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“I don’t know, but if I ignore it, and it is happening, I look ineffective. We go poking around where we don’t belong, I’m going to look incompetent.”
“Fuck me,” Murphy groans. “Let’s grab some brothers we trust and check it out.”
“We’re all sitting down at the table. I’m gonna let Shadow take the lead. Explain what information he has to all the brothers.”
“So, it’s his ass if this goes wrong.”
“Right.”
“We’re still checking it out though, right?”
“I don’t think I have a choice.”
“What’s the emergency?” Teller asks, pushing into the room and closing the door behind him.
“You fucking kidding me?” he bitches after I explain the situation.
“Do I look like I’m in a joking mood?”
“He’s really crabby,” Murphy says with a straight face.
I give him a quick shove, knocking him into the desk, and he laughs. “Lighten up, Prez. We’ve got your back either way.”
“Yeah, I feel the love.”
“Who else do you trust to go with us?” Teller asks.
“Steer, Jigsaw, Hustler, and Rooster. I don’t trust Shadow, but he’s definitely going so I can kick his ass when nothing comes of it.”
“Good call,” Murphy says.
I nod for Teller to open the door. “Let’s go before everyone thinks you’re jerking me off in here.”
Teller rolls his eyes. “You really are crabby.”
“I’ve got enough to worry about without this asshole stirring up trouble for no reason.”
“Why not just call DeLova?” Teller suggests.
“And say what? ‘Hey, bro. You bitter we won’t collect your debts anymore? Going behind my back to the Vipers?’ I don’t think he’ll be real receptive to that sort of accusation.”
“It might make things worse,” Murphy agrees. “Or give him ideas.”
“Exactly.”
“They’re ready for you, Prez,” Rooster says.
“Let’s hear what Shadow has to say.”
The guys follow me inside and I take my place at the head of the table. I wait until everyone’s seated and then nod to Shadow. “All right, VP. Let’s hear it.”
By the way he jerks his head back, I don’t think he expected me to give him the floor. But fuck that. When this goes to shit, he can be on the hook. And if by some miracle he’s actually right, I have no problem giving him credit.
Shadow stands and clears his throat. He jams his hands in his pockets and stares at the table for a few seconds before speaking. “You cuttin’ off DeLova was a bad move, Z. He’s pissed and he’s going to the Vipers to pick up the slack.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Steer blurts out. “DeLova hates the Vipers more than we do.”
Shadow stares at our SAA and flexes his jaw. Guess he wasn’t planning to be questioned so early. I keep quiet and give Shadow all the time he needs to hang himself.
“He might not want to do business with them, but we didn’t leave him a choice.”
“His son-in-law practically runs the Devil Demons and he’s got more than enough minions,” Steer points out. “Our relationship was always supposed to be temporary, anyway.”
Maybe Shadow wasn’t aware of that fact because he frowns at Steer. “It brought in money.”
“It’s dirty business,” Rooster says. “It’s beneath us to be DeLova’s bitches.”
“It sure as fuck wasn’t bringing in enough money to justify the headache,” Hustler adds.
Well, all right then.
Murphy dips his chin at me and flashes a discrete thumbs up.
“What are you asking the club to do, Shadow?” My tone leaves no room for weaseling around.
“Malone’s bowling alley.” He points at Murphy and then me. “You two been there, right?”
“Yeah,” I answer slowly. “We did a pick-up for DeLova not that long ago.”
“Well, Malone’s up to his neck again. He’s renting out the place for a Viper/DeLova meet to work off some debt.”
My immediate reaction is bullshit. Malone’s too much of a pussy to be that stupid. Then again, desperate men do dumb things all the time. Maybe he feels DeLova can protect him if we find out.
“Vipers are coming all the way from Jersey to meet DeLova at some dumpy bowling alley in the middle of nowhere?” Jigsaw asks, not bothering to hide his disbelief. “They’re so eager for DeLova’s business, why aren’t they rolling out the red carpet for the old dude?”
