Chapter Eight

Dodge

Willow was still crashed out when we got back to mine, but I found a new person sitting in the living room. Lan sent me a chin lift as I walked through the front door.

"Kitchen, now," I said with my own chin lift then strode down the hall, knowing my brothers would follow. Lan, being a brother by default, had our backs, but he just didn't wear the patch.

I sat at the end of the table, and Pick took the other end. Sax, Dallas and Billy were on one side, Dive and Lan on the other, and that left room for Memphis and Beast when they arrived. Thank fuck my kitchen was big. Josie must have stayed in the living room. She knew when it was time for church that it was no place for a woman. Didn't mean her men wouldn't tell her what was goin' down. Like I knew our prez in Ballarat, Talon, would confide in Wildcat with all business he saw to. Which was how it should be in this day and age...unless it was something violent as fuck. Then they were better off not knowing, and their men were better off protecting them from sleepless nights.

"Something you should all know," Lan started. He met my eyes, and I gave him the nod to go ahead just as Beast and Memphis walked in the back door off the kitchen. Once they sat, Lan went to continue but I interrupted.

"Memphis, you should sit here." I stood.

Memphis shook his head. "Don't be fuckin' stupid. I'm too old and tired, so you're running the show for now, fucker, until I talk to Talon."

"Memph—"

"No, shut the fuck up. Let's talk."

With a stiff, shocked nod, I put his words aside and went on. "Beast, Memphis has given you the go-ahead to be here. Means he trusts you. I don't yet. Earn that trust from us here and we'll always have your back. But we can't trust yet. Not when we know there's a traitor among the Caroline Springs charter."

"I'll do what I have to. No cunt should fuck with the brotherhood."

"Agreed." I nodded. "Whatever you hear today stays in this room. If I find someone knows something that's been talked about today, I'll know it's you because the others at this table have my full trust. They’re true brothers who have my heart and soul."

He eyed us all then gave me a chin lift. He understood. If he fucked up then we'd fuck him up.

"Now, Lan, what were—"

The back door banged open and in walked one of Blackie's brothers. I stood quickly, my gun drawn and under his chin in seconds.

"Started without me, I see." The punk smiled.

"Parker?" Pick hissed.

Lan cleared his throat. "As I was going to say, I have a new partner who is deep undercover in the Venom MC Club."

"What the fuck?" Pick barked.

I stepped back, lowered my gun and sat back down, seeing the guy wasn't a threat. Parker pulled out the chair next to me, turned it around and straddled it. He grinned at Pick then Billy and asked, "How's sweet Josie?"

"Don't fuckin' ask about her. Tell us what in the fuck is goin' on," Pick bellowed.

"Calm down," Parker said. "Like Lan said, I'm a detective who's undercover in the hell of fuckdom with the Venom club."

"Parker?" Josie stood in the doorway, no doubt hearing her man yell his damn head off.

Parker's smile was wide. He stood and approached Josie, but Billy moved quickly and stepped in front of him with a hand to his chest. "Not another step," he warned.

Parker rolled his eyes and said over Billy, "Good to see you, honey."

"What are you doing here?"

"Meeting, little girl." He smiled.

"Precious, head back into the living room. We'll talk soon," Pick said.

She looked to her man and took note of his serious expression. She nodded once, waved to the room, and headed back down the hall.

"Pick, Billy, wanna tell the rest of us how you know this guy?" I asked.

But it was Parker who said, "I own and still live, sometimes, in the place Josie used to live at."

Well, fuck me.

"All right, how about we all sit the hell down and get some shit sorted," I said. Once Billy and Parker sat their arses down, I asked, "Got anything to tell us?"

"Got shit all. Only been within their walls for six months. Since I'm new, they don't tell me shit. All I do know is that the guy who's dealing with the slave business used to be a member of Venom. He'd left just before I got in. What you do have to worry about is Venom fuckin' shit up for you Hawks guys. They want your turf, your businesses and they're willing to play dirty to get it."

"Fuck, just like we thought."

"You got a rat. Overheard the sergeant in arms talking on the phone to someone from your club. He was getting nice information on who's where and shit."

"Tell us something we don't know. Just installed cameras at the compound. Missed the garage because we found Willow."

"So, you do have her?"

"Yeah," I snarled. "And she's under Hawks' protection now. Nothin' will happen to her." I took a breath and told them what Blackie said to me.

"He actually said that shit?" Parker asked.

"Why in the fuck would I lie?"

"Hmm, he could be an ally then."

"He said he's got family he wants to protect."

"Yeah, a sister, a wife and two kids."

Dallas banged his fist on the table and growled, "Where in the fuck does all this get us? We still have jack-shit. What's the next plan?"

"You're right." I sighed. "I'll finish setting up the cameras in the garage. We need to eliminate the snitch fast. Memphis, send out men you trust to the streets, see if anyone can find out who the sick fucker is and his whereabouts. For now, Willow stays here. I'll have round-the-clock protection for her." I looked to Parker. "Need you to talk to Blackie. He was willing to give me what he gave me. See if you can get more. He knows the fucker, but he ain't willing to talk. Tell him we’ll have his back in protecting him and his family."

