“Everything that we brought to you from the first discussion that Priest told us checks out. We reached out to everyone that the three of us knew plus Sarge’s contacts and we found nothing to dispute what Priest said. We spotted two riders out by the Legion compound, but they weren’t wearing cuts and the tags on their bikes were stolen. That’s the only thing the locals could get a look at was the makes of their bikes and the tag numbers, some partial and a couple full. The riders wore full-face armor, so the local farmers didn’t even see their faces. Some of Sean’s men spotted them and then pursued the riders. The two riders were able to lose Sean’s men and that couldn’t have been easy so that means the riders hadn’t just arrived. They knew the backroads to take. Sean is upping his watch and Priest is improving his security with more powerful cameras so they can detect anyone further from the compound.” Stealth looks around the table. “We have confirmation that the Double Down MC has Missile as the president, and he is known to be ruthless. He doesn’t care if you are a man, woman, or child. We haven’t found a bounty on any person from the Legion MC. The brother Priest talked about has been in college and he does know his stuff on agriculture, botany, horticulture, soil testing, agriculture nutrient management, although his main studies are Physiology of Cannabis and Medicinal Plant Chemistry. The last two he has degrees in. I couldn’t even pronounce some of the things he has awards for, and he has been offered jobs that would have given him big bucks in his pockets, but he turned them down. I saw some clips of speeches he gave and in each one he always says his mom’s illness is what pushed him in the direction of his education which backs up Priest’s story of why they are only interested in the medicinal side of marijuana. The ruthlessness of Missile has been proven. There was a rift in the Double Down club a while before Priest’s dad, Simon, died. I haven’t found one thing that can dispute his story and I think Drifter could be an asset. I had Keys do a background search on all the main players. Missile has a string of felonies on his record. He did ten years in prison for murder when he was still a teenager. The sentence started in juvie until he was old enough to be transferred. He was a model prisoner for those ten years so they released him, and he was on parole for another five. The rest of his rap sheet is for breaking and entering and assaults. Those assaults also include attempted rape, but the woman disappeared before she was supposed to appear in court, so the charges were dropped.” Stealth looks at Shield then and nods. “Adrian Petrov has not been seen in a couple of months and not in this area. His business is operating but the man himself hasn’t made an appearance for some time now. There have been rumors in the underground that Petrov has a terminal illness and won’t be around much longer but then again others say that he has taken a new wife and they are taking some time together so Petrov can be guaranteed another heir to his empire. I know he has soldiers taking care of business either way, but none have been spotted here. The floor is back to you, Prez.” Stealth sits back in his chair.

  “Next on the agenda is the other group of four men in Mt. Vernon, they seem to be interested in the Bass Haven Ranch. The ranch has a patch of land that has the capability of growing marijuana just like the land we have bought but this is a moot point because the Bass women would never sell any parcel of their property. The other group of men are keeping an eye on the ranch. The guy in charge is Hemric Preece and he seems to be taking up with Micah Bass. They have been spending time together.” I hear the guys shift in their seats and look at anything but me. “Micah and I have no relationship anymore of any kind. We’re nothing but acquaintances, but Micah and Maddie are still under our protection. That means if those men mean any harm to Micah then we will end them. This is more of a heads-up warning so everyone will keep an eye out and if anything comes up then report it to Shield.” I see all the brothers look from me to Shield. “I have also negotiated a fair price on the laundromat on Locust Street in Sulphur Springs. The balance sheets for the last two years haven’t changed much and there isn’t much overhead. The bottom line is always in the black and they just replaced a lot of the equipment. The building is up to code with no violations. We’re not going to get rich off the business, but it is a legitimate businesswith a steady income and it reconfirms that we are businessmen just trying to make a living because it is fully legit.” I let that sink in before I go on. “The initial financing needed is under fifty thousand, which is what we have left after we investment in our main project.” Shield update us on where the state stands on changing the laws.”

  “Texas is now allowing some use of the CBD oils. The federal government is supporting it. The ball is moving faster than we originally thought it would. This is the area that the Legion MC was focused on. The oils and the medicinal purposes. We never seriously considered entering this side of the business. We always concentrated on the recreational side of the issue. I think this is where we need to concentrate if we want to get our foot in the door of the marijuana farming trade. The regulations for it are to be followed and the product needs to be top of the line and that is where we can build our reputation as quality growers and then expand to the recreational side once it’s legal. This makes taking on the Legions MC worth the headaches that come with them, but we can talk about that in church at a later date.”

  “Wedge what is the money looking like?” I ask our treasurer.

  “Everything is in the black and we are making money off every investment. I negotiated a better price with the owner of the laundromat and it is sitting at thirty thousand. He just wants out from under it. All dues have been paid except for Ritter and Slayer. We have waved Drexler’s dues and when everyone gets their share this month we should see a healthy increase.” Wedge nods his head letting me know he is finished. I look at the clock on the wall and it’s already noon. I walk over and get my phone out of the basket and turn it back on. I send the prospect a text to let him know to order plenty of pizzas for lunch. We need a break, but I don’t want anyone to leave. I want this done today. I get a text back that Rye is waiting by the bar to talk to me. I turn around and walk to the table.

