Exacting Revenge

by Kimmie Easley

  Nothing.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  (Ronin)

  We thunder down Main Street. Jericho is already winding down for the night. The few stragglers turn to gawk as we pull up to the red light, stopping in standard V formation. Some shake their heads, while others stare in awe. Both struggling to figure out if we’re really as bad as people say.

  Jolene molds her body around mine. I know her. She’s attempting to warm over my icy heart. I’ve been a real douche lately, but she doesn’t know the kind of shit I’m carrying.

  Fuck.

  After the long ride, Jericho is a welcome sight. My ass is dragging.

  The Clubhouse now resembles a well-armed compound. Soldiers from surrounding chapters stand point, loaded down with enough fire power to stop an army. And for every brother you can see, there are at least three that you don’t.

  I back into my spot in the back alley. A handful of prospects create a tunnel as we shuffle inside.

  “Good to see you made it,” Ruth is at Jolene’s side. “I hear you have a nice little shack for us to hole up in for a bit.”

  The old woman has impeccable timing.

  Jo narrows her wounded gaze at me.

  I duck out.

  The only people not running around getting shit done? My crew. I hear them yakking about the infamous Reno house as I walk up on my brothers, huddled in the corner. The chatter dissipates as I draw closer.

  “About ready to move out?” I ask.

  Stoner looks at me and then at the ground. I get the same thing as I dart my stare from one soldier to the next. Zero eye contact.

  “What? What the fuck’s going on?” I step in closer. “Stoner. Speak.”

  “Prez wants us to stand down.”

  I adjust my stance, rolling my stiff shoulders. “Is that an order?”

  Clint nods.

  Throwing my hands in the air, I feel the familiar rage bubble in my chest. “Well, there you go. There’s your command. Nobody listens to a goddamn thing I have to say.”

  Clint jumps up. “Listen, everybody just needs to settle the fuck down. I don’t know why shit’s going sideways, but this is not how we operate. You and the Prez better get over whatever this crap is,” he says as he moves in, addressing me directly. “This is fucked up, brother, and you know it.”

  He shoulders past me, coming to Patsy’s aide. They’re loading down the back of his 1972 Chevy long bed. Next to his sled, that thing is like Clint’s kid. Now, he’s throwing shit around in the back like it’s a work truck, doting on his girl. Fuck, his next ride might just be a minivan.

  I spot Jolene. She’s already found her place among the masses, right alongside Ruth. That’s the way it should be. Why can’t everything in life be that smooth?

  “So, we can’t leave until the old man gets back. Where’d he go this time?”

  Ruth stops fussing with the snacks and groceries. Sighing, she cocks out one hip. “I have no idea. He disappeared a few hours ago. Called not long after and said he had some shit to take care of. All he said was stand down and it shouldn’t be long.”

  “What the hell? He went out on his own? Without a security detail?”

  She shakes her head. “I know. I think he’s having a little trouble gathering his bearings after losing Jimmy. It’s going to take some time. This one hit close.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s it.” I struggle to keep my emotions under wrap. My neck is tight and my damn chest burns.

  Jolene goes back to what she was doing, avoiding me. I can put a stop to her pain in a matter of seconds, but if I let my guard down, she’ll ask questions. Questions I don’t have answers to, or maybe I simply refuse to face what my gut is screaming.

  My phone vibrates and I tug it from my shirt pocket. “Billy, talk to me.”

  “VP, I got a visual on Fugi and his crew. Looks like another celebration. The fuckers are bombed. At least twenty-five or thirty sleds.”

  “Get a bead on Zombie?”

  “Not a fucking hair.” Billy speaks low, muffled into the device.

  “Alright, stay where you are until you hear from me.”

  This is not the news I’m hoping to hear. I need Zombie done, once and for all.

  “Getting ready to rally?” Billy’s careful not to give away our location, even on a burner.

  “Soon.”

  “Well, it doesn’t get better than now. I’m telling you, cock suckers are in for the long haul.”

