Alec took front and center. Eric fell into step next to him, Bryant and Riccardo flanking them. Destiny made way to park next to Eric, and Fabio next to her. Although she looked to every patch this side of the stand-off as a brother, somehow when it came down to it and the worse come to worst was feared, her family, or the closest she had to it, stuck together.
Cochise himself had seen to it he had made a presence. His own VP and sergeant of arms was on either side. She counted five other patches she had known. Seven prospects or new patches. Fifteen Apache in all. There was fourteen of the Bastards in total present. Maybe leaving California and Charlie behind wasn’t the best of ideas. Even though she would bet them over the fresh blood in front of her, she preferred to outnumber potential threats.
Destiny dismounted her bike and removed her helmet, leaving it to hang off the handlebars. She walked confidently aside Fabio to stand in line with the boys.
“Alec, this wasn’t how I had hoped our next meeting would go,” Cochise said once they had all gathered.
“I had hoped for better myself. But unfortunately, we have had a bad last few days amongst my brothers.”
“I was sorry to hear about the loss of your man. However, it is the way things go from time to time,” Cochise said. Destiny could feel the tension amongst her brothers. Leto wasn’t something that just happened.
“We appreciate the business you have floated our way and the way of our other chapters. However, with the loss of Leto and the police heat we have been encountering since then, I think, as well as the rest of my patch, that it’s best if we bow out of this arrangement.”
“We hired you for security. Security is what we expected you to provide for us,” Cochise’s VP, a burly man with a Mohawk, added in from where he stood right behind Cochise, arms crossed.
“And we didn’t expect to be headed into a race to arms for some damn color war and lose our own soldiers in the process, but here we are,” Riccardo growled back at his equivalent.
If that Texas air could have gotten any heavier, it would have. The Warriors shifted around, angling for a better location. Destiny wasn’t stupid, she wasn’t going for her gun first. But she knew someone was bound to. She would just have to be quicker. She shot a sideways glance to Fabio and Houston. Houston’s arms was still crossed over his chest, trying to look unconcerned, but she knew he kept a pistol holstered right under his underarm and that his fingers were likely caressing it now.
Fabio kept his hands on his hips. Closest to his own handguns. She couldn’t help but notice that he leaned just a smidge towards her, almost to slip in front of her if worse came to worst. She mentally rolled her eyes, maybe she was imagining things but Fabio was clearly never going to really believe she was just as big a badass as he was. If he ever jumped in front of a bullet for her, she was going to kill him herself.
“It’s none of your business what the guns are going for, it’s only for you to protect while we have other priorities,” Cochise replied.
“It is our business. You have attracted way too much attention trying to push the Pride out. These new cuts, it’s a damn billboard screaming for attention from other gangs and from the feds! Sweetwater was in Fort Worth, working with multiple other agencies trying to figure out how to take your sorry asses down. And that is one thing I will not risk with my club!” Alec roared, and Destiny felt pride swell. It had been some time since she heard the old lion wake.
“Police are always looking for a way to bring down motorcycle clubs,” mohawk man said.
“Not this time,” Houston spoke up. “Multi-level doesn’t mean different multi- local yokels. It means city, county, state, FBI, DEA—the works. You pissed off the wrong people this time. No one wants the bloodshed a war will bring. You want to throw your weight around and get your boys shot to shit, that’s fine. Leave us out of it.”
“Deal’s terminated,” Alec stated firmly.
“I think reparations are in order,” Mohawk said, pulling his pistol. The Warriors, with the exception of their president, followed suit. Destiny and the rest of the Bastards returned the favor.
“I would think twice about reaping those reparations,” Houston said, pistol in both hands, trained on mohawk man. Destiny herself had leveled at the opposing Apache Warrior. “We aren’t paying you off.”
“Maybe a quick poke with the Callaghan princess. That would start things off,” another Warrior added in.
“I would like to see you try and come and get it,” Destiny growled and the doors to the van pulled open and the boys on the long guns leveled up.
