I force my lips into a wry grin. “Of course, I did.”
“Slut.”
Shrugging, I bend down to kiss her cheek, then head into the clubhouse. My men dip their heads as I walk past. “It’s time for church!” I call out, round the corner and push the heavy double oak doors leading to the inner sanctum open.
Two dozen eyes question me as I enter the room. Taking my seat at the head of the table, I pick up the oak gavel, slamming it down.
“Today’s vote will be on the harvesting and distribution of antibody plasma on the black market. All those in favor say ‘aye’.”
No one speaks.
“Fine. I’ll vote first. Aye.” Brows lift. I grin like a mother-fo. “What? You didn’t think this Apache had the balls for it? Either it’s us or the Scorpions.” One by one, my men follow my vote for aye. I slam the gavel down. “It’s done. I’ll call the rest of the chapters and report our vote. The entire MC has to decide. But the New Mexico Chapter is in.”
Slamming my chair back, I head to my office shutting the door. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I wonder what in the heck I just got the Club into. Hell. I hate taking shit from survivors. They earned their right to live but the world is still a hard and bitter place sometimes. I’m the best bad guy out there. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Sinking down in my chair, I open my desk draw choosing a new burner. The MC runs just about everything in this part of the state and it burns the ass of some up and coming federal agent, Kinkaid. The man has a friggin’ hard-on for me. My phones are tapped, drones fly overhead. Last time one came close, I took out my rifle, shooting it down. If Kinkaid knew the call I just made, he’d have my ass in a federal prison past eternity.
I decide to call New Orleans first. Then New York. I’m still pissed at F.O.C.U.S. for that stunt at the Triple XXX. He has some crazy ass idea that he could triple profits by circulating women from different clubs. He thinks men get tired of staring at the same pair of tits on a stage and thought by having women do two-week stints, rotating them around strip joints would keep the customers coming and spending more. The Club spread us a bit thin these past few years, giving more than taking and keeping our people fed and their bills paid. Now we need to replenish our cash reserves. Plasma and pussy are better than ways the other MC’s make cash. At least that’s how I’m living with my choices.
“Jameson.”
“Tarak.”
“We just took the vote. We’re in.” He breathes hard through the phone.
“It’s an ugly business.”
“You still have your contacts in Hong Kong?”
“I do. Bastards.”
“If it’s not us, others will move in.”
“I know, brother. I’ll take a vote here and report up the chain. Compton was a no. So was Dallas.”
“Shit.”
“Gerard wants a meet in Vegas. All the Chapter Prez’s. This decision is too big not to have a council meet on.”
“When is he thinking?”
“Three days.”
“Well I guess I better go pack then. See you there?”
“You will, brother.”
I toss the burner in the trash and stand. I need coffee with a splash of bourbon. Maybe two. Maybe, I’ve gone soft. Maybe I need to return to my roots, clear my head and become the Apache warrior within me.
I walk back out to the main room, stopping short at the sight of the men from Creed—Smith, and Rog, at my bar. “Shit. I forgot you were still here.”
“We wanted to see how the vote went.”
“We are in, but the rest of the chapters are still voting. It will be all or nothing. Globally.”
Smith’s jaw clenches. “We’re not down with that, brotha. This will impact our alliance.”
I nod. “If it’s not us, it’ll be the Scorpions. At least we have a code. I don’t want to do it But at least we’ll handle it with the least amount of violence.”
“So fucked up,” Roger, breathes. “My wife won’t like it.”
“I’m glad I don’t have one.” But as soon as I speak the words, I know it’s a lie. I almost had one. Mandy…
“Roque’s woman had it. He’s gonna go berserk. You want a war with the Salvatore Syndicate?”
“I have no choice!” I roar, kicking a chair over. The two men immediately stand. “Look, I don’t want a war with anyone but my back’s up against a wall here.” The three of them eye me while I pace across the room with clenched fists. The decision isn’t sitting right with me either. But the survival of the entire human race is on the line. In my head I hear Mandy’s sweet voice. “If you lose your humanity, humans are already extinct…”
I stroke my chin, “Maybe I’ll call Salvatore myself. Explain the situation.”
“I’ll arrange something.” Roger gets up. “We’re heading back north.”
“Wait. I’ll ride with you. I’m heading to Vegas to meet with Gerard.”
“Boys!” I bellow to my men still at church. “It’s time to ride!”
I pack a small roll bag and head out. “Sis, you better be good while I’m gone. Don’t leave the compound. I mean it. Shit is about to go south.”
Regan is still bent over her garden. “I’ll do as I please.”
“Regan,” I warn.
Her eyes roll. “You men, think you run the world.”
“We do.”
“Don’t. We live outside of Santa Fe. The most exciting thing going down is our cousin’s Quinceanera next month..
“Shit, I had forgotten about that.”
“We’re hosting, idiot.”
“Here?”
“No. We’re closing down Main Street since she invited the whole town.”
“Security is gonna be fucked.”
She raises a gardening tool, “Sorry?”
I wave it off, “Add it to the rest of things on my plate that I need to deal with.”
“I’d help you if I could, but I’m kinda busy.” She winks, lifts the hose, and squirts me. “Oops.”
“You’re gonna pay for that,” I growl, stalking forward. Instead of backing off she presses the nozzle down on full blast.
I charge.
Squealing, she runs back while keeping the hose on me, but I outweigh her by a hundred pounds. I grab the hose in one hand, bending it in half cutting off the water. “I’d pay you back but all I’d be doing is giving the boys a show.” I nod to her white T-shirt.
She shrugs. “Not sorry. That’s payback.”
“For what?”
“The vote.”
“Spying again?”
“I have my sources.”
I shake my head. “If you sleep with any of the guys, I’ll cut their balls off myself and lock you back in your room.”
“Please. As if any of your blind sheep interest me.”
“Good. It better stay that way,” I grit out. “I need to change now, thanks a lot sis.” Her laugh follows me. Pausing, midstride, I turn. Regan has always been a bit wild, a bit of a troublemaker. And she always seems to find a way to insert herself in Club business.