“How the fuck should he know?” Smoke rumbles.
Shadow jerks his shoulders and throws his hands in the air. “I ain’t exactly privy to what’s going on in their minds.”
“When?” I ask.
“Tonight.”
“And you’re just telling us now?”
“I just found out,” Shadow says.
“From who? How reliable is this?”
Shadow smirks and runs his hand over his chest. “I’m friendly with one of the waitresses there. She let me know.”
“You trust her?” I ask.
“Enough to let her suck my dick.”
“Great, that’s helpful.”
“I trust her. She ain’t dumb. Knows what’ll happen if she fuckin’ lies to me. Also knows Vipers got no business in our territory. Says it’s not the first time they’ve been to Malone’s, either.”
“But she just told you now?” Teller asks.
“We’ve gotten closer,” Shadow answers with a lazy smirk I’d really like to punch right off his face.
I tap my finger on the table a few times while I think it over, then look down the table at the men I’m in charge of. “I want to take a small crew down there tonight. Only to check it out. No cowboy shit. Stay out of the way and observe. Am I clear?”
“I’ll go,” Rooster volunteers.
I nod at him. “Shadow—”
“I should stay here so she doesn’t accidentally tip them off or something,” he interrupts.
Not fucking likely, asshole.
“No. This is your show, brother. You’re going.” My tone leaves no room for discussion. I move on down the table. “Steer, Jigsaw, Hustler.”
“You got it,” Jigsaw says. The other two just nod.
“Everyone else, I want to stay here at the clubhouse. No partying. Everyone remains alert, in case this is a trap and someone comes to fuck with the clubhouse. Or in case I need you to come back us up. Is that clear?”
“You got it, Prez,” Suds says. Not that he’s a coward, but I think he’s relieved not to be heading into the action.
“We’ll bring some weapons upstairs,” Smoke says.
“E
asy on the guns, old man,” I warn. The last thing we need is that trigger-happy motherfucker surrounding himself with an arsenal tonight. The other brothers laugh and rib Smoke, something I’m sure pisses him off.
Confident the brothers who are staying behind can handle things, I end the meeting.
“Let’s meet back here in an hour,” Shadow suggests.
Curious about how he plans to spend that time, but unwilling to ask, I nod.
Smoke lingers a little too long for my liking, but I ignore him and finally, he slinks off.
“How do you want to handle this, Z?” Steer asks.
“You comfortable riding in?”
“Yeah, got no reason not to.”
“You and Shadow take the lead.” I nod to Teller and Murphy. “I’m taking them in my truck.” I motion for Grip to join us. “You follow behind in the van, just in case. Jigsaw, Rooster, I want you in the van with Grip.”
They both give me an odd look, but don’t question me. “I think nine Harleys rumbling up might tip our hand,” I explain. “This adventure isn’t about being seen.”
“Gotcha,” Jigsaw says.
“The two of you out for a ride isn’t a big deal, right?” I roll my eyes at Steer. “Apparently, Shadow hangs out there all the time picking up waitresses.”
He frowns. “News to me. But I ain’t exactly in charge of his dick, ya know?”
“Christ, who’d want that job?” Rooster jokes.
I shouldn’t let my irritation with Shadow bleed into my interactions with the other brothers. If Shadow’s right, then the club’s about to have a serious issue.
“We all watch each other’s backs.”
Everyone agrees and then breaks to get ready for the night ahead. Murphy and Teller follow me down to my room.
“Are you sure about this, Z? It stinks,” Teller says as soon as we shut the door behind us. Even though I appreciate him not questioning me in front of everyone, I’m not in the mood.
“It’s bullshit. But I can’t afford to ignore it.”
“Z’s right,” Murphy adds. “You’re in a shitty spot all around. If Vipers show up tonight, we’re fucked. If they don’t, then you’ve got to deal with Shadow.”
