I back up until my back hits the wall behind me. My heart is hammering in my chest and my every pore is oozing fear. I feel like I am going to come undone; literally undone. It’s like my tendons and ligaments, everything that holds my bones together is turning into jelly and pretty soon I’m going to fall to the floor and just squirm around there like a giant banana slug. Maybe he doesn’t like slugs. Maybe he’ll just leave me here to my slug-like misery. One can only hope.
He stops about five feet in front of me and begins to unbuckle his belt.
“I’ve got a special treat for you Gimp.” He begins to pull his belt through the loops on his jeans. “Ever heard of autoerotic asphyxiation bitch?”
I shake my head as the fear builds.
“Well then, this is gonna be a real special treat for you isn’t it?”
He takes two more steps towards me, brandishing his belt. As Eddie takes his last steps, closing the distance between us, a plan unfolds in my mind and my eyes fixate on his knife. Soon as he grabs me, tying up his hands, mine will be free to grab the knife and gut him like a fish. At least I hope so. I look one last time back over his shoulder hoping against hope that Cade or even their father is coming to my rescue. No one but us is in the room.
“What, you think your boyfriend suddenly grew a pair and is coming to rescue you? I think he’s got himself bigger problems. It’s a messy thing, burning off ones tattoo. If he’s not in the hospital now he’d better be on the way. You don’t recover well after that.”
My heart stops. I thought he was out there growing a pair not being victim to his brother’s evil schemes. Eddie takes another step. He is just one step of being in arms reach of me now. He pauses, and then feeds the end of his belt in through the buckle to create a loop. All he has to do is slip it over my head and pull the end and it’ll squeeze until my head pops off my shoulders.
Eddie takes one more step towards me and raises his arms. The loop is over my head and starting to descend.
“What the fuck’s going on here?” Demands a welcome voice.
Eddie freezes for a second and looks back over his shoulder at his brother who just came into the room. Standing beside Cade is another biker; from the Outkasts looks like. Somebody must have found his balls after all.
“Ain’t that your old lady?” The other biker asks Cade.
Cade nods.
“You shouldn’t be here brother,” Eddie informs Cade.
Taking advantage of Eddie’s distraction I move away and over to stand beside Cade and the other biker. Closer inspection reveals the other biker to be none other than the president of the Outkasts MC.
“What were you planning on doing with that belt Eddie?” Cade asks in a menacing tone.
“We were just about to have ourselves a little fun brother. Haven’t you heard of autoerotic asphyxiation?”
Eddie stands facing his brother now, belt in one hand while his other strays towards his knife. This is not good. Cade is in no shape to be fighting. He would last all of two seconds. Cade takes a couple steps towards his brother. His own hand resting on the hilt of his knife. Someone better do something fast or this is gonna end in bloodshed.
“What’s going on here?” The Outkasts biker asks. “You gotta have your house in order for this deal to work.”
“It’s handled.” Cade barks back.
“Doesn’t look like that to me. Do I need to be worried here, Cade?”
“Not at all,” He shoots back over his shoulder.
Then with one hand on his dagger he steps up to his brother. I almost can’t believe he’s confronting Eddie. Can he not see the naked look of violence in his brother’s eyes? Doesn’t he see the unveiled look of aggression that I see? He has to. This is his brother after all.
“Are you trying to dismantle what little peace we have between us and the Outkasts and Kings? If the Kings even smell trouble brewing in our camp it’s going to be an all-out war. You need to fucking reign yourself in and stay away from my old lady or I swear to god I will find a way to kill you no matter what the consequences.”
“You sure talk big for a washed up pussy. You’re all bark and no bite brother. You better watch out before I take offense and finish what I started the other day.”
“You know I have a huge bite behind me Eddie. This deal only works because of me. If this deal falls apart you’ll be at war with the Outkasts, the Latin Kings and the Juarez Cartel. You don’t have the balls to stand up to them all.”
“You’d be surprised how big my balls have gotten brother. I just may-”
“Shut up Eddie!” Cade shouts. “You fuck up this deal I put together and you may as well serve up your head on a silver platter to the Cartel. You wouldn’t last a week.”
Then Cade pulls out his cell phone and prepares to dial a number. “So what is it Eddie? Do I dial the Kings Pres. and tell him you backed out and it’s off or do I put my phone away and get down to business?”
After a scary long pause Eddie finally replies. “Business brother… I’m all about the business.”
