Pops took another sip of his coffee before leaning hard on the table and standing. “You all know this club is my life. Rogue and I started this MC, and it and you all have been my home for the last thirty odd years. But, for now, it’s time I took a less active roll. I’m stepping down as Sargent at Arms.”
My eyes snapped to him, and my jaw practically hit the fuckin’ floor. He never even gave me an indication that he was thinking about stepping down so soon. I mean, I knew it was coming eventually, but I didn’t think it would be today.
“Pops? Are you sure? You still have—”
“I’m sure, son. With the arthritis in my knees gettin’ worse, and all the shit that’s gone down…it’s time. I’m not leaving the MC. I’m just taking a step back.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“And since I’m stepping down,” he continued. “We’re going to need someone to fill my role. So I’d like to nominate my son, Axel.”
“Second that,” Trista said, winking at me.
“All in favor?” Rogue asked.
“Aye!” the room chorused.
What the fuck just happened?
FIVE
PAIGE
I walked to my car with an extra pep in my step this morning, thanks to Axel. If someone would have told me three months ago that I would be head over heels in love with a bad ass, ex-con biker, I would have suggested they up the dosage on their psych meds. But now, I couldn’t imagine my life without him.
I placed my car in drive and headed to the hospital to visit Gina. After almost two weeks in the hospital, she was set to be released today. That bastard Chubs and his friends really did a number on her. She had a broken arm, three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a concussion so severe the doctors were initially talking about opening up her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain. Thank God it didn’t come to that, but she was in bad shape when we finally got her to the hospital.
I stepped out of the elevator on Gina’s floor, smiling at the nurses as I passed by. I was starting to learn some of their names because I had visited so much. Just as I made it to Gina’s room, a man in a suit walked out. I stared at him as he passed by me, a smug smirk on his face.
“Gina?” I asked, stepping inside her room. I could hear her sniffling, and as I pulled the curtain back, she was wiping her eyes. “Are you okay? Who was that guy that just left?”
Gina’s bottom lip quivered. “Everything got so fucked up, Paige. I don’t even know how it happened. And now… now, I don’t know how to dig myself out of this hole.”
She blew her nose. “I’m so sorry, Paige. Please, you have to know that I never meant for any of this to happen.”
I took three big steps toward her, pulling her hands into my own. “Gina, sweetie. What are you talking about? What happened? Who was that guy?”
Promise you won’t be mad?” she whispered, keeping her head down as she tore her tissue into tiny shreds. That was her tell. Her “I fucked up bad” tell she’s always had.
“I think you’re going to need to start at the beginning.”
She sniffled. “You’re probably right. But not here. We need to go to the Fallen Idols headquarters.”
My brow furrowed. “Raven’s Nest? Why? What does this have to do with them?”
Gina eyes rose, meeting my own. “Everything.”
She wiped her nose and took a deep breath. “That was Victor Velasquez. He’s an FBI agent. And he’s the reason so much shit has gone down the last few months.”
***
Axel met us at the clubhouse as soon as Gina was discharged that afternoon. She hadn’t talked much since her initial bombshell. Instead, she was very pensive, looking off into the horizon as she bit her fingernails. During the drive, she wouldn’t say anything, instead staring out the window the entire trip.
Now, sitting around a table sticky with spilled beer, Axel, that scary girl, Trista, her boyfriend or whatever, Blaze, Ryder—who still looked drunk from the night before, and a few others I recognized but forgot their names waited for Gina to explain what in the world was going on.
“Gina?” I prompted, as everyone’s eyes bore holes into her, their patience wearing thin.
She pushed the chair back a bit away from the table, drew her legs up, and hugged her knees. “Okay. I’m going to start at the beginning. As most of you know, I was an Old Lady over at Las Almas. I was with Chubs. Well, after several years of being his punching bag, I was ready to get out. Only, the Almas don’t play nice and Chubs wouldn’t let me just leave. They have cops on the payroll, so I couldn’t even go and get help or a restraining order or anything.
“One night, when I was walking out of the club, crying with another black eye, this guy came out of the shadows and approached me. He said he was an FBI agent and was willing to help me get out, willing to help make sure Chubs was put away for good where he couldn’t hurt me anymore. All I had to do was just give him some information. That’s it. He just wanted me to tell him what I knew.”
Trista shot out of her seat, storming up to Gina, and shoving her finger in her face. “It was you. You’re our fuckin’ rat, aren’t you? You’re the reason the Feds have been sniffing around again. You fucking bitch. You brought this to my house!”
I jumped up to break them up, not really sure even if I could. Trista towered over tiny Gina, who was shaking like a leaf. Ryder came back in into the room at hearing the commotion, eyeing everyone, but saying off to the side.
“Please, just give her a chance to explain. Okay? She came here on her own to try to help you guys out. And after her last experience with an MC, that was not an easy thing to do. So, give her a break and let her explain. Okay?”