“You don’t want people running protection for you that simply have no desire to protect,” Alec added.
Cochise nodded and motioned for his boys to put down their guns. Slowly and reluctantly, they re-holstered and the Bastards did the same. “I will agree to no payment and give you my word as a Warrior no damages will be sought after. But there is someone on the inside with the local yokels getting information. I want you to find them and eliminate them.”
“If it’s Apache patch? It will be someone close to you. And that’s too risky. We can’t go taking care of a rat and get our asses killed in the process by retaliation,” Houston barked.
“It comes through me. I am not as diplomatic as you are. Someone betrays my club they will die with or without popular vote,” Cochise growled.
Alec turned to his club, and they nodded in response. Slowly he turned back to the opposing president.
“Deal.”
24
“How the hell do we find a rat in our organization and the Apache’s?” Fabio asked as he, Destiny, and Houston sat around a small campfire in his back yard. It was after eleven and Scottie and Rocky were already crashed inside for the night. Per the assigned sleeping arrangement, they were staying at Fabio’s. Destiny would wind up at Anastasia’s and Houston would be back at Alec and Kristy’s. There was no shacking up with a lady for him. Kristy would do bed check first thing the morning.
“I think...” Destiny looked down at the coffee she had just replaced her beer with. “I think it’s likely to be the same person or persons.”
“Someone wanting to favor the Pride?” Houston asked.
“The Pride, the feds, and an unknown interested third party,” Fabio tossed in.
“Prefer it be a Devil we know,” Destiny stated.
“You and me both, sister. Well, looks like no ideas are hatching round this fire. I better head back to the homestead. Before Kristy starts calling around asking for me,” Houston grumbled, standing up and taking a last drag off his smoke.
“She always did love clucking like a mother hen.” Destiny grinned.
“You will pay for this. I will make sure to check in with Anastasia in the morning, so make it a point to show up there sometime,” Houston shot back and he walked around the side of the building and a few moments later she heard the roar of his bike and then heard it fade down the street.
“So,” Destiny said, turning to Fabio.
“He said to check in at some point. There’s a lot of time that can be unaccounted for.” He half grinned.
“We will call that Plan B.”
***
“How does breaking into Ulrey’s constitute a good Plan A?” Fabio hissed as they stared at the dark house across the street.
“Because we need to know what the other side does. And I gave him very specific instructions to plant himself into the investigation.” Destiny lit the end of her cigarette and snapped her lighter closed and tucked it into her cut.
“What if the prissy girlfriend is visiting? Don’t want to give the girl a fright.”
“Give the girl a fright? Are you an eighty-year-old grandmother now?” Destiny asked, giving him a curious glance.
“Oh, bite me,” he growled.
“She’s home, we passed her place a few blocks back. Car in the driveway. His car and his patrol SUV are here.”
“How do you even know where he lives? Or where she lives, for that matter
?”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t really want answers to, Fabio.”
“I don’t think breaking in while he is sleeping and trying to take him by surprise is such a good idea. It’s just after midnight now and he is liable to start shooting. That just doesn’t sound like fun tonight.”
“Does anything sound like fun to you tonight?” Destiny asked.
“I liked the sound of Plan B,” he grumbled. Destiny sighed and across the street. “Did anyone ever tell you anything about doing a B&E? You don’t go straight for the front door!”
“Improvising! You don’t like breaking in so I’m going through the front! Come along if you are joining the party!” she called back to him as she spun around, walking backwards down the sidewalk to Trent’s front door. She grinned and tossed the cigarette butt onto the pretty manicured yard. Fabio jogged after her and she could feel his annoyance fuming off of him in waves.
She rang the doorbell just inside the inset of the front stoop. Fabio stayed hidden in the shadows.
Destiny unzipped her cut down to her chest and tugged the tank top she wore underneath down just a bit to make the Double Ds pop even more. She tossed her hair and rang the doorbell again and ignored the low growl Fabio made.