Chapter Six
Rat
With Eddie back under Cade’s thumb, I retire to the kitchen to make another pot of coffee and let the men get down to business. It’s ten fifteen in the morning. I sit down at the kitchen table to drink my coffee. Every now and then I hear an outburst from the guys meeting. I don’t pay too much attention until I catch two words that make me super un-fucking comfortable; AK’s and Heroin. What the hell has Cade got himself into? And if I thought that was bad, the next thing I hear is the word Juarez. Who or what the hell is Juarez? I pull out my phone and in thirty seconds I have my answer. Juarez is a mid-level Cartel out of Mexico and has been at odds with another larger outfit, the Mexican Mafia. It appears to be common knowledge that the Cartel is looking for guns and bodies to help with their war and apparently they’ve found them in the form of the Iron Disciples. I can’t believe Cade would get into bed with the Cartel. They’ll eat him up and spit him back out again faster than a desperate whore can turn a trick on a Friday night. Nothing good will from this. It’s all I can do not to march in there and demand to know what’s going on. When I told him to go out and grow a pair of balls I didn’t mean this! He and I are going to have a talk. If I wasn’t still saddled with this damn cast I’d be pacing the kitchen and drinking coffee like it was water. I’m not so sure confronting Cade is the best solution. For starters he’s not going to appreciate me butting into his business. A woman’s place in the club does not allow that kind of interference; even if I am his old lady. Maybe this is how he convinced his brother to let him live; by promising to deliver the Juarez Cartel as a partner to increase the clubs territory, power, and wealth. I can see Eddie going for that but not Cade. Unless of course I have severely underestimated him.
Maybe there’s a way to stop Cade from dealing with the Cartel. In fact, I imagine the others don’t know of his involvement with the Cartel; or at least precious few. I just can’t see his club getting behind this deal and if they all knew about it they’d probably vote to stop it; or whatever system they have on deciding things. I could tell Stacy. As far as I know, Shooter is either Sargent at Arms or VP and she and he is still an item. If she told Shooter what Cade was up to he’d put a stop to it I bet. That’s what I’m going to do. I go back to Cade’s room and find my phone. Stacy picks it up right away.
“What’s up Morgan?” She asks. “How’s your man?”
She seems to be back to her old self now that it looks like we’ll still be on the same side after all. At least I think so…
“Plotting.” I reply.
“He must be better then if he’s plotting. Yeah that’s what I’m afraid of. How connected are you to what’s going on around the club?”
After a pause she answers. “Not as much as you, I imagine. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know… I’m starting to feel like a mushroom.”
“Kept in the dark and fed bullshit? Is it that bad?” She asks me.
“Shit, that’s not good. You sure about this?”
“Yeah I think so…Have you heard of Juarez…as in the Cartel?”
“What? I don’t think there’s such a thing.”
“Yeah…I’m pretty sure there is, but I’d rather tell you in person. Can you pick me up? We can do a late breakfast or something and I’ll fill you in.”
“Sure. Where are you now?”
“I’m at Cade’s dad’s house. 1250 Crockett Lane.”
“Is Cade there?” She asks.
“He’s here, but that’s not a problem. I’ll just tell him I need some me time with you. He won’t ask questions.”
“Fine… I’ll see you in about 30 minutes.” Stacy says.
“Cool, I’ll meet you out front.”
“Okay.”
Twenty minutes later when I head for the front door Cade is nowhere to be seen, apparently still in his meeting or whatever he calls it so I just open the door and walk out. I sit out on the curb for another ten minutes before I see a black SUV pull up to the cub. The window rolls down and Stacy sticks her head out and yells.
“Hop in girlfriend.”
The passenger door opens and I clamber in. It’s so much better having a walking cast on, but I’m still clumsy as hell. The first thing I notice is Shooter is at the wheel. I didn’t know he would be joining us. I glance at him meaningfully and Stacy shoots me an apologetic look like she couldn’t help it or something.
“How you doing?” Shooter asks.
“Good.”
“I understand you got some information for me.” He says.
“Yeah… but can we go somewhere that we can eat a late breakfast. I’m starving.”
Ten minutes later we’re pulling into the Black Bear Diner. Never been here before but it looks pretty busy so I guess its fine. Shooter however looks out of place being head to toe in black with his cut and steel toe motorcycle boots. Most of the patrons here seem to be at or nearing retirement age. I’m guessing he picked the spot because no other self-respecting biker would be caught dead eating in here. We get a lot of stares as we walk in and take a corner table in the back. Like a true warrior Shooter positions himself so he can see all the doors and exits in the building. A doe eyed waitress hands us menus and retreats a safe distance but keeps an eye on our table. I’m guessing she doesn’t want to give Shooter any reason to notice her for all the wrong reasons. The second we’ve decided on our orders she shows up instantly. I could get used to this kind of service.
“So what is so important that we have to meet in person and away from everyone else?” Shooter asks me.
The way he’s looking at me right now does not make me feel good. All the small talk has been set aside and now he’s all business. Even Stacy is wearing a serious look on her usually cheerful face. My heart is pounding in my chest and abruptly I realize something. I’m ratting on my man. I’m a rat. Holy fuck, is that what I’m doing now? I didn’t even think about it. I am going behind Cade’s back and telling on him. I’m a fucking rat! Shit!
Finally Stacy breaks the silence. “It’s okay Morgan. You’re not betraying the club and you’re not turning against Cade. You’re protecting everyone. You should receive a medal or something.”
I’m a saleswoman. I know when I’m being sold a pile of shit and when I’m selling the pile of shit. Stacy is giving me the hard sell on a bag of dog shit and trying to make me feel good about it. I really should have thought this through. I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to get out of here without spilling my guts, especially if Stacy is going to side with Shooter and I’m pretty sure she is. This time it’s Shooter who breaks the silence.