Trista didn’t move at first, but after several tense moments, she finally backed away.
“Whatever she has to say better be the fucking truth, and it better be useful to help us get rid of him once and for all.”
Gina shrank back in her seat, nodding, and I returned to mine. Axel grabbed my hand, giving it a tiny squeeze. It reassured me to know he was still on my side, even if no one else was.
“Go ahead, Gina,” I prompted. “Finish your story.”
Gina drew a deep breath, and continued. “I knew talking to the Feds was risky, but at that point, staying with Chubs was worse. He was going to kill me. His temper was getting shorter, and he was getting more and more violent. It was only a matter of time. I was desperate, so I agreed. I met with the FBI agent over the next month, and told him everything that I knew about Chubs and the Las Almas.”
She squirmed in her seat, and glanced over at me. Her eyes were full of sorrow, and I worried about whatever she had to say next. My eyes scanned the room, and everyone looked very tense. Angry. It made me extremely nervous for whatever she was going to say next. .
“At first, it wasn’t bad. He just wanted to know about who the dirty cops were, and what kind of illegal things I knew was going on. And he started out holding up his end of the deal, too. He got the restraining order pushed through. He kept my name out of things when he busted a few of their sales. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing.”
She started crying again.
“So, what the fuck does this have to do with my MC?” Trista asked, crossing her arms over her chest. She was about two minutes away from pulling out her gun; I just knew it.
Axel held up a hand. “Give her a minute, Tris, would ya?”
Trista rolled her eyes. “This is a waste of my fuckin’ time. If you don’t have dirt we can use on him, or at least something relevant to the Idols, then get the fuck out of here.”
“I’m sorry. I just really want you all to understand,” Gina whimpered. “I need you to understand.”
“Just get the fuck on with it!” Trista exploded.
Gina winced, but continued. “Velasquez found out that Paige was seeing Axel. He demanded that I not only turn on the Las Almas MC, but then he wanted information on the Fallen Idols too.”
A fist pounded on the table, knocking ove
r Gina’s water glass. Several others balled their fists and low grumbles and curses echoed off the walls.
What the fuck did Gina get herself into? I looked around at the angry eyes. The saying, if looks could kill, popped into my head because I knew what these people were capable of. They owed Gina nothing, and panic rose inside of me. I looked to Axel, hoping and praying he would keep the peace, because I swore to God, Trista looked like she was about to lunge across the table and rip Gina to tiny shreds.
“I told him over and over that I didn’t know anything, that I’d never even been to the clubhouse or met most of the members, but he didn’t care. He said if I didn’t start giving him something he could use to take you guys down, he’d not only bust me for the pot he found in my car, but he’d also see to it that my protection from Chubs went away. It was not even a week later that Chubs found me and threatened me again.”
“And you came here? You stupid asshole. You might as well put a sign on the fucking building letting Velasquez know you’re here.”
“Trista!” Axel barked. “Please.” He turned to Gina, the muscles in his arms and chest tightened. “Is he the reason Chubs made bail, Gina?”
Gina nodded. “Yes. Velasquez found me and said, ‘See? This is what happens when the well of information dries up. Other wells dry too. Like the ones keeping Chubs behind bars. I can’t help you, if you won’t help me.’”
“That mother fucker!” Axel growled. “He purposefully put you in harms way, put Paige in danger, to advance his career?”
Trista pushed back from her chair, knocking it to the floor. She paced back and forth, running a stiff hand through her hair.
“Why was he there today, Gina?” I asked, squeezing her hand reassuringly.
She turned to me. “He wanted to apologize. He said he never thought Chubs would go this far.”
“That’s all?”
She shook her head. “No. And that’s why I wanted you all here. So, you could figure out what to do next.”
Ryder rolled his eyes. “You guys are really buying this shit? We don’t know her. We can’t trust what’s she’s saying. Trust me, I learned the hard way. People lie. If I were you, I’d demand proof.”
Axel sighed. “Ryder, you’re just takin’ your own shit out on this girl.”
Ryder’s teeth ground as his eyes bore into Gina. “If she held back the truth once, there’s nothing to stop her from doing it now. And trust me, this isn’t about Sawyer. I’m done wasting my energy on that bitch.” He stood suddenly, knocking his chair over. “I’m not listening to any more. You guys do whatever the fuck you want.”
He tried to storm away, stumbling a bit. Once the front door slammed shut, Axel turned back to us.
“Just ignore him. He’s got his own shit goin’ on. Go on, Gina. What were you going to say?”
All eyes focused on Gina.
“When I was alone with Chubs, while the others were beating up Blaze, he whispered something to me. He said, ‘You think he’ll protect you but he won’t. Not now. Not after everything I know, and everything I’m telling him. He needed a bigger fish, and now he’s done with you. He tossed you back to me, Gina. And now I can do whatever I want to you, because he doesn’t need you anymore. You’re all mine’.”
