Chapter 25
BLAIZE
It was silent when I walked through the front doors. The look on my face was enough to petrify the scariest biker in this town, and the next three over. Everyone knew who the fuck Blaize Matthews was, and my pussy didn’t change anything.
I controlled the drug traffic. If anyone pissed me off little enough that I wouldn’t slit their throat or blow their brains out, I’d stop the shipment of their drugs.
One thing the gangs loved more than money was their fucking cocaine.
They had already lost their pride long ago when I took control.
These men didn’t like a woman in control until they saw the bloodshed on the streets inflicted by me.
The table inside held my crew, with three big burly men covered in tattoos at the opposite end, and on the screen were two more from a few towns over.
They watched me cautiously as I walked through the room with my head held high until I took my seat at the front of the table where everyone could see me.
“The last person who fucked with my business got his dick cut off before I burned his house to the ground. Do we think it’s funny messing with me?
Do you think this is some kind of sick game?
Just because I’m a woman, you men think you can walk all over me?
” One of the men scoffed, and I glared at the balding man.
The leader of the Roseridge Black Roses was a middle-aged man—maybe in his late fifties if I guessed, but I didn’t care enough to ask—who hated women in authority.
He learned quickly that if my leadership and rules were an issue, he could kiss my fucking ass.
I didn’t tolerate any disobedience in any of my territories, and sadly for him, Roseridge was my fucking territory.
Destroying the other gangs when I took command would’ve been the best move, but keeping them around allowed me to use them for things I wanted to avoid, like the drug trade.
I leaned on my elbows, waiting for him to say something.
Jethro was old school, stuck in the early seventies when the only use a woman had was the treasure between her legs.
He needed to get out of the misogyny that was deeply rooted in his veins.
I made my reign known, and some of the leaders in the surrounding territories under Elijah’s control—like Jethro—refused to listen to a woman.
Not only did I cut off his drug shipment, but I kicked his ass, leaving him humiliated in front of his people.
He had to walk back to his wife with his dick tucked between his legs.
He learned real quick to stand in line and shut his mouth like a good boy.
“I can just put a bullet in your skull and keep the money and drugs for myself.” He broke eye contact and turned his head. “Shut up, Jethro, unless I fucking tell you to talk. Manners go a long way.”
He gave me a tight smile before grumbling, “Yes, Blaize.”
A laugh erupted from the tension. The leader of Bellevue Outlaws, Damon—one of the only leaders I was remotely close with, at least on the west coast—folded his arms as he leaned back into his chair. “Ole Jethro, don’t you learn, man? Didn’t that ass whoopin’ tell you anything in the beginning?”
This room was filled with people who tolerated each other, and I was certain more than the majority still despised a woman in power.
I could see it when I told them to do certain things.
When they got punished for being heathens.
I could see the rage in their eyes. I allowed the men to control their territories how they wanted, but of course, there were rules.
I allowed them to sell their drugs, to use my port to gain access to them, and to lead.
I didn’t tolerate rape or assault of any kind from anyone.
And if I found out one of those men was doing anything like that, I made a show of their death.
I needed more women in power. Maybe I needed to take a rule out of Cinder’s book and have a woman and non-binary only motorcycle club.
Hawke could have his club back, and I could still rule with an iron fist. I wished Hunter liked the dirty work of the motorcycle club, but she preferred the club life.
She helped murder people from time to time, but it was her way of releasing her trauma when sex wasn’t enough.
“I don’t have time for theatrics or smart remarks.
I don’t care how you still feel about being under a woman’s control.
It’s been five years, get the fuck over it.
My dick is bigger than anyone’s in this room, and I’m not afraid to show you.
Now tell me who the fuck thinks it’s a funny idea to bring Elijah West back from the dead? ”
Everyone looked around, silent.
“He’s dead. No one really supported Elijah’s tactics. Only went along so the psycho wouldn’t kill us,” Damon spoke up. “I’ll deal with drugs and legal prostitution all day long, but sex trade with the unwilling? Hell no.”
“There were only a few leaders who participated, but you killed them that night, too,” Vincent, the leader of the Crimson Wolves, grumbled. His brother sided with Elijah, and sibling relationships often ignited desires for revenge.
“Your brother betrayed me. Are you joining in his footsteps?”
He leaned on his elbows. “He got what he deserved. Blood or not, he knew how I felt about the sex trade. Elijah took my brother and my little sister away from me. I’m not mad about his death or Elijah’s. Kate was the innocent that died that night.”
I gave him a stiff nod. Elijah managed to burn a shipment container that had a dozen women inside. I was too late to save them, and every one of them burned to death. “I’m sorry I couldn't save her. I live with those demons nightly, but he suffered. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Why are we here, Blaize?” Jethro asked.
I slammed the pictures of my burnt hotel down with his symbol. “Someone wants to send a message. Thankfully, I had to close my hotel, so no one was inside. I want to know who is trying to bring this bastard back from the dead, and I want to know it now.”
Damon grabbed the pictures. “This could be anyone. I’ll look into it on my side; I can recruit some of my friends.”
“Ask your friends why the fuck the FBI is snooping around my operations, too.” He nodded.
“That’s going to be it for today. I want any information you can gather on this situation.
If I find out anyone is hiding anything from me, I will slit your throats.
I don’t like traitors.” They all nodded, and I left the room.
I was going to close the club this weekend.
It would take a chunk out of my profits, but I needed to deal with this first.