I took a deep breath before I set off home smiling to myself that I'd finally made contact with the Satan's and could now start to put my plan into place.
Fifteen minutes later I arrived at my bedsit on the outskirts of town. It was small and not much to look at but it served its purpose and the rent was cheap. I still had my flat back in Waltham Abbey but I was spending a lot of time here now trying to infiltrate the group. Money was tight keeping the two places going but I couldn't allow the Aces to become suspicious of my attentions, and I also didn't want the Satan's members to become aware of my association with another club.
I threw my keys on the coffee table and flung myself onto the sofa. The realisation had now hit me as my heart rate sped with adrenaline and fear at the thought of being invited to the clubhouse tomorrow. I would need to scout the place as much as possible in case this was the one and only time I was invited. I knew I wouldn't be able to complete my plan immediately, I was most certainly in this for the long haul but I knew that I was now one step closer.
I pulled up the cushion beside me and removed my spiral bound note pad from the sofa. I'd been documenting all of my findings so I had a port of reference to refer to. I now knew the names and roles of not only the outer but also the inner circle of the group. I'd observed from a far and had seen the interaction between the top five and the alliances among them. It was obvious that Polar who was the clubs VP was good mates with Priest but I'd also seen the looks of discontent from Polar and Priest towards Onyx, indicating animosity within the group which I could possibly use to my advantage. I'd also shadowed the club over recent weeks and was aware of the comings and goings including what establishments they offered protection to, and the imminent release of Hustler could also pose a threat if the stories I'd heard were true.
Polar was the member I needed to fear most. He was suspicious of everyone and everything and didn't welcome strangers kindly into the group. I had seen him take his anger out on a hang around and a prospect in the time I'd been following the group, and his road name suited him well because of his bipolar tendencies. He wasn't afraid to challenge Onyx either, which any good VP should be able to do but their relationship clearly wasn't as strong as Viper's and Duke's.
When Onyx had invited me to the clubhouse Polar tried to warn him to the fact that they hardly knew me but Onyx wouldn't listen, the stubborn old fool. I saw the way Polar glared at me across the table and it looked like I'd created an enemy before I'd even started.
I arrived outside the cafe at 6.50pm in readiness for the prospect to arrive. This gave me the opportunity to take stock of the whole situation and try to keep my emotions in check, I hadn't lost sight of what the final outcome was but I was becoming anxious knowing that I was heading into the lion's den.
I didn't expect the prospect to turn up on time but was surprised when I heard the familiar rumble at 7.00pm.
A young man pulled up beside me and turned off his ignition so that he could talk to me, "Are you Saviour?"
I sniggered, "My name's Nick but that's what Onyx called me yesterday." I held out my hand and the prospect took it.
"I'm Lucas, nice to meet you. Onyx has taken a shine to you, he's telling everyone back at the clubhouse how you saved his life." Lucas smiled and pulled back his hand to start his ignition. "Follow me."
I nodded and quickly fastened my helmet so I could follow him although I knew exactly where the clubhouse was. It was unlike the Aces set up as their clubhouse was in the middle of nowhere hidden well behind numerous nurseries holding an array of different plants. No vehicle could infiltrate the boundary unless it was authorised and reinforced steel gates secured the entrances that were also manned by club members twenty-four seven for extra protection.
Once I'd found out where the clubhouse was, it had taken me three weeks to find a way in and this was only made possible because of a low lying branch that hung into the grounds. If this was eventually cut down, I didn't know how I was getting in but hopefully after tonight I would now be invited.
I followed Lucas to the entrance of the grounds and stopped behind him when he slowed so the guy on the gate recognised him.
"Who's the geezer with you?" The tall thin guy asked as he peered from the hatch of a shed positioned behind the gate.
"Saviour. Onyx asked me to bring him here this evening." Lucas shouted over the noise of our engines.
The bloke glared in my direction sizing me up before he nodded and opened the gate just wide enough for us to ride through.
Lucas rode ahead and I followed closely, nodding my head in the direction of the guy manning the gate as he glared at me through hooded eyes.
We pulled up into the yard and parked our Harley's at the end of a long line of motorcycles, and I glanced in the direction of the clubhouse as I heard the thumping music coming from inside the building.
"Onyx said the club is throwing a welcome home party," I stated as I dismounted my ride and unfastened my helmet to rest it onto the handlebars.
"Yeah, Hustler got out this morning after an eight year stretch so it's understandable that he wants to let his hair down a little this evening." Lucas sniggered and removed his helmet before joining me on the path. "But he's not the guest of honour," he stated wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me in the direction of the door.
This intrigued me, who could possibly be the guest of honour? I didn't really want to turn up on the night the clubhouse was full of people but on the flip side it would make it easier for me to become invisible and do some investigating around the place during the festivities.
Lucas opened the metal door as a large cloud of smoke left the building. This was another difference between the clubs, the Aces dealt in drugs but we were never allowed to smoke the goods in the grounds. What you did in your own recreational time was up to you but Viper would have our arses if we were caught smoking shit in the clubhouse through fear of being busted for petty things.
