28. Rogue
“Before we focus on Purgatory, are there any other updates?”
We’ve been in church for an hour, most of which has been spent reviewing each of the club’s businesses. We briefly discussed a sinner Jez brought to our attention yesterday, but that particular prideful bastard will have to wait until we sort out the bar problem.
“How do we nominate someone to prospect for the club?” Knuckles asks.
Typically, he wouldn’t be involved in church, but since this session is mostly about normal weekly updates, he’s here to report on Fists of Fury.
“Let me guess,” Grim signs. “Junior from the gym?”
Knuckles grins. “I really think he’s got what it takes.”
“Then invite him to prospect, and give him a rundown of the club,” Soul informs him. “One of us will take care of reviewing with him what all that entails.”
“Really?”
“You were a prospect,” Malice reminds him. “Surely you remember how it all started for you.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Grim signs.
Knuckles shakes his head. “No problem. Just figured there would be more to the behind-the-scenes.”
“Oh, there will be,” Soul confirms. “But that’s for us to worry about at this point. You’ll be pulled in for the final vote for his patch if he makes it that far.”
“And you better be sure about him,” Abyss comments. “Because you’re his sponsor since you’re inviting him. Anything he does falls on you.”
“Understood.”
“Good. Anything else?” Soul asks.
A chorus of ‘nos’ fill the room.
“Thank fuck,” I mutter.
“Getting a little impatient, brother?” Grim smirks as his hands move fluidly.
“Patience is a virtue I possess very little of,” I snap.
“Check the attitude,” Malice barks.
I heave a sigh. “Sorry. Just have a lot on my mind.”
“When is that not the case for any one of us?” Malice counters.
“Right. Sorry.”
“Before Rogue gets his panties in a bigger wad than they’re already in, let’s start discussing each of the bar employees,” Soul says. “Rogue, you can start, and we can chime in if we have anything to add.”
I give a curt nod. “Last night, I as much as accused Waylon of stealing the money, and he adamantly denied it. He and Skye made a good case for them both being framed.”
“Skye doesn’t think he’s behind it?” Grim arches a brow.
“No, I don’t think so. She practically begged me to give him time to prove himself innocent.” I shrug. “I think she wants to protect him from what happened to her.”
“Uh, dude, she found her knight in leather armor as a result of our accusations,” Possum says. “She should be thanking us, not protecting him.”
“I’ll tell her you said so,” I taunt.
“Nope,” he counters. “She carries a knife, and she knows how to use it.”
Laughter fills the room, and it only dies down when Soul raises his hand.
“How is it that we do what we do, but when it comes to our women, we become pussies?” he demands, but there’s humor in his tone.
“Speak for yourself,” Grim counters. “Violet doesn’t scare me at all.”
“Bullshit.” Malice laughs. “She has you wrapped around her tiny little finger.”
“And Apple doesn’t have you in exactly the same predicament?”
Malice hangs his head and nods.
“We’re pathetic,” Soul says. “And I’ll deny saying that until the day I die.”
“As entertaining as this is,” Spike says, his tone dry. “I’ve got a lot to do at Sinful Wheels today so can we get back to Purgatory staff?”
“Yeah.” I sit a little straighter in my chair. “Anyway, Waylon’s getting a few days to prove he’s innocent, but really, I don’t think he’s got the brains to pull this off.”
“Who’s been there the longest?” Soul asks. “They’d probably feel the most comfortable to pull this shit.”
“Tony’s been there for almost five years, and RaRa started a few months after him.” I remove my glasses and rub my eyes before putting them back on. “Connie and Lana both started between three and four years ago, and then there’s been a lot of turnover sprinkled in between.”
“It’s definitely not RaRa,” Thorn says confidently.
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s a drag queen, and drag queens are happy people. Besides, doesn’t he usually win any competitions he’s in? Competitions with cash prizes?” Thorn’s lip curls up. “RaRa just doesn’t need the money.”
“Okay, so not RaRa,” Soul agrees. “What about the other three?”
“I did deep dives on all of them when they were hired,” Fort reminds us. “There was nothing in their background to suggest we’d have to worry about them like this. The worst criminal offense was when Connie got a ticket for jaywalking.”
“No one is that squeaky clean,” Soul mutters.
“Prez, I don’t know what to tell ya,” Fort says. “There was nothing.”
“Then dig again,” Soul snaps. “Between you and Jez, how are we not figuring this out?”
“We aren’t the only people in the world who are great with tech and hacking.”
“But you’re the best,” Malice says.
“Usually, yes, I’d agree with you.” Fort thrusts a hand through his hair. “But whoever is behind this, they’re damn good.”
Which is why we need to be even better.