by Ryan Michele
Rhys went stock still, his face turning to stone. Not laughing was completely difficult, but I was able to hold on to it, but barely. He had the wrong idea here, but I was running with it. What was the worst that could happen? We got into another fight. Been there and done that. “Van and Greer. My kids.”
“You do realize I’m gonna kick your fuckin’ ass again.”
“That I have no doubt, brother.”
Cruz stepped up. “Well I do have grandbabies, and I want to see them before I leave here.”
On a shrug, I said, “Sure thing. Let’s get this shit out of the way.”
“Wrong Way said you’re meetin’ up with a loan shark,” Cruz said, and I nodded giving them the lowdown on what was going to happen.
They were only there for backup along with two other chapters. At this point I didn’t know for sure if we needed them or not. With Ebony, everything I thought I knew wasn’t adding up. Anything could happen. And we’d be on her turf. No way we’d go unprotected.
We were one man down though, because Lemon hadn’t resurfaced. Fucker.
“Let’s do this,” I called out as everyone got to their bikes. I pulled out, and Cruz rode up next to me. Fuck, this was strange. Even me and my dad never had this. We were never presidents at the same time, therefore while we rode in a pack, we were never next to each other.
This was a new experience, and part of me felt like a shit son for liking the feel. While my dad wouldn’t be pissed at me, part of me felt like I was betraying him in some way. It was an irrational thought, but it was there nonetheless.
Fuck, I missed my dad. That sadness seared my soul in a way it would never heal. Sometimes, time just prolonged the hurt instead of healing it.
We took off, and I looked up to the sky hoping my father would be proud of me. Letting the ride soothe all those feelings, we made it there quickly.
Purple Pride appeared exactly like the last time we were here. Except this time, the path for the semi trucks stood out to me more. Dozens of men stood outside the Pride from one end of the bar all the way to the other end of the barn, like a wall.
This didn’t bode well for our meeting with Ebony. It didn’t appear as if she wanted to have a friendly conversation. Good thing Ethan and Jimmy brought the van with supplies. Hoped to Christ we didn’t need them, but fuck me we probably would.
We parked the bikes, took off our helmets, and got off our rides. The men with guns didn’t point them at us like last time. Instead, they held the barrel of the gun down to the ground. This could be a good sign or a shit one. Only time would tell.
The door to the bar swung open, and there stood Ebony. There was no mistaking her beauty. It was one way she got what she wanted, when she wanted it. Using the body.
Her skin was the color of mocha with long jet-black hair that came to her waist. She was all tits and ass and had a damn lot of both. Her tight pencil skirt came to her knees, hugging that ass, and her silk shirt was unbuttoned down to the middle of her tits. We were men, and tits got attention. She was smart.
“Fuck, she’s somethin’ else,” Phoenix said, coming up to my side, his hand going to the front of his pants and adjusting himself as Cruz came to my other side.
“Down, boy.” Slapping him on the shoulder, he groaned. Fucker.
Cruz leaned over to me. “We go with you. Rising and Steel chapters can be outside.”
I agreed fully with him, but it kind of pissed me off he was dictating to me what should be done with my club. Considering he was the home charter club president, and my father, I let that shit go. Whatever was going on here, room for that shit didn’t fit in. Now was not the time for an ego or pissing match over who really had control.
Nodding, we made our way up to the building where two of her ‘men’ stood in front of her. “Ebony,” I greeted then looked to the two men and when they didn’t move I asked, “Is there a reason for all this shit?” My arm jetted out pointing to all the men.
“There are reasons for everything, Crow. Thank you for coming.” Her voice was smooth like silk, and the come hither glint was in her eye. With Ebony though, that could be an invite to meet the end of her pointed red-tipped nails as she dug your heart out of your chest. One never knew.
“Boys,” she said, and the two in front of her stepped to the side. Ebony took two steps and had to look up. Even with her pointy as hell heels, she was still a lot shorter than myself. “You’ve always been a gorgeous man,” she purred.
