Chapter 24
FINGER
This morning, I gave Cilla a ‘good morning and see you later’ that she won’t forget for a long time. I’d get myself a badge stating I’m the Orgasm King, but alas, yeah, I’m being dramatic. Cilla wasn’t into that, and I did laugh at her expression when I suggested it.
I walk into church, but not a meeting, it’s just the largest room for the blueprints to be laid out for all of us to study. The damn thing is hard to understand at first glance. There are lines, symbols, and comments all over it.
All officers and Pres are here checking it out, and I’m listening to what they all are saying.
Gradually I fully understand what I’m looking at.
“I want that suite,” I state clearly as I point at one at the end of the second floor.
It has a view of the front of the clubhouse and a side view over the compound but looks over the landscape which I know Cilla will enjoy.
“Why do you want a suite when you have a house with Cilla?” Hot Rod asks. I admit not negatively, but he asked!
“I know Cilla has a house, but sometimes we will need to be here. Let’s be honest, I am the enforcer, so I need to be here during the day most of the time. If we have a lockdown, I need a place where I can keep Cilla safe.”
Tracker steps in. “No problem, Finger. You take that suite. It’s not an issue, is it, Hot Rod?” We all clocked the tone of his voice.
I look over at Hot Rod, who has a shocked look on his face. “Hey, I meant nothing bad by asking. I just thought they didn’t need one. But hearing what Finger said I understand and fully agree. I would step in front of a bullet for Cilla. She is our first old lady, and we need to keep her safe.”
“That’s right. Cilla is our Seer and Finger’s old lady. We all keep her safe, no matter what we have to do,” Tracker states that fact so solidly that none of us could misunderstand.
Demon steps around the table and slaps my shoulder. “I know I’m not an officer, but I’d lay it down for Cilla, brother.”
Nodding in appreciation, I look around the room and realize how lucky I am to have these brothers at mine and Cilla’s backs. The meeting quickly proceeds on to who and how the clubhouse suites are going to be built.
“I know a construction boss. It was him, Tracker, if you remember, who we helped get his sister away from that asshole, Jeremy Clark, and his sister was Vim. I can’t remember what that was a nickname for, so don’t ask,” Cap blurts out the last and I’m not sure why we even want to know, anyway.
“I remember. You broke both his kneecaps, his elbows, and then snapped his neck. It was nice, clean work, Cap. I have to admit I was rather impressed that day,” Tracker says this so dryly that I’m not sure if he’s taking the piss or genuinely was impressed.
Cap chuckles at the memory. “I’ll ask him to visit and look at what would be involved. It is a big job, but it will be one that puts money in his pocket and in his men's pockets.”
“Okay, do that and we’ll see what costs we're talking about. Then we can put it to the brothers.” Tracker turns and walks out of church, which effectively tells us the meeting is over.
Walking into the common room, I take a seat at the bar and accept a bottle of water from Jethro who is on bar cleanup.
The club women are working on the bedrooms and the laundry.
I grin at that because they have ruined more clothes than you can count, and the brothers are getting where they are thinking they are not worth the trouble.
Coin and Rides take a seat, and Coin starts to tell us about the diner incident with Lulu. “I didn’t know her husband snuck off in the night,” I say with more than a little surprise. But I don’t even try to hold back the smile I’m wearing.
“He was a nice man. I remember him. Hard worker, honest, and reliable, but was married to the wrong type of person. I don’t blame him for getting away from her. She really is toxic.” Coin takes a drink of the bottled water Jethro handed him.
Rides chuckles. “I’d have put her in the acid pit.”
“No, don’t do that because she might come back and haunt Cilla, or through Cilla.” I laugh, but admit it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience.
“We could set Pyro on her ass,” Rides laughs, and I admit we all find that hilarious and laugh with him.
“I’m going to speak with Avery and see if we can buy her place unseen. I know we were going to check it out, but with this shit with Lulu I reckon we just go for it and make Avery’s place what we want it to be,” Coin states as he hands his empty bottle to Jethro. “I’ll catch up later.”
Giving him a nod, both Rides and I hand our bottles over to Jethro. I am waiting for Scribe to arrive so we can get him sorted out for the tattoo studio.
Daisy saunters over and runs her finger down my chest, heading for my jeans, but that’s not happening. “Keep your hands to yourself. You know I have an old lady, so I’m not interested in any of you club women. Now take your hands off or I’ll take your hands!”
The smell of burning gets me looking quickly around the common room, but see nothing until smoke is gently climbing behind Daisy. I spin her around and her hair is smoking! I grab a bottle of water Joshua has placed on the bar and pour it over Daisy’s head.
Daisy screeches, then runs out of the common room, back to her room to check out the damage, I would guess. Jethro is smirking, and I don’t stop myself from smirking in reply. I walk out of the common room and to Coins’ office but murmur, “Well done, Pyro.”
“Just in time, Finger. I’ve made the call to Avery.
She is up for selling to us and gave us a decent selling price.
She said she had already had the place valued, and everything checked ready to put it up for sale.
So that means we don’t have to do as much.
I’ll take the offer to Tracker and see what he wants to do, but I cannot see him knocking it back as she’s not asking over the market value.
In fact, I would say she’s light on the asking price. ”
Coin looks at me with raised eyebrows. I give him a nod. “Good to hear. It’s time something went right.”
The door is lightly tapped on, and we both turn to see Flick standing there. “I was passing Pres’ office, and he asked if you two would go to see him.”
