by K E Osborn
“Any idea who did this? Any clues?”
“I ran over the footage. They’re wearing black balaclavas… came in giant black vans with machine guns. They knew exactly when to hit and where…” River curls his lip. “We either have a mole, or one of our clients is talking and told the Militia we’re dealing more than we should. Either way, we need to fix this. I can’t have my men at risk like this, Zero. Our entire operation is exposed. Do we shut up shop and find another distribution center?”
Zero grunts. “It could take months to find something that works. We can’t risk being off-grid for that long. Our clients need their shipments. If we don’t produce, then they start coming after us. It will be an even bigger problem than having our location made. Leave it with me, I will beef up your security. Just make sure you have Slavers here, ‘round the clock, protecting the product.”
River cracks his neck to the side. “As a prospect, I respect you, Pres. But, as the head of the Slavers, I have to tell you, I don’t like this plan. It leaves my men exposed and both our lines of product vulnerable.”
Zero grips River’s shoulder. “I hear you loud and clear. But I’m gonna fix this. You’ll get the security you need. You have my word, brother.”
River tilts his head. “I sure fucking hope so.”
“Stay here for as long as you need. This is your priority right now. Keep me informed of what you’re doing. I’ll be in touch with who’s coming in as backup.”
River nods and everyone else turns, heading for their rides.
I glance over my shoulder watching my brothers walk off, and as I turn back to River, he seems to know instantly what I am about to ask. “You wanna know what her place looks like?”
I dip my chin. “Sorry, haven’t been able to catch up with you until now. Shit’s kinda been—”
“Hectic.”
“Yeah!”
River exhales, shaking his head. “She wasn’t wrong when she said it was small, brother. It’s a shithole. Honestly, I don’t know how she lives there… but I’ve been trying to go over there every few days to water her plants and keep it looking lived in. Not that I think anyone would notice.”
“Thanks, brother, appreciate it.”
He rolls his shoulders. “Don’t know if I can keep it up right now, though, with all this shit happening.”
“Do what you can. The Slavers come first.”
“Thanks, man… if I can get out, I will. I’ll keep you up to date.”
I slap his arm. “Good luck.”
“Phantom, c’mon!” Texas calls out, and I tilt my head.
“I better…”
“Later,” River states, then turns, walking off.
I knew Billie was living tough, but I hate knowing she was really doing that fucking bad.
I jog up to Texas, and he rolls his shoulders while Neon chuckles. “We’re not gonna like where we’re heading next, are we?” Neon asks.
“Nope. Hold on to your hats, boys, we’re ridin’ into Mont Belvieu,” Zero states.
“Motherfucker,” Neon grunts out at the same time we all mount our hogs and take off for the thirty-minute ride out of the city.
This is not going to be fun!
PHANTOM
When we pull up to the lavish two-story home, we all park our rides, then kick out our stands. I’ve never been to this house before, but most of my brothers have, back when this place belonged to someone else.
“Man, I haven’t been here since we last saw the Baron,” Neon chuckles. “Damn, that man hated us showing up here.”
We all chuckle.
“Fucker!” Zero grunts out the word while we make our way up the path.
Neon rings the doorbell, a cheery melody plays, then the telltale sounds of high heels click-clack along the polished wooden floorboards. The double stained-glass door opens, and there she stands in all her glory.
White suit.
Perfectly wavy blonde hair.
And a scowl on her face that could kill you if you come any closer.
“How in the ever-lovin’-fuck did you know I was here?”
Neon stifles his laughter, and her head snaps to him.
She bobs her head knowingly and exhales. “Of course. Neon knows everything. I should have known y’all would be aware where I’m living.”
“To be fair, Connie, living at your dead ex-husband’s house is not very stealthy,” Ax jabs.
“But have y’all seen this place? I mean, really, you think I’m gonna let a house like this go to waste?” She pulls the door back to allow us in. “Now get inside ya damn riff-raff. Causin’ a scene out here in the streets… no wonder my Tilly was always so damn annoyed with y’all.”
