Page 175 of Devil’s Disciples

“He’s got a few, but they’re all pretty hard-core bikers.”

“Hard-core bikers are loyal,” she said. “All you’ve got to do is fuck ‘em, feed ‘em, and never ask questions about what they do when they’re gone.”

“Can I ask what happened with Trent?” I asked. “Why that didn’t work out?”

She shrugged. “I forgot the last part of that three-part rule. I guess that’d be my only advice. There’s the life they live at home, and the life they live when they’re gone. Don’t ask questions about what he does when he’s away.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You said he’s hard-core,” she said. “Does he ride in a club?”

“He does,” I responded pridefully.

Her gaze fell to the floor. After a long pause, she looked up. “Yeah. You’ll need to remember that last part, for sure.”

68

Cash

Smoke poured from the homemade barbeque grille’s stack, enveloping the eave of the roof before filtering into the evening sky. The members of the MC stood shoulder-to-shoulder on Gooses’ deck. While they listened intently, Baker’s Ol’ Lady, Andy, stood in the center of the group telling a story.

Baker was the only member of the club that was in a relationship. His Ol’ Lady was a once-in-a-lifetime find. Although trusting her didn’t come easy, I now saw her as an asset in Baker’s life, and, in turn, mine.

His persistent introduction of her into outside functions involving the club made sure we were able to make own decisions regarding her worth, and it seemed everyone agreed.

Baker’s Ol’ Lady was solid.

I proudly paraded Kimberly toward the group, stopping a few feet shy of the deck’s edge. “Everyone, this is Kimberly. Kimberly, this is,” I pointed at each person as I named them. “Goose, Tito, Ghost, Reno, Baker, and Baker’s other half, Andy.”

Kimberly stepped onto the deck and introduced herself to everyone, shaking hands like a politician on parade.

After Kimberly exchanges niceties with each of the men, Andy pulled her aside and talked for a few minutes. Then, they stepped off the deck. As they wandered through the ornately decorated yard, I grabbed a beer and gestured toward Goose with the bottle.

“Appreciate ya, Brother.”

He gave a nod. “Appreciate you two taking time to stop by.”

Baker glanced at the women, and then at me. “Damn, Cash. That girl’s a looker.”

I sipped my beer. “It ain’t about looks, Bake. She’s a good woman. She makes me think about shit I ain’t never thought about. She might change me.”

“A leopard cannot change its spots,” he said. “You’ll always be you. She’ll either have to accept you or walk away.”

I raised my middle finger. “Fuck you.”

Reno stumbled across the deck, and came to a stop at my side, almost toppling over in the process. He was obviously drunk. I wondered how he made it to the barbeque without wrecking his bike.

“Damn, Brother. You drunk?” I asked.

His eyes met mine, but he didn’t respond. After staring blankly at me for a moment, he shifted his gaze to the yard.

“Invested in some scam,” Ghost whispered. “Took him for fifty grand. He’s been over here drinking since three o’ clock, drowning his sorrows.”

“He needs to stop with that get rich quick shit,” I said. “Real estate is where it’s at.”

Ghost cocked his head to the side and pressed his index finger to his lips. “Shhh.”

I nodded. “Gotcha.”