Page 21 of Inglorious (Unwanted Bastards MC #1)

Only Joe and one other guy passed. Rory was twenty-five, searching for work and wished to be part of something.

Unwanted Bastards could give him the opportunity he was looking for.

Rory had trained as a groundskeeper, which would come in handy for Merritt.

We were planning to restore the old park and plant flowers, bushes, and trees there.

There were also the window boxes and flower barrels.

The yards of the houses would also need tidying to make them attractive to those moving in.

There was a knock, and Inglorious entered. He took one look at my face and laughed.

“The candidates for prospect are always shit. How many were looking to get laid?”

“At least three,” I admitted.

“Not a surprise. Did you recruit any?”

“Apart from Joe, you mean?” I asked.

“Yeah. Joe will be an asset.”

“I could tell. The kid’s nice. I took on another called Rory.

He’s a groundskeeper, and I thought he’d be great to do the yards and shit around here.

” Inglorious nodded thoughtfully. “There is the park to be restored, and also the dog park we planned at the edge of town. We need a grounds crew for landscape maintenance. If Rory patches in, then it’s obvious what he’ll be managing. ”

“We’ve heard Party has been seen at Magic’s,” Vortex interrupted, entering without knocking.

“Mount up,” I replied to Vortex.

“You riding behind me?” Vortex asked, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Inglorious stiffen.

“No, my hog arrived today. How could you miss it outside?” I replied, and Vortex shrugged.

“Easily. I had a lot on my mind.”

“Grab Hercules. He might enjoy breaking some bones,” I ordered, and Vortex nodded. “Stay here,” I said to Inglorious.

“Nanci, I can handle myself,” he retorted.

I sent him a lingering look. “Inglorious, I’m not worried about that. Magic runs a bar, and I don’t want to put temptation in your path. Not yet. You’re doing brilliant, and I don’t want to set you back.”

Bitterness crossed Inglorious’s face. “Sooner or later, Nanci, I will cross the path of booze. What will you do then?” he snapped.

I began to answer, but Inglorious stormed out and the door slammed behind him.

“Hate to admit it, but he’s correct. You can’t protect him from alcohol forever. Inglorious will face temptation and will choose whether to drink or not.”

“Shut up, Vortex. I’m just trying to eliminate pitfalls until he’s stronger.”

I studied Vortex. He didn’t seem as pissed at Inglorious as he previously had. Vortex had quit because he didn’t agree with what Inglorious had done. But finding out Inglorious had been protecting Sasha had probably eased resentment and bad feelings.

“Come on, we’re wasting time,” Vortex said.

“Call Hercules,” I repeated and headed outside for my bike.

◆◆◆

As I entered Magic’s Bar, I paused as I got my bearings. There’d been a lot of Harleys parked, and I guessed at least a club or two were present. I was correct. Devil’s Scythe was—and Rider’s of Vengeance.

“Nanci,” Scythe said, getting to his feet and heading towards me.

“Hey. I hear Party was seen here?”

“Yeah. Asshole’s currently a guest of Magic.”

“Nice. Where’s Magic?” I asked.

“Right behind you,” a voice boomed.

I turned around, stared straight at a torso, and craned my neck. This man was so freaking tall, I had to step back to take him in. Astute eyes studied me, and they lacked friendliness.

“So, you’re Nanci.”

“Yup. You have something that belongs to me.”

“Bitch, I ain’t got nothing belonging to you,” Magic retorted aggressively, and I sensed the entire room get wired.

“Party crossed the Unwanted Bastards. He’s ours,” I insisted.

“Nah. Party’s Inglorious’s. When he gets here, I’ll hand him over,” Magic replied.

“Magic,” Scythe said, and Magic held a huge palm up.

“This bitch has no authority over me. And fuck knows how the Unwanted Bastards are allowing her to pull the shit she is. But she disrespected my buddy, Inglorious. That ain’t forgivable,” Magic boomed.

“Inglorious shit on my brother first,” I hissed at Magic.

“Did he, woman? Or was Inglorious a man so consumed with grief he couldn’t handle it and sought solace in booze?

He won’t be the first or the last. And where the fuck have you been, if you’re so concerned about the Unwanted Bastards?

Don’t come into my bar waving your bullshit around.

You ain’t president in my eyes, and you count for nothing. ”

With that, Magic moved away from me. My temper ignited. “What the fuck is this? You disrespect my cut and patch?”

“Ain’t yours to hold. Get Inglorious,” Magic retorted.