“Ebony. You’re not gettin’ on my dick. We got shit to discuss. Don’t think for a second you’ll be leading me around by my balls.”
She chuckled, and it was rich like chocolate. “That’s why I like you. Straight and to the point. Let’s go in and take a seat.”
Ebony turned her back to us and walked into the bar. Looking at the guys with the large guns, I lifted my chin to my brothers around me. The place was dark. Although it had windows, they were covered with blinds only allowing small bits of light to peer through.
The smell of cigarettes filled the air.
Several of the men who ‘greeted’ us the first time were in the room, hands connected in front of them standing like soldiers. No weapons on display, but I had no doubt they were carrying.
Feeling my brothers, I knew I wasn’t the only one who wanted to put a bullet in each them. My eyes landed on Barry, and his were fired up. When it came to him, we were in the same boat there. Ripping his head off was going to happen.
Sweeping over the others, Rodney stood on the opposite side of Barry, but further in the back. He met my eyes but then skated them away, coming back to me but not staying. Over and over. Like he couldn’t make a decision to be a man or pussy. He eventually went the pussy route and avoided.
Those two fuckers thought they were untouchable standing behind Ebony. Fuck them. They had to leave this place at some point.
Ebony motioned to a large round table. “Please,” she said in that deceptive, polite voice.
Cruz sat next to me, with Brewer at my other side and Wrong Way right behind me. The others stood behind us against the wall while Cooper, Phoenix, Tex and Deke were by the door looking out.
Ebony sat across from me, no one at her side. The way she shifted told me she crossed her legs under the table. Her hands came to the top of the plastic table, fingers linking, points of those nails on display. She was calm and unaffected by all of Ravage inside her place.
It was either she was cocky or knew something we didn’t. The latter, I didn’t like one fucking bit. Her eyes flittered between Cruz and I, face growing into a huge smile. “Now that you sit next to each other, there are a few similarities,” she remarked, letting us know she knew about us. Good thing we knew about her too. “Two strong men.” She licked her lips, while I leaned back in my chair.
“Ebony, cut the shit. We’re not here on a social call.”
“Pity.” She shrugged as if it was nothing to her. “It appears there’s an issue with a home put up for collateral.” She snapped her fingers, and one of the guys behind her tossed an envelope to the table. Ebony pushed it our way.
None of us moved, and I stared her down. We weren’t here to play poker and hang out. She was playing games.
“What is it?” I asked as she tapped those damn nails on the table. The sound of plastic on plastic echoed in the room.
“It appears we have a problem.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, then laced her hands together. Her head nodded to the envelope on the table. “In there is paperwork for a home that I was going to collect on. Apparently, the papers are fire starters considering they’re fake. Since one of them is your baby’s momma, how are you going to pay me back my money?”
This was laughable and not surprising. Ebony didn’t like to be bested.
“I didn’t have shit to do with your papers.”
Ebony’s eyes turned cold. “Then I find Stan and Jenny and take it out of their blood.” Those sharp talons were coming out to play. She hadn’t gained power by bein
g a nice, placating woman.
“She’s detoxin’, then you guys can work off payment.” It wasn’t much, but really there was no good way out of this one. I knew it, and she knew it.
Ebony leaned back in the chair. “And if I don’t want to wait.”
It was my turn to lean in. “Then it’s war with the Ravage MC.”
Her eyes were trying to read me and whether she should call my bluff. We had enough firepower to make shit happen here.
“You don’t want war with us, Ebony.”
It was my turn to read her. Luckily, I had a woman at home who could be hard as hell to read sometimes, so I caught the small trickle of sweat at her temple and the hitch in her breath. She was shrewd, but not enough.
Cruz stayed quiet as did the rest of the guys.
“Where’s Stan?” she asked, and I smirked.
“Ya know. Haven’t seen him around in awhile. Heard he went fishin’.”
Ebony’s eye ticked telling me she didn’t like that answer. But that only left Jenny to pay back the debt. With Jenny going to be on lockdown, I’d need to get more security.
“I want my money, Crow.”
