Chapter 8
EIGHT
MAVERICK
Lone Wolf sits across from me in the office, talking about a dancer he’s been keeping an eye on at Peaches.
He knows the rules; getting involved with any of the women at the club is strictly off-limits.
If something went south, it’d be a disaster, and I don’t have time for that kind of mess.
Our job is to protect them while they’re on stage and make sure they’re treated with respect.
On top of their tips, I make sure they get a proper wage so they can support themselves.
Some of them have kids, and the last thing I want is for them to worry about anything while they’re working for me.
Obviously, there are exceptions to some rules, so when Lone asked for a meeting with me, Steel, and Nightmare, I knew there was more going on than he was letting on.
Even after his punishment and his promise to get back on track, his head’s been out of the game all week.
It’s time to figure out what’s really going on with him and what’s got him so distracted.
“Prez, we got a situation with one of the girls at Peaches. I know we’re not supposed to get involved with the girls, but I had to,” he starts off, obviously torn about what’s going on with her while trying to adhere to the club rules. “Bianca, the redhead, has been having trouble with her ex.”
“What kind of trouble?” I inquire, sitting forward in my chair, preparing for whatever it is I’m about to hear.
“Word is, he’s been showing up at the club after hours, causing problems. A couple of the other girls said they’ve seen bruises on her lately. She’s been tryin' to hide it, but it’s pretty obvious.”
This news gets my attention because the women at the club are supposed to come to us with any problems they’re having in or outside the club.
“That fucker’s been roughin’ her up. He shows up drunk, waits for her outside, and grabs her. She tried to handle it on her own, but he’s not backing off. Even followed her home a couple times. She’s scared, man.”
“Why didn’t she come to us about this?”
“When I pulled her aside to ask, she said her pride got in the way and she didn’t want to ask for help or cause issues. But it’s getting worse, and if we don’t step in, it’s only a matter of time before something bad happens.”
“Is this why you’ve been so distracted?”
With his head lowered in shame, he mutters,
“Yeah, Prez, it is. I thought it was a minor situation where I could rough him up and he would leave her alone, but, turns out, he’s a member of the Road Reapers.”
Well, fuck! That’s a big ass problem. The Reapers are an MC located in south Georgia and always in trouble with the law. Known for taking over small towns, they brag about killing, raping, and robbing people who can’t defend themselves. Needless to say, they’ve never tried that shit here.
“Alright. We’ll handle it. Nobody messes with our people and lives. Make sure she’s safe until we get this taken care of,” I assure him, thinking we should bump up security at the club. Maybe hire some outside people to free up some of my guys.
“Since you mentioned it, do you mind if I bring her here so I can better protect her? I know it’s a big ask considering I fucked up with the drug runner, but I won’t be able to protect her if she’s at her place.”
“Let me think about it and I’ll have an answer for you soon. In the meantime, make sure she gets home safely and try to keep your distance, Lone. Understood?”
As if I have any right to talk or stop him from moving her in. Even though Ember doesn’t live here, I not only fell in love with her… I married her. So yeah, I’ve got no room to judge him.
“Understood, Prez,” he replies, rising from the chair.
“And if he shows up again, make sure he knows exactly what happens when you mess with someone under our protection.”
“Glad to,” he says, walking toward the door, grinning like he hopes that motherfucker tries him.
When it rains it fucking pours, I think to myself as Lone leaves, no doubt heading to pick up Bianca.
Although he said he would keep his distance, that look in his eyes said it was already too late.
That will have to be tabled for now because we have bigger fish to fry.
Just when Nightmare, Steel, and I start devising a plan, my phone vibrates on my desk.
Seeing that it’s Becks, I immediately answer.
“Tell me you got news.”
“Hell yeah, I do. Caught this asshole at a motel about thirty minutes from the Georgia line. He’s not talking, but I figured you’d want to handle this personally.”
“You figured right,” I say, feeling slightly relieved that we’re making some headway with this thing. “We’ll be there soon.”
