Chapter Four.
Falcon
Calamity was released about an hour after I arrived and hadn’t been charged.
Luca told Calamity to keep his mouth shut and not speak to the cops without representation.
He also claimed Cates was fishing, but he’d got the sense she was ticking boxes and wasn’t looking at us.
It didn’t matter. The trust we’d been building had been shattered, and Cates would now have to bend over backwards to make shit right.
Still fuming, I glanced up as I caught sight of De Janeiro heading towards me. “Veep, I just heard.”
“Yeah. Prez hasn’t been charged.”
“Carter was involved with out-of-towners. Some men from Watertown. There was a sudden influx of drugs before the club moved here, and Carter was rumoured to be behind it. He began spending money he couldn’t have earned from the scrapyard,” De Janeiro said.
“What happened?” I asked, knowing there was more.
“Carter had free rein because it’s Ortonville and we don’t have gangs.
Cates is shit hot on narcotics and arrested the dealers.
Next thing we knew, Appleton, Dawson, Benson, Montevideo all had a different supplier.
Drugs had been virtually shut down in those places, but around eight/nine months ago new pushers had popped up.
And in Wilmar, rivals eliminated another.
Suddenly, a completely new gang appeared, armed and ready to fight.
Bodies dropped, but the police couldn’t prove anything,” De Janeiro said.
“They still in Wilmar?” I asked.
“Yes, there’s a gang running narcotics. Gossip says the cops can’t find the pipeline, but there’s allegedly been supply problems. Veep, I don’t have any specifics,” De Janeiro sounded apologetic.
Turning, I looked over the Peninsula. “Water. They’re using the lake to move the drugs. Safer than the road because the Coast Guard isn’t here and neither are the state troopers. We moved in and fucked their route.”
“Yeah. Quite likely. Which means one of the people fuckin’ with us could be a dealer,” De Janeiro replied.
“Why didn’t you mention this before?”
“I didn’t think it was relevant. It’s all rumours and fairy tales. But now Carter’s dead? You need to know.”
“Thanks, brother,” I said and headed towards the clubhouse. Calamity needed to hear this and then ask why the fuck Cates had questioned us first.
Rosie
Finally, I took an afternoon off. Klutz was covering me, and I was meeting Penny, Aurora-Victoria, Grace, and Oakley. We’d planned some girl time, lunch, and a browse through town. We headed to a local restaurant but stopped when Oakley paused in front of the Bath and Body Shop.
“I just need to grab some magnolia lotion, is that okay?” Oakley asked.
“Sure,” I replied.
“I’ll be five minutes,” Oakley said, and I laughed as the others chased after her. Oakley wouldn’t be that quick; more like at least half an hour. Lunch was going to be late.
I followed them in and picked up on the vibe at once. While they browsed the shelves, the woman at the counter—Jess, the owner—sent daggers our way. Jess’s eyes narrowed, and she was biting her lip. That was strange, considering we’d shopped in here a few times.
“Problem?” I confronted her, and Jess’s lip curled in a snarl.
“You’re banned,” Jess said and waved at a sign stating she had the right to refuse service.
The old ladies paused as customers stared.
“Can I ask why?”
“Because we don’t want your kind in here,” Jess retorted.
“A taxpayer?” I taunted, amused. I guessed where she was heading with this.
“A slut for those criminals,” she hissed.
The old ladies drew in their breaths sharply.
A haughty smile crossed my lips. “A slut?”
“Yeah. We’re decent folk here, and now one of our own is dead, and your pimps are behind it,” Jess continued. Several people made noises, some in agreement, others horrified.
“Ah, I see. In that case, don’t bring your cat to my practice again.”
Jess drew back as shock rose.
Then I added, “Not even in an emergency because I won’t treat it.”
Jess cut me off. “But there isn’t…”
“Excuse me, I hadn’t finished. I don’t care if there isn’t another veterinarian around because, like you, I can be a cunt and refuse service, just like you.
Calamity was questioned because Carter Smith used to work at the scrapyard before we bought it.
Carter’s never worked for Rage MC. And judging by the rumours, your upright citizen was heavily into drug running. Something we aren’t…”
“Says you!” Jess interrupted.
“Says the sheriff’s office. In fact, since Rage moved here, drug usage has significantly dropped.
Maybe because we made it clear we won’t tolerate drugs in our hometown.
Cates asked a few questions before sending Calamity, my husband, home to my bed.
Calling Calam my pimp only shows your own twisted mind.
