Vince took a moment, only staring at Splice, and he sat back in his large leather chair, reaching forward to open the pack of cigarettes. He lit one and blew out the smoke.
“That’s a loaded question, son. Can I ask you to trust me and leave it at that?”
“I do trust you. But this became more than just you and me. The opportunity you recently brought to Axel. Was that Harvey’s deal?”
He prayed the answer was no, but his gut twisted when Vince answered.
“Harvey has contacts that neither of us has.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Splice ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t believe I’m hearing this. You know what he tried to do to Bash and his old lady recently. They would have fucking drowned if we hadn’t got to them! Not to mention all the shit Denver and Casey went through with her creep of a stepbrother.”
Splice could have gone on and on about all the ways Harvey, his brother, and their buddies had tried to mess with Diablo’s businesses over the past few years.
“Those were isolated incidents, as far as I recall,” Vince said calmly, “and they were personal, not business-related. People have hot tempers, but don’t we all?” he smiled. “Listen, son. I know it looks bad. The MC has beef with Harvey and vice versa, but if he’s willing to let bygones be bygones, I don’t know why we can’t set that aside and make some real money together. It’s only something to consider, Splice, yeah? We don’t have to lose our perspective over this. Harvey approached me, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt and listened to what he had to say; that’s it.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah. I took the deal to Axel. I thought he could see past any vendetta and appreciate the chance to make more money, but Axel needed time to think it over, so I left it there.”
“Why didn’t you just tell us who you were talking to?”
“There wasn’t much to say until I knew what he was offering. He deals with European connections; it would give us a far reach than we hold now in the States.”
Splice’s eyes narrowed, hearing the nonchalant tone Vince was using, like he was trying to talk up a big game for a crocodile.
“Do you hear yourself?” he grated. “Vince, these people aren’t just the average local jerks. Believe me, we deal with enough already to distinguish the difference. These rats would cut my throat without even considering the consequences if we gave them the chance. Does that mean fuck all to you?”
“The Diablos aren’t white knights, son.”
“No, we aren’t; we never pretended to be. But what I don’t expect is that my uncle, the man I brought into the MC, the one who talked Axel into partnering with you many times, would stab us in the back.”
It was then that Vince showed emotion, and lines appeared around his eyes when he frowned.
“That’s a bit strong; you know I wouldn’t do anything to put you in danger. It was simply business.”
“Business, you know, Axel would reject as soon as he knew it was Harvey, so how far do you think it would get after that, huh?”
“At the end of the day, Axel runs a hobby club.”
Splice blinked. “Excuse the fuck what?”
“I just mean, if he ever wants to expand the Diablos to high heights, he needs to step out of his comfort zone. Doing business with people you don’t like happens. It’s part of being in the big boys’ club. I don’t like everyone I shake hands with, but I do it to make this place into what it is today.”
“Vince, you might have started this dealership with my dad, but how the fuck do you think you have the contacts you do, or get the stock you do, if not for Axel and my MC? Careful you don’t bite the hands that feed you.”
Vince grimaced and stubbed out the cigarette. “I mean no disrespect, son. You know I’ve got a lot of time for Axel.”
Did he, though? Calling Axel just a figurehead of a hobby club—yeah, that shit didn’t sit well with Splice, but he kept his trap shut for now.
“I can see I overstepped by trying to do the right thing. I’m sorry, son. I will call Axel and set it right, alright?”
Splice got to his feet. “I haven’t seen Lisa all day, and now I’m already late having to sort this mess out.” He gritted his teeth. “I will say this: it’s completely up to you if you wanna do deals with Harvey, but as far as you coming around the MC, that will stop immediately. People don’t have one foot in each world with me, Vince.”
“I got it. I do.” Vince stood up and came around the table, approaching until he was in front of Splice. He frowned and clasped Splice by the arms. “I fucked up, trying to do something good for us all. But I’m not gonna do anything to put you in a difficult position. Let me make it right, alright? I’ve got plenty of other pokers in the fire, anyway.”
Splice nodded, hating the jaded gut feeling he was having, clanging like a damn church bell.
He strode out of the dealership, not feeling any better than when he had arrived.