The room was silent as they took in what Gina said.
“I can’t believe it,” Trista muttered. “Chubs turned rat for the Feds.” She stopped pacing, and a menacing smile spread across her face “That’s it! That’s how we’re going to get them all.” She smacked her hand on the table. “I have a plan. I know how we’re going to take down Velasquez and the Almas. All thanks to my girls, Gina and Paige, here!”
SIX
AXEL
“What’s your plan?” I asked Trista. I was itchin’ to do whatever it took to take that bastard down. Take down all those motherfuckers who think they can fuck with my club or my girl. They’re about to learn real quick.
Trista stood, and started pacing, biting her bottom lip like she always did when she was lost in thought. “Hold on, I need to check on some things first. But if this comes together, it’s going to solve a lot of our problems. I’ve just got to call Chen first, and put some balls in motion.”
Trista left the room, already dialing her phone as she went. Paige leaned back, sinking into me.
“This is unbelievable. I mean, how could someone knowingly put innocent victims in harms way like that? Someone who’s supposed to be protecting the public.”
Ryder shook his head. “The only thing that asshole has ever protected was his own ass. Trust me. He pulled the same shit with Sawyer.”
Did Sawyer say something to Velasquez? Is that why she’d been MIA? What wasn’t Ryder telling us?
Everyone sat silently for a few minutes, digesting what we’d just heard. I turned to Gina. “Did Velasquez say anything else to you today?”
“Not really. He just said that he’d be in touch soon.”
Trista came barreling back into the room. “Okay. Chen’s in. He is pissed as hell about his guys being killed, though. Said he’s going to want the next two shipments free.”
Rogue scowled. “Give it to him. Fucking Rocco hurt us there. Did he say anything about the cars today?”
“Rev is with him, and the boat arrives in an hour. Looks like it’s going to go off without a problem.”
“Thank God,” Ace added. “We don’t need anymore issues today.”
“So, about Velazquez, he said he’s happy to help bring that prick down. Its just good business.”
Blaze smiled. “Good. So what’s the plan?”
A wicked smile spread on Trista’s face. “We’re going to get two birds with one stone.”
***
A couple hours later, we had Gina make a call to Velasquez, saying she overheard me telling Paige that I needed to head to the warehouse at the docks for a few hours. We were already aware that Velasquez knew about the warehouse, so this wasn’t givin’ anything away.
“He asked about Rocco,” Gina told us.
“Why?” Trista asked. We didn’t need this little girl to know about the newest body in our collection.
“Said they had some sort of arrangement.”
I shook my head. “That fucker had been paying him off, telling him wrong times for shipments, so he wouldn’t be here when his own shit went down.” He was smarter than I had given him credit for.
“Chen, you ready?” Trista asked over the walkie-talkie. “Everything in place?”
“We’re good to go,” he replied. “Cameras are up and running, and my boys had a little chat with El Presidente earlier.”
“Perfect,” she mused. “The trap has been baited. Now, we wait.”
“So, how exactly is this going to work, Tris?” I asked her.
We were all cramped in the small storage unit three doors down from our warehouse. It wasn’t air-conditioned, and we were all hot as fuck, but I was willing to sweat a bit if it meant being rid of this asshole once and for all.
Trista twisted to face me. “As soon as Velasquez gets in range, Chen’s tech buddies set it up so we’ll be able to clone his phone, essentially giving us access to everything he knows.”
“We’ll also be able to use his phone. Send messages, or make calls, as if they’re coming from him,” Blaze added.
“Fuckin’ brilliant!”
“Oh! There he is now,” Trista nodded her head to where a black sedan pulled to a stop half a block away. A few seconds later, Velasquez stepped out, looking around nervously. He crept around the building, and out of eyesight, but thanks to Chen and the Red Dragons, we had cameras mounted all over and we could see on the monitors where exactly he was and what was going on.
Trista grabbed the walkie-talkie again. “Alright, Chen. Send the text.”
“You got it.”
Trista anticipated my question and explained, “We’re texting Chubs as Velasquez, telling him to get his ass down here now.”
Not ten minutes later, a motorcycle
roared into the parking lot, parking behind Velasquez’s car.
“Yo!” Chubs yelled, dismounting. “Where are you, Velasquez? What the fuck was so urgent?”
The FBI agent came around the corner in a hurry, finger to his lips as he tried to shush his loud-mouthed rat. All while our cameras caught the whole thing on tape. “What the fuck are you doing here, Chubs?”
Chubs cocked his head. “What are you talking about? You texted me, saying to meet you here. That you had some information on Gina. You promised me you’d get her back for me.”
Velasquez blew out a breath. “Jesus, Chubs. You weren’t supposed to try to kill her. At least, not yet. I’m not done with her.”
Proven (Motorcycle Club Romance): Axel and Paige 3 (Fallen Idols Motorcycle Club Book 8) Page 3