Chapter 42
Vienna
Dante called church around an hour after Darwin was patched, wanting to catch up before the party got too rowdy.
As everyone took their seats, Dante completed his ritual of pulling out his smokes and placing them in the middle, the next one half pulled out of the carton in silent invitation.
“Right,” he said, sparking up his cigarette and getting right into it. “There’s no point messing around, lads. There’s a party happening out there, and I know you’re all eager to get back into it. So, what do we know, and what don’t we know?”
“I took Kourtney and her mum back home this morning,” Chris said.
“Good. What’s the latest?”
“James and Greg had already made sure the place was cleared up before we got there. She seemed alright going into the house, and the kid ran off straight away. Seems getting rid of that cunt was a weight off their shoulders.”
Dante shrugged. “I’m sure no one will miss him.”
“Exactly. I did manage to speak to a couple of the neighbours. Seems the boyfriend didn’t have any connections that we know of. He was just another scumbag, and this was just a good deed. No benefit to us.”
“Aw, Dante, they’re your favourite deeds,” I grinned, nudging him with my elbow.
Dante scoffed. “What else?”
“I spoke to Bambi,” Riley said. “Seems Nico has been trying to pull in a few favours with his contacts on the inside. We still have the monopoly over Wakefield prison, so nothing has got past Waltzer, who in turn has told Bambi everything. Two men associated with Nico had their throats slit in the middle of the night. Warden marked it as suicide.”
“Excellent,” Dante nodded, taking another draw of his smoke. “Does anyone have any info on Nico’s whereabouts?”
“He’s been seen hanging around Greasy a lot,” Greg said. “I don’t think he knew about mine and Beth’s relationship, but he damned sure recognised the logo on my bike. He scarpered and if he’s been around again, he’s been much more discreet.”
“Beth good?” Dante asked.
“Yeah, brother. She told me to pass on that she’s grateful you actually taught her how to throw a right hook now. Nasty one as well, it is,” he said with twisted lips, rubbing the right side of his jaw.
“She was a fast learner,” Dante laughed.
And that was the amazing thing about this club. Even knowing Dante was Beth’s ex, there was no awkwardness, no tense moments. It was a moment in history that had no effect present day relationships.
Unless, of course, someone—meaning me—felt like stirring the pot.
Which I didn’t.
For now.
“We’re running low on supplies, boss,” Doc said, helping himself to one of the smokes.
“Between dealing with those girls you saved, dealing with this idiot here,” he said, jabbing his thumb in my direction.
“As well as other general scrapes and cuts, I’m seeing the bottom of my medical box for the first time in a while. ”
“Make a list of what you need and give it to Hacksaw,” Dante said. “Can you get the funding approved immediately?”
“Can do, boss,” Hacksaw nodded. “If it’s easier, he can go buy the shit, send me the receipts, and I can reimburse him.”
“Whatever works. Pivot or Mike can collect for you, Doc, if that helps?” Dante asked.
“Aye, aye, I’m easy,” Doc waved the discussion away.
“Great. Sort it out amongst yourselves then. Anyone else?”
“I actually can’t help with the supplies,” Mike said, shocking the shit out of all of us.
A prospect denying an order. This was getting interesting.
“What’s your reasoning?” Dante asked.
“I’ve actually received a message on Facebook from a woman I used to date. She knows I’m prospecting—though I haven’t told her much, keeping within the club guidelines. She’s seen the cut,” he shrugged.
“I’m failing to see the relevance here.”
“Well…” he grinned. “She thinks Nico is shagging her roommate.”
“I think we found the relevance,” I said, nodding my head in approval.
“You’re relieved of all duties for the foreseeable,” Dante said. “I want all your focus on this, Mike.”
“Can do, boss,” he said, practically preening under Dante’s attention.
“You have presidential permission to remove your cut where necessary. Wine her, dine her, make her feel like the goddamn world starts and ends with her. Hell, wine and dine the roommate as well, for all I care. Get what you need and report back to me instantly. Doesn’t matter the time of day.”
“Roger that.”
“Anyone else?”
The room stayed quiet.
“I’m about to bring this to an end, brothers,” he warned, his gavel hovering in the air.
I looked around the table, seeing open and honest faces. Dante looked at me and I nodded, letting him know that I was happy with where we were at. No one seemed to be hiding anything.
“Well, if that’s everything, I think this brings the meeting to an end.”
He banged his gavel on the table. “Let’s go fuck some shit up, brothers.”