The light inside flipped on and she heard scuffling of feet. The inside door swung open just a bit, and the outside light flooded her. “What the hell do you want?”
“Why don’t you open up and find out?” she said sweetly.
“Not a good idea, Dallas.”
“Probably not. But worth a shot anyhow?”
Trent’s hair was messy, he wore dark blue pajama pants that fell low on his hips and he was shirtless. Chest muscles falling down to a “v” leading to the no-no land. Damn, she hated herself sometimes.
She reached for the screen door that separated them and found it unlocked. Swinging it open, she stepped forward and put a hand to his chest, pushing him back inside his house.
“Didn’t expect you to come to the door unarmed,” she whispered softly, her right hand still on his broad chest.
“What about you?” he asked, his sleepy voice growing thick as Destiny continued to push him backwards and into his living room and in the direction of his couch. “Are you unarmed? Or do I need to give you a pat down?”
“Pat away, I don’t mind,” she whispered as she shoved him back on the couch. “But I bet Fabio will.”
“So that’s the deal. You’re with Ames?”
“She’s always with me,” Fabio said and Destiny heard his boots on the hardwood floor as he hit the living room lights.
“Fuck!”
“Keep it in your pants, pretty boy. This ain’t a wet dream come true,” Fabio barked.
“What the hell do you two want?”
“Funny how quick his mood can change.” Destiny clicked her tongue. “We have questions and you are going to give answers.”
“And do what, beat it out of me? You’re missing the third Musketeer if that’s your plan.”
“Houston isn’t privy to this plan if that’s who you are referring to. And he is probably right, Fabio, by the looks of things, seduction would have been an easy route.”
“Speak for yourself,” Fabio said, crossing his arms and taking up post leaning against a nearby wall.
“We’re snitch hunting. Looking for at least one, maybe more. Someone is feeding the police information on us and the Apache. We would prefer if they disappeared,” Destiny explained.
“I am the police. This badge means something to me. There is no way I will contaminate the integrity of an investigation for the likes of you two,” Trent said, attempting to stand.
Destiny heard the slide of a magazine on Fabio’s gun. “Sit back down.”
“Going to shoot me, Ames?” Trent challenged.
“Personally I would love nothing better. Professionally I would prefer not to but it’s better not to push me. I would suggest not coming to the door unarmed from now on.”
“Play nice, boys. No need for bloodshed. We’re just having a nice little chat between old friends, remember?” Destiny placed her full attention on Trent. “I don’t like you having to contaminate integrity of anything. Your investigation, your relationship. None of it. Asking you to do so contaminates the integrity of my reputation. However, here we are.
“Whoever it is we are looking for isn’t just trying to help out the badges. They are pushing the Apache and the Pride closer to the brink of war—one the Apache is fully ready to wage. Now even with the Bastards being as civil as we are, things are likely to get messy. I don’t want to see that happen. Innocent blood spills when shit like this goes down. Sons, daughters, wives, and mothers. Bystanders. Innocent blood becomes pawns to the likes of the Pride and the Warriors. The three of us, Fabio, you, and myself, we don’t want to see that happen.”
“So what do you suggest?”
“Find the source of the shit stirring and cut it off at the head,” Destiny replied.
“And that will stop this gang war?” Trent asked.
“Not at all,” Fabio interjected. “Destiny dreams of peaceful deals and fairytales at times. We both know that a little too well. But it will help. The Apache are going to start striking out at anything that moves if they think they are targeted like we know they are. When they can’t trust their own, it will make matters worse. With a public rat hung out for high treason, it will focus their energy. The war could fizzle out as a pushing, dick-flashing match.”
“And let me guess. The Bastards will sleep easier at night knowing there is no one amongst their civil group of motorcycle enthusiasts sharing club secrets.”
“Exactly,” Fabio answered.
“And you think I would become a rat of my own means because...?”
“You’re not being a rat, you’re looking out for your town as a whole,” Destiny told him.
