by Jamie Begley
“Penni …”
“Grace is calling her now.”
Jackal nodded. He wanted to leave the room and make sure she was okay, but from the faces surrounding them, the men had more important things to discuss. As enforcer, he had to stay with Ice, regardless of whether his woman needed him or not.
Viper sat down on one of the chairs with Shade taking the one next to him.
“I’ll take the door,” Cash said, leaving the room. Jackal knew Viper wouldn’t want any of the women coming in to disturb the meeting about to take place.
“Why didn’t you call Shade when you found out she had been kidnapped?” Viper started the meeting between the two heads of their clubs.
Ice sat forward on the couch, his hands resting on his thighs. “I was going to call and let you deal with the Road Kingz, but Hennessy used to be a brother, and Jackal convinced me to let him handle it. Hennessy saved Jackal’s life when a deal went down the shithole, and Jackal felt he owed him. He didn’t want Shade killing him.”
“I didn’t need his help,” Hennessy broke into the conversation.
“Shut up,” Ice ordered. “You can answer to Viper for kidnapping Penni. I’m explaining my own actions in this cluster-fuck.”
“Penni could have been killed or hurt if I hadn’t shown up when I did.” Viper’s controlled rage had all the men tensing.
“I didn’t expect him to piss off another fucking club or that he was balls deep in bed with a cartel.” Ice remained unflustered, giving Viper the time he needed to vent.
They had screwed up, and now they were going to man up, whether they wanted to listen to his recriminations or not.
Viper looked at Hennessy. “Now you want me to talk?”
“It would be to your advantage.”
Before Hennessy could answer, a knock came to the door, and two men Jackal had never met before entered.
“This is Stud and Cade. Stud is the President of the Blue Horsemen.”
“How many biker clubs does this bitch know?” Hennessy asked, running his hand over his bald head.
“Stud and Cade aren’t here because of Penni. They’re here because of the cartel,” Viper explained, his mouth twitching at Hennessy’s aggravated expression.
Cade took a step forward. “The cartel is responsible for my wife’s father and her sister’s death. If they’ve targeted you, you’re not going to get away from them alive.”
Jackal looked at the grim faces in the room. All this shit for nothing. Hennessy’s club wasn’t big enough to deal with the fallout from the cartel and The Last Riders. One was bad enough; two was the end. Hennessy’s fixed stare said he knew it, too.
“The Blue Horsemen are willing to help. Fat Louise deserves justice for her family being killed. She risked her life to save her sister from her husband’s cartel and bring her back from Mexico.”
“We’re willing to help, too.” Viper nodded.
Hennessy’s surprised gaze swung to Viper. “Why would you help?”
“Two reasons: Shade found out the reason you took Penni as hostage was to get drugs back from one of your members who had bought them from the cartel behind your back. Shade said you had no idea that the member had commissioned the drug sale.”
“I didn’t, but DJ was like flesh and blood to me. I couldn’t leave him high and dry.”
“Instead, another of the Road Kingz killed him,” Shade remarked, going to the small fridge and taking out a bottled water, giving it to Hennessy.
“Yes, I made sure he didn’t have any money to buy drugs for himself. I thought he was clean. When I found the drugs in his room and saw he was high, he admitted what he had done. Then I set up the buy with Striker. Since then, it’s been one cluster-fuck after another.”
“The Silva Cartel is extremely dangerous. Not only do they have a lot of manpower, but they have the Unjust Soldiers to do their dirty work in the States,” Lucky commented, leaning against the wall. “If we’re going to do this, The Last Riders, Stud’s club, and yours will have to take precautions. Not only will they try to attack the clubhouses, but anyone who is connected to them. That means the women or any assets the clubs may have.”
“Shit. They’re that strong?” Jackal should be worried about the Predators, but it was a blonde his thoughts shifted to.
Lucky looked at Viper who nodded his head. “I dealt with this cartel once before,” he admitted. “It was six years ago. I was involved with a task force to stop them from smuggling women out of the United States. We arrested the smugglers but couldn’t lay our hands on the cartel. I’d like to even the score for those women and Fat Louise.
“With your help, we could lure them to Treepoint and take them down once and for all. Viper’s on top of the security here, but can your clubs handle the fallout?”
Stud, Ice, and Hennessy stared at each other.
“So you’re going to use the Road Kingz as bait?” Hennessy asked Viper.
“Yes.”
“If my club helps, then you let us leave without any blowback for Penni?”
“None.”
“Then let’s fucking get it on, brother.”
25
The sound of laughter hit her when she entered Shade’s home. Sex Piston’s little boy and Beth’s twin boys were sitting on the floor, playing with John. The women were in the kitchen and in the dining room, making a picnic, and Fat Louise was sitting on the rocking chair, watching the children.
“You look fabulous,” Penni complimented. The woman glowed with happiness. She looked like she was pregnant with a small basketball.
“I look huge.” Fat Louise smiled, patting her pregnant belly.
“It’s not much longer, is it?”
“Three more months.”
“Enjoy. Lily didn’t sleep the first four months with John.”
“I keep telling myself that.”
