Page 31 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)
-:- COLTON -:-
This last week has flown past, and even this morning’s training went without a hitch.
Meat and Chaos were in charge, along with Target who was having the women hand-to-hand fighting.
Nyx, I couldn’t help but watch as she did her best to defend against Winter, who let’s face it, is a top-notch fighter these days.
Axel has moved church to after lunch on a Sunday as it was too hard to get everyone to attend, hold the meeting and get out again in time for training. This works out far better, as we’ve all eaten some lunch and are eager to get the meeting done with.
Taking my seat, Knuckles to my right and Mav to my left, we wait for Axel to arrive with Buzz and Drag.
Wings is whispering to BS and Chaos about something, and Stitch is looking like he wants nothing to do with whatever is being discussed.
I side-eye Knuckles and he shrugs, so he obviously does not know what they have going on either.
“Any news on Stefan?” I ask Knuckles, and he shakes his head before replying with a simple, “Nope.”
Axel walks into church, takes his seat and taps the gavel which opens the meeting, and we all lean forward slightly ready for whatever is up for discussion.
We are given details on how the businesses are running, and that after looking at figures more closely the idea of a fight club gym is put on the back burner for the foreseeable future.
Lincoln, Arrow and Bones are sitting in church for the first time, and they are looking calm I have to admit. I thought they might be nervous, but they are showing no signs of that. In fact, they look like they have been involved forever.
“Okay, Lincoln, Arrow, Bones, what do you have for us regarding this security business?” Axel asks, then leans back with his arms folded over his chest.
Surprisingly, it is Arrow who speaks. “We have a plan with Specs, PT and TwoCents, and we have a projection of the outlay being fully covered within three years. The building is three stories, with a kitchen like a college cafeteria, offices, half-baths, and surprisingly a shower room. Between us, meaning the officers I just mentioned, myself, Lincoln and Bones we think the top floor should be where the monitors, servers and all technical equipment should be. Apparently there is a basement, but we didn’t know about that so have not seen it, as yet.
If it is viable, we could place all the technical equipment down there, and just have the monitors, keyboards, etcetera upstairs.
But until we see the basement, we cannot give more of an opinion than that. ”
Knuckles taps his knee with the knuckles of his right hand then speaks out. “Would it be viable for the bouncers to work from the building? It would be an idea if we could have an office, maybe even a bunk room, and access to the kitchen area.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” BS comments, then adds, “The clubhouse has become more active, what with the kids and the women. It’s a great clubhouse, and it’s a great atmosphere, but we are bumping into each other more these days.
I reckon the Bike Recovery and Web business moving to what was Hammer’s old building was a significant move.
Web and Mensa have both commented to me they are able to get things done more efficiently, as they don’t have people wandering in and out as they had here at the clubhouse. ”
I can’t help the grin when BS takes the tiny pencil from behind his ear, then ticks the small notebook in front of him on the table. Sensing I’m watching him BS gives me a scowl which has me smiling broadly back at him. He shakes his head before looking at Arrow to continue.
The security business is discussed in more detail and then Axel brings it to a vote.
“Okay, Brothers. Let’s put this to the vote.
We have a lot of businesses now, and we have plenty of income to go around.
I think this will be a significant move for the club, and a better move than the fight club gym, at this time at least. Votes for the security company… ”
Ayes flow around the room, and I can see the excitement in Lincoln, Arrow and Bone's eyes. Yeah, this is a good move and grounds them to the club as brothers, too.
“Okay, then, that is a go. We have ourselves, or will have ourselves, a security company. The name you suggested previously I wasn’t liking, but after some thought how about BaronsSecure Services?
” Axel holds up a piece of paper to show how the name would look, and we all nod that we like it.
It has part of the MC name included, which is a bonus.
Again, a round of Ayes circles the room, and Axel slams the gavel down. “Name and business concluded. You six, meaning TwoCents, PT, Specs, Arrow, Lincoln, and Bones you get this up and running. If you need help from the team that works door security get them involved.”
Lincoln nods, then asks, “What about this person who was going to help organize things? ”
“Oh, that’s Penny,” Ruger states clearly, “I’ve told her about it, and we got the four elderly ladies Nyx works for as babysitting grandmothers.”
“She’s a good one and get her involved early.
We have eyes on her ex, too. He is on the move.
Colton, warn Nyx and Penny to be on alert.
You both stick close. Meat, Wings and Buzz are available if you need them.
I’ve warned Nell about this asshole, and she’s speaking with Vitale because of the Mafia connection we found.
” Axel looks at me, and I give him a nod that I understand and will be on the alert.
“I’ll do that, Pres. I have moved them in with me, and Ruger is staying too. But we have room if any one of the brothers want to bunk out while this shit is resolved. There is a spare bedroom, and two rooms downstairs we can convert for brothers to bunk in, if needed,” I add.
“Okay, let everyone know that, Colton, and then it’s up to them.
” Axel gives a nod before continuing. “The next thing we need to discuss is the visit we had from House, the President of the Steel Scorpions MC…” Axel fills everyone in on the idea House had regarding the linking and rescue of innocents.
Some of the brothers look like they may go for it, while others are not so happy about the idea.
But we all listen to the details that Axel gives.
Once he’s finished speaking, I look around the room, and I’m not sure what everyone is feeling about this, but myself I’m thinking it could be dragging shit here we don’t want.
Silver speaks once Axel eases back into his seat, which signals to us all the floor is open for discussion.
“I don’t have any issue with helping anyone that needs help, but I think joining any form of linking to push innocents away from danger could, in the long term, pull us into danger.
I have Harrison to consider as well as Eden, and I don’t know how you all feel, but I’m not putting my Ol’ Lady and son in danger from fuck knows what or who. Not for anyone.”
Hammer nods, “I agree ‘cause I’m not putting Tilly and Quinn in danger either. Pres, you have three kids you don’t want to be put in the path of harm either. What Mia has gone through in her life so far would be nothing if something happened to one of her kids. She’s suffering with PTSD as it is.”
“I’m trying to persuade Red to have a baby, but if we do this, she’ll definitely say no.
She’s hesitant because of her past and you all know she misses her niece terribly,” Rock adds.
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to vote against. I’m happy to help people as we always have, but at this time I don’t think it is a good time to take such a risk. ”
Clay surprises me when he speaks out because he’s a quiet one in church normally.
“I would vote yes as my first instinct, but hearing Silver and Rock’s comments, I agree.
Destiny had it tough until she settled with Rock, and she was a great blessing for her niece.
She’s done enough for others. You cannot expect the brothers to put their own families in danger for strangers.
We do a lot of our own kind of rescue work, Pres. I think my vote is a negative, too.”
“I’m a negative too, Pres,” Brag states.
It isn’t long before most of the brothers have given a negative.
But what we agree on is listening to House on an individual innocent’s basis.
If we feel we can help, then we will, but if not then we’ll say ‘not this time’.
We also agreed that we all work hard and although we are happy to put a percentage on one side, we do more than enough with the Swap Shop, sending donations to local charities, including helping the elderly with their pet bills much to Kenzie’s delight.
Kenzie is Jig’s woman and has an enormous dog she calls BigDog.
Now that dog is a sucker for the twins and they climb all over him, and he doesn’t give a shit.
Which I have to say is lucky ‘cause he’d eat them in three bites.
“Okay, the linking is out the door. I’ll speak to House, and let him know we’ll consider individual cases, but that’s the most we’ll promise for now.
” Axel looks at his mobile, which only he may bring into church, and that’s a recent development.
He studies his phone, then looks at Drag.
“You, Wings, Colton, and Arrow come with me. Church dismissed.”