I wear a wedding ring proudly. My husband has never been convicted of a crime and is lauded as a hero for staying to defend a town when he was a civilian.
“Calam nearly died there, shot through the throat and was bleeding out. If not for his brother holding the two ends of his jugular vein, Calamity would have been dead. My man is not a criminal, you judgemental cunt. But don’t worry.
You wanna be poisonous, fine. I’m surprised you can turn away our custom, considering the cost-of-living today.
But we’ll take our wages elsewhere. And trust me, it’s very hard-earned lying on our backs all day and not going out running businesses,” I sneered.
Everyone watching knew we were hard workers. But prejudice is just that.
“Come on, we’ll head over to Moon Showers. From now on, this establishment is blacklisted,” I announced.
“Think that bothers me?” Jess jeered.
The smug smile crossed my lips again. “It’s not only old ladies who buy here linked to Rage. It’s our employees, their spouses, families, and so on. Word of mouth is a bitch. I give you six months before you’re closing shop.”
A woman who’d been listening put her basket down, which was quite full, and left. Two further women did the same.
Jess paled as she suddenly realised what I was saying and what she was witnessing. She’d expected the town to stand with her, and it was clear not everyone would. Before Jess could say another word, I exited the shop.
“Let’s head to Moon Showers and be prepared to spend, girls,” I ordered.
Oakley rubbed her hands together. “I’m always ready for that!” She grinned.
The owner of Moon Showers looked up as we entered. New to town, Natalie had struggled with gaining customers, as The Bath and Body Shop had been established for several years. We had tried to shop fairly between the two establishments, but screw that.
“Hi! Welcome to my store! Today I’m giving a free soap with every purchase over forty bucks,” Natalie said, her smile forced but genuine. Sales hadn’t been great for her, I guessed. Well, Natalie’s luck was about to change.
“Girl, you better have some cardboard boxes out there, bag’s won’t be enough!
” Penny warned with a grin as we grabbed baskets.
I sent a text to Mina, Carmelle, Demi, and Amberlea telling them to get down here and spend.
Natalie was flabbergasted as they turned up, and after telling them what had happened, they rolled up their sleeves and started shopping in earnest. Mina, Aurora, and Grace, all with large social media followings, posted videos about where they bought their items from.
“Wow, I can’t believe you did that!” Natalie gasped.
“You’ve got an online presence?” Mina asked, and Natalie nodded, and Mina posted again, standing by an amazing display of bath bombs.
“My fame comes in handy sometimes,” Grace replied, grinning.
She’d been famous for bashing her ex-husband over the head with a leg of lamb.
He’d been drugging her and cheating on her with her friend.
Grace had taken offence to that and brained him.
He’d survived, and she became infamous for it, with most taking her side.
Everyone agreed Savage was damn brave for being with her.
“Yup, being notorious helps.” Mina chuckled, and donned her glasses and baseball cap again. She’d removed them to film.
Natalie was stunned stupid when we racked up seven thousand dollars’ worth of damage between us. She kept apologising for not having enough large bags, and in the end, we stole some empty boxes to put the haul in.
“Calam, we need a couple of prospects with SUVs,” I announced, calling him.
“Making a statement, are you?” he asked, chuckling.
“Yup.” I wasn’t going to ask how Calamity already knew. He was my husband; nothing surprised me.
“Have fun,” he said and cut the call.
Fuck, I loved my man.
Falcon
I wiped my brow as I paused my jog. Three miles every morning or night.
It didn’t matter which, as long as I ran.
Today was warm, and I was working up a sweat.
Although early evening, the sun remained bright and high in the sky, not helping matters at all.
I was drinking from my water bottle and getting ready to continue when I heard shouting.
I looked around and finally spotted seven kids near the riverbank.
Prepared to ignore them, thinking they were playing, I caught a frightened squeal, which made me glance again.
The boys surrounded a smaller one, and one shoved him hard, making him fall.
That I would not accept. One on one, fine, seven on one?
Hell no. I jogged towards them, and the victim was kicked while on the ground.
Two of the bigger assholes picked him up and dragged him into the water while he yelled and tried to get free.
The names and insults they were shouting were awful, and I bet the poor boy had to be devastated. He was sobbing as I approached.
“That’s fuckin’ enough!” I roared, and the bullies jumped. They peered over their shoulder and fled—not before pushing the victim into the river. Little bastards.
Quickly, I ran down the bank where the kid was splashing around and hauled him out. He was crying so much that I was unsure what to do.