I leaned back in my chair, my fingers lacing on my abs. “And I want to know what you have in that big old barn outside.”
She shook her head. “That’s not happening.”
“Well, that leaves us both wanting something then.” She didn’t appear to be cracking. No way we were leaving here without something. Even if I had to pry it out of her using my pliers. It would get really bloody before that though.
“Except mine is owed. It’s cash out of my pocket.”
“And you didn’t check out the paperwork before you agreed. Seems like someone is fallin’ down on the job there, Ebony.”
Her eyes flamed. She took in a breath, and her body calmed. “We’re out of Rebellion, therefore not your concern.” She changed up on me, probably trying to throw me off track. Not happening.
“In Rebellion, around Rebellion, around Chattanooga. All of it is our business. This isn’t anything new for you. We’re done wastin’ our time. Settle on the loss of the house, show us what’s in the barn, and give us our cut of the business inside there. This shit is already old.”
Ebony leaned in and hissed, her palms flat on the table. “Fuck you,” she hissed. “I don’t owe you anything. We’re outside Rebellion not causin’ any trouble.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong.”
“And how’s that,” she fired back.
“First there’s Simon. He’s what led us up here, in case you were wondering. He was involved with my kid’s life and a dick.
“That one”—I pointed to Barry—“beat up and stole from one of our girls.” Barry smiled. “Thanks for the 90K, by the way.” Barry’s smile vanished in a flash, and fury blazed in his eyes. “Yeah. Met your wife too. Pissed as hell at you.”
“I want my damn money,” Barry growled, taking a step forward and reaching behind his back. Guns came up from all ends. Mine was an extension of me. The cold metal was a familiar welcome.
Ebony stood and held up her hands, halting Barry’s movements. “We’re not goin’ down in a blaze of gunfire. Put that shit down.”
I rose with Cruz on my heels. “Ebony, we could probably work somethin’ out.”
Her hand went to her hip, and that damn skirt was way too tight for her to be carrying anywhere but between her thighs. “And that would be?” She crossed her arms over her chest, all guns still pointed.
This could go really bad in the blink of an eye. Outcomes ran through my head of how we could all get out of here alive and still get what we wanted. The odds weren’t good. They had enough men to cover the men in here. Outside, they were a bit outnumbered, but not by much. She must pay her men damn good money to have that large of a crew.
“Already know you’re choppin’ cars and sellin’ the parts.” Ebony’s eyes narrowed as she grabbed the back of her chair, her knuckles going white. Another tell. Good.
“What makes you think that?” she questioned.
My gaze went through the line of guys on her side. Instead of answering, I decided to prod the tiger. “Ya know. I didn’t see Simon anywhere. He take a vacation?”
Her nostrils flared. “Yeah, with your other woman.”
“I’m not thinkin’ so…”
She looked down briefly, then her head came up. “What is it you want?”
“What I want is for you to forget about the house, the money you’re out, give us ten percent of your earnings from the chop shop and for Barry and Rodney to be turned over to us.” It was a lot, and I knew she wouldn’t go for it, but it would make the final worth it. In actuality, Barry could be a bullet to the temple and be done with. Rodney though, his hidden money would stay that way if he died. He was a bit trickier.
Ebony laughed then looked up to the ceiling and back down. “You think you’re gonna get all that from me just because you come up here and demand it?”
“No,” I told her honestly because she wasn’t the kind of woman to give us what we wanted simply on a command. Deciding to keep things as upfront as I could, I continued, “Fact is, it’s because you want us to leave you alone up here. You want us to think you’re ghosts and only come alive to give us our cut. This would accomplish those things.”
“Except for my damn money.”
My head dipped down. “Except for that.”
“No.”
“Fine by me.” I took aim at her head. “Guess we need to end this little party then.”
She didn’t deny the cars nor confirm, but it would be at the top of my list. “The house cleared only,” she retorted.
It was my turn to chuckle. “Nope.”
“Out!” she yelled, pointing her index finger to the door.
