Page 56 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

Time sped by after we formed our strategy for the call Nelson Newman was to make to hopefully an actual member of the Brutal Rebels MC.

I hadn’t had time to rest. I stopped by the house to ensure Braelyn and Xander were alright.

My son was dead to the world. Brae was awake.

I’d chastised her for not sleeping and told her to rest, and when we were done, I’d catch her up.

She tried to get details out of me, but I didn’t give in.

She was upset with me when I left, but she kissed me and ordered me to be careful.

The group in church during the call was Bull, Iceman, me, Tank, Payne, Player, Bear, Rebel, and Outlaw.

It was no surprise that the officers would be there.

Iceman and I were fortunate to be included.

If it hadn’t been for the danger to my woman and Iceman being Nelson’s son, we would’ve had to wait in the common room with the others.

It was after three o’clock in the morning on Saturday.

I should be in bed with my woman, either sleeping or buried inside of her.

Instead, I was here with an asshole who was trying to bring more danger to our club.

Sometimes I wondered if we and our friends had invisible to us signs that read, Bring your danger, drama, and everything else here .

Nelson was free of restraints and seated in the chair to the left of Bull.

The rest of us took our usual chairs. There was a cell phone in the middle of the table.

When we nabbed Nelson, we took his phone and laptop.

While we were in the Cellar with him, Outlaw was busy working on them.

We’d taken a short break after our conversation with Nelson and before this call to allow Outlaw to finish running diagnostics or whatever he called it on the devices.

“I’m good to go when you are,” Outlaw told Bull. He was seated with a cable running from his laptop to the phone.

“Remember what we told you. Play fair with us if you want Iceman to allow you into his life. You better not be wasting our time,” Pres growled.

“I’m not. I swear, this guy is the one you need to talk to. He makes decisions for the big guy when he’s not able to do it.”

“Then let’s do this,” Tank said.

We watched Nelson like hawks as he got into his contacts and pressed a couple of buttons.

Payne was standing behind him. I knew it was an intimidation move to keep Nelson aware of what would befall him if he fucked up.

The phone rang over and over. I guess the guy didn’t answer in the middle of the night after all.

Iceman’s dad was giving us nervous, darting glances.

Payne placed his hand on Nelson’s shoulder, causing him to jump.

“Seems no one is home,” Payne stated. Nelson’s mouth was opening when the ringing stopped and a gruff voice came over the line.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Newman? Do you know what time it is? I’m in bed, sleeping, dumbass,” the man snarled.

“I-I’m sorry. I know it’s late. But I didn’t think you’d want to wait to hear this, Zombie.”

When Nelson stopped talking, Zombie snapped, “Well, spit it out.”

“I got them. I finally got my son to talk to me. His club was there, so I went for it. I told them there’s a ton of money to be made if they agree to work with a group I know.”

“How did they seem when you told them? Did they act excited?” Zombie asked eagerly.

“Not at first. They were skeptical, but I kept telling them how they could get rich and that they had existing routes that could be used. They want to know more about that and the other opportunity. I didn’t tell them what it was about.

I figured you’d want to do it. The thing is, they don’t like to sit around, Zombie.

They want to meet ASAP to discuss this with you,” Nelson told him.

“I don’t know if I can do something right away. We’re working on other shit,” Zombie answered.

Bull gestured to get Nelson’s attention, shook his head, scowled, and then made a cutting throat motion to disconnect the call.

“Z, if you don’t see them, they’ll go elsewhere.

I heard one of them talking. He didn’t know it.

They have another group trying to do business with them.

If they decide to go with that bunch, you’ll be screwed.

They’re meeting with them Tuesday night.

I’ve done my part. I got them on the hook.

If you want them, you have to reel them in. You know A wants them.”

My heart sped up when he referred to A. Could he mean Attila, or was I reading too much into it?

“I know my fucking job. I don’t need you telling me how to do it. Just because the guys inside brought you in on this and you get to be the go-between with our boss, doesn’t mean you have any say over me or the others,” Zombie growled. I heard the dislike for Nelson in his tone.

“You’re right, it doesn’t give me a say in what you do.

However, if you fail to do your part, it comes back on me, and I’m not taking the heat or the fall for you not doing your job.

What do you want me to tell them? Is it forget it, you’re too busy?

Or yeah, where do you want to meet? That’s the other thing.

They won’t meet in the typical spot. They want a public, yet not too public, and neutral place.

They’re a cautious lot, but they’d have to be to fool as many as they have that their club is clean. ”

“Of course, I’m not saying no. I was just thinking out loud.

I need time to find a new meeting spot. Tell them we’re interested, and we’ll do it Monday night, but I’ll get back to you on where and what time.

There will be some rules to keep things fair.

No more than five people each. Weapons will be surrendered at the meet and returned after it’s over.

And yeah, that’s on both sides. If we come to an agreement, we’ll want to start this new business in the new year.

We’re expanding fast and aggressively. Warn them of that.

And it’s not something they can talk to any other clubs about, not even friends. ”

“I’ll make sure they know that. Is there anything else you need from me?”

“How many men do they have? What about friends they can rely on to have their backs?”

I held my breath. That wasn’t a question I expected.

“They have a dozen, including prospects. I know they have three other chapters, but from what I’ve noted from studying them, they don’t often associate. All chapters work as independent ones. As for friends, one or two small clubs, smaller than them,” Nelson smoothly replied.

“Good, good, just what we like. Alright, get them prepared and don’t fucking call me again unless someone important is dying. Ya hear me?”

“I hear ya? ‘Night, Z.”

“‘Night,” Zombie barely mumbled before he hung up.

Nelson gave us an anxious look and waited to hear what we had to say.

“We’ve got prep to do and questions for you, but those can wait. We’re all exhausted. Get sleep, and we’ll reconvene at eleven. Nelson, for doing such a good job on the call, you get to sleep in a crash room. You’ll be guarded, but at least it’s better than a cell in our Cellar,” Bull informed him.

I tuned the conversation out since it had nothing to do with me.

When things were figured out and Payne was asked to escort Nelson to his room, the rest of us scattered to get much-needed shut-eye.

At home, I took the world’s quickest shower before I crawled into bed and wrapped Braelyn in my arms. Peace settled over me as I held her.