She watched the present presidents gather. Ray N., Alec, Houston, and the other Arizona and Four Corners Bastards along with three more allied chapters.
“We need to get answers. Intel. While we have the strength in numbers,” the rough voice behind her said.
“Rocky.” She drained her glass and put it down on the bar.
“Our best from the state and them some are here. You and Houston. We can strike now.”
“We don’t even know who to strike at. You going to start shooting up the cop shop?”
“I don’t know what the hell your uncle did but I know we haven’t done anything worthy of pissing off the cops. This Apache bullshit has to be the drive.”
“We don’t know that for sure.”
“Figure it out. There are enough boys here to override the mother charter. They will demand Apache blood if nothing else to make up for Leto. We need to keep peace.”
“So you demand a different breed of war?”
“I want intel, Destiny.”
“And how do you propose I do that?”
“You are a smart girl. You have some police ties. Figure it out.”
“I’m past my hazing stage, Rocky. No reason to be pushing me around and giving orders.” She grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured herself another finger.
“I looked to Leto as a son the same way Alec and Eric look to you and your siblings. They pulled every resource they had to find Austin justice. I am doing the same for my own boy. Your brother in arms.”
Destiny turned to stare down Rocky. “Do not act as though I do not want or seek those who are responsible for Leto’s death. I will hunt with you and kill with you when the time is right. But I will not strike in anger with a clouded mind. We cannot afford a war and whoever is responsible for this, that’s what they want. We have to be wise with this or lose more brothers. Most of these boys, they aren’t outlaws anymore. They sway across the line but they don’t spill blood. Not in a long time. We will lose more than is to gain if we go in guns blazing on the wrong people.”
“That’s why I need your help finding the right people.”
“I will ask questions, as for the cop connection. It does not exist. But there are those who owe the club favors, owe Houston too. Trust me, before my brother rolls out, he will cash those in. Don’t think for one second that I won’t strike when it is time. But it likely isn’t now.”
17
Destiny let her eyes search the clubhouse from where she sat on her bar stool. Her thoughts tumbling around in her head. The loss of Leto—the pain of another death, not as painful as she expected it to be, deaths never were anymore. Numbness had taken her. And now the confusion of all Rocky’s demands. She wasn’t a leader, she wasn’t what they expected her to be or wanted her to be. Not because she was a woman, but because she wasn’t ready.
Destiny watched Fabio follow one of the girls out the back door. She rolled her eyes. At least one of them would find some sort of comfort tonight. Try as she may, she couldn’t ignore the knife in her stomach. All these years, she knew he kept girls and wrapped his arms around others and probably broke hearts but she still didn’t like seeing it in person.
‘Brother’ my ass. She took a pull on her beer.
“Destiny,” a deep gravelly voice whispered in her ear. She felt the hot breath on her neck and the lips brush her ear.
“Nathan,” she gasped and felt her heart race just a step. The mechanic whose text she had ignored. Nathan was to her what that girl that Fabio just left with was to him.
Her escape. As he had been since she had patched. A better mechanic than her and someone she had found such physical pleasure in. Nathan was a good man but she held her emotions in check. Made sure there was nothing more to him and her than a good time and a warm bed.
“Let’s get out of here.” Nathan’s arm came to rest around her waist and she let him lead her out of the clubhouse.
Nathan wasn’t a patch member and he showed little desire to prospect. He was a friend of the club but that was it. He would be tied to no one. That was something that Destiny respected greatly. She had more than once wished that she had no ties. No responsibilities, no one to protect. Just her and the world.
She stopped Nathan just short of his bike and looked him over. Really looked him over. Six-foot-three and twenty-eight. If there was an ounce of fat on him, she hadn’t found it. His hair was just a touch on the shaggy side, he hadn’t cut it since the last time she had seen him almost a month ago. Dark brown eyes, five o’clock shadow and then a trace of a male model jaw line.
His ink was minimal and, with him, every drop of color told a story that she didn’t know. Because asking meant knowing and knowing meant she might care. She had too many brothers she cared about and she wasn’t going to do the relationship style caring again. She decided that a long time ago.
It wasn’t that long ago that he offered to take her away. Far from here. From Texas if she wanted. His mother hailed from Cajun country and they could get lost deep in the bayou. Or end up on a beach somewhere far from here.
She had told him no. She wouldn’t go, her place was here. Nathan didn’t seem upset, just … bummed. Like a vacation had been cancelled. It was just an idea, no real emotion attached. Least not on her end.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing. Just take me away from here.”
“How far?”
“Not far. Just for now—just a little ways.”
Nathan took her by the hand and led her to his bike. She climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Like she was just a girl with her man.
He fired it up and away they rode. Destiny buried her face in his back, breathing in his scent before it was whipped away from her with the wind. She closed her eyes and felt the freedom on her face. She felt the turns, the miles. Without opening her eyes, she knew where they were. Another minute and they would pull in to the shop he owned. The small apartment above was where he called home.