We all enter the immaculate home. Everything is in pristine condition. Cream furniture, a grand staircase of white carpet and wooden railings make a statement as we pass it heading into the living room, where cream sofas and ornate wooden cabinetry is located. It’s a cross between upscale Modern Housewives of Houston and a hunter’s cabin. The mix of sophisticated and old shouldn’t work, but it does, and I see a lot of the Baroness in this house.
“Thanks for the hospitality, Connie,” Zero states, taking a seat on the cream sofa.
“I’d offer y’all some dinner, but I feel like this ain’t no social call. Like it generally isn’t with you boys.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I peer down at the photo frame on the buffet beside me, where Connie and the Baron are locked together in a loving pose. I still don’t know how she is so friendly and obliging with us after we killed the man she loved.
She’s one twisted woman, or else it was all a rouse. Who knows?
“You’re lookin’ delicious today, Ax, I must say… you been workin’ out a little more?” The Baroness eyes Ax up and down.
We all turn to Ax.
“No, and I think I might go eat a fucking cheeseburger after this.”
We all chuckle as Connie smirks. “Funny, too… I’m in the market for another husband. My last one was taken out by bikers, but he wasn’t as fit as you are, and Mama’s lookin’ for a nice young cub to tame.”
All of us gawk at her forwardness while Ax grips hold of his cut, puffing out his chest. “As much as I’m all for a cougar, I see you more of a Carol Baskin than a Kim Basinger. No offense, Baroness, but I think we should keep our relationship purely platonic.”
“I’ll be here when you change your mind.” She grins wide. “In the meantime, you boys are here for a reason, so what is it?”
Zero clears his throat, cracking his neck to the side when he says, “We need a favor.”
Straight to the point, as always.
The Baroness chuckles, making her way over to the wet bar and starts mixing drinks. “This seems to be the nature of our relationship now, doesn’t it? You help me, I help you, and so it goes on this never-ending circle. Do you like this relationship we’ve found ourselves in, Zero?” she asks, making a point of dropping a cube of ice into a small glass.
“It works.”
She spins, a frown deeply etched on her face. “Until… it doesn’t.” We all tense, her frown intensifying, then she turns back, picking up the whiskey by the neck, and starts pouring drinks. No one says anything, then she spins back with a contrasting bright expression on her face. “Lucky for you, I’m still likin’ you boys.” She winks at Ax, and he visibly cringes.
Damn, this woman gives me whiplash.
Zero takes the drink from Connie with a nod. “I’m glad to hear that. Our relationship with you is important to us.”
She laughs, throwing her head back. “Well, of course, it is, sweetheart. I bring a hell of a lot more to the table than you boys do. But that’s fine, sugar lump. I know you need me, and that’s okay because, honestly, I’ve needed you in the past, I don’t deny that. Just remember where your bread is best buttered. That’s all I’m sayin’.”
Zero grits his teeth like he’s becoming annoyed with Connie.
The problem is, she’s right. She h
olds all the damn power because she’s the most formidable, powerful, but also menacing woman in Texas. So, we have to play nice.
“I’m on board, Connie.”
“Now, what have I told you about callin’ me Connie?”
Zero groans. “My apologies… Baroness.”
“Now we understand each other.” Her eyes narrow on Zero. “So… what can I help you with?”
“Our distribution center was hit today. A targeted attack. But they didn’t take out our production line or try to steal the rest of our product. They simply disrupted one shipment... it was a message.”
She purses her lips. “You think it was Militia?”
Zero shrugs. “Could be, we don’t know.”
“You want me to send out feelers to check?”
“That would help, but what I’m asking for is men.”
She grins wide, placing her hand on her chest. “Why, Zero, I never knew you swung that way.”
