Chapter Five
Hack
I stare at my phone for a minute, waiting for a response, but I don’t get one. I’m tempted to call her but doubt her stubborn ass will answer. Sliding my phone into my pocket, I stomp down the hallway and head to Boz’s office.
He called for an officer meeting a few minutes ago, wanting to talk to Brew, Smoke, Stone, and me about club business. That’s gonna have to wait. Now, we are gonna have to deal with this shit. No one, no fucking one, is gonna mess with Pru or Scarlett.
I sling the door open, causing it to bang against the wall. I look around the room and see Smoke sitting on the couch, with Brew standing only a few feet away. Boz is behind his desk, looking right at me.
Slamming the door behind me, I say, “Someone’s got eyes on Pru’s place.”
None of my brothers have met Pru or Scarlett yet, but they know all about both of them. We didn’t have a fucking heart to heart, where I told them how seeing either of my girls made me happier than I’ve been since before I buried Holly. Sure as hell didn’t tell them I may even be happier than when Holly was alive and by my side. Still, they know Pru’s my woman, or will be soon, and we share a beautiful baby girl. They also know how bad I fucked things up between me and my Pru.
“What the fuck?” Boz shouts, coming out of his chair with such force that it falls to the floor. “Who the hell would be watching her?”
Closing my eyes, I try to come up with an answer. I think back to everything Pru told me about her past. She’s never been in any trouble, only a speeding ticket or two. Doesn’t owe anyone any money and has no exes that would be giving her shit. Before me, she hadn’t even dated anyone for two years. Even then, the way she made it sound, there were only a few dates here and there, nothing serious.
The only issue Pru ever had was dealing with her mom’s drunk ass. The woman is a bitch, and I’m sure she’ll be one until the day she dies, but I doubt this has anything to do with her. The only thing that cunt is concerned with is getting her next drink.
Looking at my brother, I finally answer, “I don’t know, but I’m about to find out. My guess is someone from the Saints MC. Ever since the shit went down with Stone, they’ve had a hard-on for our club.”
No one is sure what all Stone did when he was betraying the club. We do know he took a hell of a lot of money, and most of it is still gone. Even with all my computer skills, I haven’t been able to figure out shit. If there was a trail, at least an electronic trail, I would have found it by now. When it comes to computers, no fucking body can hide shit from me.
We also know Stone had a storage unit in Clarksville. That is Saints territory, so there is no doubt he was involved with their club. Now, someone has eyes on my woman, and I bet it has something to do with Stone’s shit and the Saints.
“We knew this was coming,” Brew pipes in, his eyes pinned on Boz. “Stone’s shit isn’t over, and we all knew that. Didn’t see them going after Hack’s woman though.”
I didn’t see it coming either. I’m not even sure how they knew she was connected to me. I didn’t wear my club cut when we were together before, and I haven’t lately while visiting Scarlett. I’m not stupid enough to wear my cut while in their territory. It would be different if I was there on club business, but Pru and Scarlett are personal. No fucking way was I bringing another club to their front door. Looks like I did anyway.
“Fuck,” Smoke says, running a hand over his scar. “I just got Gidget and Parker settled down. I don’t want all this shit coming up for them again.”
“No reason for Gidget to know shit,” Boz tells him, leaning against his desk.
Smoke shakes his head. “Right now, if someone in the club even sneezes, she’s sure her father somehow infected the entire club with Ebola or some shit.”
Stone is Smoke’s old lady’s father. I guess the better term would be was, because that motherfucker and his son are both buried somewhere no one will ever find them. Even though they’re dead and gone, I can tell the devastation they brought to the club still weighs heavily on Gidget’s shoulders. Why, I don’t know. She didn’t have a fucking thing to do with it. As far as I can tell, Gidget is good through and through.
Boz just shrugs. “Like I said, she doesn’t need to know anything. This is club business. It has nothing to do with old ladies.”
I grind my teeth to keep from yelling out that it does have something to do with old ladies. It has a hell of a lot to do with my old lady and my little girl, but I don’t since I haven’t claimed Pru yet. Considering the fact that she has made the friendship line clear every time I have seen her over the last month, I’m not sure she’ll ever be my old lady.
Brew leans his head back and blows out a long breath. “Has anyone else ever realized that when one of us finds a woman, shit always follows her?”
I start to crack a smile, but then I remember some asshole is watching my woman and child. “I need to head to Clarksville. I’ve gotta get my girls safe.”
“Take Smoke with you, just in case the Saints try to pull some shit. I’d ride with you, too, but Hoss should be here in about an hour. Wants to talk to me about a new gun run from Nebraska. He’s wanting our clubs to work it together. Not sure how I feel about working with his club, even though he’s Trix’s dad, but I’ve got to hear him out.”
At one time, our club and Hoss’ were enemies. It got even worse when Boz kidnaped Trix in retaliation for some fucked up shit he thought Hoss’ club did. Stone also had his hand in that mess, nearly causing a bloody war between our clubs. It took some time and a hell of a lot of talking, but the clubs are at peace again. Still, that could change in the blink of an eye. Bikers aren’t necessarily known for keeping the peace too long.
“You do what you gotta do, brother,” I say, knowing he would be by my side if I really needed him to be.
“Even if she isn’t your old lady yet, she’s the mother of your child. Those fuckers know that she and your daughter are off limits.” Looking from me to Smoke, Boz adds, “If it is the Saints, being close to her is a declaration of war.”
Before Smoke or I can respond, Brew adds, “You need to get her ass up here. Even if you don’t claim her as your old lady, she and your little girl need to be in Trenton. We can’t have them living in enemy territory.”
“I’m claiming her,” I say, making the decision I should have made a month ago. “She may not wear my cut. She may never agree to wear it after the shit I pulled. Doesn’t matter. As far as the club is concerned, she’s my old lady from this moment on.”
“Still doesn’t solve the problem of where she lives,” Boz states, pushing himself off the desk and walking over to the fridge.
He grabs a beer then turns to look at me. “Brew’s right. We need her in Trenton.”
They’re both right. I’ve gotta get Pru and Scarlett here. It’s gonna be hard as hell to convince Pru of that without giving her too much information. Boz is right, though; this is club business, and she doesn’t need to know everything. Plus, I don’t want her scared. Don’t want her regretting her decision to let me be part of Scarlett’s life. Still, if the Saints are involved, a little fear may be a good thing.
“I’ll make it happen,” I reply, running my hand over my beard. “I’m not sure how, but I’ll get her and Scarlett here tonight.”
Brew cracks a smile and walks over to slap me on the back. “Told you, brother. You’re a Grim Bastard. Don’t give her a choice.”
I don’t bother replying, just turn around and walk to the door. Before I can open it, Round comes in with a cup of coffee in his hands. He shuts the door and leans against it, bringing the cup to his lips. His eyes take in the tense expressions on everyone’s faces, especially his son’s, Smoke. Then, he looks to our President.
“You’ve gotta move, brother,” I say, motioning for him to get out of the way. “I need to get to my bike.”
He looks at me then back to Boz. “Thought we were having a meeting.”
“We were, but not anymore,” Boz tells him, taking another drink of his beer. “I’ll explain, but Hack and Smoke need to hit the road.”
By the time I hit the yard, Brew and Smoke are both right beside me. They head toward their bikes and slide on as I swing my leg over mine.
“You coming with us?” I ask Brew, cocking my brow in question.
He lifts his chin. “Fuck yeah. If the Saints decide to start any shit, I’m not letting you and Smoke have all the fun.”