“The hell I will. I don’t give a crap if you’re the owner here. If you want the Unwanted Bastards, you get me. President is mine, fair and square.”

“And I don’t give a flying fuck. You dried Inglorious out, sure. But you know that man won’t touch another drop because he’s handling his pain and getting help. You think you run that club? How you going to make me do shit for you? Party will stay with me until Inglorious arrives.”

“Then you’ll have a permanent guest,” I sneered.

Magic laughed. “Woman, I bury bitches like him and you out back. You don’t fuckin’ frighten me. Now what ya gonna do?”

I was almost incandescent with rage. Magic had me over a barrel, and there was nothing I could do. Vortex and Hercules remained silent as the entire bar watched in fascination.

“The Unwanted Bastards are now boycotting your business, and there’ll be no further relations between us and you until we get Party,” I said.

“Oh, boo hoo. I ain’t got the pathetic eight your club boasts, drinking here. Shit, I won’t be able to pay my bills,” Magic taunted.

“Magic, enough,” Scythe interfered.

Magic turned and pointed a finger at Scythe as I nearly hurled abuse.

“Butt out, Scythe,” Magic stated.

“Why don’t you shut up? Throwing your weight around like you’re someone important.

You run a bar. Big fuckin’ deal. Dude, I ran my own business too.

Whoop-de-doo. Don’t make me any more special than you.

Party belongs to me, I want that fucker.

Now I’ll go through you if I have to and burn every bridge between us.

Sure, I don’t want to, but I will,” I informed Magic.

Magic sneered.

Then I suddenly realised what this was about. “Fuck me, you’re testing me. Did I pass? Or do I need to carry out my threat?”

Magic chuckled dryly and stared at me. “That took you a while. You ain’t as clever as Inglorious. You passed for now, but be warned, you’re on probation, woman,” Magic cautioned me. “I’ll take you down to Party. Hope you brought a transport because you’re not interrogating him here.

I bit my lip. Shit, I hadn’t thought of that. Before I could admit my embarrassment, the door opened and Inglorious walked in.

“I’ve got the van,” he stated and sent me a dark look.

I wouldn’t yell at him in front of everyone, although it was tempting. Magic was watching intently, and I could see he was judging whether I’d fucked up or not.

“Go with Vortex and grab Party,” I said.

“Okay,” Vortex replied and followed Inglorious.

Magic stepped in his path, and those keen eyes raked Inglorious from head to toe. “You look better.”

“Slowly getting there, Magic.”

“Good. I’ve stocked non-alcoholic beer for you.”

Inglorious laughed. “That’s a fuckin’ crime in itself. Thanks, man.”

“Wouldn’t do that for anyone else,” Magic boomed.

“I know. Let’s get this asshole that thought he would steal from us,” Inglorious replied and clapped Magic on his shoulder.

“Magic’s a good man, just loyal and brash,” Scythe said to me as they walked away.

“Yeah, I can tell.”

“Magic beat himself up, blamed himself for Inglorious’s alcohol abuse.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because Inglorious kept turning up and drinking. By the time Magic realised he was gaining a problem, it was too late.”

“That’s bullshit. Inglorious made his own decisions,” I replied.

Scythe nodded. “He sure did, but Magic cares deeply. If you’re in his circle, Magic will kill for you and not bat an eyelid.”

“Sounds like the type of guy you want in your corner,” I acknowledged.

“Of course, Magic’s a fuckin’ lunatic that put bombs in half of Rapid City during the war,” Scythe added, and chuckled.

“Magic did what?”

“I’ll grab you tonight. We’ll go eat and have a chat. I’ll catch you up on the shit you’re unaware of,” Scythe said.

“Make it tomorrow. I don’t know how long this shit will take,” I replied.

“That’s a date.”

“As friends,” I stated, and Scythe’s eyes met mine and a smile crossed his lips.

“I’d never say no to another taste, Nanci, but you set the rules,” Scythe replied.

“Thanks for the offer, but that night… it was a one-off.”

“Not a problem Nanci, I was honoured you chose me,” Scythe said, and a blush hit me. That night, reeling from Inglorious’s rejection, I’d turned to Scythe and given him my virginity. And oh boy, he’d left a lasting memory on me. No man had ever matched his memory.

My thoughts must have been written across my face because Scythe laughed and leaned in close. “Nice to know I’m the standard your lovers had to beat,” he murmured, and I blushed deeper.

Eyes burned deep into my back. Uneasily, I turned around.

Inglorious was glaring at me.

Vortex walked past with Party over his shoulder, and Inglorious stormed away after him. What the hell had that been about?