Page 8
CHAPTER 7
GHOST
This is gonna be fucking hard as hell, isn’t it?
“Better hurry.”
I nod at Conner, one of the prospects, as I make my way through the common room of the clubhouse. After I left Ember at the coffee shop, I rode around for a while in an attempt to get my head on straight. I was so caught up in my own shit that I forgot I had to be back for church.
“Sorry,” I say as I slide into my chair around the long conference table in the meeting room. “Got sidetracked.”
Crow glares at me, but he must see something in my expression because he doesn’t comment. Journey, our VP, has no such problem.
“Don’t let it fucking happen again,” he barks. “And you owe Stunner fifty bucks on your way out,” he says, referring to the fine for being late and our treasurer.
“Got it.”
“Now that we’re all here,” Crow begins. “Let’s run through our normal business, and then we’ll get to the epic shitstorm brewing on the streets.” He nods at Stunner to let him know he can present his report.
“The clinic is doing well,” Stunner states. “We might treat patients for free, but the donations continue to come in and more than keep it afloat.”
“But we could use a second doctor,” Jackyl, the club doc, adds. “Hell, even a nurse practitioner would be good.”
“Can we do that?” Crow asks Stunner.
The treasurer shrugs. “Don’t see why not. We’ve got the cash flow, and there’s certainly enough patients to justify it.”
Pres faces Jackyl. “Go ahead and start looking. I’ll leave the salary up to you and Stunner.”
“Consider it done,” Stunner quips, and when no one says another word about the clinic, he continues. “Moving on. Soulless Ink is in the black, as always.”
“Damn straight it is,” Python says with a grin. “I do good fucking work.”
Crow shakes his head. “Yeah, you do,” he comments dryly, as if placating a child.
Stunner clears his throat. “I’m wondering if it wouldn’t be a good idea to hire another artist to help out. Appointments are up, and with the shit about to hit the fan in other businesses, Python might not be able to devote as much time at SI.”
Pres shifts his gaze to the tattooist in question. “You good with that, brother?”
Python narrows his eyes. “You know I don’t work well with others.”
“I’m sure Ben can attest to that,” I say with a chuckle. “Poor prospect comes home after working with you and looks like crawling into Hell would be more fun.”
“See,” Python snaps. “I ain’t takin’ anyone else on.”
“Not sure you’ve gotta fuckin’ choice in the matter,” Crow says hotly. “Would you rather business falls off because people get tired of waiting on your grumpy ass?”
“What about Braydon?” Screamer suggests, referring to our newest prospect. “He’s a talented motherfucker with his drawings.” Our road captain shrugs. “Maybe you could be his mentor or some shit.”
“Dude can draw, that’s for sure,” Python grudgingly admits. “But can he follow orders?”
“Best to find out at the shop and not during other club business, don’t ya think?” Poker states.
Python grumbles unintelligibly. “Yeah, fine. I guess you’ve gotta point.”
“It’s settled then,” Crow says matter-of-factly. “Take Braydon with you to Soulless Ink tomorrow and see how things go. We can do it on a trial basis, if that makes you feel better.”
“A little,” Python mumbles.
“And moving on,” Journey says as shifts his gaze from one brother to the next. “We’ve got some shit happening on the streets with our drug sales. We may have eliminated Sonny, but more dealers have popped up, and they’re peddling our stuff.”
“How the fuck are they getting their hands on it?” Poker demands.
“And what the hell are they lacing it with?” Fudge bites out. “I’m guessing Fentanyl based on the sheer number of deaths, but until we can get our hands on it, we won’t know for sure.”
“If Poker wouldn’t have been in such a damn hurry to waste Sonny, we might have the answers,” I snap.
“Gimme a break,” Poker argues. “He wasn’t gonna give us shit, and you know it.”
I shoot to my feet. “No, I don’t kn?—”
“Sit down!” Crow shouts. “And shut up!”