I followed Lucas inside and found it difficult to hear myself think because of the noise. I eagerly glanced around the room to see several women dancing on the bar and guys cheering, encouraging them to strip. I casually checked out the layout and exits when I was pulled from my observations by a hard slap on the back.
"Good evening Saviour, I'm pleased you joined us."
I turned to see Onyx's glazed eyes as he leaned forward to wrap his arm firmly around my shoulder, and direct me over to a table occupied by the inner group.
"Hey, this is Saviour. He saved my arse this morning so we need to give him a hero's welcome."
The guys cheered and whooped as I sat on the stool and quickly glanced around the group to see Priest and Polar who were my other two targets. I smiled and tried to look unaffected by their presence as I clenched my fists in the pockets of my leather jacket.
"What can I get you to drink?" A young blonde haired guy asked close to my ear as the music got louder.
"Just a coke for now, make it look like a Jack and coke. I don't drink and ride." I winked and he nodded understanding what I was getting at. I didn't want the guys to think I was a pussy but I needed to give this guy an excuse for not drinking this evening as he may pull me up on my shit. I just wanted to keep a clear head because I needed to take everything in and not take something that could cloud my judgements. He handed me my drink as the music suddenly went quiet.
"Speech!" the guys shouted in unison drumming their hands on the table as Onyx smiled and made his way to the stage at the end of the bar. He raised his hands and the club settled down ready to hear from their leader, their leader who murdered innocent people.
Onyx waited until the crowd settled down. "I want to start by welcoming Hustler home. He's been gone for eight long years, charged with a crime that he didn't commit." He stopped and the crowd howled with laughter as none of us were ever guilty of the crimes we were charged with.
"Okay settle down," Onyx raised his hands high until the group quietened before continuing. "Being incarcerated esp
ecially for as long as Hustler was, will fuck you up. It's a good job he was already fucked up." The group continued to snigger, "But I want Hustler to take two weeks off to get his head together before coming back to the club properly."
"I don't need any special treatment man," Hustler said looking at Onyx with a puzzled expression.
"If I'd been without pussy for eight years my friend, I know I would want two weeks off to make up for lost time." The group laughed and Onyx brought Hustler in for a quick hug before he pulled away and grinned like a Cheshire cat. Hustler turned and jumped from the stage to grab what looked to be the next available woman to lower her backwards as he planted a wet kiss in the crook of her neck making her giggle.
"Before we all continue with the celebrations, I want to introduce you all to someone." Onyx glanced around the room until he met my eyes. "Saviour get your arse up here now." All heads turned towards me as I shuffled uncomfortably before I was shoved in the back towards the stage. I quickly pulled myself together and strolled towards Onyx seeing every club member's eyes on me and felt uncomfortable under their scrutiny.
Onyx wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in tight, "Clayton, the little scrot pulled a knife on me yesterday. He would've succeeded in stabbing me if it wasn't for the quick thinking of our latest prospect."
I turned to look at him confused by what he'd just said, I assumed he brought me here to buy me a drink not to make me a prospect. I shook my head slightly in disbelief but plastered a grin on my face, looking out towards the quiet crowd to see Polar glare in my direction.
"I'm sponsoring Saviour, it's the least I can do after he saved my life." The crowd looked between each other and I assumed this wasn't the norm but the crowd slowly started to clap encouraged by Hustler, welcoming me to the club. Onyx removed his arm from around my shoulder and grabbed a leather cut from the bar and handed it to me.
"You're mine now bitch!" He stated to the laughter of the other club members. Shit! What had I done?
I removed my jacket to put on the cut, and immediately felt someone directly behind me standing a little too close for comfort. I spun around to see Polar glaring at me before he turned to Onyx, "Are you gonna let him join the club just like that? We don't know fuck all about him Prez." He spat clearly annoyed and ignoring the fact that I was standing directly beside him.
Onyx placed his hands on his hips as a smirk crossed his face probably at the fact that Polar was challenging him.
"I'm fucking here you know," I stated stepping forward. I'd made an enemy in Polar already but I couldn't let it seem like I was scared of him, even if I was only a prospect. I'd intended to keep a low profile but now that I was sponsored by the president of the club I couldn't exactly hide, but a prospect couldn't take on the VP either especially in the middle of the clubhouse.
"I'm not hiding shit, you wanna know something then ask away!" I held my arms open indicating that I was an open book and not afraid of him.
Polar stepped forward and eyeballed me until his forehead was resting on mine. I was fairly tall at 6ft but he had a few inches on me and needed to stoop slightly to make eye contact. I could feel his breath on my skin as he tried to control his temper and his eyes flashed with rage as I simply smirked.
"That's enough children, we're celebrating this evening." Onyx stepped forward and placed his hands on both of our chests. "If you injure my new prospect so that he can't complete the chores I ask of him, you'll be doing them yourself you got me?" Onyx jumped from the stage but I continued to eyeball Polar, I couldn't let him get the better of me especially with an audience.
He'd taken so much from me already that I wasn't allowing him to take my pride. I stared into his eyes knowing that I would eventually be responsible for his death, and smirked at the fact that Polar was unaware of his fate but I couldn't hold it together, the smirk turned to a smile as his eyes flashed with annoyance at my reaction. I wasn't scared of him, in fact I wasn't scared of anything anymore. I'd become an empty shell with very little emotions and had only one thing on my mind, vengeance.
