BEASTLords of Carnage MC

by Daphne Loveling

  “You mean what the club wants,” Brick corrected him pointedly. “And that’s assuming we want it.”

  Rock’s face was dark as he turned to face Brick. “Yeah. What the club wants. But you fuckers have been bellyaching about new ways to make money. Well, this is what I got. And Ghost is right. If Abbott’s coming to us on this, it means the banks won’t touch him. And him coming to us means we can charge him high interest, and demand a cut of the profits from the development. It’d be steady, real money for a long, long time.”

  Things started heating up between the brothers who thought this was a good idea and the ones who wanted nothing to do with it, but still wanted money. Eventually, things got so rough that Angel called for a break, so everyone could calm the hell down before we put it to a vote.

  The two of us are standing outside in the parking lot now, having a smoke and talking about the deal before we go back into chapel.

  “I dunno, man,” Angel’s saying. “Rock’s talked to me about it a lot in the last couple days, and he keeps telling me it’s a sure thing. The way he talks about it, it makes a hell of a lot of sense. But just the fact of how hard he’s pushing makes me think he’s trying to convince himself of that. He’s got dollar signs in his eyes. I’m kind of on the fence.”

  “Look, I wanna say something,” I begin. “But I’m not sure if I’m talking to my VP or my friend here. Or to Abe Abbott’s son.”

  Angel cocks his head and frowns. “C’mon, Ghost. You know we’re friends first. More than that. We’re brothers. Family.”

  Family. Angel doesn’t know the half of it. For a moment, I realize how accurate that actually is, now that I’m with Jenna. But now’s not the time to bring that up, of course.

  A kernel of guilt starts to grow inside me, but I push it down quickly. When Jenna’s ready, we’ll tell Angel about us. And I’ll take whatever he needs to say or do to me. But for now, I have no choice but to keep it from him.

  “Okay,” I nod. “Look, this whole thing smells bad to me. Most everyone pushing for this deal has some reason for it that’s clouding their minds. Rock wants money. Your dad, well I’m guessing he wants a big something to show the community so he’ll win reelection easily against that Holloway asshole.” I took a drag on my smoke. “If you vote in favor, your dad and Rock are gonna love you. And you’re gonna be taking heat from both sides if you oppose it. Hell, you’re going to be taking heat on this either way.”

  “But you think I should,” Angel says, finishing my thought. “Oppose it, I mean.”

  “Yeah. I think you should.” I nod slowly. “But it ain’t gonna be easy.”

  We finish our cigarettes and head back inside for the vote. When we’re all seated and Rock has called us back to order, we do one final round of discussion. A few of the men take the floor and say they’re in favor of the deal with Abbott. Finally, Angel asks to speak.

  “It’s too risky,” he says bluntly. “We’re spread too thin. And like Ghost said, the Spiders’ activity in that area makes me suspicious.” I glance over at Rock while Angel’s talking, and see him staring daggers at my friend.

  “Of course you’d say that,” Brick explodes. “You’re a goddamn rich boy. You’re the son of the mayor. You’ve never had to hustle for money.”

  “Fuck you, brother,” Angel barks, rounding on him. “This fucking club is my family. My father can go fuck himself.”

  “Why the hell would Angel be against this deal if he was loyal to the mayor, Brick?” Gunner challenges him. “You’re talking shit.”

  “If you’re so goddamn loyal to this club, then why don’t you make a decision that actually benefits the club?” Hawk shouts, half-rising from his chair.

  “It’s not gonna benefit the club if this deal takes us down,” I say quietly.

  The argument heats up, to the point that I think it might even come to blows here in the chapel. But before it does, Rock bangs loudly on the table with his gavel.

  “Okay, enough,” roars Rock angrily. “Enough. Let’s just put this to a vote and make a decision.”

  One by one, we go around the table. In the end, Angel casts the deciding vote.

  Nay.

  The deal falls through.

  “Good luck, brother,” I mutter to him as we leave the chapel, angry silence surrounding us. “Being VP is gonna be a rough road for a while.”

