“I think we need someone on that ridge across from their property with a scope on Priest. We don’t know anything about this club or how they will react. I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Shield tells me and then hands Stealth a cup of coffee and then hands me mine. I take it without hesitation.

  “I’m with Shield on this and make sure we have backup in case it goes south. They will have home field advantage.” Stealth puts his two cents in.

  “Do you two think this is my first rodeo? All taken care of.” I stop for a second but then figure I need to just ask the question I want to know. “What were the two of you saying about Micah before I walked in?” Shield and Stealth look at each other.

  “We saw Rye in Sulphur Springs with Micah’s aunt Deb. He’s been staying at their ranch with Deb since right after Micah left.” Didn’t see that one coming.

  “Why is now the first time I have heard about this? Rye belongs in Oklahoma.” I bring my mug to my mouth and the coffee is still hot but not so much it burns my tongue as I drink it. I look at both my brothers, but they looked hesitant.

  “I have been keeping an eye on Bass Haven Horse Ranch, so you aren’t tempted to ride over there. We know the day you called it quits with Micah wasn’t easy. We just thought the further away you are from everything Micah the better. I did a quick drive by and make sure everything looks normal and that’s when I noticed Rye’s motorcycle parked in front of the house. The next time I was there, the bike was moved, but I saw Rye driving Deb around in her truck. They looked mighty cozy.” Shield is not a brother that sticks his nose in everyone’s business, except for mine and Stealth’s, but he takes his responsibilities to heart and to him guarding Deb and Micah from being hurt emotionally is as important as keeping them from being hurt physically. If he wants to put in the extra time and trouble, then it’s on him.

  The thought of Deb with Rye is a bit confusing. Deb is a straight shooter and likes things in an orderly way and inside the law. I’ve never seen her with any man. I know she isn’t a nun but damn that woman needs a man. It might loosen her up a little so she will stop talking about that damn shotgun. Rye on the other hand works on a tight line between outlaw and doing what he needs to be doing to stay on the right side of the law. Not a great match but maybe it’s just a booty call. Nothing wrong with that and it sounds more likely. I thought Rye and Bourbon shared their women and I know Bourbon has Kat right now playing house in Oklahoma. Rye and Bourbon have been known to share everything since they were younger, before Whiskey their other blood and club brother was killed.

  “Just keep me updated. Has Micah been home?” I know I shouldn’t ask. “I know that she is very protective of her aunt and I’m not sure she wouldn’t throw one of those hissy fits over a biker moving in on Deb.” It’s lame to my own ears. What the hell is happening to me? Stealth and Shield look at each other and I drink the rest of my coffee. Stealth and Shield are doing the same and I know they are stalling. I walk to the sink and give them a minute. I rinse my cup out and put it in the sink. I turn and Stealth looks at me.

  “We haven’t seen anything of Micah. Shield and I thought you didn’t want to hear anything about Micah,” Stealth says but it sounds like a challenge.

  “Is there a problem Stealth? If anything is happening in our territory, then it is my damn business.” Stealth has been acting this way for a while now. I have put off having this talk with him, but it seems it is time. “What is wrong with you lately? I don’t need a damn babysitter or a counselor when it comes to Micah. It seems something has crawled up your ass and is stuck in your craw lately. This is the last time I am asking nicely what the hell your problem is?”

  “Stealth and I are both worried about you, Sarge, at least when it comes to Micah. You act different when it comes to her.” Shield is always trying to be a peacemaker.

  “What do you mean different? There is nothing different, but she keeps coming back for more and this is the last time I am going to say it. Subject is closed and that is coming from your president and your friend.” I am yelling by the time I am done.

  “That right there is what I am talking about. You get all defensive when Micah is mentioned. Micah is hands off to every brother but you, but you haven’t claimed her. When Micah tried to use Shield to make you jealous, you held your cool in front of Micah, but beat the shit out of Shield a few weeks later and don’t deny that’s what that shit in the ring was about. You were just lucky he wouldn’t hit you back.” Stealth is seething with anger, but it isn’t about this.

  “He’s right, Sarge. Since I have known you, you have never once battled yourself over a decision. You make the decision and do it and to hell with the consequences. You are the one making a big deal of this Micah thing. Who is warming your bed is not our business but we, as a club, have made decisions on which direction we are taking the club. The relationship or non-relationship between you and Micah could directly interfere with our plans if things get volatile and you lose your head when it comes to her. We’re doing our best to run interference, so it doesn’t go in that direction again. We are not your babysitters but your brothers.” It’s like Shield just punched me in my gut. They are right. I have once again let a woman get too close and I will not let my personal life interfere with our club. I also will not let Stealth off the hook so easily. I stare at Stealth, but he doesn’t back down.