Glancing at Lan to make sure I got his attention, I said, "Willow said the cocksucker who bought her is in with the cops, so you both need to watch your backs. Venom has a hard-on to fuck us up, and Willow's owner has a hard-on for her. Don't know if the two are mixed. We'll need to set up a meeting with the Venom prez."

There was so much shit to do, but it had to be done. The need to have it all finalised so everyone would be safe was high.

"Fuck. Knew someone on the force was dirty," Lan said, "which is why I'm willing to help you out with anything."

Looking to Parker, he nodded. "I'll do what I can while Lan finds the cunt betraying his brothers in the force. Detectives, cops, we're all the same and if someone's being a bitch, we all go in to sort it out."

"Looks like our club ain't the only one dealing in deceiving shits," Sax said. "The Venom don't know who I am. Let me go under, as well. I'll get in and get the information you need."

Saxon was a good kid. Just outta his prospect time, but always willing to do what he can, even if it ended up hurting himself in the process. Fuckin' lucky Stoke found him when he did. Lucky also, because he protected her fiercely, Saxon took an interest in Nary, Stoke's daughter. Not that he'd man up and say shit about it. He kept his distance from her for a reason none of us knew.

"You think I can't get it." Parker glared.

Saxon leaned forward in his chair and growled, "You been there six months and you have nothin', so yeah, I reckon I can get it faster than you."

"No," I ordered.

Saxon turned to me, face blank.

"You were there behind Memphis today. One of those Venom fuckers would have taken notice of you."

"Yeah, you are a pretty boy," Dive teased. Saxon gave him the finger.

I wondered if Saxon knew Nary was moving down our way yet. It could explain the reason he was so willing to take himself outta the situation and into a dangerous one. Everyone felt guilty when Nary took a bullet to the face when that obsessed Cameron cunt took Josie. He shot Nary when she'd screamed to warn the others. Maybe Saxon was feelin' it more because Nary looked up to him. She also had a major crush on him, like he did her. They needed to work their shit out. Mind games were fuckin' tiresome.

Not that I could talk relationships and manning-up.

I was afraid, like a pissy little boy, when it came to commitment.

A knock sounded on the front door. I was out of my seat, nearing the kitchen door, when I froze and turned back to my brothers. A pained look appeared on my face when we all heard, "Hellooo, beautiful. Tell me where the hot, bad-boy biker men are."

"Fuck," I groaned.

"Christ," Pick mirrored my tone.

"Hell is now upon us." Dive sighed.

"God-motherfuckin'-dammit," Billy said.

"I'm outta here." Dallas tried, but didn't move when my hard stare met his. Memphis's head was in his hands, shaking it.

"Who in the fuck is that?" Parker asked.

I jumped when a voice behind me screamed, "I found them. Oh, my!" Julian's hand went over his heart. "This just reminded me of the first time I was dragged into Zara's house and delivered upon a house full of spunk-rats." He beamed. "Who's gonna give this momma a kiss hello?" His arms spread wide and he made a kissy face at us all. I quickly shifted back into the kitchen and moved far away from Julian at the entrance of it. "Come on now, I need some biker sugar. I know you all missed my gorgeous arse." He wiggled his fingers.

If there was one, he wouldn't be here without the other. "Matthew, get the fuck in here and rein your fella in," I bellowed.

Julian rolled his eyes. "It's okay, my men. I know you all love me, no need to show it." His eyes glanced over us and landed on Parker. Julian moved into the kitchen and started for him. "Oooh, you're a new and sparkly toy. Hey there, handsome. I'm Julian, your next wet—"

"Julian," Mattie snapped in the doorway. "Hey, everyone, just popped in to see my sister while driving through. Sorry to interrupt." Josie appeared next to Mattie and wound her arm around his waist. He placed his around her shoulders.

"You're her brother and his partner?" Parker gaped.

Yeah, we're a unique fuckin' bunch for a family.

"Sure am." Mattie smiled. "Name's Matthew, but people call me Mattie."

"How'd you find out we were all here?" I asked.

Julian grinned. "I used my charm at the compound...though, I think they gave up your information just to get rid of me." His eyes went big and he shook his head. "No taste, some people. Sooo, what's going on in the bad-boy world?" he asked.

"Nothin' you need to know about, Julian," I said.

Parker stood from the table. "I'm outta here. Josie, always a pleasure. Lan, I'll go through you for any messages. Be in touch, fellas." Then he walked quickly out the back door. He was probably worried, like most of us, that Julian was gonna take a huge chunk outta him.

"Can I get anyone a drink?" Josie offered.

Guess the fuckin' meeting was over for now.

"I'd love one." Julian smiled and took Parker's vacated seat. Josie found her way around my kitchen while Mattie stood against the wall with an apologetic look on his face.

"Dodge, you should call Talon and give him an update," Memphis suggested.

Julian tapped the table with his knuckles and said, "Oh, don't need to worry about that."