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“If you think about it for a minute, you’ll see this for the golden opportunity it is.”
“They’re still running guns and dealing drugs. Those aren’t things I’m gonna turn a blind eye to.”
Sighing, I just came right out with it. “From what I can see, Twisted Metal is a club full of broken men, just like us. Instead of being busted up vets with PTSD, they’re mostly men who grew up in the club and addicts from broken homes who were drawn to Twisted Metal at a young age to get away from poverty and domestic violence. They’re looking for a leader to pull them up out of their suffering. Steel is trying hard to be the leader they need, but he’s broken himself because he was raised motherless in a one percent club by a hardened criminal. What if you turned out to be the guidance he needed in order to be the leader his club needs?”
“Steel is too suspicious and guarded to take advice from me.”
I shrugged. “You’re both alike when it comes to being suspicious and guarded, only you’ve learned the value of seeking advice,” I stated gently. “You might not always follow the advice others give you, but like you said earlier, you appreciate a fresh perspective.”
We sat in silence for a while, and then he stated quietly, “I don’t know if he’ll listen to me, but I can damn sure try.”
“Steel is a prideful man. He ain’t gonna listen to you if you try to treat him like a little brother. Just treat him like a friend, a peer. You’re both of equal status in his mind. Make conversation instead of suggestions. Let him pick up the pieces of information that are useful.”
“I know Steel wants to keep his old lady and kid safe.”
“That’s understandable. The bottom line, from my perspective, is that a massive amount of blood has been spilled between our two clubs in the past, but it doesn’t have to be that way anymore if we’re motivated to find other solutions that work.”
“Alright, I like this idea,” Storm said. “I want you to come to the meeting with me tomorrow. You’ll have more insight when your eyes are on their operation, and you hear Steel speaking with your own ears.”
“I’m supposed to be protecting Aprilia and can’t be in two places at once. Which club brother are we going to leave her with?”
After a thoughtful pause, Storm decided, “I say we take her with us. She’s meant to represent the Russo brothers, since Steel is Don Diovante’s errand boy, the brothers will be interested in verifying that he’s on our side now.”
“You’re taking our liaison with the mob brothers into a one percent club. Are you sure she’ll be safe with just the two of us?”
He gave me a short nod as he got to his feet. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure. I’ve talked with Steel several times over the last year. He hates the deal Chevron struck with Don Diovante before he died. Right now, he’d make a deal with the devil himself if he thought it would help get the old mobster’s hooks out of his back. Plus, the three of us visiting Twisted Metal will be seen as a show of good faith.”
“Okay, I just think we should err on the side of caution when it comes to exposing our mob liaison to potential danger.”
“Agreed. Steel is solid for now. I’m feeling a lot more confident about being able to lead him toward more lucrative legal endeavors. I’m supposed to be there at nine a.m. I’ll meet you and Aprilia for breakfast at eight and we’ll talk while we eat.”
“I’ll make sure we’re ready.”
The moment Storm left, one of the new club bunnies came sauntering up to me. She was wearing a tight leather skirt and belly shirt withRide for Freeover a couple on a motorcycle. She probably saw it as a clever twist on riding a biker’s cock. Me, not so much.
She slid gracefully into my personal space and ran one hand down my bicep. “You’re looking awfully lonely tonight, swamp man.”
A prickle of annoyance rippled up my spine. I hated it when people reduced me to that guy who grew up in the bayou. She might just as well have called me Swamp Thing and gotten it over with.
I shrugged her hand off my body. “I don’t have time for you tonight, Lux. I’m working.”
“You don’t look like you’re working.” She jerked her chin at the beer bottle in my hand. “I don’t think you’re the kind of man who drinks on the job. That makes me think you might be fibbing about being on duty tonight.”
Someone cleared their throat behind us. Lux whirled around to find Aprilia staring at her, or me, rather. Yeah, she was definitely staring at me, glaring actually.
“What can I do for you, cher?” I asked, way more flippant than was appropriate for this situation. I hoped she didn’t think I was annoyed at her interruption. If anything, I was grateful for it.
“Your job. That’s what you can do for me.”
Lux let out an annoyed little sound from the back of her throat, like a growl. “I’ve decided that tonight he’s working for me. I got to him first, so back off.”
I intervened. “Look, Lux, Aprilia is our guest and Storm assigned me to be her protector twenty-four seven.”
“What kind of name is Aprilia? I’ve never heard of it.”
My angry new charge opened her mouth to answer, but I cut her off. “Aprilia is the name of an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. Their line-up of tricked out bikes are enough to make any biker drool. I’m guessing her old man was a motorcycle enthusiast. Trust me when I say she’s probably very proud of her name.”
Lux turned on Aprilia and folded her arms over her chest. “Weren’t you just made to be a biker’s old lady?”
