“Then get your ass in the Chapel, Marine!” Steel’s voice boomed throughout the entire clubhouse.
Pumpkin nearly jumped, having not heard Steel or some of the others enter the clubhouse. After twenty years in the Marines, most of them in command, Steel had the classic Military Yell down to a science.
Pumpkin and Ghost shared an amused glance. Even years after leaving the military—the Marines for Pumpkin and the SEALs for Ghost—it was a natural instinct to listen to that Yell.
As they entered the Chapel, Ghost nudged Pumpkin’s shoulder with his own. “Welcome back, brother. And if you want your house re-painted, do it yourself.”
Normally, the officers met Friday mornings for their executive Church meeting and then the entire club met on Saturday mornings with the Sunday club run the following day. Since the club runs were out for the winter, the club occasionally met for Sunday lunches, either at the clubhouse or out at a restaurant, but they always kept their Church schedule the same regardless of the time of year. However, with the Fall Festival the next morning, this week’s Saturday Church meeting had been moved to Friday afternoon following the officers’ standard meeting.
Everyone was present. Unless you were sick or dying, Steel’s words, you got your ass to Church.
After Jumper and Demo read their reports, Steel brought the meeting to order. “I’m aware some of you are none too thrilled about tomorrow’s bachelor auction. Tough shit. Jenna has worked far too hard on this event to deal with your whining. Suck it up, put a goddamn smile on your face, and for the love of all that is holy, act like you want to be there. If I hear one complaint leave your fucking lips and it makes it to Jenna’s ears, I will staple your lips together. Is that clear?”
Pumpkin wasn’t the only one who swallowed hard at Steel’s words. The man didn’t threaten just for the sake of threatening. It wasn’t his way, nor did he rule through intimidation. But there was one button that was never to be pushed with Steel, and that was Jenna. The man would do anything for his woman, and the fact that she wassick now only increased Steel’s need to ensure everything in Jenna’s life was perfect.
“The ol’ ladies are heading into town around five-thirty tomorrow morning. If you are single or don’t have a kid, you’re to tag along. You’re their bitch for anything and everything they need done. The rest of us will be over with the kids around ten. I believe Ollie, Aaron, and Bree are heading over with the ladies.”
Lucky added, “Scotty too. He’s going to,” he coughed, “help Harper out and I’ll follow later with the babies.”
“Me too,” Cage stated. “I’ve been to all the planning meetings with the ladies. Angel and I will bring the teens with us in the morning.” What had started out as a joke between him and Angel was now a standard. Though a patched member, Cage was also an honorary ol’ lady and even had aProperty of Angelrocker on the back of his cut.
“Lucky, I have to head over in the morning to decorate my storefront. I can do yours too since you’ve got the babies,” Angel added on.
Lucky nodded his appreciation. “Thank you.”
The section of Main Street that the festival was on would be closed off to standard traffic, which meant anyone wanting to drive through Mount Grove tomorrow would have to take side roads or go all the way around the mountain to get across town. The stores that were in the closed-off section were expected to decorate, including Angel’s tattoo shop and Lucky’s art studio. Jenna and Steel’s kids’ consignment store was further down by the high school and not in the cordoned off area.
Since the elementary school and high school were on the opposite sides of Main Street, the town would be blocking the festival section starting tonight at nine and having people park at the schools to attend. School buses were being used to shuttle those who needed assistance getting to the town center.
“I’ll be sending the prospects—” Steel’s phone ringing interrupted his next sentence. Normally, phones weren’t allowed in Church, but ever since Jenna got sick, Steel never silenced his anymore.
Pulling his phone out, he frowned when he saw the caller and answered gruffly, “Carlos.”
Bulldog’s head swung to his right at his brother’s name. Carlos’s new fiancée, Zoe, had recently given birth to their twins. Zoe was still on maternity leave from working as Carlos’s receptionist, but Carlos had recently returned to work with the Fall Festival coming up. Pumpkin wondered if Carlos was with Jenna in town and that was why Steel answered.
Grumpy leaned into Pumpkin and whispered, “Ollie’s mom showed up at the consignment store yesterday. Made a scene in front of Jenna and tried to trash the place. Steel had to forcibly remove her from the store.”
Pumpkin’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, shit,” he breathed out. “Is Jenna okay?”
“Think the woman would still be breathing if she wasn’t?” Grumpy asked in return.
No, Pumpkin supposed not. He turned his attention back down the table to Steel. The man was sitting ramrod straight and his hand was clenched into a fist on the table. Other than that, there were no outward signs of distress.
“Thank you,” he said finally. “I understand.” Hanging up the call with Carlos, Steel pressed several buttons and then put the phone back to his ear. Everyone waited with bated breath, but Steel wasn’t looking at any of them. “Jen,” he said into the phone. As far as Pumpkin knew, Steel was the only person who called Jenna ‘Jen’. “I need you to come to the clubhouse.” There was a slight pause and then he said, “Yes, I know. I’m sorry, baby, but I need you here.” Another pause. “Thank you. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
After he hung up with Jenna, Steel called another number. “It’s me. I’m going to need you sooner than I thought.” He listened for a moment before saying, “Yes, but not for what we assumed.” Pumpkin wasn’t the only one looking around, confused. Even Lucky and Bulldog looked out of the loop. “Thank you. I’ll see you there.”
Once he hung up that call, Steel tossed his phone onto the table in front of him. He lifted his gunmetal-gray eyes, meeting each of theirs before saying to the group as a whole, “Carlos is on his way over. He is bringing a DEA agent with him who has a warrant for my arrest.”
When the protests and startled exclamations sounded, Steel let out a loud whistle to silence them all. “I don’t know much. Toni Anderson,” the criminal defense attorney the club had used in the past, “will be meeting me at the station.” He stood up. “All of you are to remain up here. I don’t want to cause a scene downstairs or give the DEA a reason to arrest anyone else.” Steel looked to Lucky and Bulldog. “You’re with me. My concern is Jenna and how she will handle this. Stress,” his voice crackled slightly. “Stress can increase her flare-ups.”
“We’ll take care of her,” Lucky vowed. “Did Carlos say what the charges are?”
Steel’s jaw ticked and a flash of anger crossed his face. “Dixie Gilbert was found dead this morning and I’m the prime suspect.”
CHAPTER 11
The door wasn’t even closed two seconds behind Steel, Lucky, and Bulldog before Ghost ordered harshly, “Keys.”