Once again Destiny noted that it seemed all the men in her life were more stable than her. Trent, Fabio, even Nathan, all had places of their own. Homes. Ownership.
She opened her eyes as Nathan pulled the bike into the garage. He cut the engine and she dismounted. Same as always. Three bays that mainly held motorcycles. Faded posters on the walls, half naked women, bikes, cars, and beer. It felt comfortable. The hours she spent here after Nathan was recommended to her by the boys at Fort Worth. She had just bought her current bike. It was time to let go of the old one and move onto something better. So she bought something not much more than a frame with a plan and a dream. Nathan helped give life to her dream.
And in those hours she became wrapped up in his muscles. His rough charm and her desire to be touched and held. And her hormones. Let’s not forget those hormones.
Nathan reached for her hand and led her up the stairs. The small bachelor pad, the only place she lounged besides the clubhouse while in Fort Worth. Nathan locked the door and reached to the small of her back and traced his hands around her till he found her pistol and removed it. Placing it on the side table where he kept his keys and what few pieces of mail that came to him that didn’t concern the shop.
He pulled her hair down gently from her ponytail so it hung loose. He wrapped his fingers in her long locks and pulled back so that her face looked up to him. She moaned at the pressure and he brought his lips to hers, his tongue traced hers.
“So you want to leave the cut on or off?” he asked when their lips parted.
She smiled and pushed him back toward the bedroom.
“Ouch.” He laughed. “You leave without telling me. You don’t answer your phone. Why hang me out to dry? It’s been lonely here.”
“Like you ever would lack for female company.”
“I have lacked the only one I really want.”
“Don’t talk like that.”
“Giving you preference doesn’t always mean emotions, Destiny.”
“G
ood.” She kissed him again as they stumbled into his bed. She tugged at his shirt and he obliged her and tugged at her belt and jeans.
She stripped her cut and tossed her T-shirt aside. Nathan stripped his jeans and boots. He kissed her neck and pushed the bra straps down her shoulders before he unfastened the clasps on her back. As she was freed, he tossed her back to the bed. He stood up and picked up the cut from the dresser where she left it.
“Put it on.” She took the leather from his outstretched hand and took in the lust from his eyes. Her nipples hardened as the leather fell on naked skin.
“BZZZZZ! BZZZZ!”
“You bring toys?” Nathan grinned.
“No,” she groaned, the moment ruined. She pulled her cell phone from her front pocket. Fabio. “I have to take this. I’m sorry.”
“Come on, Destiny.”
She gave him a weak smile and answered the call. “Well that didn’t take you long at all. Blondie at least reach her end?”
“It wasn’t like that, Destiny. But I take it Nathan didn’t get you as far either.”
“Not for your interruption. And how do you know…?”
“Not the point. I found something uptown and you might want to take a look-see before your brother or, well, almost anyone else finds out. Trent’s in town.”
“At the station?”
“Just followed him in. He’s in uniform.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Really? On your way? What am I supposed to do with this?” Nathan said stretching out in his full glory as she disconnected.
“Damn, I’m sorry. I have to go. Club needs me,” she said as she pulled herself into her clothes.
“Next time I’m going to make sure the girl has crappier priorities.”
“You got a bike I can borrow?”
“Yeah. You know where I keep the keys.”
***
Destiny pulled in behind Fabio’s bike not five minutes after leaving the shop. He was parked across the street from the police station. Sitting on his bike and just watching.
“Sorry to pull you from your entertainment.”
“No biggie. Why’d yours end so early?”
“Wasn’t in the mood. Also not in the mood for any jokes about it.”
“I’m one of the guys but not a prick.”
“Nope, just a bitch.”
Destiny grinned. “Any idea of what’s going on here?”
“Took a ride through town. Thought it would clear my head before going back into the fold tonight. Was sitting at a red light and look to the turn lane and what do I spy but a Sweetwater deputy patrol car. Trent driving, some badge I didn’t recognize in the passenger seat. It took me a minute but I was able to get behind them and followed them here.”
“They know you tailed them?”
“Trent nodded to me when he got out of the car. I didn’t try to hide the fact either.”
“How long they been here?”
“Ten minutes tops.”
Destiny passed a pistol to Fabio, followed by the pea shooter in her boot and her blade.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Rocky and the club want answers. Might as well go to the top of the food chain.”
Destiny walked across the street. Head held high and a new fire in her belly that wasn’t from leaving Nathan in his bed alone.
She walked into the station and nodded to the desk sergeant. “Can I help you?”
“No thanks.”
“You need to sign in,” the sergeant pressed, walking around from behind his guard post.
“No thanks. They are expecting me and I won’t be long.”
“Ma’am! I will have to ask you to halt!”
“It’s OK! She’s with me. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.” Trent came at a half jog from the back through booking. He gave a smile to the officer who glared at him before he returned to his post.
Trent grasped her forearm and yanked her along with him. People stared but she didn’t care. Those cops knew her cut and she knew some of their faces. A few names. They thought they knew it all but she could drown them in intel of things they could never imagine.
