Chapter 14 #2
Walking to the center of the room, my gaze catches on our club emblem that’s carved into the table that marks my place—the bearded skull and crown with wings and two motorcycles flanking the skull.
I look up at mis hermanos (my brothers), noting that a few of them are smirking, most likely at me finally claiming a woman.
“I know I said this out in the main room, but I’m officially claiming Ember Foxx as my woman, and hopefully soon, my Ol’ Lady.”
The guys hoot and holler and Draco, one of the older members of the club that was good friends with Papá (Dad) before he died of a heart attack last year, gives me a nod of acknowledgement.
He looks at me with pride and chingar (fuck), do I wish Papá (Dad) was still alive. He would have loved Ember and Pyper.
I look over at Claw, our secretary. “Order a cut for her. I want it on hand for when she’s ready to become my Ol’ Lady.”
He gives me a chin lift. “No problem, Prez. What’s her road name gonna be?”
I smirk, not even having to think about it. The guys all grin when I tell him, and they give me looks of approval—especially those that recognized her viper tattoo.
I look around the room and frown. “Ember and Pyper are also why I needed to call Church tonight,” I say and the guys quiet down. “They both grew up in the same club Daemon did.”
Faces harden at my words because of what all Daemon told them years ago about the club.
I fill them in on what happened with Daemon pitching in every now and then, and when I’m done, all their faces are tight with anger.
“You mean that little thing out there is really the Viper?” Sandman asks.
I nod. “She is. We saw her fight a couple of nights ago against Luna. She’ll also be filling in for Ice for the foreseeable future. This doesn’t go outside the room since you know how Ice is, but she’s pregnant and therefore can’t fight.”
Wire frowns and I know where his train of thought just went. “That means we have to expose Ember. Tonight.”
I nod reluctantly. “I don’t like it either, but in all fairness to Banshee, she needs to know who her opponent really is. Ember wants to retire the Viper name. She wants to go by Fox going forward.”
Daemon barks out a laugh and I grin in response.
“Fuck, that’s so fucking perfect and that’s so fucking her,” he says as his laughter dies down.
Rocket frowns as he leans forward on his forearms. “With her being tied to the Chrome Viper’s for so long, they aren’t going to let her just walk away.
I hate to put it this way, Prez, but they’ll see her leaving as losing their asset and property.
That they’ve lost their control over her.
They’ll be coming for her and her sister at some point. ”
“You’re right and Wire thinks they’re already close. Wire?”
He adjusts his glasses and his fingers fly over his keyboard. The projector kicks to life and I step aside, pulling down the screen behind me.
“These are the three that we’ll most likely see.
I’m sure they’ll bring more club members, but these are the three big hitters.
The President is Scooter, real name Marshall Drake.
Her dad is Drone, real name Jerry Foxx. Last is her uncle, Bug, real name Ryan Foxx, younger brother to Drone,” Wire says as he absently pushes up his glasses.
“I flagged their credit cards in my systems to give an alert whenever they’re used.
Their cards pinged in Green Bay about forty minutes ago.
My guess is they’ll find a cheap hotel nearby to squat in.
The question is, do we draw them out? News of Ember fighting will hit the circuits as soon as we notify Banshee, her manager, and her trainer.
If they don’t find out tonight, they’ll find out tomorrow most likely. ”
Daemon lets out a low growl. “My bet is they’ll be at the fight tonight.
Em said that Jerry was going to sell them both.
That he was going to give Em to Scooter to gain back his patches he lost when my dad was still the President,” Daemon spits out and I have to work very hard not to let my anger take over at the thought of Ember and Pyper being sold.
“With our reputation, I doubt they’ll try to do something public—they wouldn’t risk Ember and Pyper saying anything and revealing their plans.
They may not respect women in their little corner of the world, but they aren’t so stupid as to think that everyone is of the same mindset.
Though to them, we’re the ones in the wrong for not thinking the same way. ”
I pause as I think about it. I hate the idea of using Ember as bait. Yes, they’ll know as soon as we announce it, but I’d like to keep it under wraps for as long as possible.
“Wire, let Banshee and her team know but that they are to keep her fighter’s identity close to the chest for now. Once the doors open tonight, we’ll have no choice because of the bookies. I need a crew to stay here tonight but most of us, I’ll need at the warehouse.”
“I hate to ask this, but do we use her as bait to lure them out after the fight? If they’re still tied to Oasis like Daemon said they were years ago, then the longer they’re in town means the higher chance of more women going missing,” Radar says and fuck do I hate that he’s right.
“They’re still tied to Oasis according to Ember,” I reply.
“Prez,” Daemon says.
I turn to him and judging by the look on his face, I don’t think I’m going to like what he has to say.
“If you talk to her, I bet she’d be up for it. She hates everything that they’re doing to those women and girls. She’d fight to get them free.”
I hesitate but then nod. “I’ll talk to her, but under no circumstances is Pyper getting into the line of fire. She’s a minor and while I’m sure Ember has taught her some moves, she’s not as trained as Ember is.”
Daemon’s face hardens. “They aren’t getting their hands on either of them.”
“Agreed. Now, let’s figure out our plan for tonight.”