  “I asked the prospect to order pizza for everyone so we can eat and drink a beer. Think about everything that you have heard. Talk amongst yourselves because every issue will be voted on today. We need to make decisions and move forward. We’ll meet back here at two-thirty and get it done. No one leave the premises.” I bang my gavel and the brothers move slowly to the basket to pick up their phones, talking amongst themselves. Shield and Stealth remain seated until the room is empty. “Did either of you get a read on the room?” I ask them both.

  “No one was surprised about Slayer and Ritter. They are not liked by most of the brothers because they are slackers and if they aren’t doing their work then someone is forced to pick up the slack.” Stealth is right about that. I look at Shield.

  “I was getting the same thing but the rest of it, I think they were a little overwhelmed with the volume of subjects we had to cover. I think the break was the best thing you could have done. The laundromat, I would say will get a yes vote. It’s a no-brainer. Protecting the Bass ranch and being on the lookout for any trouble is nothing new. I think the taking on the Legions MC will see the biggest opposition. My advice is to give them options on how we take them on. I don’t know, maybe a probationary period where we can change our minds and withdraw the linking of their club to ours and set conditions on it.” I swear Shield and I are on the same wavelength.

  “That’s what I had in mind. I think it’s a good idea anyway.” I see in Stealth’s eyes he is on board with it. “Rye is out there waiting. I need you two with me to hear whatever the old man has to say. He could already be tired of playing house with Deb and is on his way out. Doesn’t matter we will deal with whatever it is.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Stealth replies.

  “Let’s do it,” Shield responds to Stealth. Stealth and Shield both get their phones and we walk out to the bar, and there Rye sits, and I can tell by the look on his face that this is serious and my stomach knots up. Is Micah in trouble?

  16

  Rye…

  I have been sitting here for hours waiting and observing. Sarge’s set up isn’t too bad. I can say at least the prospects listen to the rules and that includes keeping a close eye on me. The Rebellions 4 Blood MC have no worries when it comes to me. I see the first man coming out of church and I know it won’t be long before Sarge will be in front of me full of questions. He will soon find out I am only here as a courtesy call for sharing information. I’ll share if he decides to. It takes a while, but I see Stealth, Shield and Sarge walk in my direction. Sarge stops a few steps away from me and I turn on the barstool to see the men.

  “Rye, why are you here? I don’t remember having a meeting scheduled with you today.” Sarge is straight to the point.

  “I want to know where you stand in protecting Micah because you are doing a shit job. They had someone move on them yesterday and Micah was not protected.” I let him think about that for a second. “We need to move somewhere we can talk openly. I trust you three to an extent, but I don’t know your brothers so for now this is a private conversation.”

  “Rye, you are in our house and you don’t make the rules here, but until you give me all the information then it can stay between us. We are on a timeline here, so get to the point,” Sarge tells me. Then he looks at one of the prospects. “Keep our table in beers and when the pizza gets here bring over a few boxes of supreme. We need three beers now.” The prospect hands all three of the men a bottle of beer. I still have the one I got earlier, so I shake my head. I have no intention of having another. I need to keep my head about me. I follow the three to a table in the back. “Explain.” Sarge is direct. We all take a seat.

  “Hemric Preece put his hands on Micah yesterday and she stabbed him in the balls with a letter opener. Micah had hit the panic button and Deb, Henry, and I were on the other side of the door listening,” I tell them.

  “You let that piece of shit hit Micah while you stood listening,” Shield accuses.

  “We were listening to the shit he was spewing out of his mouth and trying to pick up on any leads of who he was working with. Preece received the worst end of the deal. He was pulling Micah’s hair like a little bitch. Micah’s tough and she could take it. She didn’t even flinch. Preece was there to blackmail her into marriage.” I watch Sarge’s face morph into rage.

  “No one is marrying Micah, blackmail or not.” Shield and Stealth both swing their heads and look at Sarge.

  “Why? Didn’t you two cut each other loose?” I ask Sarge, but I am looking at his facial reaction. Both his brothers are watching him as well.

  “Because I care for Micah and I won’t let it happen.” I’m glad he said that, at least he isn’t denying it.

  “Well if you care about her so much then why did you fuck her where pictures could be taken? Because that was part of the blackmail.” I watch Sarge again for his answer.

  “I thought we were alone. I looked but that woman winds me up and before I know it, we are naked and doing what comes natural. I respect Micah more than that.” A check on that answer from Sarge too.

  “From the story that Preece told us he is Deb’s ex-husbands Stiles’ son. Preece had a picture of Deb holding a gun on Stiles and threatening to show it to the sheriff. Both Stiles and his woman were killed from shots fired from a forty-five— the same type of gun Deb was holding on Stiles—but when Stiles was killed Deb and her sister were in Vegas getting an award. Deb was giving a speech in the timeline that Stiles died with pictures and media coverage to prove it. There was also a photo of Deb and a couple that could have looked compromising and Deb couldn’t give a shit less and owns it. Now she is godmother to all three of the couple’s children. Micah said she would fly her pictures high with pride. That girl has no backdown in her and she didn’t get pissed until Preece said something about Maddie. The prick had a prenup printed out so he and Micah could sign it. He gave Micah the same ultimatum that Stiles gave Deb. He wanted Micah to sue for full ownership of the ranch to give him what his old man earned.” All three men have disgusted looks on their faces.

