Page 4

“Who is Aspen?” I ask with a frown. I’m sure I’ve not heard that name before.

“Aspen is Robert’s cousin. She’s the one who gets the acid we need. You know the pharmaceutical woman.” Looking around to see who can overhear, he continues, “The pit apparently has clogged. Aspen told us to drain it every six months. We are supposed to drain and clear it, but we’ve never done it, so now she’s gone and had a tantrum and Pres isn’t impressed.”

“Fuckin’ hell, I’m going to look.”

Stepping into the area where the acid pit is, the first thing I notice is Pres standing with his arms folded across his chest, a frown on his face, and a cigar hanging out of his mouth. The woman whose back is to me at the moment is mumbling something, but I can’t tell what she’s saying.

Cilla is sitting on a dining chair near the wall of the shed, and she’s eating fuckin’ popcorn. I head over to where she is and squat beside her. She offers me some popcorn and yeah… I grab a handful. “What’s goin’ on?” I ask Cilla and she gives me a smirk. Now, it’s one of those smiles, or smirks, depending on what you want to call it, that she does when she knows more than she should. Which means Bono is talking to her about some shit or other. I know there is no point questioning her because if she wants to tell you, she will, and if she doesn’t, then even hell freezing over won’t get it out of her.

The woman we’ve been watching is wearing all kinds of safety gear so you can’t tell what she looks like, body-wise that is. But she is stunning facially. She has the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen. They nearly glow as they are staring angrily at Pres. Her hair is red, short, and looks like she sweeps it to the side using her fingers. She isn’t wearing much makeup, just a dusting, as I’ve heard Rory say. But, fuck me, she is beautiful. Looking at her against the size of Pres, I would guess she’s around 5’6”, but no more than that.

“More popcorn, Joker?” Cilla asks, and as I reach to get more, she giggles, gaining my attention fully. She winks at me, and I have to say that is fuckin’ unnerving.

I take a long look at Aspen and then hightail it out of the yard and back to the clubhouse. I’m not getting involved in any of the acid pit mess that needs cleaning up. I’m leaving that to Aspen, and anyone else who wants to risk it.

Chapter 3

TRACKER

I'm sick of seeing workers climb up and down scaffolding and carrying shit through the clubhouse. I know and understand that the suites won’t get finished until the work is done, but fuck me, I’m sick of the noise and the mess.

Picking up a sheet of paper with the offer to Toby, I read every line. It’s an excellent offer, and if he doesn’t take it, I’ll pull out where we impound shit. He’ll soon find his business closes without us or the cops filling up his impound lot.

The door opens and Cap, along with Rides and Hot Rod, walk inside. They all take a seat and look at me with pure, unadulterated boredom on their faces. “What?” I snarl because honest to God, I’m feeling the same and don’t need their shit on my shoulders.

“Can we cause some shit somewhere?” Rides whines. “Maybe we are becoming too good, and need to, you know, rebel rouse a bit.”

“Christ, Rides. We cleared out the assholes from around the town. We’ve no shit going on with other clubs, and since we stopped rescuing women from asshole husbands, we don’t even have that to look forward to.” Now, I’m not sure what it is about saying something and then fate takes a hand, but I’ve no sooner said the last when the door flies open and Cilla storms inside with a wailing Ayla.

All of us jump to our feet right before Cilla pushes Ayla into my arms. I wrap her up tightly on my shoulder and pat her back. Giving cooing and soothing sounds while giving Cilla a raised eyebrow which is saying, ‘What the fuck is going on?’

“Two things, Tracker. The boys are telling me that an enormous threat is on its way...”

Now, before Cilla can say more, Hot Rod and Rides are on their feet, rubbing their hands together with the largest smiles on their faces that I’ve ever seen. In unison, they respond, “Great!”

I continue patting and alternately stroking my hand in circles over Ayla’s back, while the other is holding under her butt. She has stopped crying now and is sniffling a little as she pushes her nose into my neck.

“Great? What do you mean great?” Cilla snaps at the pair of idiots. I’m watching all this go down but can’t stop the feeling that something fun is going to happen.

“What threat?” I eventually ask because Cilla is standing saying nothing at this point.

“A club is heading our way. They are testing every MC they pass, and if they find a weakness, they’ll take over that MC's territory. I’m not sure what they are called, but the boys are saying it’s going to be something you need to be ready for.”

“I’ll put feelers out, Pres,” Cap says grimly, and heads out of the office with his phone to his ear.

“What’s the second thing?” Rides asks, leaning forward with eagerness on his face.

“The second thing is Hot Rod’s woman is in danger...”

Hot Rod snarls, “My woman? What do you mean my woman? I don’t even have a woman, and my dick has not seen action in a while, and my hand can testify to that fact.”

“Ew, don’t put that thought in my head, Hot Rod. Strewth, that is just nasty.” Cilla screwed up her nose as she looks at Hot Rod, and I can’t help but smirk at her reaction. “Your woman is going to be grabbed by these assholes if you don’t find her first. Pyro said he’s getting ready to grab some souls if you don’t get your act together.”

Cilla takes Ayla from me and gives me a soft smile as she sees Ayla is now asleep. I watch as Cilla leaves the office, and you know, I’m not going to tell her I’ve set up a child's room at my house. She’ll find out eventually, and I’m going to pull the ‘Pres’ card when that happens.

Hot Rod and Rides watch as Cilla leaves, then turn to me. “I can make a few calls, Pres. See if any other clubs have heard what the fuck is going on?” Rides suggests, and I give him a nod while I maintain eye contact with Hot Rod.

“We need to know where these fuckers are coming from, Hot Rod. Then you will have a route of where your woman is. Somewhere along that route.”