“If it were you, would you look at me that way? Like a rat?” Trent narrowed his eyes at her.
“You got me there. Probably put a bullet in you myself,” she told him.
“We’re police, not psychotic vigilantes.”
“With the rumors I hear on internal affairs, same difference. But you know, and Fabio knows, and I know, that this is the most polite request you are going to get. Houston is in town head hunting. Looking for answers about Austin and now about the circumstances that caused the death of Leto as well. Houston isn’t going to be as calm and understanding as the two of us are and there is nothing we can or will do to lighten his wrath if we don’t get what we want.”
“I don’t have anything to give you.”
“I would think of something, Trent,” Fabio said, stepping forward to stand closer to Destiny.
“I never much responded well to your threats, you overhyped lovesick biker boy,” Trent hissed and Fabio launched at him but Destiny came between them quick enough that no collision was made between the two men.
“Calm it! The both of you!” she commanded. “You don’t want to respond to his threats, fine, respond to mine! You are a liability. To your badge, to your entire department, to your pretty little Marissa! You and I have been seen together. Bastards will take my loyalty at face value, things start playing out of hand, the feds start digging for dirt, they are going to end up on your doorstep. Other chapters start raising eyebrows it will be you they look at. Pride or Apache get it in their head a cop is playing ball, they will think it’s you! Marissa will be the first thing they attempt to take as a bargaining chip and there are fates worse than death for her! Your best bet to save your ass is not to hold out but to, in fact, play ball. Once a snitch is hung out to dry, the gangs won’t look so hard. They will be satisfied. You go back to your girl, to your badge, and to your integrity. We go back across the biker line. That’s how this works!
“In turn you will find a way to find out what we need to know. Every now and again, you have to shake hands with the Devil, Trent, for the common good. Unfortunately, we are those Devils and you are ours.”
Trent stared Destiny down and she met his glare. Like two mean old Brahmana bulls, both having met each other in a fight before, both knowing each other’s moves, both wondering if the other picked up any new tricks since their last spar.
“Fine,” Trent caved gruffly. “I will figure something out and get back to you. No promises though. There may be nothing I can get my hands on.”
“Get sticky fingers,” Fabio tossed in and stormed out of the house. Destiny stared at Trent as the screen door slammed shut.
“You always did play the part well, Dallas,” Trent said, finally standing from the couch. When Fabio’s Harley thundered to life, Destiny turned and fled the house after him.
Fabio was speeding away and down the block when Destiny crossed the street. He hadn’t waited for her and as she stopped short of her bike, she watched his taillights turn left on Spruce and disappear. She knew he was pissed with her. And the longer she stood in the middle of the street, the less she blamed him for it. She was a Callaghan, she was too manly. At least unlike her brothers, she knew when she fucked up. But somehow, that never changed the outcome and always left her with the guilt.
25
Destiny sat behind the counter at the shop. She was half asleep, it was after eleven, and the shop was quiet. Anastasia woke her at a quarter after seven, reminding her that she was due in at eight or Kristy would come looking for her. Although it had been almost three when she snuck in the back door at Anastasia’s and crept onto the couch, there were some things not worth catching shut eye for. One of those was a reaping of pissed-off Kristy.
Destiny had rode back to Fabio’s after leaving Trent’s the night before. But he hadn’t been home. He wasn’t at Murphy’s either, or any other bar she swung by. No one had seen him at the Devil’s Stomping Grounds and his bike wasn’t in the lot at the clubhouse. She called his personal cell once but he never answered and although he, unlike her and Houston, had his voicemail set up, she didn’t leave a message. What was she supposed to say anyhow? After leaving the club she drove the outskirts of the city limits until what she told herself was adrenaline from breaking into Trent’s, was out of her system. It was only as she laid down on Anastasia’s couch that she realized it was the stress of loneliness that swelled through her.
The Devils Bastards MC: Destiny Dallas Callaghan Page 17