“I’ve got him locked up tight. Paid the front desk lady a grand to keep her mouth shut if she got any noise complaints from this room. It shouldn’t be too hard to crack him, though.”
“Good. Keep him breathing until we get there. I want answers, not a corpse.”
“Understood,” he laughs. “I’ll make sure he’s ready for you.”
After jotting down the address, I round up Avalanche, Hellhound, Demolition and Dementor, letting them know that we’re about to take a ride.
I leave Steel and Nightmare in charge. Telling them to hunker down just in case some shit pops off.
Accessing the cameras at the house, I see that Ember and Londyn are watching a movie in the living room.
Piper is nestled right in between them. My heart settles a little, but I have to wonder why the Savage Knights would send a lone rider ahead.
While I’m sure he’s scouting for them, checking to see when is the best opportunity to strike, something’s not right.
We’re just turning out of the compound when we’re stopped short by a few cars and an SUV, their headlights obscuring my vision so I couldn’t tell who was driving.
I have a pretty good idea of who it is, but I don’t know why they would show up at my clubhouse unannounced.
The door of the SUV opens and the cars follow suit, slamming doors, walking to stand in a united front.
Sure enough, it’s Stack’s big brother, Legion.
He’s a scary son of a bitch but he’s no match for us, and I really have no time for this bullshit retaliation attempt.
Cutting our engines, we sit and wait for them to make the first move, not bothering to dismount.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t come for you, Maverick?” He asks, voice a little shaky, but bold. “You thought I would let that shit slide?”
“Legion, I really don’t have time for this. You got something to say, say it and get the fuck off my property!” I tell him, the warning clear in my tone. He may intimidate his minions and everyone else in his neighborhood, but he’s just an annoying fly to me.
“Do I have something to say?” He scoffs, looking to the sky and shaking his head.
“Oh, I got plenty to say. First, you take our corners, push us out of the business. Then, you cross the line and put a knife through my brother’s skull.
You know this doesn’t end with just talk.
Stack’s death, the business… all of it, this is war now. You sure you're ready for that?”
“You mean the street rat who thought he could cut my shit, lace it, and sell it behind our backs? His first mistake was thinking he could get away with it. He fucked around and found out he messed with the wrong one,” I tell him, my tolerance level diminishing because I don’t explain myself to anyone.
“What you’re gonna learn here today, just like your brother, is that I’m always ready little boy. ”
“That wasn’t your call to make! Stacks was following my orders and you don’t have a right to play judge and executioner. Now you're taking over our turf, moving weight like it’s your own shit!”
“Hold on a fucking minute. You mean to tell me you had your brother cut my shit to recover the chump change you were making and you didn’t think about who you were fucking with?
” My guys and I laugh, wondering what the hell they were thinking.
Everyone and I mean every single person in the SWATs knows who we are and not to cross us.
“Listen, asshole, I don’t owe you a damn thing, so last warning…
get the fuck off my property!” I threaten, no longer amused with this disruption in my day.
“You want to fight for your little drug empire, or you just here to cry about it?”
He has the nerve to walk toward me, like he’s ready to do something stupid. “Your brother sure as hell ain’t coming back from where he is, so what exactly are you here for? If it’s blood, it won’t be mine spilling tonight.”
The sound of the gate to the compound creaking open catches their attention, causing them to shift nervously.
I’m pretty sure Avalanche sent a text to Nightmare to rally everyone at the entrance.
This amateur and his sorry ass crew is about to learn a harsh lesson in picking the wrong fight.
Nightmare knows not to kill them, but these fuckers are in for a beat down they won’t soon forget.
The tension in the air thickens as my guys flood through the gate, surrounding us.
The look of ‘we’re fucked’ on Legion’s face makes the start of my evening that much sweeter.
Just the kind of energy I need to get in the right headspace for getting the information I’m after tonight.
“Nightmare, make sure they get the message; never show their faces here again,” I say as the rest of the guys and I fire up our engines, ready to roll out. Over the roar, I shout to Legion, “I’d stick around for the show, but I’ve got my own business to handle. You boys enjoy your night.”