  “I understand your line of thought and I will consider what you said.” I see Shield relax his shoulders, but Stealth is still wound up tight.

  “About fucking time,” Stealth says under his breath, but I still hear it.

  “Now your turn Stealth. What has come over you? You are biting everyone’s heads off and you are either yelling at the women here or you act like they turn your stomach except when you’re fucking them. Brother, what is your problem?” I know I sound like I am accusing him and in a way I am. He wants to be up in my business then I will repay the favor even if it makes us seem like a group of bitchin’ women. Shield walks over and stands beside me.

  “I’d like an answer to that one too. Lately everyone around you is walking around on eggshells,” Shield tells Stealth. Stealth looks at the ceiling with his eyes closed and then rolls his shoulders.

  “Retta says she’s pregnant with my kid.” I hear Shield let out a long breath. Have I missed something? I thought Retta was the sister of the woman that Stealth was interested in. Then again, he has been acting like he has lost interest in Tammy too.

  “That’s what has you tied up in knots? I thought you were into Retta’s sister, Tammy. It’s too late to worry now, all you can do is wait for the baby to arrive and have a test done.” Shield always cuts to the bottom line. “Isn’t there a test that women can take now before the birth and determine parentage. I don’t know very much about pregnancies. I was taught to wrap it up and be responsible. Remember that Stealth? I know you listened to the same lectures I did from Dad.”

  “And be tested.” I am more worried about where Stealth’s head is and about his health.

  “I don’t remember a damn thing about it, nothing. In my head there was no sex that night.” Now he has my attention. “Tammy sent me a text that morning to ask me over to her apartment for dinner. I showed up and Retta was there but left. Tammy and I had dinner and started watching some damn chick flick. We were drinking but I didn’t think I got that drunk. I was just chillin’.” Stealth hesitates and then goes on, “The next thing I know I am waking up on one uncomfortable sofa and my head was throbbing. I was alone and fully clothed. I got out of there because I couldn’t recall anything past the movie. If I made an ass of myself, I didn’t want to hear about it until my head quit hurting.”

  “Was it just a headache or nausea too?” Stealth looks at me like I just asked a stupid question.

  “It was like a hangover from hell. It lasted a couple of days. You remember three months ago when I went to the doctor, I was dehydrated from puking everywhere.”

  “I would demand the test, get tested for any diseases, and talk to an attorney, all for precaution and so all bases are covered. What did Tammy and Retta say happen?” Shield asks.

  “Tammy won’t speak to me and Retta just keeps telling me that I knocked her up and we need to get married or I can pay for all her expenses and then the baby’s.” Stealth looks torn. “I will never be some dead-beat dad, but my gut is telling me not to trust Retta. A couple of weeks ago Drew called and she’s stateside. She’s decided not to re-enlist this time and she wants to give us a try. I want that chance. She’ll be out in six months. Drew is the only woman I have ever come close to being in love with. I don’t want to screw things up in any way.” Stealth is being real with us right now. We all met Drew overseas. The two of them clicked right off. Drew could take everything that Stealth dished out and give it right back to him. Her dad was Army, making her an army brat with two older brothers that served as well. From what she’s said, all the men in her family do at least four years in the army. It only made sense Drew would enlist, but the men in her family didn’t think the same way, and she chose the army over her family’s wishes. Her family also didn’t like Stealth. Stealth always had doubts about Drew. He thought she was just trying to piss her family off. Shield and I have only heard the stories of her family. Stealth had the pleasure of staying a week in the same town as they were in. They coordinated leaves so they could be home, and Drew brought Stealth along for the short vacation. That did not go over very well. Drew was also best friends with the woman I cheated on my fiancée with. Stealth may love her or loved her but every time I see her, I feel the anger at myself rise inside me. My weakness that changed my life. Water under the bridge now.

  “Just call Drew and be honest with her. It’s not like you’re married or even engaged. She’s doing her thing while you do yours. She may not like the situation, but she’ll understand.” Shield gives the level-headed advice.