“I’m going upstairs to change.” Penni waved at Sex Piston, Crazy Bitch, Killyama, and Beth as she went up the steps.
She hurried through a shower then slipped on a pair of faded jeans and a flowery top that swung as she moved. Picking up her cell phone, she saw a message she had missed from Lily and a call from Grace.
Sitting down on the side of the bed, she dialed Grace’s number.
“What’s up, girl? If you’re calling me to tell me you can’t come back to work yet, I’ve told you to take—”
“Oceane passed away.” Her friend’s voice was husky and held a wealth of pain.
“I’m so sorry, Grace. I’m packing my suitcase. I can be there in—”
“No, stay in Treepoint. My dad isn’t handling it well. I need to concentrate on him right now.”
“What about you? You’re important, too.”
“I’m fine. Ice stayed and helped me, but we both agreed that Dad and Dax wanted to be alone. I’ll stay here for a couple of weeks before I come home. My dad’s so angry, Penni.” Grace’s voice dropped. “I’ve never seen him like this.”
“I wish you would let me come. I could make you some brownies.”
“Chocolate won’t fix this.”
“Not even my special ones?” Penni teased, trying to lighten the conversation.
A small laugh came across the line. “Text me the recipe; I’ll make them for my dad.”
They continued to talk for several minutes, Penni promising she would call her again tonight.
“Take care.”
“I will. Thanks, Penni.”
She disconnected the call, thinking of the beautiful woman who was going to be missed so badly by her family.
Penni went downstairs to see the women had moved out to the yard. She stood on the porch, watching the children play, before she walked to the picnic tables where the food had been laid out.
Lily sent her a searching look as she picked up a celery stick to nibble on. “What’s wrong?” Lily had been her friend long enough to know when something was wrong.
“Grace’s mother passed away.”
“I’m so
rry.” The women sympathized.
“I didn’t know her very well. I had only met her a couple of times when she visited at work.”
“Are you going to be leaving?” Killyama asked a little to enthusiastically, Penni thought.
“No, she wants time to be alone with her family.”
Lily squeezed her hand. “I’m sure she’ll reach out if she needs you.”
Penni nodded, taking another celery stick before looking dead on at Killyama. “I thought you swore not to come to Treepoint when I was visiting.”
“I made the bitches show me everything they put into the food. I didn’t trust you not to put something in it that would fuck me up.”
“I didn’t mean for you to get alcohol poisoning.”
“You sure?” Killyama stared at her doubtfully.
“Why would I want to get you sick?”
Killyama reached for the vegetable platter, picking up her own celery stick. “Maybe because Lily told you Train took me for a ride, and I fucked him stupid.”
Lily grabbed Penni’s arm. “And you haven’t been out with him since. You told me you can’t stand him.”
“I can’t.”
Penni was unconvinced by her denial. From the way the other women looked, they didn’t believe her, either.
“You told her I had a crush on Train?” Penni turned to look at Lily, hurt that her friend had betrayed her trust.
“I did not. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Then how would they know—”
“Bitch, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the way you look at him.”
“Oh …” Penni had no intention of getting in a bitch fight with Killyama. Number one, she was smart enough to know she wouldn’t win. The woman had been born knowing how to insult others. The second reason was, she might deny she cared about Train, but she did. Killyama was as transparent as she was where Train was concerned.
“You going to fight it out or eat lunch?” Fat Louise stood behind Killyama, trying to reach around for the potato salad.
“No one’s going to fight. Besides, there’s no need to fight anymore. Penni has a boyfriend.”
“Who?” Killyama asked, taking a seat at the picnic table.
“Jackal.” Penni thought his name slipped off her tongue too easily.
“You cook for him yet?” Crazy Bitch asked, moving her plate away from Fat Louise when she tried to take the last roll off her plate.
“No.”
“Give him my number. When he does, your boyfriend will be looking for another woman. I’m not much of a cook, but at least I won’t kill him.” Crazy Bitch nearly knocked Fat Louise off her feet when she elbowed her arm, laughing at her own joke.
“The next time I make the candy Willa gave me the recipe for, I won’t let any of you have any,” Penni bragged, knowing that would take the wind out of their over blown egos.
“She gave you the recipe?” Lily asked enviously.
“Yep, and I’m not sharing. She made me promise.” Willa had laughingly told her to make it when she needed to steal a man’s heart. Jackal had asked her about it twice since he had been at the clubhouse.
“You gonna put pot in it, too? Hell, you’ll take the whole Last Riders’ clubhouse down.” Killyama’s sarcastic comment fell on deaf ears as Lily, Beth, and Sex Piston began talking about planning Fat Louise’s baby shower.
Several of the men came out, carrying their lunches from the clubhouse, which Genny had made. Penni volunteered to get more drinks.
“Bring me a beer, and make sure the cap is on it.”
Penni wanted to dump her artichoke dip on Killyama’s head. Instead, Penni went inside to the refrigerator.
While taking out the pitcher of tea and a beer for Killyama, Penni overheard Genny and Viper talking in the dining room. Jackal, Train, Rider, and Hennessy were also in there, eating their lunches. Penni could tell Genny was very upset from the way she was shaking her head.