  “Yeah,” he says glumly. If I stay VP.”

  23

  Jenna

  “Mommy!”

  Noah opens the door just as I’m coming down the hall to Jewel’s apartment. He runs up to me, his face all sticky with what looks like grape jam. “Jewel let me make my sandwich all by myself!”

  As we reach the apartment, Jewel appears in the doorway. She smiles indulgently down at my son and then looks at me. “He did a great job spreading the peanut butter and jelly. He even managed to cut it into squares.” Her eyes twinkle. “Well, more or less squares. More like… what are those things? Trapezoids?”

  I laugh. “I get the picture.”

  Jewel motions for me to come inside. “Watch the doorknob, though,” she warns me. “I have a feeling there’s peanut butter on it.”

  Noah runs back inside, and I follow him into Jewel’s small, tidy apartment. As always, I’m struck by how little this looks like the space lived in by an MC club bartender. Well, you’re one, too, I remind myself. People would probably find you just as unusual.

  “Have a seat,” Jewel tells me. “You want anything to drink? I’ve got iced tea. It’s so hot today.”

  It is indeed. Jewel’s got her windows wide open to try to cool her place off. There’s one small window air conditioner in the living room, but she’s told me it doesn’t work, and her landlord doesn’t seem particularly interested in fixing it.

  I sit down on her tiny love seat. Jewel calls Noah into the kitchen and I watch as she wipes off his hands and face with a wet cloth. He puts up with the cleaning impatiently, then runs over to me and bounces onto the love seat next to me.

  “It looks like you and Jewel had a good day today, bug,” I say to him.

  “Yeah! She even drawed dinosaurs for me and I colored them in!” he beams. “I made one that was you, one that was Jewel, and one that was me!”

  “Wow, so I’m a dinosaur now?” I tease him.

  “No!” he crows, rolling his eyes. “You’re a mommy!”

  Jewel comes into the room with two glasses, and hands one to me.

  “Thanks for being so great with him, Jewel,” I say as she sits down. Noah wiggles down off the couch, presumably to go get his dinosaur drawings. “I honestly don’t know what I would have done without you these last few weeks.”

  “No worries at all,” she assures me. She pulls her hair back from her face with her uninjured hand. “He really is a darling.” She looks back at him with a smile. “Like I told you, he kind of reminds me of my little brother.” She looks sad for a moment, and I find myself wondering what kind of life she left behind in Indiana, and how she ended up here.

  Jewel blinks then, and her face changes back to the bright, sunny smile she usually wears.

  I pull my wallet out of my purse, then count out some bills and hand them to her.

  “Thanks,” she smiles. “Noah seems pretty excited for preschool.”

  It’s Friday, and the last day Jewel will be watching Noah full-time. He’s starting preschool on Monday, so she’ll only be taking him a couple of afternoons a week while I’m at work.

  I sigh nervously.

  “I sure hope his excitement lasts,” I say. “He seemed to like it when we went for a visit, anyway. And I think he’s going to like his teachers.”

  “It must be strange, sending him to school for the first time,” she remarks.

  “It is,” I admit. “But he’s ready. And he needs some friends. I’ve been dragging him around from place to place for too long. He needs some stability in his life.” My heart constricts as I think about all I’ve had to put my little boy through
in his short life.

  “How’s your hand, by the way?” I ask, nodding toward the bandage, which I notice is smaller today.

  “It’s okay. I mean, it’s healing fine.” She shrugs. “I figure it’ll still be a couple weeks until I’ll be able to go back to tending bar.” She sighs. “I can’t wait to be able to take a normal shower without having to put a bag around my hand to keep the water out.”

  “Gosh, I’ll bet.” Noah comes back, his outstretched hands proudly displaying his artwork. The dinosaur version of me is purple, with a long neck, tiny arms and a huge body.

  I try not to take it personally.

  “Wow, those are pretty, Noah,” I say, admiring.

  “Look!” he says proudly, holding out one of the sheets. “I made one of Cas, too!”

  It’s a fourth sheet of paper, with an outline by Jewel of a large, strong-looking dinosaur. Noah has colored it a deep blue.