  “Yeah, I get it. Just waiting on the Prez to tie up some loose ends. Like I said, don’t do anything until you hear from me.”

  “Got it.”

  I hear the rumble of Jesse’s sled. After a minute, he and Jessa are tunneled into the bar. I didn’t even notice she was missing. However, her smug smirk has been replaced by, something else. Something foreign for the eldest Miller daughter.

  Anger? Fear, maybe. Disappointment.

  The boys scramble out of the corner, snapping to attention.

  “A minute?” I ask, jerking my head toward the house.

  My father figure snaps the cap off a cold beer before passing me a bottle. “We gotta do this now?”

  I nod, fighting the urge to glance over at Jo, but my insides get the best of me. The pain in her eyes guts me. She’s scared. She watches us leave out the back door.

  The cold beverage hits the spot.

  “What’s on your mind?” The president removes his riding bandana, shoving the hair back off his forehead. He fires up a joint before plopping down on top of the picnic table.

  I want to get my words right. To better the club. For my brothers.

  “I need to know my place,” I blurt out.

  Snapping his head to the left, he scowls at me. “Son, what the hell are you talking about?”

  I begin to pace, my long legs crossing back and forth the medium sized room. “Just what I said. I need to know my place. Clearly, I have no authority in this club.”

  “You can’t be serious.” He flies out of the chair and leaps across the room. “We’re on the run for our fucking lives. People are trying to keep their families whole and you want to pull this pussy bullshit?”

  “I’m well aware of the importance of the situation. That’s why we put the goddamn plan into action in the first place. We have limited time. You fucking disappeared and without any kind of security. No one will listen to my orders because you’re too busy overriding every goddamn thing I say.”

  He rolls his neck. My lungs freeze.

  “Look, son, this is a rough patch. That patch you’re wearing says that you’re the VP of this goddamn club. You can step the fuck up and take the reins or step the fuck off. The choice is yours. But you will not come at me with this shit again, got me?”

  “Sir.” I say through a clenched jaw.

  “Good, now get the boys together. We’ve got shit to line out.” Jesse kicks a chair, sending it reeling across the overgrown yard, before he storms away.

  I pace, giving myself a moment to control my nerves. Once I step inside, my throat tightens. Jolene glances at me before dropping her head. If I let her down, I might as well fall on my own knife. The thought shreds me to nothing. It’s times like this when I want to kick my own ass for dragging her back into the club. She had an out. A career. A home. A life, a real one. Not this fucked up shit we call the life.

  “Church, let’s go,” I shout, sending everyone into motion. We file up the narrow staircase, filling the upstairs apartment to nearly standing room only.

  Jesse opens the session. “You know why you’re all here. My family is under fire. Your family is under fire. We can’t stand by and watch the Kings take out our fucking club one by one. We’ve all lost people to war. This one’s hitting us hard, attacking our women. Killing VPs.” He leans against the wall, folding his inked arms across his narrow chest. “That said, we have a safehouse. Somewhere we’ve never been and can’t be breached. We were going to head out convoy style, but that’s not gonna work. Not now.”

  I
prop my elbows up on the bar and clench my hands together, finding it difficult to remain still. He looks at me as he says the words, knowing he just stomped all over my plan, once again.

  The president continues addressing the awaiting crowd of angry men, all seeking guidance from this one man.

  “We have some business to take care of and I’ve set up a meeting with the Jukes.”

  Grumbling erupts from the men.

  “They’re in bed with the Kings.” Clint pops off the barstool.

  “That’s what we’ve been told. It doesn’t change the fact that we have to earn. We follow through with this meeting, set up a deal to cut them in on some of our free enterprise, and make it look like things are business as usual for the Executioners. It helps us on two fronts. Income and cover up.”

  I weigh his words.

  “The only thing that changes, we go in stages rather than convoy.” Jesse peers at me. “It can be done. Now, let’s take a vote on how we proceed. Yay, we go in shifts. Nay, it’s all out. Majority rules.”

  After a tense round, the votes fall unanimous.

