"Didn't fuckin' Dare warn you about questions, meat?" Bishop asked with a scowl. At Mel's nod and quick apology, Bishop continued. "But in this instance it’s a fair inquiry and one all the brothers need to fuckin' know. Carly's ex-military and is a better goddamn warrior than most of the fuckin' brothers. We have all the Honeys on lockdown 'cept for her and Frankie."
"We gonna ride or, like, stand around and fuckin' talk?" Donny asked. It was the first time Mel had ever heard him speak.
"Let's hit it," Bishop announced, rapping his knuckles on the bar and pushing away.
Mel decided his second run in a week wasn't half as bad as the first had been. Bishop signaled an exit just outside of Idaho Falls and Mel was surprised to find that while his ass was numb, it didn't ache like it had on the run to Sheridan.
"We're just gonna grab a snack that'll fuckin' carry us through to Twin Falls," Bishop advised entering the convenience store. Whereas Silo or Dice had been the ones that had fetched and paid for Mel and Transport, Bishop seemed content to let him and Donny do their own thing.
"How much further?" Donny asked after they'd paid.
"Another couple of hours by my way of thinking. Don't fuckin' like the looks of the sky, though," Bishop said and pointed his chin to the northwest where the clouds were beginning to darken and roil. "If it gets bad, I'll fuckin' call a halt and we'll hunker down, dig? Stayed clued into me, Hardwood."
Mel nodded at the man's instructions. Donny and Bishop had ridden side by side and Mel had brought up the rear as they'd traveled.
Luckily, the sky waited to open up until after they'd gotten their room for the night. Pulling back the curtain and viewing the sheets of rain, Bishop announced they were in for the night. "We'll call for fuckin' pizza and meat here will make the beer run to the place next door."
After Mel got back into his chaps and boots, Bishop shoved a Ben his way. "Two fuckin' twelve packs and a quart of tequila. And not the cheap shit!"
Mel pulled the heavy poncho out of his saddlebags and made sure it was in place before he opened the motel room door. Once outside and beyond the other men's hearing, he sighed.
No wonder recruits were so happy to receive their member's patch, he thought ruefully. He'd only been at it a couple of weeks and he was already tired of being at everyone's beck and call to do the shit no one else wanted to do. By the time he made it back to the room, he was soaked having discovered that the rain in Idaho was accompanied by a nasty wind. And with blusters that caught the edges of his poncho's hem and hood, allowing the cold water in.
After shucking off of his dripping outerwear, Mel decided to warm up with a shower before he ate. But there were only three pieces of pizza remaining when he finally rejoined his group. Three pieces, a six-pack of beer and a half a bottle of tequila. He didn't think he'd taken that long but he obviously had if that was all that was left.
Booze seemed to make Bishop more talkative and Mel was treated to a variety of stories about his fellow brothers that soon had him laughing so hard his eyes watered.
"So Silo is gettin' busy with one of the Honeys in one of the rooms at the compound when he fuckin' finds that the noise from the room next door was too loud for him to get his groove on. And Si, being Si, decides that the fuckers needed to shut the fuck up so he could finish and bangs on the goddamn wall. In his fuckin' opinion it was his nice-nice way of telling the brother in the other room to shut the fuck up." Bishop's eyes were sparkling and he was chuckling as he recounted the story.
"But the bro in the next room must've taken offense 'cause for the next couple o' hours, just about every fuckin' time Si was ready to get his nut, the fucker would start bangin' on the wall. Not just a couple of knocks. Nope. Full-on smacking up and down the length of the wall, dig? I never heard how Si finished or even if he fuckin' did. But what I did see was Patch fuckin' handcuffed to the goddamn chain link fence the next morning and Silo pissing on him!"
Even silent Donny let loose with a sharp bark of laughter at Bishop's recollection.
"Which one is Patch again?" Mel asked, upending his second beer.
"Ah, bro. Patch is gone. Took a bullet in the shit that went down on the gun run last summer. In fact, your bike used to be his," Bishop said sadly with a head shake and it seemed all three men were reminded of the war that HMC was currently fighting.
"What's doin' at the club?" Donny asked.
"Last fuckin' tweet said only nine Ghost's cuts had been captured. Seems the fuckers are livin' up to their name."
Mel felt like he needed to move and began to clear up the remains of their dinner and the empty beer cans knowing it'd be his job anyway as a lowly recruit. But his mind was on the different teams that were searching out the rival gang. What were they facing? Were the Ghosts dug in someplace or were they hiding in order to pick Hellions off one by one as their president had promised?
"I fuckin' found out that Collins is a church-going asshole. So tomorrow we're gonna pick him up after he's made his fuckin' weekly peace with his maker and take him back to his office. We're gonna rent a car for this, dig? 'Cause our rides might put an even bigger fear of god in the congregation than their pastor can." Bishop had obviously done the research on Collins and his routine. "We're gonna see how much green he can come up with but being Sunday, I don't hold out too much hope. We may have to fuckin' keep him overnight which might help him remember other fuckin' sources to get the dinero he owes."
"What about that asset shit Trey talked about and the leaning thing?" Mel asked and saw Donny nod as if he wanted the info on it too.