  I glance quickly up at Jewel, searching her face for any reaction. “Noah asked me to draw one for him, as well. He said he was going to give it to Cas the next time he came over to your place,” she says hesitantly.

  She’s trying not to react, but it’s as plain as day that she knows what’s going on between Cas and me. Of course she does. Jewel and I have never talked about Cas one way or another, but I realize now how much Cas and I have taken her secrecy for granted.

  Reddening, I take the picture from Noah. “Uh, that’s really nice, Noah. I think Cas will really like it. Now why don’t you go get your stuff ready, okay, bug?”

  He runs off to collect his things. When he’s gone, Jewel gives me a kind look. “He’s a good guy, Cas is,” she says simply. “Any girl would be lucky to have him.”

  I freeze at first, afraid to say anything. But it seems silly to deny that there’s something going on between us. Jewel already knows, and lying to her face just seems wrong when she’s been taking care of Noah so that we could be together.

  “When I first started tending bar for the club,” she continues, “The guys were a little… rough. Before this job, I used to be a stripper.” Her eyes cloud. “I moved here from Lincolnville. There’s a strip club there. Harry’s.”

  I nod. Harry’s is kind of notorious.

  “It wasn’t a good scene. At all,” she says quietly. I didn’t want to strip anymore, so I came here, but some of the guys found out that’s where I used to work, and they were looking to… take advantage.” Jewel smiles softly. “Cas was the only one that didn’t assume I was public property just because of my past. I think he told the other guys to back off of me, too, because after the first week or so, things settled down.” She looks at me now. “I’m no prude, but I like to decide who I sleep with, you know?”

  There’s a small lump forming in my throat. As hard as my life has been sometimes, I get the feeling that Jewel’s has been much harder. “Yeah. I know.”

  She takes a deep breath and lets it out. “So anyway. Cas is one of the good ones. And he’s obviously really into you.” She quirks up her lips into a grin. “He’s hot, too. Lucky you.”

  I can’t help it. I laugh. “Yeah, he definitely has that going for him.”

  “So, are you two… you know… Are you exclusive?” Jewel’s eyes are wide and bright with curiosity.

  I shouldn’t say any more. But, truth be told, it’s kind of a relief to talk it out loud. Like it makes it more real.

  “Yes,” I admit. “For now, anyway.”

  “Oh, gosh!” she squeals. “That’s so exciting!”

  I grin — her enthusiasm is infectious. “We’re keeping it a secret for now, though,” I tell her.

  “Oh, sure, I gathered that,” she nods sagely. “Don’t worry, honey. Your secret’s safe with me.” She reaches over and squeezes my hand, and I can’t help but feel a wave of affection for this sweet, kind girl, who seems so innocent in spite of everything.

  Just then, Noah comes back out with his little backpack and his drawings. I take the backpack and carefully put the papers inside. “How about we take ours home, and let Jewel keep the one of her?” I suggest.

  “Okay!” Noah nods. He hands it to Jewel, who kneels down and thanks him with a hug.

  “Thanks, kiddo!” she says. “You take care, now, okay? I’ll see you next week and you can tell me all about preschool.”

  I open the door and hold it for Noah to go through. We wave goodbye to Jewel and then walk out to the car. Noah’s talking a mile a minute, which means one thing: he’s about to crash. Sure enough, I get him strapped into his seat, and by the time we’re halfway home, he’s already asleep and snoring softly. I smile at my little boy adoringly as I look at him in the rearview mirror. I’m glad Jewel fed him something, because I think he’s down for the count.

  Which means I can actually have grown-up food for dinner for a change.

  I made decent tips today at the clubhouse. Maybe I should splurge on some Chinese delivery, I think jubilantly.

  My stomach rumbles in agreement.

  24

  Jenna

  I’m contemplating the very serious choice of sesame chicken vs. salt and pepper shrimp as I park my car, hoist a sleeping Noah into my arms, and climb up the stairs to my apartment. I fumble with my keys for a few seconds, then finally unlock my door and push it open.