“Come on Morgan, you can’t drag us all the way out here and just clam up. Why are you talking about the Juarez Cartel Morgan?”
Dammit, I fucking knew I shouldn’t have let that slip. Now I have to tell him everything I heard. Shit!
“Morgan…” Shooter breathes my name and it sounds freaking scary the way he says it.
“Cade had a secret meeting with the Outkasts and the Latin Kings and the Juarez Cartel yesterday and I think he’s set up some kind of drug running and gun running deal with the Cartel.”
“What?” Shooter stands up abruptly. His blue eyes flash in anger.
“I don’t know much. I-”
“Tell me exactly what you heard Morgan. I need to know everything.”
I open my mouth again and it just comes spilling out. Shooter sits back down and listens without interrupting again.
“Look you guys,” I finish. “You can’t tell Cade it was me who told you. He’ll fucking kill me.” I’m pleading now. The reality of what I’ve just done and said is sinking in like a fucking ton of bricks in quicksand. Have I just ruined everything? I can tell just by looking at Shooter that he’s fucking pissed. I’m getting this awful feeling that he’s not even gonna care and he’ll tell Cade it was me if it serves his purpose and Cade… he’ll kill me if it serves his purpose.
“Hey no sweat.” He finally says. “I’ll just say someone drove by and saw the meet and told me.”
I nod. That sounds pretty thin and I seriously doubt Cade is gonna buy it, but he would never suspect the information came from me; not in a million years. My mind is going a thousand miles an hour now. On the other hand, maybe I should go back and tell Cade what I just did so he can be ready for the fallout. I’ll spill my guts, manufacture some tears and beg for my life. At least he won’t totally be blindsided by the news. Yeah…it’ll be better if he hears it from me first.
“Morgan…earth to Morgan.”
I look up and Stacy is looking at me sympathetically.
“You did the right thing.” She says. “Cade can’t be going behind the club’s back and making deals with the enemy. That shit will get him kil…voted out in a heartbeat.”
“What? No fucking way.” I can’t believe this. What the fuck have I done now?
I look at Shooter. He’s studying me with a blank expression. I can’t believe that not long ago I was partying with these guys and now I get the feeling that he’d like to beat my head in. He’s glad I told him about Cade, but at the same time he hates rats and that’s what I just became; a rat.
“What are you going to do Shooter?” I ask.
“I don’t know yet. I’m going to have to see if I can find out from my own sources what he’s up to first. Sorry but I can’t just put all this shit in motion on the word of an old lady; even if the old lady is the ex-president’s old lady.
Well that’s a good start. That should also buy me some time. Maybe there’s another solution here that I haven’t seen yet. There must be something. I really don’t feel like eating so I just excuse myself.
“You guys eat.” I drop a pair of twenties on the table. “It’s on me. It’s the least I can do for dragging you out of the house. I’ll catch a cab.”
“No,” Stacy protests. “We can take you.”
“It’s okay Stacy. Besides, I need to do some thinking by myself so I’ll probably just go to a park or something and do some walking. I really need to be by myself.”
“You’ll call me if you need me right?” Stacy asks.
“Of course.” I reply as I walk out.
It’s kinda weird thinking of Stacy as a friend now and not just a co-worker...or a subordinate, which she is at work. Because of what we have been through the last week or ten days has turned whatever we had into a nice friendship. I wonder if the coming mess will ruin our friendship though. If I’m branded as a rat and traitor I surely won’t be Cade’s old lady anymore and I won’t have access to the Disciples clubhouse. Shooter will almost certainly forbid Stacy from having any contact with me which will make the issue of work a really sticky situation. I may have just ruined everything that is halfway good in my life. I never should have told Shooter. I’m such an idiot. I should have either kept
the info to myself or made an anonymous phone call or something, anything to keep my name out of this.
I need to find out what Cade’s next move is. Maybe he is planning on telling everyone and Shooter won’t have to do anything. I should talk to Cade. Maybe there’s a bylaw that says that in certain situations the President…the ex-president can act without a club vote. Surely that is part of their laws or code or something. Cade wouldn’t break the rules.
I spend the better part of the afternoon at a large park that cuts a swath through the town. There are numerous hiking trails, picnic tables, places to feed the water fowl, and even rowing on the manmade lake. I decide a little physical exercise is in order and I rent a row boat for two hours. Twenty minutes out onto the lake and the tops of my back muscles are burning. Who’d have thought a little rowing could be such good exercise? By the time I get back to the dock I’ve run 20 minutes past my time. I was just too far out when I realized I should be heading back and could not make it in time. My cast is part of the problem. I just couldn’t get in a comfortable position to row. Being late cost me another twenty-five dollars. My cell phone rang twice out there on the water but I just didn’t feel like answering. After I pay for the boat time I check my phone and discover that Cade called me both times, but didn’t leave a message. Yeah we finally gave out our numbers but so far I have yet to answer when he calls. I just don’t like being tied to my phone. He’ll have to get use to that. I spend so much time at work on the phone I don’t like to spend a lot of time on it on my off hours.
Old Lady (Iron Disciples Book 2) Page 5