Chapter Three
I pull out my seatat the table with our club’s insignia carved in the center. A bearded skull wearing a crown with twin bikes appearing behind him. Everyone files in, leaving their cell phones and any weapons with a prospect, Nav. Short for Navarro. Once all brothers are in and seated Prez starts the meeting.
“Know I’ve not been on my game lately. Been distracted and not giving you men one hundred percent but I’m back. East has stepped up however leading this club is my job. I know there is talk that I’ve gone soft. Want you to know that I hear that talk. That things around here have shifted. Times have changed. Lot of the brothers have started families and with that comes more Ol’ Ladies and offspring around. Know that’s been a concern. That’s valid. These past months we’ve had brothers come and go. Hated to see Hallow go to Kingpin in Nashville but was the best thing for the brother. We’re losing our hold on this city. Gang violence and drugs are running the streets. Local LE has their thumbs up their asses. Crimes of all nature is on the rise. It’s cutting into business. We’re losing girls at the strip joint left and right. Streets are growing more dangerous by the day. It’s only a matter of time before it bleeds deeper into the club unless we act now.”
He rubs his dark beard that’s showing hints of grey.
“Where are we with Ollie and his junkyard dogs?”
“Far as I can tell he’s hurtin’ too. Business is rough. He’s lost men to the other side. Been a lot more friendly than he’s been in the past. We have a common enemy. Cloud Nine and whoever is funneling it into Charleston,” East cuts in.
“I’ve looked into his finances. It’s not him,” Banks says.
“What about Herschel?” He’s an old timer we buy ammo from.
Link speaks up, “Not his style.”
“I’m telling you something is off with that detective fucker.”
“You really think that or is it because he’s fucking Andi?” Holy delivers with a shit eating grin.
Viking punches him in the chest and Holy falls back in his chair hitting the wall, erupting in a fit of laughter, clutching his gut.
Andi’s a friend of Holy’s Ol’ Lady, Hazel. She’s close with Wylla Mae, East’s woman too. Viking has the hots for her but waited too damn long to get in there. Her being in with Justice Masters is causing some friction. He’s a prick detective always sticking his nose in our shit. Asshole is the reason we lost Hallow.
“Not the time for it, boys,” Prez warns. “I don’t like that pig, but without any proof hang back. Though if Andi happens to pass along anything useful to Wylla Mae or Hazel, be much obliged if you share that with me.” He nods at East and Holy. “Any of you know shit all about the missing Granger woman?”
“Wylla knew her from school was a few grades ahead of her. Family has no solid leads. Heard her on the phone with Andi. Was talking about enlisting the help of their witch friend. Said she has what you’d call intuition with this type of shit. She’s the one who found that missing kid few years back. That little girl they thought had been murdered. Guess Bianca did some type of reading on the kid’s favorite doll and led police to her location.”
Crawl snorts but my spine straightens at the mention of the bitch from that shop.
“They really think she’s the real deal?” I ask but try to play it cool.
“Told you she hexed your ass,” Hound starts with that dumb shit again.
“What the fuck are you two on about?” Smoke leans forward. Fucker has been driving us all nuts since his woman left his ass high and dry.
“Nothing,” I growl. Last thing I need is everyone up in my business.
“Pam said you couldn’t get her board.” Link shoots a grin at me.
“What board?” Prodigy gets in on the conversation.
“Ouija board for the Halloween party.”
Prez throws up his hands. “We having church, or you want to start carving pumpkins and baking cookies.”
Roane holds a hand up. “I could go for some pumpkin spice cookies with that good cream cheese icing. Think I could talk Pam into making me a batch?” He looks to Link and Prez wads up a piece of paper and hits him square in the face with it.
“She makes damn good cookies,” Link puts in.
“Enough.” Prez slings an ashtray at the wall. The thick plastic bounces off the wall and hits the floor. The room grows quiet and still. His nostrils widen.
Shit. He’s pissed. Not good. Murder has a helluva temper on him.
“Wasn’t mentioned on the news but that missing woman is one of ours. Got a call last night that Detective fuck is sniffing around the Kitty Kat asking questions. She’d only been on our roster a week. Shit doesn't look good for us considering the last dancer to go missing was found in the river. This witch or whatever.”
I straighten at the mention of her.
“One of you check her out.”
“Bet Sandman would love to,” Hound says on a chuckle.
Fuck.
“You know this witch?” His gaze lands on me.
“Sure, Prez. I’m on it.”
Fuck me.