Zero scowls. “I’m being serious, Conn… Baroness. We need muscle. Men to help guard our product. We know you have unlimited resources and the means to distribute them…” Zero heaves in a deep breath, I sense his frustration, “… I’m asking for your help.”
She places her drink down on the coffee table and folds her arms across her chest. “I give you my men, and another attack occurs? Who’s going to pay the price for the loss of my people?”
“When we find out who the fuck is doing this, they will. You can have your pound of flesh, too, if they take out any of your men.”
Her eyes shift to the ceiling like she’s thinking this over. She bends to pick up her glass and nods her head once. “My men get hurt in this, Zero, I am not going to be happy.”
“Hoping it won’t come to that. With the added layer of protection, whoever this was that sent the message won’t try to send another one through the Slavers. They’re just trying to get our attention. They have it now. We just have to figure out who the fuck they are.”
“Well, you better figure that shit out quickly, or you and your boys here might be facing somethin’ worse than a shipment shot to high hell. If this gets out of hand in my city, Zero, I don’t know that I’m gonna be able to step in and help y’all out.”
“I hear you… we’re working on it.”
“You better be. I’ll lend you my men, no favor needed in return. I want these streets kept as quiet as possible. But, Zero, if this comes back to bite me in the ass—”
“It won’t.”
“See that it doesn’t! Or it will be your head I’m comin’ after next.” She throws back her drink, slams it down on the table, and heads toward the door.
Obviously, this conversation is over.
Without another word, we all follow and make our way out.
“Next time y’all are fixin’ to make your way over here, let a woman know first, you hear?”
“Got it! Your help is greatly appreciated.”
She grins mischievously. “Oh, I know. Text me the location of where you need my guys. I’ll send a detail there now, and they will work in round-the-clock shifts. Your shit will be protected, Zero, y’all have my word.”
Zero shakes her hand, and we all head back to our rides.
“Keep my offer in mind, Ax,” she calls out, but her laughter is not missed before she closes the door behind her.
“Hard pass,” Ax states categorically as I slap him on his back with a chuckle.
Neon gives Zero a chin lift as we jump on our rides. “You think we can trust her?”
“At this point, she’s the only damn ally we have. We got no other choice but to trust her. Keep an eye on things, trust only goes so far!”
“As soon as we get back, I’ll track all her in and outgoing communications for a while.”
“Good job. Right, let’s ride out!”
A Month Later
The clubhouse has settled down since the attack on the Slavers distribution center. The shipments are back up and running, but Zero still has the Baroness’ men guarding the place for the foreseeable future until we can figure out who did it.
We have no leads.
No idea why.
Just like we’re no closer to figuring out who attacked Billie. We’re looking at it more as a random attack now, and Billie’s leaning toward that outcome as well, but having her here has been a pleasure I didn’t expect.
She’s guarded.
Sometimes jumping at shadows.
But I guess that’s to be expected.
For the most part, though, she fits in well. She adores everyone, and generally, everyone here likes her, too, but we are still getting to know her.
I’m still getting to know her.
But what I do know so far, I really fucking like.
Billie beams at me from across the room as she sits at the table with Cherry. They seem to have struck up a real friendship, and I’m glad she has a woman here who she feels she can talk to. Maybe she will talk to her more instead of feeling like she has to distance herself by going out the back to talk on her phone to whoever the hell it is she talks to.
Zero storms his way through the main area with Wraith by his side now River’s back protecting Leo at the hospital. They head toward the chapel. “Brothers, church, now!”
Standing, I follow the brothers in and take my seat near the end. I’m still new to the patch, so it’s the bottom of the rung for me. But I’m fine with that and happy to pay my dues every day.
Zero bangs his gavel. “Right, is every fucker here?”
“Yeah!” Texas calls back, then shuts the door, taking his seat.
“As we all know, the production of Snow White is back up and running smoothly. Problem is, someone out there knows about the location of our distribution center, and we have no idea who that fucker is. We need to find out who attacked us without raising red flags for the Militia. Anyone got ideas?”
