I sigh, glancing at the work I still have left before I should be leaving. “Prez, I’m just about done with the inventory.”
“Fuck the inventory. You won’t be going tomorrow. Something came up. Get here now,” he orders and hangs up the phone.
Shit. Prez never loses his cool like that. And to cancel a run, it has to be important. I know our president has a family that he keeps mostly out of the club. His wife helps and plans meals, makes sure the place gets cleaned and laundry serviced. She mostly runs things behind the scenes of the club for us. Ari is a bartender, but he has a set of twins who are in their early teens that he keeps mostly separate from our business. Ari said he was like that with her too until she turned eighteen. Since becoming members, I’ve become friends of sorts with Ari. We keep it casual, no hooking up, just hanging out like friends, and once in a while we grab a bite to eat together. She already knows I don’t want romance and I never want to fall in love again. Plus, our age difference is another turn off for me. Even though she’s twenty-one, I feel like I’m too old to be anything but a big brother figure for her. Unlike Zane. He only offers her and the club whores dick and romance without the commitment.
I pack up quickly and ride out of town and back to the clubhouse in record time. The place is grim when I arrive and everyone is standing around, waiting.
“Sup, Randy. What's going on?” I ask the elderly man, who’s in his usual spot by the door.
“Don’t know. Must be big cuz Prez and Jester have been in Church for over an hour.”
I move farther into the room, nodding at a couple of buddies, and head to the bar. Ari smiles when she sees me and automatically hands me a water. She must not know her dad already cancelled my run for tomorrow.
“What’s happening?” I ask her, leaning over the bar top.
She shakes her head, lifting her shoulders. “No idea. Prez came flying out here and got Jester. Then started barking orders to get everyone home.”
“Hmm.” I trail my fingers over my jaw. My stomach clenches with all the possibilities. Did a job go wrong? I don’t remember anyone else being out right now. I guess there could have been an issue with our traders tomorrow, but I feel like that wouldn't warrant the call we got. I feel wound tight; my shoulders tense and a weird sense of unease keeps crawling down my spine. Something isn’t right, but I have no clue what it could be.
“Ari, get this man a shot,” Zane says a few seconds later, sliding next to me.
“A few,” our buddy Lennox, or Inspector, chimes in. “No job tomorrow.”
Ari’s blonde brow rises. “This must be something huge.”
No sooner does she say the words then Prez is at the door to Church. “Everyone in.”
We file in, everyone glancing at each other, too afraid to speak yet. I take my usual seat around the large table, right in the middle. Jester meets my gaze and I nod at him respectfully. It took a while after deciding to stay for Tric’s father and I to be on good terms. Him because I reminded him too much of his son and he thought I was wasting my life. And myself for harboring a grudge that I had no part of. Tric and Jester made peace even while he was in heaven and I needed to respect that. If Tric hadn’t been denied the club when he turned eighteen, I never would have met him. I can’t hold that against his blood.
“The good doc needs our help,” Prez states suddenly. A few of the older members sit up in their chairs, their eyes becoming concerned. Zane glances at me and I shrug. We’ve been through the same training, and over the years I’ve learned about a lot of people who are connected to the club. This good doc is notsomeone who’s popped up on our radar in the two years I’ve been here.
“As in not the bad doc?” Zane questions. His words are met with a few groans. Leave it to my friend.
Prez eyes Zane, trying to see how full of bullshit he is right now. “Fuck, Squirrel. Shut the hell up, okay.” I try not to snicker.
“What's it been like, almost five years?” someone asks.
Prez’s head hangs down. “Four and two months.” He glances around the table at us all. Trusting us. “My kid was going through a rough time. She wasn’t sleeping, eating. She was panicking about shit neither my old lady nor I could understand. I was freaked out and Jocelyn wasn’t sleeping because our daughter wasn’t sleeping. She was so worried. One day…my kid came flying down the stairs with a knife, eyes just glazed over. She had no idea who she was or where she was. She just kept saying they wanted her to.” His voice falls off and I lower my gaze to the table. It's one thing for him to share this personal part of his family history, but I don’t feel entitled to see him fall apart.
“The good doc saved her life. She saved my family. I promised her the club would be at her disposal if she ever needed us. A few months ago, she reached out, thinking someone was following her. Since then, it has progressed into full-on stalking.”
“Did she make a police report?” Inspector asks.
Prez shakes his head and his eyes become darker. “She can’t go to them. It's a long story, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the creep after her is part of the force.”
My fists tighten in my lap. “What's the plan?”
“I have reason to believe she was attacked tonight. She called and said the alarm I gave her was tripped. Then she didn’t call back and I can’t get through to her now. It's been an hour. I need to send a few of you up there to check on her and see if youcan convince her to take our protection,” Prez finishes. His eyes automatically connect with mine.
“Ah, that's not my usual specialty, Prez,” I deadpan. I’m more of a shoot and then run guy.
“No, but your face might seem less intimidating,” Jester butts in and Zane cackles. I narrow my gaze at my lifelong friend and he holds up his hands in surrender.
“I’m sending Karma, Bullet and Squirrel to get the doc. Jester, I want you to talk to the police chief and see if you can get anything about the sanction up there. We might have to cover something up, so Inspector and Pointz, you two be ready,” Prez rattles off his instructions. “Everyone else needs to stay busy here. Be seen around town. In case we need an alibi. I’ll call DeMario and work on a new shipment plan. We may have to eat some of the cost on this one.”
All of us give our approval and my phone vibrates in my pocket. “That's the address I have for her. Be stealthy, be cautious. She knows how to use a weapon so maybe make friends before you order her around.”
I’m completely stunned by the turn of events; yet somehow, I manage to get up and take the slip of paper from him. I glance at the address, memorize it and drop it in the garbage on our way out. We’ve been given instructions not to waste any more time. Who knows how much time this woman has lost already. Gritting my teeth, I check my piece that’s tucked into the back of my jeans and make sure the chamber is loaded. Zane and Bullet glance at me from their bikes, waiting for my sign to roll out.