Coin responds, “Yeah, on our way.” Turning to me he shrugs. “I have no idea how he knew you were in my office!”
“Maybe he has his own abilities he hasn’t told us about?” I respond amusedly.
“God forbid. Can you imagine what he would get up to if he had ghosts on his side?” Coin and I both laughed at that thought.
Walking into Tracker’s office, the first thing noticeable is Cap, Rides, and Hot Rod lounging in easy chairs. “What’s going on here, Pres?” Coin asks and I perch on the arm of the chair Rides is sitting in.
“We have been comparing who has heard anything about the drug issue that Cilla brought to me,” Tracker looks at Cap. “Do you know anything more than what Cilla has told us?”
“No, Pres. My person on the street has seen nothing. But I think he lied because he wouldn’t look me in the eye, and he’s never done that before.” Cap is looking thoughtful but shrugs himself out of it.
I lean forward. “So you think he is scared, and that is why he’s saying he knows nothing?”
Cap nods. “Exactly.”
“We need to be seen in strength in town. Showing we are ready to do anything that is needed to clean it up. The townsfolk will want us to be seen. They will want us to show we are actively looking to stop this drug problem, and before someone’s teenager gets injured or overdoses,” Rides snarls.
“Okay, all of you get out and be seen. Keys, not you. I want you to continue looking for the money Snake took, and to dig deep for this drug issue we are seeing.” Tracker gives Keys a serious look which is basically saying - Get your finger out of your ass.
“I’m looking, Pres.” Keys leaves the office, and we all watch him walk out.
He is showing signs of locking himself in his office and not coming out until he has the answers he needs.
He did this once before and didn’t eat or drink until he was ill.
Scalpel watches him closer than the rest of us, giving a small nod to himself.
Tracker looks at Cap and asks, “What time is Scribe coming?
“From what I know, he’s supposed to be coming around two or thereabouts,” Cap responds while leaning back in his seat.
“Okay, Finger, I want you to be here when Scribe comes. I reckon you can take him to see the building, and Books has the contract drawn up already. We give him twenty-five percent of the profits until the place has recovered its cost, then he gets to be an equal partner. We can even make him the largest owner at some stage, but he will need to be a full brother for that to happen.” Tracker turns and looks at Books. “Do you have his prospect patch ready?”
“Yeah, Pres. I had it done as you asked. Prospect as the top rocker, the club logo and Scribe bottom rocker.”
“Good. When Scribe arrives bring him through to me. I will witness his signature on the contract and make sure he understands who he is answerable to.” Tracker takes out a cigar and smirks as he places it in his mouth. “Everyone dismissed.”
Two hours later I’m tired out walking the streets in town. Speaking with anyone who would give us a minute. I have Truck with me, and we do our best to find out what is going on around town.
A young mother with twins is standing in front of us, holding the twin's hands, one twin on each side of her.
“My husband is in the service. He is away right now. But he said if ever I was worried to come to the motorcycle club and ask for help. Glenn is friends with one of you called Winger, and that is how he knew that I could come to you. Anyway, with that in mind, can I tell you to watch the college. I have heard many rumors regarding the place, and I think it would be a starting place for you.”
Truck nods. “Thank you for that. We have found tight lips today, which is unusual. We have a good standing with the town, but nobody is speaking to us. You can call the club, Finger, or myself, and I’m Truck. If you go to the diner and ask for Cilla, she will help you as well.”
“We need to move. People are taking notice. We have been speaking for too long. Take care now, and what was your name? Sorry, I should have asked sooner.” I feel a little embarrassed that I didn’t ask her name. I mean, it’s damn rude.
“I’m Shona, and if I hear more, I’ll contact Cilla. It will be easier to pop in and have coffee. It will look less suspicious, too.”
Shona doesn’t wait any longer. She bustles away with the twin girls who give us small waves, which we return.
“Let’s get back to the clubhouse and see who wants to wander around the college tomorrow.” Truck saunters back towards our hogs, and I follow behind, remaining alert and ready for anything untoward. My bad feelings radar is acting up, and I know not to ignore it.
Truck and I walk into Tracker’s office. Truck blurts out, “The college, Pres. It seems our asshole drug dealer may be working the college. We need to speak with Winger because it was a friend of his in the service that told his wife to come to us in case she got into trouble. She’s not in trouble, but she gave us a lead.
We need to tell the brothers that if a woman with twins called Shona approaches them, they need to help her. ”
Pushing Truck to one side, I give Pres the full version of today’s experience in town. The fear on people’s faces. The way their eyes flick around the street. The ones that are normally talkative and friendly, that don’t have time to speak just now. Then Shona and her clue as to the college.
“We go hunting tomorrow. No cuts, we walk the halls of the college. Oh, you missed Scribe. He’s already been here, signed the contract and got his cut,” Tracker tells me the last with satisfaction on his face.
“Did you choose a name for the place?” Truck asks, and I look at Pres with interest.
“Scribe suggested The Ghost Mark because he’s had some odd things going on of late.” Now we all chuckle because could it be one of our ghostly brothers messing with him? “Then Monarch Ink because he thought it sounded cool. But I told him it is Demon’s Ink, and that’s it.”
“Oh, I like it, Pres.”
I turn to look at Truck, give him a huge smirk, then mutter, “Ass kisser!”
“Fuck off, Finger,” Truck snaps, and I follow that with a middle finger salute.
“Get out the pair of you,” Tracker snaps, but I can hear the amusement even if he’s trying to hide it.