by Nicole James
“Possibly.”
“You got any other possible scenarios?”
“No, VP. I don’t. Do you?” Mack snapped in an irritated voice.
Cole shook his head. “What’d Temecula have to say?”
“They’ve got two dead brothers and a couple hundred grand in product missing. They’re a little upset,” Mack replied in a sarcastic voice.
“They have any ideas?”
He shook his head, his eyes again meeting Wolf’s.
“I got nothin’ to do with this, Prez. I swear to you.”
Mack nodded. “I know you don’t. I wasn’t questioning you killin’ two brothers, just needed to know what you saw.” Then his eyes moved around the table. “We got two brothers to bury. Dog, make the arrangements for the trip down there. Notify every Chapter. Everybody in the fucking state attends. Mandatory.”
His order broke the five-hundred mile rule, where only Chapters within five-hundred miles were mandatory to attend a funeral, but no one in the room was going to bring that to his attention.
“You got it, boss,” Red Dog nodded solemnly.
****
A month after the club buried two of its brothers, they still had no idea who was to blame. Temecula wanted heads on a platter, and they were growing more and more frustrated that they had none.
The police had no more on the murders than they did.
Tensions between the club and the cartel were at an all-time high, and the club was contemplating pulling back from the drug trade all together. Many feared this was the work of a rival cartel, a Mexican drug war that none of the Chapters wanted to get in the middle of.
The money, always a strong draw, was becoming less and less worth the risk. A pile of money wasn’t worth shit, if you weren’t around to spend it. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out.
It was becoming a long tense period as winter gave way to spring.
****
The man stood off in the distant desert scrub land, a hundred yards out from The Pony. From his position, he had a perfect view of the brothel that stood about fifteen miles east of Reno, just two miles on the other side of the Truckee River from Interstate 80. This late at night it was dark out in that stretch of Nevada desert, except for the lights of The Pony.
A large illuminated sign stood on a pole by the road, marking the entrance into a well-lit gravel parking lot large enough to accommodate a dozen tractor-trailers and four times as many cars. There was a large brick ranch house that looked from the outside like any ordinary house except for the two large modular add-on wings attached to the back. The front of the lot was well lit for customers. The back was shadowy darkness broken up here and there by dim security lighting, half of which were not in working order, which had made his task that much easier.
Taking a drag off his cigarette, he watched as the flames licked up the walls of the building. Thick black smoke bellowed out of the roof as the insulation, drywall and cheap modular units quickly succumbed to the fire he’d set with the powerful accelerant.
He looked down the road back toward the Interstate. Off in the distance, over the slight rise he could make out the sound of the train and the sirens of the fire engine stuck on the other side of the tracks as the midnight freight train came through like it did every Thursday night, like clockwork.
He’d timed the setting of the blaze perfectly. The place would be totally engulfed before they ever pulled up.
A total lost cause.
He chuckled as he dropped his cigarette to the dirt and ground it out with his boot.
****
Crash lay in bed with Shannon cuddled up against him when his cell went off. He reached over and grabbed it off the nightstand, squinting at the time on the readout. 3a.m. Shit. No good news was ever delivered in a middle of the night phone call. But with life in an MC, they unfortunately weren’t all that rare. He put the cell to his ear.
“Yeah.”
Cole’s voice came on the line. “Just got word. The Pony burned to the ground.”
“You’re shittin’ me. When?”
“Jason said it started around midnight. Place went up quick. By the time the fire trucks pulled up it was fully engulfed.”
“Anybody hurt? Are all the girls okay?”
“Yeah, they’re fine. Jason and Dolly got everyone out as soon as the smoke detectors went off.”
“Thank God.” Crash blew out a breath taking it all in. “Well, guess you made a good decision when you picked Jason to manage that place.”
“Yeah, we’re damn lucky to have him. Him and Dolly, both.”
“So, what’s the plan?”
“We’re meeting at the clubhouse in the morning. Heading out at first light.”
“All right. I’ll be there.”
“We got a shit-ton of stuff to deal with. Jason said they didn’t have time to get the money out of the office safe. The girls are all a wreck, and we need to set up something temporary for them.”
“Christ. Do they know what started it?”
“Jason said the inspectors will be out in the morning, but he heard rumblings among the firemen tonight that an accelerant was probably used.”
“Great. How many enemies do we have this week?”
“Too many to count, Brother.”
“You think it’s somehow connected with the hit in Temecula?”
“Hell, something like this, it might not even be club-related. Could be someone out to shut down legal prostitution in the state of Nevada. Could be a jealous boyfriend of one of the girls, or a customer’s wife. Could be a disgruntled ex-employee, or a religious fanatic. The list is endless.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. Get a couple hours sleep, we got a long ride in the morning.”
“Right.” After he disconnected, Crash pulled Shannon’s sleeping body close, spooning her from behind.
“Everything okay?” she murmured in a sleepy voice.
He kissed her behind the ear. “Everything’s fine, sweetheart. Go back to sleep.”