Trent stopped short of an interrogation room and stuffed her inside and slammed the door behind them.
“What in God’s name are you doing here, Dallas?”
“I came to ask you the same thing.”
“Business.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him before taking a seat atop the metal table. “Look, Trent. I got pulled out of my own, and may I add, very important personal business. I would prefer we not beat around the bush on this one.”
“I heard about your club mate. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t lie to me, Trent. I am pretty sure not bearing false witness is one of those commandments your little lady worships.”
“And one you’re not fond of. I’m sure you have your favorites but then again I’m not sure you have left one intact. Being an outlaw has its own pre-requisites I am sure.”
Destiny laughed and took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “You would be shocked to find that those pre-requisites you speak of aren’t that much different than the skills you possess as a deputy sheriff. I am sure of it.”
Trent reached over and yanked the cigarettes and lighter from her hand. “You can’t smoke in here and you know it. What are you doing here, Destiny?”
“Last night one of my good friends, my brother, was killed after being clipped by a patrol car! They were doing nothing wrong!” Destiny jumped from her seat on the table and clenched her fists.
“Leto was an accident and you yourself know that innocence is not exactly the Bastard way of life!”
“I know you know something, Trent! Or else you wouldn’t be here!” Destiny’s entire body started to shake and the knife inside her returned, twisting into her gut. Her eyes burned but she blinked back the tears. “Leto is dead. And there is a reason for it. And I have close to a hundred pissed off Bastards, family, and friends back at the clubhouse wanting to seek revenge.
“You’re right. We’re not all innocence. You know what I have done. What I am capable of. Houston is here. You know what he can do when his family is in jeopardy. And Leto is family. You talk to me or you talk to him. He will find out you’re in town and he will be here just as quick as I was.”
They locked eyes and stared each other down. “You know your choices. Contend with me, the enemy you know best, or the rest of the club.”
Trent shook his head and slammed his fist into the brick wall. “Damnit, Dallas!”
“What do you know?”
“I’m not here for the Bastards. Fort Worth isn’t either. I’m not sure what the hell is going on with the Bastards and the Apache but you need to advise your club to pull back. An Apache got stopped just this side of the Oklahoma border two weeks ago. This is a multi-agency organization now, Dallas. From what I know, and it’s not much, the Apache are stockpiling drugs and military style weapons. They are going to try and push the Pride out. The Pride knows it too. There’s going to be a damn war.”
“Fuck!”
“Last night they were expecting Cochise to be moving hand guns. Best I can tell, Leto was an accident. Honestly. No one expected a Devil’s Bastard here. After the last war I thought Alec would work hard to keep your guys out of this. But now they are going to put the Bastard in it. That’s why they called me in. I’m the Bastard specialist. You being here right now just proves that.”
“Keep me posted,” Destiny said as she took back her smokes and lighter and left the building in a hurry.
“Clubhouse,” she said as she took her artillery from Fabio.
If there was a shred of truth to what Trent had said, and likely there was, this wasn’t going to be pretty. She needed her mind clear but there was no chance of that. She had to confront her uncle. Something she had never done in her life. She never questioned Alec’s leadership. Till now.
Damn! She kicked herself mentally. She hadn’t ask
ed Trent the most important question—who was providing the badges with their information? Was there a cut among the Apache or the Bastards who had loose lips—intentionally or accidentally?
Never mind it now. There was no time for it, she would track him down later first chance she got. What a shit show that was going on in her mind right now. She wasn’t focused enough for this. She should have heeded her own advice and held off until after the funeral. After their thoughts and feelings settled down.
Her stomach rolled and she could feel the acid bubbling inside her. All these years she hadn’t felt this nauseous—least not with whiskey involved—not since the family she and Trent had started had been lost. She rolled down her speed just a touch. She wasn’t ready to talk to Fabio or Houston. She wasn’t ready to tell them what she learned. That her uncle may have known what was going on between the Apache and the Pride.
If Alec knew … if it had been brought before the club, she would know. Both Fort Worth and Sweetwater were involved. She would have known, she would have had to vote it in. But no such information was ever provided as far as she was aware. Someone would have told her…. But Alec would have shared it to begin with. So he must not have known?
Damn. She turned right at the last stoplight, Fabio still on her heels. She needed to weed through the throng of people and pick and choose who to present her information to. No need for a panic. Not with the high emotions that come with the loss of a brother.
It had been so long since the last time she had seen so many people in one place. Not since Austin….
There would be a good turnout for the funeral. That being said, it would draw attention. Attention of the police who would want to scrutinize their every move no matter if they were a family in mourning. It would draw the attention of the Apache and the Pride and anyone else that felt they may have a beef or want to have beef with the Bastards.
She parked her bike amongst the dozens of other and dismounted, Fabio on her tail.
“You want to talk about it before we go in there?”
The Devils Bastards MC: Destiny Dallas Callaghan Page 12
