. I trust him.”
That settled it. None of us would argue with our new pres about it. If he felt Chip could protect the women while we finished church, I trusted his decision. All three of us did.
Maddog filled Skel in on our discussion prior to his arrival.
“We gotta do some intel. We don’t have enough information to make a choice right now, and making the wrong one could take a brother’s life. I ain’t risking that.”
“Agreed,” Maddog answered, “but you’ve got the advantage. Whoever snuck in here knows what we all look like. My guess is we’ve been followed. They’ve got surveillance on us. We need to shut this shit down. Fast.”
“Let me take a crack at it,” Skel offered. “You’re right. I got the advantage. I can show my face around Vegas, and no one knows me or my agenda. I don’t have a cut yet, so I can blend in.”
“You don’t fucking blend in anywhere,” I laughed, taking in his appearance.
Skel’s numerous facial tattoos, including a spider and a blade pointing down his left cheek, were memorable.
Same with the giant skeleton inked across his right arm from shoulder to wrist. Not to mention his fetish with masks.
He grinned. “Only with the ladies.”
Guffaws erupted around the table.
“Let me do this, Maddog. You wanted me here. Let me prove I’m worth it.”
Maddog nodded. “Do it.”
He picked up the gavel and slammed it down. “Church is dismissed.”
I left first, reaching for my phone. I slid across the screen and dialed my dad’s number.
He picked up on the third ring. “Hey, Balen.”
“Hi, Dad. You free tonight?”
“Sure. No plans.”
“I wanna bring by my girl.”
He chuckled. “She a good cook?”
I laughed at that. “Not sure yet. I’ll bring dinner.”
“I can rustle something up.”
No. He didn’t need to go through all that effort. It was too much for him.
“I got it, Dad. You feel like that Italian place you love? Or you want to grill some steaks with me?”
“Steaks,” he answered without hesitation. “And bring fresh mushrooms.”
“Loaded baked potatoes?”
“Any other way to have them?”
Nope. “I’ll bring what we need.”
“I can handle it. Don’t mind at all.”
I knew he didn’t. That wasn’t the point. “You’ve been taking care of me my whole life. It’s time I returned the favor and spoiled ya a bit.”
I could almost hear his smile. “Alright. I’m sold.”
“Good. We’ll be there about five.”
“See ya then.”
He hung up and I pocketed my cell, turning toward the kitchen. I could hear feminine laughter and wondered if Blair was having a good time. I hoped so. She needed it.
I only took a few steps when I saw a car pull close to the building and park. Phyllis exited and clutched her purse as she walked toward the door.
Shit. Was she here to check on Blair? Or did the Serpents fuck with her again?
I opened the door before she could knock. “Hey, Phyllis. You okay?”
There wasn’t a doubt when I got a good look at her face. She seemed upset.
“Come in. Let’s grab some coffee.”
She sighed, walking inside before I shut the door.
I gestured to the kitchen, and she followed, entering ahead of me.
“Phyllis!” Blair exclaimed. “It’s so great to see you. I’m glad you stopped by.”
I strolled in, approached Blair, and popped a kiss on her lips. “Phyllis isn’t here for a social visit. Something happened.”
Phyllis glared at me. Damn, that woman was spunky.
“I did come for a social visit and to check on Blair. That’s just not the only reason.”
Uh-huh.
I slid an arm around Blair. She leaned into me, and I couldn’t help bringing her closer, almost getting lost in how good she smelled.
“They were outside the hospital,” she informed me. “The same leather vests with patches and the sword with the serpent on it.” She blinked, and I could tell that she was fighting tears. “I don’t understand what they want from me.”
Blair rushed to Phyllis, enveloping her in a hug. “We’ll figure it out. Maddog, Manic, and Creature will keep us safe.”
“And Skel,” I added. “He just got in.”
Realizing we didn’t make introductions, I ticked my chin at Lark. “That’s Lark, the president’s ol’ lady.”
She waved.
“And this is Manic’s ol’ lady, Bianca. Not sure why she puts up with him,” I laughed.
Bianca snickered. “Hi, Phyllis.”
Now that was done, I could focus on her news. “How many Serpents MC members were there? Any of them stand out?” Blair returned to my side, and I reached for her hand, threading our fingers.
Phyllis shook her head. “Four. I didn’t notice anything unusual, just the leather vests they wore. They were waiting for me.”
Lark filled a mug with coffee and handed it to Phyllis.
She accepted it, holding it in her hands as she stared into the cup. “I guess I should mention that one of those club members was injured recently. He came into the ER covered in blood. They said it was a drive-by shooting, but I knew it wasn’t.”
“Anything happen to make them upset with you?” I asked. It sure sounded like something went down.
“No.”
“You have an altercation with any of them?”
She lifted her head, staring into my eyes. “No, Creature.”
I didn’t like this. Why the fuck would they care about a middle-aged nurse? She was a pretty blonde. Slender. But there had to be more.
“The only thing I can think of is that they don’t like my brother.”
“Your brother?”
She nodded. “He’s ten years younger than me. Always so busy. I never see him much.”
A funny feeling swirled in my gut.
“What’s his name?”
“Roderick. Roderick Paul.”
Blair sucked in a breath.
Well, shit just got more complicated.