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TANK
Bear lookedaround the room before sitting down in his chair. “Looks like we’re all here.”
“We are,” Ritz replied, “but why this fucking early?”
Race snickered beside me. “Eight in the morning in my world is not early, brother. Maybe it wouldn't be for you, either, if you went to sleep before three o’clock.”
Ritz leaned forward and put his elbows on the table, facing Race and me. “If you’re asleep before three, you ain’t doin’ something right.”
Laughter rang out, and I glanced at Bear, who was grinning. I knew Ritz saw it too when his shoulders relaxed. The past year had been hell in the club, and it was all we could do to hold everything together. I was happy we were in a good place, but I wasn’t naïve. We had a lot of loose ends we were still tying up, especially with the other motorcycle club in our town, the Black Widows.
With a shake of his head, Bear began talking. “Need to go over a few things coming our way.”
Again, I glanced around the table at the seven other officers of the club. We all held different titles, but over the past year, we became very good at doing whatever it took to get the job done, no matter who was running the show. I’d trust every man in this room to have my back, and I knew they felt the same. Hell, I’d trust all the members, but these seven men would lay down their lives for each other, and that wasn’t something you found just anywhere.
“The track?” Skinner asked.
I grinned when I heard his voice. As the newest member, he’d earned his place in ways none of us expected, but he’d proven himself and his loyalty to the club time and again. He was also an asset to us because he was friends with the new president of the Black Widows, Hawk.
That gave us an advantage we’d never had before.
Bear jerked up his chin. “Track’s almost ready. We’re finishing up an area where people can get food, sit down and eat, or just hang out. Becs mentioned providing a fenced-in area for kids to play with some kid shit in there, like swings and sandboxes. I think that’s a good idea, considering Dimarco Construction will be putting a hotel a few acres away from the track.”
“What about putting the kids’ area between the hotel and the track?” Race asked.
That was a good idea, and it didn’t surprise me that Race had thought of it. He worked for Dimarco Construction and knew from experience what would work better than most of us, but he was also the reason we were putting in the track. He used to race cars and spent most of his childhood and early adulthood in and around tracks, which meant he also knew what drew in kids and teens.
“That’s a good idea.” Bear glanced around. “Everyone agree?” When everyone nodded, he focused on Race. “Can you run that by the Dimarcos at work?”
Race nodded. “Yep.”
“What about a drive-in theater next to the hotel?” Gunner spoke up for the first time. Being the club's vice president, Gunner held a lot of power, but he often sat back and listened until he had something to say. “I know that’s old school, but Maggie and I were talking about it and thought it might be fun for the community, especially the kids’ camp in the summer.”
“I like that.” Pop, the oldest member of the club and a grandfather to everyone, finally spoke up. “Nothing wrong with bringing back some old-school shit. Gives teens something to do besides find trouble and gives families staying in the hotel something to do when the track is closed for the night.”
Bear slid his gaze to me. “What are you thinkin’?”
Bear and I had been together through a lot of shit over the years. I was a member when his father and brother were here, with his father running the show, before both were killed by one of our own members. A few rough years followed, with Bear going off the rails and even doin’ time in prison, but he rallied after we fought a war that took most of our members’ lives. Not many were left after that, but I was. So were Bull, Ritz, and Pop. We vowed to make this club a place we could be proud of and something the community valued. Everything we did now was to build that relationship with the community of New Hope.
“I think it’s a good start to rebuildin’ our reputation. We’d been doing better until this last year and all the shit the Widows caused. Now, I see the fear on people’s faces when I’m riding my bike down the street. Don’t like that. That’s not what we set out to do. If doin’ all this helps us get back on track, then I’m all for it.” Bear nodded, and I continued. “Plus, it’ll be good for the kids at the summer camp. Those kids have seen enough shit. They need something to look forward to.”
“Think Josie will be on board?” Ritz asked.
Josie was not only Bear’s girlfriend but she was also the school district’s psychologist. She was brought to New Hope specifically to set up the summer camp to help troubled youths, and its first two summers had been very successful.
“Without a doubt. Josie will agree to anything that benefits those kids.”
Pop smirked. “And you’ll reap the benefits of proposing it to her.”
Chuckles filled the room, and Bear grinned. “Won’t complain about that.” He shifted his focus back to Race. “Wanna run that by the Dimarcos too?”
“Yep. I’ll do that first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Any idea when they’re breaking ground on the hotel?”
Race crossed his arms over his chest. “Last I heard, the excavation is set to begin as soon as the weather breaks after the holidays. Probably February or March.”
“They know how long it’ll take?”