“This is a mistake, Ebony,” I warned, taking a step back. Not in fear, but the knowledge there were several lives in this place that we couldn’t afford to lose. We weren’t going to get anywhere with her. There was no use in trying. Tonight, we’d have some fun though. This place wouldn’t exist by the time the sun rose tomorrow.
“Go,” she ordered, a glower still on her face. All the guns out, it would take one shot to set everyone off.
“We go, you should expect, we’ll be back. It’s best we handle this shit now.”
The darkness in Ebony’s face turned deeper as she scowled. “You come back, you won’t make it up the driveway. I assure you that.”
Looking out the corner of my eye to Tex, he briefly met mine and that was my cue. He’d already informed the other Ravages about what was going on here and to come in for backup. She had to be stupid if she thought we’d only come with a few of us.
Not only did we have some Sumner and Rebellion out there right now for show, we had Rising and Steel chapters ready to go as well.
Fuck her if she thought she’d put us in our place. The only place we were was where we wanted to be. End of discussion.
“Don’t make this harder, Crow. You’re obviously outnumbered here.” Her catty smile made me want to laugh. She didn’t have a damn clue.
Looking again to Tex, he lifted his chin. Ravage were close.
That was when it started, by Tex with one shot to the temple of a man standing next to Ebony. He fell as soon as the crack hit the room. Gunshots fell over the room in heavy fire and chaos, but organized in a way.
Ebony’s men started falling, while Hornet got shot in the shoulder. “Fuck!” I growled as Ebony turned on those damn heels and took off. My next shot hit the man behind her in the back. As he fell, he reached to Ebony grabbed her skirt and ripped it clean off her.
She stumbled just a bit, but was able to keep going.
“Move!” I called out while my brothers covered and Tex, Brewer, Wrong Way and I took off through the bar and out the door Ebony just escaped through. Cruz and Sumner stayed back to cover us.
Shots inside began to slow, and I hoped like fucking hell no one else on our side got hit. A door
to the left was swinging, and we darted that way. Hearing the click of her heels against the tiles, we knew we were on the right track.
Bullets started flying to us, and we took cover against the wall. The shots were coming from around the corner. Nodding to Wrong Way and Tex, they took the lead. More shots went off then a cry of pain and since I could see my men, it had to be Ebony’s.
Brewer and I were behind Tex and Wrong Way putting in our own shots as we went. Around the corner a dark-haired man stood, gun out and extended. Wrong Way’s body jerked as the shot rang through the small space, and then he laid several into the asshole’s chest.
“You good?” I said, moving up by him.
“Knocked the wind out, but the vest caught it.” Thank Christ for that one.
“Go. I’m comin’.” With a nod, I followed Tex and Brewer, Wrong Way behind me. He was breathing heavy and as much as I wanted to tell him to sit down and take a load off, that couldn’t happen yet. Not until we were all safe.
Rodney was close. I took aim and hit his knee as he cried out in pain, landing hard to the ground. Tex kicked the gun out of Rodney’s hand while Wrong Way skidded on his knees next to him. He pulled out zip ties from his pocket and tied him up like a pig in a few seconds.
We kept moving, leaving Rodney for later. Hopefully he’d still be there, but we couldn’t let Ebony get away.
Inhaling, the smell of her perfume came to me telling me we were on the right track. We hauled ass. If there weren’t so many fucking twists and turns we would’ve caught up with her earlier. Boots on the ground were behind me. Turning, Wrong Way was coming to us. His breathing better.
At the end of the long hallway was a large door that was just shutting.
A vehicle sounded from the other side. Bursting through, shots rang out while Barry was driving Ebony. My brothers took care of the men around us while I aimed for the tires.
First shot, missed.
Second, hit the tire.
Third, hit the back end of the SUV.
Fourth, hit the tire again.
With two blown tires, that didn’t stop them. Hearing bikes off in the distance, I turned my gun and aimed to see Rhys and Rooster as they took off after Ebony. Fuck. The gunshots behind me stilled, and I checked. All my men were still standing. Brewer had blood coming out of his leg.