Polar stepped back and shoved me in the chest, "I don't know what your game is man but I'll find out, and when I do you better be ready. Make sure you stay out of my way." Polar turned on his heels and stomped from the stage in the direction of the table that the inner group were sitting at.
The party was now in full swing, there was booze and drugs being passed around and I was trying my best to not get intoxicated as I wanted to keep a clear head but this was proving difficult.
My thoughts were interrupted by the roar from the crowd, I glanced over my shoulder towards the door as a group of women entered the clubhouse. I assumed that these were tonight's entertainment by the excitement on the guy's faces.
Onyx stood and waved the group over towards the table, "Well hello ladies, I was wondering when you were coming over. It's not a party without pussy."
The women smiled and removed their coats to show an array of different attire, from being fully clothed to nothing but skimpy lingerie.
"Hustler!" Onyx shouted in the direction of the guy that had been released from prison this morning. He registered Onyx by simply nodding before he made his way through the crowd.
"My present to you, please pick one," Onyx said waving his arm towards the group.
Hustler's face lit up like a kid in a sweet shop as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully looking at the long line of women. The group sniggered at his enthusiasm and the time he was taking to analyse each one in detail. As I looked around the group I noticed that Polar wasn't joining in the fun, he swirled his drink and knocked it back before leaning forward to pour himself another. His demeanour intrigued me, I glanced back towards the group to see that Hustler had selected his prey, an eager looking blonde who was wrapping her legs around his waist as he lifted her and headed for a doorway at the back of the club.
"Well if he's selected Ebony we won't be seeing him for a couple of hours, that girl has stamina." Priest said as he wiped his mouth. I looked at him through hooded eyes, he was the guy that had held me on that frightful day, it had taken me some time to work out who the third guy was as I didn't get a close enough look at him but it was his distinctive laugh that had helped me to make the connection.
"And now it's your turn Saviour. I don't usually let our prospects shag the girls from the club but you're not a normal prospect. This is my gift to you, choose wisely." Onyx rubbed his chin and looked around the group as I felt an undercurrent of anxiety. Polar still wasn't looking at the girls and the other guys were now staring at me in anticipation. What the fuck did Onyx mean by selecting wisely, was this some type of test?
I looked down the line of women, they were all beautiful in their own right but one in particular caught my eye. She was more curvaceous than the others, I wasn't the sort of bloke that conformed to the stereotypical beauty, I knew what I liked and she was very pleasing on the eye with curves in all the right places.
"Do you see something you like?" Onyx asked. I nodded my head slowly, "Well good, take your prize." Onyx took a swig of his drink and leaned back in his chair watching the scene play out in front of him. Something didn't feel right and I still thought that this was a test that I'd be reprimanded for after my selection.
I walked along the group as the women rested their hands on my chest and pouted as I past them, but I was making my way to the beauty on the end. I saw her smile as I approached but the emotion didn't meet her eyes as she glanced behind me at the group.
"This is fucking bullshit Onyx and you know it. If you're doing it to piss me off then you're going about it the right way." Polar stood and clasped his fists but Priest stood by his side to stop him surging forward.
Shit, this woman was somehow involved with Polar. She couldn't be his old lady because that wouldn't be allowed, maybe she was a family member but why would he get so annoyed?
Onyx wasn't fazed by Polar's little outburst, he ignored him and simple shooed me and the women away. She graspe
d my hand tightly and led me through the clubhouse into the corner of the room where there was an available booth. I got in and she slithered onto my lap to straddle me, this wasn't in my plan, I couldn't afford to get involved with anyone and I certainly wasn't one for public displays of affection.
"What's your name?" I asked quietly as she gyrated her hips allowing the thin piece of silk that covered her modesty to slide over my jeans.
She leaned back and looked at me with a confused expression, "Name? You want to know my name?" I must've looked back at her with equal confusion which made her laugh. "I'm April, nice to meet you." She held out her hand for me to take and I shook it firmly. "Now that we've been introduced shall we get on with it?" April ran her hands up my chest making her way towards my neck and for all the will in the world I couldn't help but become hard.
I grasp April's hand to stop the movement and she quickly glanced around at the guys sitting at the table. I followed her stare to see Polar watching her every move and quickly realised that this little show was for his benefit.
"Have you got any rooms here?" April frowned as I brought her into the here and now, "Have you got any rooms here, at the clubhouse?" I asked trying to hold her attention.
"Yeah in the back. Would you feel more comfortable in there?" she asked moving from my lap to sit beside me.
I stood and grabbed for her hand, "Yeah, I don't like an audience."
April smiled and swung her hips provocatively as she led me through an arch way and down a dimly lit corridor. She pushed open a brown wooden door, "In here darling." She stated as I glanced around at my surroundings before I entered the room.
It was a modest sized room with dreary decor but it was tidy enough.
"So how and where do you want me?" April asked as she sauntered to the other side of the room and started to untie the bow of her chemise.
Locke (Aces MC Series Book 4) Page 2