  “Why has no one ever heard of Deb’s ex being dead? I know Deb plays things close to the vest, but it seems like Micah or Maddie would have mentioned it,” Stealth asks.

  “Deb didn’t tell them, and she never mentioned Stiles to them. Deb won’t even say his first name. A lot more went on in that marriage than anyone ever knew but that is Deb’s story to tell, not mine.” I won’t disrespect Deb that way even though my woman stayed up most of the night telling me everything.

  “Preece is here with three men but there is another set of four men here that have to do with our club. They are trying to blindside us, but we are taking care of our business,” Sarge tells me.

  “What if the two are connected? We have eyes on both groups but what if whoever is leading Preece around by his nose is also the one behind the things we’re dealing with.” Shield leaves out the private details. That boy is a soldier through and through.

  “That makes a lot of sense to me. I didn’t know that you were having problems, but I don’t believe in coincidences,” I tell them.

  “Are you going to be at the ranch to keep an eye there? If not then I will make arrangements to be there. Micah may not listen at first, but I won’t be asking. I will protect her with my life and everything the club has.” Shield smiles at this and Stealth shakes his head. I just got my third answer.

  “I thought Micah wasn’t your ol’ lady but from what you have said today it seems like I was mistaken.” Sarge squints his eyes at me. I swallow the last of my beer and look straight at Sarge. “You say Micah is marrying no one else. That seems kind of possessive to me. Then you say you care for her so there are feelings even if you try to ignore them. You then said you respect her and we all know in our lifestyle the only women we respect are ol’ ladies, wives, and mothers.” I see the look he is getting from his two brothers. “Then there is the part where you will protect her with your life and club. The club I get, it’s a promise you made to a fallen brother but yourself alone. Naw, that’s more.” Sarge rubs his hand down his face. “You know I never liked you for Callie. You were too immature and wanted to control her and get her away from her dad’s club but look at you now, a president of your own club. Callie would have never accepted being pulled away from her family, so you would have lost in the end. Her and Micah are a lot alike but different as night and day at the same time. Callie has the attitude and temper, but she has a good head on her shoulders, and she may make a mistake, but she takes her licking and comes back swinging. She has control of her emotions most of the time, sorta of like you do most of the time. Then there is Micah, that girl is as wild as the day is long and she swings from her gut and emotions with no control whatsoever. She needs your guidance and she cares enough about you to listen to you if you just talk to her and not storm in and just take over. Not giving any confidences away but since the two of you had your rendezvous in the bunkhouse and she has been a different woman and I don’t like it. It’s like her spirit has been broken and you need to take responsibility for it so either shit or get off the pot. You can’t string her along. She’s still going through the motions of her life but it’s like the wild has been squeezed right out of her and that is a shame. That’s my two cents worth and the last time I am talking about that girl with you.” Sarge is pissed but he’ll get over it or the two of us can step outside and handle it.

  “Old man, all this sounds like is you getting into my business, and the last I knew you weren’t invited. So back the hell up and stay out of it. I appreciate you bringing what happened with Preece to our attention but there is no relationship between Micah and me. Where is Preece? I take it he is still alive since you are here.” Sarge is on edge and his attitude is getting worse. The prospect brings over some boxes of pizza over to the table. Stealth points to the table behind him and the prospects puts the boxes down along with four fresh beers.

  “Take it as you like.” I stand up. “I’m done. You can deny the situation with Micah all you want but don’t lie to yourself about how you feel. It will eat at you. I’m out of here and if you decide you want to share about what is going on in your club and compare notes, I will be at the ranch, and you will be seeing some of my brothers around the ranch this week. They should arrive in a couple days. I’m only one man and I will need sleep sooner or later, so I need more eyes. That’s your warning but since Cypress Springs isn’t marked as Rebellions 4 Blood territory then this is a courtesy, we will be flying colors. Anyone entering the ranch will come through us to get to those women. That’s it, I’m done and I’m out of here.” One, two, three…

  “Wait,” I knew it. “How did you know about the bunkhouse?” Sarge asks.

  “There is more surveillance on that ranch than Micah knows about. There are cameras outside the bunkhouse to see the surroundings and some on the inside. Deb erased it all and it will never be spoken about. Deb is the only one that’s seen any of it. Micah hasn’t said a word about what happened between the two of you.” I turn to walk away.

  “Damn it, just wait one minute…I’m thinking.” Sarge is hesitant. Stealth is busy digging into the box of pizza, but Shield is studying his friend.

  “I’ll go and stay with Micah. It’s not who she wants but I will make sure she is safe,” Shield says like the good man he is.