Page 24 of Iggy

“That was fun boys,” laughed Zulu. “Alvin was a huge help down there. We might need to ask the animals to help more often. Call me on shit like that more often.”

“You did it,” Olive smiled at Finley.

“We did it. You were amazing. And the guys were on fire with the deflective humor,” she said nodding to the other woman. “I think you need to work with me more often than the boys at the shop. No offense but your talent is wasted with them.”

“You might be right,” smiled Olive. “I love working with the guys but I have to be honest that I did it because I felt safe up there. I enjoyed the work today, not the storm but the work. I’ve loved working with you on the improvements. My only question now is, what do we do about the other storm coming behind it?”

“We wait,” said Ham walking toward them. His wet suit was unzipped and hung at his waist, his chiseled chest and arms dripping in swamp water. “If this storm decides to go back out into the gulf, we’ll have about a week before it merges with the other storm. If that happens, we’re going to have a bitch of a storm.”

Rush laughed, shaking his head.

“Is that funny?” asked Olive.

“Yep. The next hurricane will be named Hurricane Irene.” The rest of the room was almost afraid to laugh but they did let a grin slip from their lips.

“For now, we’re all safe,” said Ham. “Let’s keep an eye on the weather. But we’re not out of danger yet.”

“We’ll watch the storm and the gates,” said Olive.

“Olive, it wasn’t the weather I was talking about,” said Ham. He stared at the younger woman and she nodded, realizing that she’d nearly forgotten about the Graveyard Saints.

“Right. My wonderful mother,” she said sarcastically. She saw the pain on Luca’s face and turned, blushing. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that as a remark to hurt you.”

“You didn’t hurt me,” he said softly. “I’m just realizing that I should have done something sooner. I should have killed your mother when I had the chance.”

“You had chances to kill her?” asked Rush.

“Several,” he nodded. “I was told by the feds several times to not touch a hair on her head. They needed more information before they could end her life. They might be a one-percenter club but Neela isn’t the brightest bulb on the shelf in most respects. She’s predictable but also sneaky if that makes sense.”

Ham looked at the other men in the room and nodded.

“It makes perfect sense. We noticed that her men weren’t exactly following her to the grave. But if what you say is true about the feds always holding back, it sounds like we need a conversation with our lovely friends at the bureau.”

It would be the following morning before Ham, Rush, Christian, Iggy, Rowe, and a few of the others were able to sit at a table, staring at a screen with an FBI director and agent.

“I was wondering when you might call,” smirked the older man.

“I was wondering why you didn’t call,” frowned Ham. “You knew about Olive and you didn’t think to give us a clue?”

“It was classified,” said the agent.

“Bullshit,” said Rush. “Our clearance is well above yours junior. You did what you always do. You think no one needs to know and that’s how lives are lost.”

The young agent leaned forward to give a smart-ass retort but his director pulled his arm back.

“Why didn’t you let someone get rid of Neela when they had the chance?” asked Ham.

“Someone?” smirked the director. “I’m sure we both know who that someone might be. This is complicated, Ham. The Graveyard Saints are involved in a lot more than just drugs, trafficking, and the other assorted illegal money-making fun.”

“Please. Enlighten me,” frowned Ham.

“Neela is not educated in the traditional sense. She didn’t finish high school but like a lot of people involved in these clubs, they’re street smart. She also was an avid reader.”

“Forgive me,” said Rush, “but I don’t picture that woman reading anything except the comic strips.”

“You’d be right, normally. The Graveyard Saints were one of the wealthiest clubs in the U.S. Neela’s father, as road captain, was a pretty smart cookie.”

“Explain,” frowned Ham.