****
Shannon stood in front of the bathroom sink, still dressed in her nightgown, looking down at the pee stick in her hand and its little minus sign. She felt like crying, like bursting into tears. But then she looked in the mirror and saw Crash come through the doorway, shirtless in a pair of sweatpants hanging low on his hips. His hands closed over her upper arms, and the heat of his body pressed against her back.
His voice murmured in her ear, soft and comforting, “Babe, it’ll happen.”
She nodded, so overwhelmed with sadness, she couldn’t speak. Crash took the stick from her hand and tossed it into the wastebasket, then he pulled her around, taking her face in his hands and forcing her to look at him.
“Princess, it hasn’t been that long.”
Her eyes dropped. “It’s been six months, Crash.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, and his thumb came up to brush it away. “Baby.”
She knew her reaction was breaking his heart, so she tried to smile and brush it off with a shrug, putting on a brave face. Her hands came up and closed over his wrists, pulling his hands from her face. “I’m okay. We’ll just keep trying.”
Crash smiled down at her. “I’m not complaining about that part, am I?”
She tried to laugh at his teasing, but her heart wasn’t in it.
“Aw, sweetheart—”
“I’m fine,” she tried to cut him off.
“No, you’re not,” he whispered pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“I will be. I’ll be fine. You have to leave. The club is probably waiting for you.”
“They can wait a couple minutes.”
Suddenly, taking her by surprise, he bent, wrapped his arms around her thighs and lifted her. She squealed as he walked her backwards out of the bathroom and straight to their big four-poster bed. Dropping her to the bed, he came down on top of her. His palm came up, and he brushed the hair back from her face as he stared down at her.
“I l
ove you, you know,” he murmured.
“I love you, too.”
“You gonna miss me while I’m gone?”
“You know I am. When will you be back?”
“Not sure. There’s some trouble up at The Pony we have to take care of. It’ll probably be a couple of days.”
“So you’re going to Reno?” She asked, remembering the place he was talking about.
“Yeah. Probably shouldn’t have told you that, but I don’t want you worrying.”
She frowned. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, Princess. Just got some logistics to work out. That’s all.”
She studied his eyes. She knew he wouldn’t tell her even if there was trouble. He’d never want to worry her. And she loved him for wanting to protect her like that, but still she wished she could be for him the rock he was for her. “I’m not that fragile, Crash. Not like I used to be.”
He brushed soft kisses all around her face. “I know you’re not.”
“I’ll be a good mother.”
He lifted his head then, frowning at her sudden change in topic. “Of course you will. I don’t have any doubts about that. Did you think I did?”
She looked away, lifting one shoulder in a slight shrug. “I just thought, you know, maybe you were worried about the panic attacks, and maybe you weren’t as excited about trying to have a baby.”
“You haven’t had a panic attack in months. I thought you felt safe now. Don’t you?”
“Yes I do. You make me feel safe, Crash, you do. I just wasn’t sure if it still worried you.” She shrugged again.
“I’m not worried about what kind of mother you’ll make. You’ll be a beautiful mother, Shannon. And as far as me not being excited about all this baby-making, I guess I have to admit, I am kind of liking our time alone, just the two of us.”
“Will you miss it?”
A smile pulled at his mouth, and his brows rose. “Hell, yeah, I’m gonna miss it. But you give me a beautiful daughter, and I’ll forgive you.”
Shannon’s brows rose at that one. “Oh, really? And if it’s a boy?”
“Guess we keep tryin’.”
“And if we keep having boys.”
“Sucks for you then, ‘cause we keep tryin, babe. I want a girl.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “One just like her mama.”
“I love you,” she whispered, filled with emotion for this man who could always tease her out of a melancholy mood.
Crash got a mischievous look on his face and rolled over, settling Shannon on top to straddle him as he taunted, “Prove it, Princess.”
“I thought you had to leave.” Her eyes moved to the pack he’d tossed on the bed. He’d been stuffing a change of clothes in it earlier.
He smiled up at her and smacked her lightly on the ass. “I do, so shut up and let’s get busy, woman.”
Shannon grinned down at him. “Yes, sir.”
****
Later that morning, after Crash had left, Shannon sat at the kitchen island, drinking coffee with Angel, who had come over to cheer her up. She stared at the calendar that she had taped to the refrigerator. The one she used to keep track of her cycle. And then she frowned as her eyes focused in on Saturday’s date, and she straightened.
“This weekend is Crystal’s birthday. Have you talked to her?”
“Not in a while,” Angel replied sipping her coffee. “She’s working as a receptionist at a tattoo shop in Grand Junction, Colorado.”
“Oh, really? How is she doing?”
Angel shrugged. “After she lost the baby, she was kind of depressed for a while. She always put on a brave front when I talked to her, but I knew she was hurting. I should have gone out there and visited her then, but Brayden was sick with those ear infections and, well, I just never went.”
Shannon nodded. “I can only imagine how she felt losing the baby.”
“She wasn’t very far along, but still, it hit her pretty hard.”
“I miss her. It’s hard when she’s so far away.”
“We should go see her,” Angel suggested.
