"And I'll probably say it several more times.Fucking shit.We've got a trafficking ring pulling kids through our territory."The words even tasted bad and he picked up the mug to wash the flavor from his mouth.He took a long pull and set it back down, but it didn't help."First, we have to figure out if it's true, but assuming it is, we've got to figure out the route.They'll have habits and routines that we need to figure so we can watch for them to come through and stop them.Permanently.This isn't something we can ignore."
Savage had been moving around them, cleaning up and wiping down tables.They hadn't paid him much attention because while he might not be a patched member, he was just too new for that, he was an ex-seal and that meant his security clearance was probably higher than half the brothers, and he knew what their club was about, or he wouldn't be here.They didn't normally let prospects in on private club business, but none of this was specific, not yet, and Savage would likely end up on any mission anyway.
"I don't want to butt in, but I couldn't help but overhear most of what you've been talking about.It's pretty quiet in here and without some kind of background noise, voices carry."
"I'll remember that."Tuck gave Savage a wary look.
"Anyway, I know I'm just a prospect, and I don't have a vote yet, but I'm with Mac on this one.We can't ignore this."
Tuck sighed again."I feel the same, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't just me and my gut before I took it to the whole club.I'll check in with the other officers, but how do you feel about pulling all the prospects in on this vote?"
"I think we should.If nothing else, it gives them a chance to have a say on what they risk their lives on, not that they usually get much choice."Mac shot the president a smirk.It was true.Part of being a prospect was doing what you were told without question.They'd all been through it and they'd all, well, all that had been patched in, had managed it."I don't think any of them will choose to stand on the sidelines while we take out this kind of scum."
"Hell, I'd even refuse a weapon for this one.It's not usually my choice, but this kind, I want to take up close and personal.I want to make them hurt."
Mac turned and gave the prospect his full attention for the first time since he came in."Fuck, you really are Savage."He watched as the other man shrugged.Normally Mac would have called a prospect a kid but being a SEAL tended to pound all of the kid out of you, fast.Besides, the man was pushing thirty, and while some were still kids at fifty, Mac suspected Savage had been one of those who was old at eighteen.He certainly had been by the time he'd made twenty-five.
"That's what they call me."
"You willing to share why they call you that?"
"Not yet.And not sober."
"Want to pour yourself a drink and join us?"
Savage shook his head and kept working."Not tonight, thanks."
"Enough."Tuck called Mac's attention back to him."We need to come up with a plan of attack for this ring, because I'm not willing to take it slow and gather information for weeks or months.I want to handle them and wipe them out.I'll check with everyone else, but my stand is we try to do it legal, but if shit goes sideways, legal isn't the priority, getting rid of them is."
"Fuck yeah."Mac took another long drink, nearly draining the rest of the beer in one long pull.Damn.With more talk like this he was going to need at least one more, possibly more if it went on much longer."You sure know how to ruin an amazing day."He set the nearly empty mug down with a thump.
"Oh?Did you have something going on?"
Mac smirked."I was in bed with my neighbor.She's something else."
Tuck shook his head."Didn't anyone ever tell you not to shit where you sleep?Screwing your neighbors is a good way to end up with neighbors who hate you."
"Yeah, and normally I wouldn't sleep with her, but it's more than just that.I wasn't planning it.I was actually trying to avoid it...until I found myself sitting on her couch with her sweet little body pressed against me while she kissed the shit out of me."
Tuck shook his head and stood."I don't have time to fix your love life.Remember that when she dumps your ass."The president gave Mac one last long look then headed for the stairs that led up to the personal rooms on the second floor, shaking his head as he went.Mac took another drink and sat staring at his mug long after he heard the door close above.
"You want another?"Savage motioned to the nearly empty mug several minutes later.Mac stared at the glass for several seconds, trying to talk himself out of it.
"Yeah, might as well."His sleep had already been interrupted; he'd never get any more sleep without help.Especially after what they'd been talking about.Not Elyse, the shit Tuck had wanted to talk to him about.Mac shook his head, still marveling that the president had wanted his opinion, had valued it enough to call him in when there weren’t others around to talk.
With just the two of them left in the place, it didn't take Savage long to deliver the fresh drink.
"Take a load off."Mac used a toe of his boot to push out a chair on the far side of the table and watched the other man.
"I don't know."Savage eyed the seat as if it were likely to explode if he sat.
"Jailbait won't care, you've cleaned far more than your predecessors ever did at the end of a night."
"There wasn't much else to do the last few hours.The prez told me I could call it a night, but that would be leaving him to serve himself.Somehow that didn't seem right."Savage pulled the seat out a little more, then sat.
"Damned overachieving frogs," Mac muttered and shook his head."Going to make us all look bad."He watched the prospect out of the corner of his eye, looking for some kind of reaction, any kind.
"Frogs?That would make you what?A jarhead?"