"Pre-lien," Bishop corrected and spelled the word out. "It's a legal thing that makes sure HC gets its green or we get to stop the job. I fuckin' mean everything and everyone on the job stops work until we get what we're fuckin' owed. I already filed the fuckin' Stop Notice with his lenders two months ago, which should've been the fucker's first clue that he was done. But the asshole put up his own personal property and his vehicles as collateral, or the assets Trey mentioned. "
"But what are the Hellions gonna, like, do with a house out in bum-fuck?" Donny asked. Mel had wondered the same thing.
"Sell it," Bishop said firmly. "At the last tax assessment, the Collins' crib was worth double what he owes. Now I'm done playing teacher. It's Saturday night and I need pussy. Think I'm gonna call a pro. Either of you boys want one?"
"Too fucking tired, man," Mel mumbled. While it was truthful, his words didn't convey all the facts about why he didn't want some unknown hooker on his dick. And at the top of his list was 'because he had a better girl panting for him at home'.
"I'm in for a BJ if you wanna, like, share," Donny countered.
"Cool. Lemme see what the desk clerk suggests," Bish muttered reaching for the bedside phone.
Mel hoped he'd be able to sleep through the festivities his brothers had planned.
*.*.*.*.*
I saw Carly pull up in a black SUV and park behind the Cutlass before she and another Hellion started removing my suitcases, sewing machine and the box of material I'd asked them to bring.
Opening the door with the intention of helping them lug my stuff in, Carly waved me back and barked, "stay in the house, Lu."
I glanced over at Jules as saw she was as confused as I was by Carly's tone.
"She's normally really nice," Julie mumbled with a frown. I went to stand with the little girl at the dining room window and ran my hand across her small shoulders.
After lugging my stuff in, the man went right back to the SUV to lean against it while his head moved back and forth as if surveying the neighborhood. As she closed the door, Carly's whole demeanor changed and she went back to the fun loving girl I remembered from my night at the clubhouse. "Namaste, bitches!"
Julie had no problem getting with Carly's new program but I lagged a bit behind. Why had the woman been so serious before?
"C'mere and give your Auntie Carly a hug, Lil' Taste!" While Julie greeted the other woman, I took the suitcases to the bedroom an
d put the sewing machine on the dining table. When I went back to the living room I saw Carly was on her knees and using her fingers to try and poke Julie in the sides. Julie, however, was in a karate stance her little face as serious as anything and was using her forearms to block the other woman's efforts to touch her.
"Ooh, someone's been practicing, I see," Carly crowed gathering the bright-haired girl in a big hug and rocking her back and forth. "You've gotten better, Lil' Taste. A whole lot better! But I need to talk to Lulu a minute. Do you mind if I take her outside?"
"Can I watch TV, Lu?" I was still getting used to having the little girl ask for permission before she did almost anything. I didn't know Mel's rules though and just kept giving my agreement when she needed it.
"No, backyard, Lu," Carly said on a low note when I reached for the front door.
Once we were outside and the door was closed, Carly started talking. "The Hellions are at war with the Ghosts and I heard you are already on those asshole's radar. I need you and Julie to stay in the house or the backyard until you're given the all-clear. I can't tell you what's going on and definitely none of the specifics but you might want to keep our girl away from the front windows as well." Carly's eyes were dead on mine as she gave me my instructions. "If you even suspect shit is going down, I don't care if its two fucking doors away, you call Huff or one of the other council members. You get scared by something in the middle of the night, you fucking call. Get my drift?"
Her words scared me and I found myself blinking as I absorbed what she said. "Yes, Carly. But is it really that serious?"
"You were friends with Grit, right?"
"Yes, I was." At just the sound of my new friend's, my dead friend's name I could feel myself choking up.
"Well, it's that kind of serious, Lu. Understand?" Carly's frown emphasized what she'd said, the words she'd used. Looking me over though, I saw her face soften. "Need a hug, girlfriend?"
I nodded, unable to speak with the fear that filled me and the tears that had closed my throat. I found her embrace helped me hold it together.
"Do you guys have everything you need to last you a couple of days?" Carly asked when we pulled apart and started back into the house.
"I-I think so," I countered though I wasn't really sure. I hadn't really taken stock though I probably should have after Bishop told me I couldn't leave Mel's house. But I'd just thought he meant I couldn't go to my place, not anyplace.
"Good. Julie? Come gimme a hug, pretty girl. I got things to get to," Carly called.
As I closed the door behind the other woman, I tried to turn my mind towards other thoughts so Jules couldn't see how terrified I was. "How about you help me unpack my suitcases? I've got lots of pretty things to show you," I said, forcing my mouth into the biggest smile I could muster.
"Yay!" The little girl yelled as she ran towards Mel's bedroom leaving me to follow slowly behind. But Julie's enthusiasm with my clothes, my costume jewelry and my shoes quickly pulled me out of my funk. It wasn't long and we were in the dining room with me setting up my sewing machine as Julie pawed through the big box of fabric.