“I don’t want to move here. I have my own house.”
“It’s only for a couple of weeks,” Train tried to reassure her.
“No.”
Viper wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “I wasn’t giving you a choice. I’ll pay you for the inconvenience.”
“It’s not about the money. If you need me to work longer hours, I’m okay with that, but I want to go home at night.” Genny’s face was pale. She was clearly trying to make Viper listen to reason.
Penni was getting ready to interrupt when Lucky walked up behind her.
“Genny, let’s go talk in the front room.”
Genny turned toward Lucky, instantly calming and going into the other room with him on her heels.
“What was that about?” Penni asked.
Viper took his attention away from the closed door. “We want Genny to move in to the clubhouse until the trouble with Hennessy is taken care off.”
“So why not just say that to her?”
“Because, if I told her there was drugs involved, she would quit. The only reason I’m telling you is because you already know the trouble. Rachel, Mag, and Diamond will be moving in, too.”
“What about Evie?”
“Some of the Predators will be staying over there.”
“Okay.” Penni headed back into the kitchen as Lucky came back into the dining room alone.
“She didn’t listen, did she?” Penni could see Genny shoving dishes into the dishwasher.
“No,” Lucky confirmed with a set face.
“That house means everything to her. She works her ass off to afford it, so she’s not giving in just because men tell her to.”
“I’ll get Willa to talk to her when she gets off work.”
“Or could I make a suggestion?”
“What is it?” Viper asked, becoming irritated at having his plans thwarted. At least he was willing to listen.
“You could ask the Porters to watch her at home.”
The men stared back and forth between each other.
“That could work. I was going to pay Genny. I’ll pay the Porters, instead, and that way, she could stay home and be protected.”
“That’s bullshit,” Hennessy spoke out. “Just tell her no. Tell her she doesn’t have a choice. I’d never let a woman tell me no.”
Penni clenched her hands. “How well does that work out for you? It’s because of you we’re all in this mess.”
“I’m in this mess because of your crazy-ass, bit—”
Penni strode to the table, placing her palms on the table in front of him. “You’re blaming me?” Penni was getting fed up with people blaming her for everything. “If your little dick is as small as how much you know about women, I have someone I want to introduce you to. You’re a match made in heaven. Either you will teach her some manners, or you will kill each other. Either way, it’s a win-win situation.”
Penni was furious at Hennessy for blaming her, and she was mad at Jackal who hadn’t met her eyes when she had entered the room, nor had he taken up for her at Hennessy’s insinuation.
Penni stormed out of the room, going to the kitchen to take the tea and beer outside.
Killyama took the beer from her when she finally made it out there.
“What took you so long? The beer’s hot.” She checked the top to make sure it hadn’t been tampered with.
Penni tightened her hand on the pitcher of iced tea. Don’t do it. Don’t do it, she kept telling herself.
“Hand me those celery sticks, bitch.”
Fuck it.
26
“Who’s she talking about?” Jackal looked at Viper after Penni had left the room.
“You don’t want to know,” Viper answered.
“What do you think of Penni’s suggestion?”
“I’ll get Shade to go talk to the Porters when he gets back from talking to King.”
“Genny should be here where no one can get to her.” Hennessy shifted his weight, rubbing his hurt leg.
“If the Porters take the job
, Genny will be more protected than she would be here. The Porters are fucking nuts.”
Hennessy wasn’t pacified, but then screams from outside had them running out the back door.
Jackal barely ducked in time to miss a bowl hitting the frame of the door.
“Dammit, when did they get here?” Viper shouted, wading through the women who were blocking them from seeing what was going on.
Jackal moved to the side, trying to see himself. He didn’t care about making anyone mad.
Penni was on the ground, fighting a woman who sitting on her.
“Pull her off, Penni,” Jackal said as he tried to reach her.
Viper and Train had each taken an arm, dragging the woman back. Penni used the opportunity to kick out, nailing the woman in the gut.
“Stop, Killyama!” Train fell back when the woman jerked back toward Penni.
“Bitch, I’m gonna kill you.”
“Quit calling me a bitch!” Penni screeched.
Rider and Razer made Lily and Beth back away as another woman Jackal didn’t know tried to bash Penni’s head in with the heel of her shoe.
Jackal reached down toward Penni, trying to help her to her feet at the same time Lucky did.
“Watch her teeth,” Jackal tried to warn too late as another woman with jacked-up hair jerked back, her hand bleeding.
He reached down, snatching Penni to her feet as she swung her hands in the air at the two women.
“Come on, Sex Piston and Crazy Bitch; you want some more of me? I’ll shove that celery up your ass!” Penni snarled.
“Penni, there are kids are here!” Lily had her hands on her hips as she planted herself so the other women couldn’t get to her.
Jackal could see reason come to Penni’s eyes as she turned to see a pregnant woman ushering the children into Shade’s house with Cade holding John and following her inside.
“Please, Sex Piston, calm down. She didn’t mean to pour the tea on Killyama,” Lily tried to calm her down again.
“The fuck she didn’t.” Sex Piston straightened her skintight shirt down over her leather pants, hopping on one foot until she took off her shoes. One of the high heels had a broken heel.