  And somehow, I manage to keep from screaming at the sight of the man sitting at my kitchen table.

  “Dad!” I squeak. Taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart, I continue in a loud whisper. “What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in? You scared me half to death!”

  “Jenna, I need to talk to you,” he says, in a voice I’ve heard before.

  It’s the voice he uses when he needs something from me.

  “Good God, Dad, you could have just called,” I hiss.

  Then I guiltily remember the four voicemails from him that I still haven’t responded to.

  “Okay, look,” I sigh. “Let me put Noah down. I’ll be out in a couple minutes.”

  Thankfully, Noah’s still asleep in my arms, and my near-panic attack didn’t wake him. I carry him into his bedroom and lay him down on the bed. Pulling the covers over him, I decide that I’ll change him into his jammies later. Then I turn around and prepare to face my father.

  When I go back into the main room, he hasn’t moved at all. He’s still sitting there with his elbows on the table and his chin on his fist, staring into space like a hanged man.

  When I come over him, he nods vaguely and tells me to have a seat. I pull out one of the mismatch chairs and sit down facing him. “Why are you here, Dad?” I ask, deciding to get right to the point.”

  “I need a favor.” There’s no preamble, none of the chatty questions about how I’m doing that he usually likes to pad a conversation with before jumping into the ask. He’s not looking at me, and his eyes look strangely vacant.

  Whatever this is, it must be serious. I’m used to Dad playing people’s emotions to get what he wants. But that doesn’t feel like what this is.

  “Do you want something to drink?” I ask, standing up. Suddenly I want a few more seconds before I have to hear what’s going on with him.

  He tiredly accepts a beer from me, and I pour myself a glass of cheap red wine. When I’ve served both of us, I sit down again and take a deep breath.

  “Okay,” I say. “What’s going on?”

  “I need you to convince your club to do a deal.”

  Whatever I was expecting, it sure as hell wasn’t that.

  “What?” I’m dumbfounded. “What deal? Why me?”

  “Because you have your brother’s ear. And Casper’s.”

  Casper’s…? None of this makes sense. Sure, Dad knows I tend bar at the clubhouse. But why would he assume that Angel would listen to me about anything having to do with club business? And how would Dad know whether I have Cas’s ear specifically?

  Before I can ask any of this, though, Dad starts telling me about the deal in question. “Jenna, you know I have a histo
ry with the club. That Rock Anthony and I have entered into certain… partnerships… over the years that benefit both the Lords of Carnage and the town of Tanner Springs.”

  And especially the mayor of Tanner Springs, I think to myself sarcastically, but I don’t say anything.

  “A bit ago, I went to the club asking them for a loan to get me the development deal I’ve been working on south of town,” he continues. For the first time, I notice how ashen my father’s face is. “I thought for sure they’d say yes. I was willing to give them a very advantageous interest rate on the loan, and a damn good return on their investment. And I know for a fact they can use the money.

  “But the deal got voted down.” His shoulders sag. “Rumor has it it was a pretty close vote. And that both Angel and Cas voted against me.” He looks at me now, his eyes hopeful. “I want you to convince them it’s in the best interest in the club to do this deal with me.”

  Rumor has it… I know he must mean that Rock Anthony told him how the vote went down.

  I sit back in my chair, trying to take it all in. My mind is reeling with questions. Why would Angel vote against the deal if our dad wanted it — and if Rock wanted it? And I’m guessing Rock probably does want it, or he wouldn’t have told my dad about all this. What’s wrong with the deal? Why did Cas vote against it? And how would my dad know whether I “have Cas’s ear,” as he puts it?

  I thought Cas and I had been pretty careful about keeping what was going on with us a secret. We never let ourselves be seen in any sort of compromising position at the club. It’s not like we’d been on any “dates” out and about in Tanner Springs. Until right now, the only person I thought knew about us was Jewel. But maybe I was wrong. Still, I knew for sure Dad hasn’t seen us together — unless he happened to see me on the back of Cas’s bike at some point?

  Whatever’s happening, warning bells are clanging inside my head. I decide to play as dumb as I can.