I'd promised her I'd make her a set of petticoats and a skirt to wear with them. And my hoard of material included everything we'd need in order to make her a set.
"No, baby. You pick the fabric for your skirt first then we'll pick up the petticoat stuff," I said with a giggle and watched her as she chewed her bottom lip as she tried to decide what she wanted.
I probably could've completed the skirt, start to finish, in about an hour but Julie wanted to learn everything I was doing. Soon I had her at the machine, running straight stitches for the casing at the waist. By the time we stopped to reheat the leftover spaghetti, all her new skirt needed was a hem that I completed when we watched a couple of TV shows before we called it a night.
As I laid in Mel's bed, breathing the aroma of him in the pillow I had clutched to my chest I found myself reviewing everything Mel, Bishop and Carly had said. And getting terrified all over again.
So when I heard Julie's little voice in the doorway asking if she could sleep with me, I had no problem pulling back the covers and offering a very heartfelt, "yes".
Chapter Twenty Six
"That's him. The fucker shaking the fuckin' robed guy's hand," Bishop murmured from his place behind the wheel of the Kia they'd rented in order to do business with Collins.
Mel got out of the car and looked the other man over from about 35 yards. Older than Hart. Bigger, too. But just as out of shape. It was Mel's job to ensure Collins got in the car with the Hellions without making a fuss and he went through the various methods he knew would ensure compliance without alarming bystanders.
As the man came down the steps walking next to a short, chubby woman who was yakking on the phone, Mel began his approach. When Collins was four steps in front of him, Mel stopped and said, "Mr. Collins? Is that you?" in such an incredulous way that the older man stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Mel as if trying to place him.
"How long has it been, sir? Two years?" the young man said, keeping up the farce of knowing Collins. Mel stepped closer and grabbed the other man's hand as if to shake it but bent both the ring and middle finger towards the palm tightly causing a hiss of pain to escape from Collins' mouth. Dropping his voice to almost a whisper, Mel spoke slow enough so the land developer could understand him over the pain he knew he was inflicting. "I am a Hellion. I am here to collect the money you owe. You will be getting in the car that just pulled up in front of us. Nod so I know you understand."
Collins' head bob was so fast the man's jowls quivered. Mel helped the man into the back seat and waited as Donny zip-tied his wrists and ankles before closing the door and getting in on the other side.
"Are you going to kill me?" The older man asked at one point on the journey to his offices.
The Hellions acted as if no sound had been made.
Mel used his knife to cut the tie on their captive's ankles before they all went into the small building. He stayed in reception when Bishop guided the land developer by the back of the neck towards a door with a plaque that read 'Daniel Collins CEO'. Donny followed Bishop in and closed the door.
So far, so good, Mel thought. He was sure the older man was gonna be a screamer but had been pleasantly surprised at not having to use his other skills, his expertise in causing pain, in order to keep his captive quiet. Looking around the land development office, he saw that Collins seemed to be doing better than Hart had been. Live plants instead fake, upscale computer system and quality furniture all spoke of a business that was successful. So why had the fucker decided to stiff HC?
It took longer than it had in Wyoming but eventually the murmur behind the door became louder and there was a loud crack of a palm on a desktop. Mel saw Donny open the door and ease himself out to join Mel.
"How's it going?" Mel asked eyeing the other Hellion for clues on what was happening in the office that he knew Don wouldn't provide. If Transport had been quiet, Don was a guy that was as silent as the grave.
"Says doesn't have but, like, five large," Donny replied. "Fuckin' declining to access his bank online in front of Bish."
Mel turned his eyes to the window behind the reception console and saw it had started raining again.
"Thinkin' you're, like, up next, man."
Something about the setup bothered Mel in a niggling, irritating way.
It reminded him of one of the first Deschames jobs. Same shit with the outward appearance of success but the claim of no money. The man who owed Deschames, Mel thought the guy's name was Freeman or something, had been lying but it was the way one of the other enforcers found out that stuck in Mel's head.
He glanced around the large offices and saw one marked, 'Brad Harland, CFO' and moved towards it. The door was locked.
"Donny, can you get me in here?"
Without missing a beat, the tall silent man stepped to where Mel was and glanced at the lock. Taking out a small case, his broth
er pulled out two small pick-looking devices and soon had the door open. Mel had the Hellion perform his same magic on the file cabinets that lined one wall.
It didn't take long to pull the most recent bank statement as well as the file marked 'Credit Cards - D. Collins'.
"Take these to Bish," Mel instructed, shoving the papers into Donny's hands. "The fucker has more than enough to pay us. I'm willing to bet he's losing money on the project and is trying to bail on it."
Mel returned to the center of the reception area and went back to watching the rain as he waited. From where he was, only the murmur of muffled voices could be heard.
Soon Bishop was the one joining him, pulling up his jeans as he walked to Mel. "If I wasn't so deeply in love with pussy, I'd fuckin' beg you to marry me, man. Genius, pure fuckin' genius getting the hard ev-ee-dence. I've got the transfer going through now and as soon as it's done, you and Collins can dance. I'll have Don stick around in case the old fuck tries any moves."
Reinventing Mel: A Hellion MC Novel Page 24