Obeying my Pres, I plop down into my chair. Poker glares at me so I shift my eyes to Crow.
“Sorry, Pres.”
“I get that you’ve got a lot going on,” Crow says. “But don’t you dare take it out on us.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” I mutter, leaning back and crossing my arms over my chest.
“Then enlighten us,” Journey suggests hotly.
“He can do that after we figure this other shit out,” Crow barks. “Right now, we need to know who’s killing the people in our town.”
“And using our shit to do it,” Journey adds.
“Have you talked to Shuffle?” I ask, putting my other worries out of my mind.
Crow thrusts his hand through his hair. “Yeah. He doesn’t know shit either. Says he’s got all his guys keeping their ears to the ground and will let us know if they hear anything.”
“Sounds like we need to set up some stings,” I say.
“Careful, Ghost,” Screamer says with a chuckle. “The cop in you is showing.”
“No, wait.” Crow holds his hand up. “I wanna hear more about this.”
“Well, Pres, we’re getting nowhere right now,” I begin. “I think we need to do a little undercover work, posing as buyers. It’s our best shot at finding these fucks.”
“It could work,” Screamer says.
“Anyone have a better idea?” Crow asks, and everyone remains silent. “Okay, all in favor, thump twice.” We all pound the table two times. “Now we just have to figure out which of us will go undercover.”
“It was Ghost’s idea,” Tracer comments, speaking up for the first time. “Clearly, he should go.”
Panic blossoms in my chest. “Uh, I ha?—”
“I agree with you,” Crow says. “But he’s got his mother to worry about.” My panic eases. “How about Fudge and Tracer, you two take Conner and Jimmy? The four of you should be able to get somewhere, right?”
Tracer groans. “Yeah, we can do that.”
“Sure about that?” Journey snaps. “Kinda sounds like you’re wanting to argue with Pres.”
“Nah, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
Tracer shrugs. “I don’t know. Doesn’t sound all that fun, is all.”
“Club business isn’t about fun,” Crow reminds him. “It’s about keeping our place in Marble Falls secure. It’s about letting these shit-for-brains know who rules around here.”
“You’re right.”
“Yeah, I know,” Crow deadpans before turning to Fudge. “You got a problem with my orders?”
“Nope.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. I want you two and the prospects to work out a plan within the next forty-eight hours. Report back to me, and we’ll go from there.”
“You got it,” Fudge says.
“Anything else before we close out?” Crow asks, glancing around the table. No one speaks, so he stands. “Dismissed.”
My brothers file out of the room, but I hang back. “Hey, Pres, got a minute?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
I rub the back of my neck. “I met with that nurse Addi found.”
He grins. “How’d it go?”
“You do realize who she found, right?”
“I’m guessing a damn good nurse.”
“I’m sure Ember is good,” I mutter.
“Wait.” Crow holds a hand up. “Ember as in… the Ember?”
“How many Embers do you know that live in Marble Falls?” I counter.
“Shit, brother. I didn’t know.”
“Yeah, well, now you do.”
“I’ll have Addi try to find some?—”
“I already hired her,” I blurt.
“You did?”
I nod. “She might be the last person I want to deal with, but she knows my mom, and I’m hoping that will give her an edge.”
“Yeah, but…” He sighs. “Are you sure you’re up for it? I mean, she practically left you at the altar.”
I huff out a humorless laugh. “Not quite.”
“Close enough.”
“It was a long time ago, and we’re both adults. I can handle it.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I’m not fucking sure of anything,” I admit. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about my mom. I’ll do anything for her.”
“I know, brother.” Crow claps a hand on my shoulder. “Anything I can do to help?”
“One of Em’s conditions was that I cover at least one day a week so she can get a break. Will that be a problem?”
“You know it won’t. If you need more than that, just let me know.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
I turn to walk away but stop at the door and glance over my shoulder. “This is gonna be fucking hard as hell, isn’t it?”
Crow throws his head back and laughs. “I have no doubt.”