  I can’t argue with logic and there’s no guarantee the convoy plan would have been full proof.

  “Good. I’ll go to this meeting and get things rolling. Stoner can make the usual pick drops. You and Clint can take the others to Reno.”

  I snap my head. “You can’t go to that meeting alone. Clint should stay with you, or at least Herc.”

  “Fine. I’ll take Wizard.” The president sits back, defiantly. He throws one leg over the other.

  “Doesn’t that leave you wide open?” Stoner asks.

  “It’s fine. I’ve been assured it’s only Cesar and his VP. They know Ronin is tied up. Clint needs to help get the girls out. Herc, you’re the muscle. Now, that’s it. Enough.” He waves his hands in front of him. “Get to work.”

  I decide not to argue about the security detail. It’s not worth the time. At least Jolene will be somewhere safe.

  “Message Billy. Make sure the coast is clear and you guys pull out tonight.”

  I observe the old man. Someone I’ve looked up to for nearly my entire life. He’s always been hard to get a read on, but lately something is off. Really off.

  “Got it.” I turn to walk away until I feel a hand on my shoulder.

  “Son, I know this hasn’t been easy. Shit’s all sideways. I’m doing the best I can, trying to keep everyone whole, including this club.”

  He pulled out the ‘son’ card. He knows exactly how to get to me. I realize at this moment that he always has.

  “I know you are.” I nod. “We’ll come out whole on the other side. It’s the ride through the middle that I’m worried about.”

  “I get that. Hang in there.” He extends his arms.

  I respond.

  It’s like an awkward handshake.

  Shit’s not sideways. It’s fucking upside down.

  I text Billy. He replies immediately with the code, beast mode, indicating it’s go time.

  I find Jolene downstairs ordering around the prospects, getting shit loaded and ready for the ride. Goddamn, she’s a vision. What I wouldn’t give for thirty minutes to spare to take her upstairs and blow off some of this steam.

  I glance around. So many people are depending on me to pull this shit off without a hitch.

  Jolene spots me, making eye contact. She nods, a small grin tugging in the corners of her mouth. I wink and the smile grows.

  “Let’s roll.” I shout. Everyone jumps to attention, filing out the back and through the tunnel.

  For the second time today, I thunder past the Jericho welcome sign, lights fading at my back.

  ***

  “You can’t be serious?” Bonnie stands in front of the Suburban, peering up at the gigantic, three-story cabin.

  “I told you guys it was a vacation home.” Heat flushes across Jolene’s cheeks.

  “The guy said something about a million dollars, but I wasn’t expecting anything like this.” Clint drapes an arm around Patsy’s shoulders.

  “We gonna stand out here and gawk all day or are we going to move this circus inside?” Ruth splits through the crowd with an armload of bags.

  “Prospects, unload.” I unlock the five-car garage, ignoring the obnoxious toys that are taking up a third of the space, relieved to find there’s enough room to park the bikes. “In here, less noticeable.”

  “The codes are over here.” Jolene points to a panel on the wall.

  “It’s password protected. That cock sucker’s gonna eat my goddamn fist!” Seething, I slam my boot into the side of the fluorescent green jet ski.

  She reaches out, skimming her hand up and down my arm. “Hey, chill. Brad might be a lawyer, but he’s a few sparks short of common sense.”

  I watch her lift the lid to the panel box and punch buttons. The door leading into the house from inside the garage clicks.

  “Let me guess. Beast mode?”

  She throws back her head and laughs, her long ponytail dangling past her firm ass. Her gorgeous neck deserves some attention. Note for later.

  The house is everything I thought it would be and then some. Everything is white and shiny. Stainless appliances and the biggest, fanciest TVs and entertainment equipment. The backyard looks like a resort with a pool and hot tub, pool house included. There are fucking stairs everywhere you turn. Too many rooms to count.

  It’ll be a real shame if it’s not returned in the same condition.

  “Can we look around?” Tammy looks to Ruth.

  She nods. “For a minute. We need to get shit put away and figure out sleeping arrangements. Get everything lined out before Jesse arrives.”