“Are we sure this wasn’t the Militia?” Chains asks.
“If it was, I’m sure my head would be on a pike right now,” Zero explains, picking up a pen and rolling it between his fingers. We all nod in agreement. “It’s not the Militia. For Hawke to attack us, make a statement like that, then nothing? That’s not his MO. Whoever this was is baiting us, letting us know they’re aware of what we’re doing and now they hold the power. Problem is, we don’t know who the hell they are. And they’re not making any other moves to tell us.”
“Do we think they’re going to make another move?” Ax asks. “I mean, in my military training, I’d suggest this is psychological warfare. To drag this shit out this long, to make us wait before revealing who they are with no hints, they’re trying to get us to panic and make a bold move. They’re trying to make us fuck ourselves in the proverbial ass.”
“They want us to make a judgment call on who this is and go to the wrong person?” Zero queries, his eyes falling to the pen in his hand, his eyes lingering on it like he’s thinking hard.
“I would assume so,” Ax states.
“Anyone else find it interesting that all this shit started when Billie showed up at the hospital?” Texas states, his eyes focused.
I scoff, leaning forward. “Don’t start that shit, Texas. She’s done nothing but be a great fucking house guest while she’s been here—”
“Yeah, too fucking great, it doesn’t add up, Phantom. You’re just too pussy-whipped to see it.”
I stand, shoving my chair back, throwing my hands in the air. “You motherfu—”
Zero slams the gavel down on the table, making us both snap our heads back to him. “Enough! You’re both like two bratty teenage girls. Defiance don’t infight. So stop this bullshit, or you’ll both pay the consequences.” Zero scrubs at his beard. “Neon, any chance this is the Baroness messing with us?”
Texas lets out an obvious scoff, folding his arms over his chest in annoyance that Zero basically dismissed his claims. I slowly sit back down, shaking my head. I have no clue what crawled up Texas’ ass to make him hate Billie so much, bu
t him and me—we’re done!
Neon types into his laptop. “She has a heap of transactions going in and out of her bank accounts. She could be paying people off to do shit, but her communication lines aren’t showing me shit. I don’t think it’s her but, I can’t be one hundred percent sure.”
“Wraith, are there any Triglavs left we don’t know about? Any other family members? Cousins? Uncles? Some asshole who might be out for revenge over Damir?”
“Honestly, I have no fucking clue. I didn’t even know about Damir, Sava, and Vlatko until they came into my life out of bumfuck-nowhere and fucked with everything. The Triglavs aren’t my family. They may say they are, but I don’t associate with those cocksuckers.”
“Okay… Texas, talk to Ash, see what she thinks. Whether we might be in for some fallout. Without knowing who came after us, we might have legal ramifications. Who the fuck knows!”
“Got it.”
“In the meantime, let’s keep those on our good side happy. Phantom…” my eyes snap to Zero, my brows raising in response, “… I need you and Koda to take a shipment of Snow White to the Baroness, and maybe take her some cash, too, as an incentive. A little thank you for helping us with the Slavers’ distribution center. Take the long way to Mont Belvieu and keep your noses clean. I don’t need you or Koda being pulled over by the heat while riding with cash and coke.”
“When do you want us to leave?” I ask.
“I’ll tell River you’re heading to the distribution center to pick up some product tomorrow, and you guys can head down after that. Let’s keep Connie on our good side… and if she is the one double-crossing us, maybe this will give her an incentive to lay down her guns.”
“And if she isn’t?” Kevlar asks.
“Then we’ll make an ally even stronger.”
“Good plan. We need this shit dealt with,” Texas states.
BILLIE
Sitting out by the old elm tree, I pull out my cell. My room is compromised, and if I don’t check in with Rage, he’ll do something drastic. Every time I make a call to him, my soul dies a little more. This connection I have formed with Phantom is genuine. But then again, how genuine can it be when I am point-blank lying to his face about everything I am.
