22. Hawg
HAWG
Pearl calls early church and while the ladies are busy in the club, I have a few of my recruits guard the front while Carver and I flip some burgers on the grill and have a couple beers in the back.
“I talked to Ryker a few minutes ago. He and Capone filled the Larussios in on the dope that the DeSantis family were using the Scorpions to run.
“Apparently, they’re paying the DeSantis Family a little visit to make sure they get a lesson in listening the first time.
Matteo Larussio told Capone to tell us personally not to worry about the dope.
The DeSantis family and the Scorpions won’t be coming after it or leaning on Shine or her family anymore in the future.
I told Pearl and she was going to let the ladies know at church today.
The Larussios are putting pressure on them and they’ve got our backs. ”
“Fucking excellent news,” I say, pulling some of the burgers off and into a pan before laying out another round.
“Now all we have to deal with are the Desert Riders. I’ve been thinking about them and their threats against Pearl.
We’re going to have to stay diligent, but she and Onyx aren’t going to take kindly to being on lockdown for long.
We’re going to have to go on offense here instead of waiting for the bastards to make a play. ”
Carver laughs. “You’ve got that right. She was fucking furious with Onyx for going off on her own, but she’d be the first one to do the same damn thing herself.”
That’s a fucking fact. “One of my guys got the location to one of the houses they’ve been holing up in and it’s not too far away. It may be time for a little visit because I don’t want those fuckers coming anywhere near Onyx and wherever Pearl is, Onyx is sure to be.”
He pulls a beer from the cooler, hands me one, and pops the top on his. “You and Onyx? That’s been coming for a while?”
I grin. “Ever since I saw those flashing green eyes, but it took me a while to get out of my own head. Her too, I think. We’re in a good place now.”
He takes a sip of his beer and nods. “A couple of headstrong women we’ve managed to wrangle.”
“That’s a fact.”
Carver tips the top of his beer my way, clinking our bottles. “To good friends and strong women who keep us on our toes.”
“I can’t fucking argue with that.”
I flip the burgers and put the grill top down to let them cook a little. “Did Pearl tell you that Duchess asked them if they would be willing to take Lacey into the club? I guess she’s looking to come back, really liked it here.”
He nods. “Pearl said she was gonna put it to a vote with the ladies today at church. It’s bound to be a long one because my little woman has a whole lot to say.”
Pearl is a force to be reckoned with, that’s for damn sure.
“When you find out when this arrival is supposed to take place, let me know. I want to bring my VP, Taze over and show him the ropes when the Harlots send out a truckload of girls who need safe haven or bring someone in. Just in case he needs to help out in the future, good to have a few backups.”
“Roger that,” Carver says, uncovering the burgers so I can add the rest of them to the pan.
We take the meat and a couple beers into the kitchen and enlist the help of a couple recruits to cut up the onions and tomatoes.
No sense getting our hands dirty when we are constantly trying to find them something to do.
One of them gives me a grin, like he fucking likes kitchen work, while the other one tries to hide the tightening of his jaw.
He’s not fooling me none at all.
Resentment, low level work for low level recruits.
It’s the kind of reaction I’m looking for because I don’t fucking need attitude like that on my crew.
But I’ll keep testing and keep watching.
Only the right fits are going to make the cut for the Royal Bastards and if this fucker keeps this up, he’ll be out on his ass within the month.
We hear the ladies cheer loudly. The pulled screen between the bar and the larger dance and stage area where they meet may keep the ability to be seen out, but the sound of the loud applause seeps right into the bar and kitchen area.
I grin. “Guess church is out. Let’s get those tomatoes and onions ready, pop open some pickles and get the buns and macaroni salad out. We’re going to have some hungry ladies who have been working hard to solve the problems of the world and are going to need a little lunch.”
Side glancing at the recruit to see his reaction, he turns away before I can see if I’m rattling his cage.
I’ll keep trying, not done with you yet, boy.
The ladies roll out of the meeting and their eyes light up as they see the feast we’ve set out on the bar.
Skye walks toward me. “Onyx told me about the two of you. Sorry if I thought the worst of you. But you do need to lay the law down over there and tell those bunnies to stop spreading rumors that aren’t true. ”
She’s not wrong. It’s crossed my mind more than a couple times today. If they’re going to hang out in the bar, they’re going to have to learn a little respect and I’ll make sure they know it after today.
Shine walks toward the spread, all alone, still subdued and emotionally flat, but at least she’s out of that damn room and getting in line to grab a plate. To have someone you care about turn on you in that way has to hurt. No matter what we think of the fuck, he was someone to her once.
Onyx and Pearl walk out, heads together talking low, before looking up to see the ladies piling food high onto their plates, laughing and talking amongst each other.
Those green eyes meet mine, a small smile of happiness plays over her features, and I have the strongest desire to see that little look over and over again.