  With the approval, the group immediately disperses, exploring the mansion they now call home. Even if it is for a short time.

  “So, we just hole up here and wait it out?” Ruth drops onto the large, oversized leather couch.

  I can’t help but notice the new set of wrinkles creasing around her tired eyes. “We don’t have a choice. Go ahead and set up a designated space for church. Clint and Stoner get some men on point, but make sure they can’t be seen. No need to raise flags in foreign territory.”

  “On it,” Clint says before disappearing down the hall.

  Ruth follows.

  “And me?” Jessa asks.

  I level my gaze. “You, just try to stay out of trouble.”

  She twists her face into a snarl, ducking out after Ruth, leaving me alone with Jolene.

  “And me?” She coils her arms around my neck.

  The intoxicating scent of her shampoo teases my dick. “You, darlin, are occupied.” I grip her ass, throwing her legs around my waist. She tosses her head back in a fit of laughter.

  Music to my heart.

  CHAPTER NINE

  (Jolene)

  “For fuck’s sake! How long does it take to wrap up a meeting?” Ronin struts from one end of the massive suite to the other. Shirtless, tight denim grips his long legs, unbuttoned at the top, revealing a delectable patch of dark hair.

  It’s been two days and Pop is still MIA.

  “Pop and Wizard should be here any minute. You have every right to be pissed, but you’re going to have to keep your shit under control for now.” My words are weak. Even I have trouble believing them. He’s been fuming for the last forty-eight hours and he has every right. As Vice President of the Executioners, he has been left completely in the dark.

  “What’d Ruth have to say this morning?”

  I shrug. “The same old thing. They got to partying and couldn’t ride. Had to sleep it off.”

  “That’s such bullshit!” He rushes to the glass door, an a-frame pane leading to a fully furnished balcony.

  I crawl out of bed. Tiptoeing across the hardwood, I snag his X shirt from the floor and slip it over my head. I rest my lips against his warm back and loop my arms around his chiseled abdomen.

  His chest heaves.

  I squeeze harder. “It’s going to be ok, baby.
Just clear your head and hear them out. We can’t forget why we’re here.”

  The rise and fall of his chest eases.

  He reaches for my hand, caressing it in his.

  It’s like taming a fucking grizzly bear.

  “VP,” Clint hollers from the other side of the door. “You might wanna get out here.”

  Tension immediately ripples through his massive shoulders and up his neck. He turns, gazing down at me.

  He arches one, strong brow. “Maybe some action after sitting around for days?” He grabs a shirt hanging off the side of the dresser and saunters out of the room.

  I toss my head back. I sure as shit hope not.

  “Look man, you need to back the fuck up.” Jessa’s loud voice echoes off the vaulted walls.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Ronin stops in his tracks, landing me right into his back.

  Peeking around his bicep, I spot a wide-eyed Brad, looking like a piece of bloody prime rib hanging from a ceiling fan in a room full of starving, rabid wolves. When I see that the intruder is harmless, I pop out into the open, entering the center ring.

  “What the hell is going on, Brad?” I stare at him, hoping he gets the message. He really screwed up.

  “Yeah, Brad?” Stoner steps forward.

  Herc does the same.

  I wave my hands in the air. “Ok, boys. This is the guy who owns the house.”

  “Yeah,” He points to Clint. “He knows me.”

  The gesture sends Clint lunging across the room. Ronin steps in the way just before Clint’s fist meets Brad’s symmetrical nose.

  “Don’t you ever fucking speak for me again, you goddamn pussy!” Clint doesn’t back away until he feels the weight of Patsy’s hand on his shoulder.

  “Are you looking to get yourself killed?” Ronin peers down at Brad.

  “No, man. Seriously, I wanted to see how everything was going. You know, it’s been a couple of days.” Brad smiles, struggling to control his trembling lips. “Just wanted to check in. See how the place was treating you.” He darts his gaze around the room. “How you were treating the place.” He whispers the last line.