Shannon thought a moment, and then said with a sly smile, “I’ve got a better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“The boys are all out of town this weekend. Crash said they’d be gone at least three days.” The wheels started turning.
“Yes. So?” Angel cocked her head at Shannon. “You’re getting that look in your eyes. What are you planning?”
“I need to be cheered up. All this trying at baby-making has taken its toll. And since I’m not pregnant, I’m going to drink this weekend. So, I was thinking…”
“Yes?”
“With the boys out of town, maybe this is the perfect opportunity for a girl’s weekend. And since its Crystal’s birthday…”
“Yeah?”
“I’m thinking Vegas.”
“Vegas? I don’t know, Shannon. I’m not sure I can swing that. Vegas can get expensive.”
“My treat. I’ll pay for everyone’s rooms. And I bet I can get the company jet. Even with my father gone, my mother is still on the Board of Directors. I’m sure she’d let us use it. You, me, Mary, Crystal and maybe Natalie if she wants to go.”
“You’re serious?”
“Absolutely. Who can you get to watch the kids?”
“I don’t know. If Natalie comes, I’ll need a sitter for TJ, Melissa and Brayden. And Mary will need someone to watch Billy.”
“How about Mary’s mother?”
“Mama Wu?” Angel frowned, thinking. “The kids do love her. Maybe she’ll do it.”
“Good. It’s all set.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. You’re forgetting one important roadblock. The guys will kill us.”
“They won’t be here. They don’t ever have to know.”
“I can’t lie.”
“Okay, fine. We just won’t tell them until we get there.”
“I don’t know, Shannon.”
“Don’t you want to cheer up Crystal for her birthday?”
“Yes, of course. Okay, fine. But what if she says no?”
Shannon bit her lip, thinking. “She’ll probably use work as an excuse. So…we’ll just have to circumvent that.”
“How?”
“We’ll call her boss first and talk him into letting her have the weekend off.”
Angel grinned. “You are so devious.”
“Not devious. Just good at removing roadblocks.”
“Um hmm. What about that big two-hundred pound roadblock you call a husband? What are you going to do when he flips his freaking lid over this?”
“You know what they say. Better to apologize later, than ask permission first.”
“Oh, is that what they say?” Angel grinned, but still looked unconvinced.
Shannon pouted. “Come on. You know they’ll never let us go. We have to just do it and beg for mercy later. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“It’s overshadowed by my sense of self-preservation. And by the way, mercy isn’t going to be high on those boys’ lists when they get a hold of us.”
“Come on. Those boys live for adventure. We deserve a little ourselves. And hey, it might shake things up a bit. Nothing like really good make-up sex. Am I right?”
“Make-up sex is pretty good.” Angel bit her lip, considering. “Of course we might get our asses spanked first.”
“Win-win,” Shannon gave her a look that said it was a no-brainer.
Angel rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’m in.”
Shannon held her hand up for a high five, and Angel smacked her hand, then she reached for her phone. “What’s the name of the tattoo place?”
Angel thought a moment, biting her lip again. “Umm.”
Shannon’s shoulders dropped. “Please tell me you remember.”
“I’m thinking. I know he’s some big-shot famous guy.”
“Famous?”
“Famous in the tattoo world. He’s like a super-star or something. Cr
ystal told me he was contacted by some network producers trying to work a deal for a show about him. That channel that does the biographies of interesting up-and-coming people did a piece on him. He’s supposed to be really good. He’s even got a coffee-table book out with photographs of some of his best work. And I think there’s a line of prints you can buy, too.”
“Hmm. Sounds cool. Now if we only knew his name.” Shannon gave Angel a look.
“I’m thinking. I’m thinking.”
“Think faster.”
“He’s Irish, I remember that.” Angel snapped her fingers. “Oh…what’s the name of that famous Irish Whiskey?”
Shannon frowned. “Jameson?”
“That’s it! Jameson. Jameson O’something.”
Shannon huffed out a breath, her hands landing on her hips. “O’something?”
“Arg. I can’t think of it. But, it’s him and his three brothers. I remember Crystal telling me that much. Wait. That’s it.”
“What’s it?”
“Him and his brothers…that’s the name of the place, Brothers Ink.”
Shannon rolled her eyes and looked the number up on her phone.
CHAPTER SIX
Crystal stood at the reception counter in the tattoo shop she worked at. She’d been there three months, and the place was starting to feel like home. Maybe not in the same way that the clubhouse had, but she had to put that behind her and stop thinking about it.
The shop was a two story brick building on Main Street in Grand Junction. The building itself dated from the turn of the century, but it had been gutted down to the gleaming wood floors and exposed brick walls and totally remodeled, but still leaving that old character that fit so well in the Colorado town. A huge chrome sculpture of a buffalo sat in the entrance.
The shop belonged to a man named, Jameson O’Rourke and his three brothers, Max, Liam and Rory, hence the name, Brothers Ink. They were all extremely talented, but Jameson was the star. He was a very gifted, brilliant artist. A real star at what he did. This shop was where he’d gotten his start, but now there was talk of him moving to L.A. or some other place for bigger and better things.
