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“I don’t mean goat, as in the animal,” Travis said defensively.
Maddox and Hollywood stood beside Storm.
“You called me a goat,” Storm growled.
“He meant greatest of all time,” Maddox said with a smirk playing on his lips. “It’s an acronym floating around.”
“Yes! I mean no disrespect. You’re the notorious Storm. You’re the goat.” Travis moved closer to me.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the tension whirling around us. Travis wasn’t a pussy. He got into enough fights when we were in school and never backed down. Back then he was a defense end on the football team, and now a fucking badass firefighter. But he was smart and wouldn’t go toe to toe with someone like Storm.
“Okay, now that we know Storm’s the goat.” I put my hand on Travis’s back. “This is my good friend, Travis. He and his brother Diesel own Hotshots, a bar in town, and they’re volunteer firefighters. We all grew up together.”
“Good to meet you,” Maddox replied. He would soon be promoted to president, his rightful spot as the Minnesota chapter was his father’s, and Storm would be an advisor. The two were cousins, but Storm was quite a bit older. He had taken the club over after Maddox’s dad, Matt, had lost his battle with cancer.
“Hotshots sounds like my kinda place.” Hollywood went to shake Travis’s hand. “I’m Hollywood.”
“Interesting road name,” Graves muttered. “Are you from California?”
“Nope. Missouri.” Hollywood grinned and flashed his pearly whites. “People always think that, but it’s something members started calling me because of my surfer-boy looks.”
“Interesting.” Graves asked. “I’d considered Kansas City but decided to stay north.”
“Joplin would’ve been a good spot to settle. That’s where I’m from.”
Storm studied Graves while he talked to Hollywood. Time was wasting and there was a lot to do, so I interrupted them.
“Storm and Maddox, this is Graves, president of Saint’s Outlaws MC.” I took a step back to let the men size up each other. They were all about the same height and size, dark hair, and tattoos, and dominant pheromones seeping out of their pores.
The only differences I noticed were Storm’s and Maddox’s gray eyes, and Graves’ thicker stomach. I wouldn’t say he had a beer belly. It was more of a dad bod. Of course, I’d never mention it because he looked as if he could hold his own during a fight. And Maddox didn’t have a beard like Storm and Graves.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Graves said, extending his hand toward Storm, and they shook.
“Don’t believe a word my father says.” Storm spread his legs and crossed his arms. “He likes to embellish the truth.”
“Good to know.”
“Well, now that introductions are over. Let’s get to work.”
I’d spent the past several hours showing Storm and his crew around Burntwood and putting his men where I wanted them on my property to guard it. I had mixed bikers and farmers together, hoping they’d get along.
The day was only half over, and there was still a lot to do. But we were famished and ready for a beer. Travis invited us over to Hotshots and put us in a private room. There was still a lot to discuss with Storm, Maddox, and Graves, and I didn’t want customers to hear us.
Primarily, I wanted their thoughts on what to do with the vandals once we nabbed them. Not that I couldn’t kill a man. I’d done plenty of that when I was a member of Hell’s Bells. But that club didn’t give a fuck about anyone. Dead bodies would be dumped in rivers and ditches and burned in bonfires. Scornrock, South Dakota, was a brutal place and nothing like Burntwood. I didn’t want to bring death and violence into my small town. So we needed a plan of what to do with the bodies.
I was about to bring up the topic when Olivia burst through the door, looking angrier than a hornet.
“Goddammit, man! Why aren’t you answering your fucking phone?” She yelled as she stomped toward me.
“Olivia.” Debra hissed, a few feet behind Liv.
“What’s going on?” I jumped to my feet before she embarrassed me in front of the others.
“It’s Shelby. Why haven’t you replied to my messages? I’ve been all over town looking for you.”
I took my phone out and found it on mute. “Shit. I had my volume off.” I steered her away from the others.
“She could be dead for all we know!” Tears pooled in her eyes. Olivia was known for being overdramatic, but I could tell she was genuinely afraid.
