Once we enter and take our seats, Pres bangs the gavel, starting the meeting.
Racer begins. “Just got a call from old man Kirby, and he saw some thugs hanging around by the high school— looked like they were selling drugs. He saw baggies and a wad of cash.” Pres looks to me. “Valarie is with them, Crash.”
My fists clench on the table. When is she going to fucking learn that staying with this crew will get her hurt or worse?
“I have made my position clear on this, Pres. I tried talking to her, but she laughs and refuses to listen.” I sigh, not wanting this to be the final say but I have to. “I can’t help her, so what happens, happens.”
He studies me for a moment and nods, his eyes showing respect for my effort. Dropping my chin to my chest, I let out a breath. I realize I can't help someone who rejects assistance and pushes away those who care, time and time again. She clearly does not heed our warnings.
“Also, I want to say this. I am pissed that I had to hurt Stevie on the instruction of the club. I won’t be doing it again.”
You can hear a pin drop, but I had to say my piece. I fucking hated hurting her, but it was an order from my pres. Finally lifting my head, I look at Racer and see he is still watching me.
“You made a great prospect, Crash, and fuck, you have been a great brother. The club comes first and always.” I nod, knowing what he means. “It was wrong of me to ask you to try and get information out of that girl for the sake of the club. Even if we did need to find out, because right now we need all the help we can get to get those cunts out of my territory.”
“I get it.” I sigh.
“Good. Now let’s mount up and see what we can do with the fucker at the school. Target, Flame, Crash, you are with me. The rest of you try and catch up on the garage work; we need happy customers to keep coming back.”
We file out of the room as soon as the gavel hits the wood.
“People always want to come back and see this, Pres,” Savage calls, rubbing his hands over his front, dipping one hand into his pants.
“Well, I have seen enough of that. Put ya dick away,” Pres calls and we laugh.
“I am offended, Pres.” His hand goes to his chest and he gasps.
“Okay,” Pres offers but Savage doesn’t say anything else. “Fuck me, everyone gets offended by everything these days.”
Bikes fire up and we head out. I keep picturing Valarie selling to young kids and it turns my stomach. I fucking hate that this is who she is now. A far cry from the girl I once knew.
By the time we get to the high school, they are nowhere to be seen. Not even students are hanging around, almost like they were tipped off that we were coming.
My anger boils in my veins knowing that people are happy to help ruin young lives for a quick buck. Where is the sense in that? It is all about power and money— greed is a powerful thing, and I have seen that over the years.
I just hope that we can sort this shit out before anyone dies.
CHAPTER TWELVE
STEVIE
I am at work, finishing paperwork. It has been a good day, seeing families coming to stay at the hotel while visiting Phoenix. I like keeping busy because it makes the day go faster.
There’s something satisfying about knowing people are making memories together, and I feel grateful to play a small part in their experience. Knowing the area, I can offer advice on places to visit. The steady rhythm of work helps me clear my mind of thinking about a certain blond biker who makes my blood pump.
“I am done for the day,” one of the girls calls out as she walks past the front desk.
“Oh, hot date.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her, seeing her with a face full of makeup on and wearing sexy clothes.
“Yes,” she sighs dreamily. “He is a trucker. We hook up when he is back home and girl, let me tell you, he leaves me aching for days after he is finished with me.”
“Well, go and enjoy him, babe.”
She waves goodbye and skips out of the hotel, ready for a night of hot steamy sex by the sounds of things. Lucky girl.
Thinking of sex, images of Logan float into my head, and I groan, dropping my head into my hands. It was a week ago that he found me, kissed me, then hurt me. When he found me at the sandwich shop, I thought maybe fate was finally telling me that we could be something now that he was being placed in my path.
Clearly not.