  “The hell she will! There is no woman that is going to understand when you start talking about another woman and a bun in the oven, that might be yours. Shield where the hell do you come up with this crap? A woman is just as territorial over her man’s cock and his swimmers as a man is over whatever pussy he claims as his. Women go crazy over another woman having a claim on any part of their man just like we do our women.” I look at Stealth. “How would you feel if Drew was knocked up by some other asshole. You would be pissed even though you and Drew haven’t seen each other in a while. Stealth just wrap your mind around the kid situation, sort it out and then fly out to visit Drew and talk to her away from here and the situation. Maybe by then there won’t be a situation, if you are right. Worst case scenario then Drew has time to see if she still wants to move here. It’d be a shit thing to do if you let her move here without telling her.” I’ve said my two cents worth and this conversation is almost chick talk and getting uncomfortable for all of us.

  “You’re both right. I’ll make those appointments later today. Now we need to talk about the business at hand.” Stealth looks behind me and I hear voices coming this way. Stealth may open himself up to Shield and me but he’s not ready to let anyone else in yet. I look at the men entering the room.

  “Get some coffee and wake up. I’ll get some of the muffins up to fix us something to eat while we go to the table. Slayer and Ritter are on gate duty and we will update them later. No votes necessary for right now. We will have a full meeting tonight.” I still have my doubts about Slayer and Ritter’s loyalty to the club.

  “Rainey is in the shower and when she’s is finished then she will get Bree to help her with cooking. They are on the morning shift this week,” Wedge says as he walks in the kitchen. My coffee is all I need in the mornings and neither of those women are the best cooks we have. I see the brothers moving into the room and grabbing cereal boxes and Keys is making more coffee. I walk out of the kitchen and up the hall to my office. I shut the door behind me and go sit in my chair behind the desk. I don’t even think about it. I take my phone out and send a short text and I know it will be later today before I hear back but it has been a while since I have had a talk with my friend and she always helps me clear my head. Besides, it will piss Devil off and that always makes my day. That puts a smile on my face. I sit back in my chair and take a few minutes to enjoy the solitude in my office. It’s the only time of the day that I will get to myself.

  I know I have work to do and I need to stay focused, but things are not adding up in my head. I like to think I am a man that can think logistically and statistically at the same time. I haven’t had a problem this far in life. The thing that has me second guessing myself is the moves that the Legion MC are making. They are moving close to our territory and haven’t given us a heads up. Bikers aren’t big on following rules but not showing respect to another club that is this close can’t be tolerated. I’m not one for putting on a show for anyone but if I let it stand then it would make both the club and me look weak. A club stands on its reputation and the Brothers 4 Blood MC is not weak. What kind of logic could they be using? Any way you cut it is a bad move on their part.

  Statistically they have no better footing. From what we have seen we are close to evenly numbered and we don’t have the number of women and children to protect. We have been here longer and have put our claws in this area. Not in a bad way. The businesses we have purchased have given community members jobs and our tax dollars help keep the two counties running. We also have friends here so that gives us a better standing. From what I have heard the Legion MC hasn’t even tried being friendly to anyone, in fact, they chase people away. I don’t see an angle.

  The thought occurred to me that it could all be over the land that we both have an interest in buying. Too bad for them that by the end of the day today we will have it all in our name. I intend to inform Priest of just that today. It just makes no sense to me that Priest moved his entire club here without having a full-proof plan in place first. Sean or Cooper will update me on anything they can find out from their contacts later today. Keys is digging for information as well and if no one comes up with anything then I will be calling in some markers for information. I sit and think of any plausible answers, but nothing comes to mind except Priest is just a dumb ass to put his people in this position. I hear a knock on my door that brings me back to reality.

  “Enter,” I yell out. Shield opens the door and Stealth and Painter follow him in.

  “Everyone is almost finished eating. We should be ready to roll out in the next half hour,” Painter lets me know. I open my mouth to answer him when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I hold up a finger, so Painter knows I will respond as soon as I check my phone. I stand up and take my phone out of my back pocket. The number is unknown, and I would normally ignore it, but my gut is telling me to take the call, so I answer it.

  “What?” I am not in the mood for a telemarketer this early in the morning.

  “I heard the ladies think you’re charming and shit. Who put a stick up your ass so early in the morning?” I take the phone from my ear and look at it. Is someone pranking me? Who the hell does this clown think he is?

  “Fuck you, state your business or I’m hanging up and I will hunt your ass down. Who the hell are you?” I signal to Stealth to get the called traced by Keys. Stealth opens the door and runs out in the hall.

  “Whoa there, you want to have this conversation. My name is Priest and you have had my family under surveillance for a few days now. I want a sit-down with you, there are things we need to discuss,” Priest says but his voice has a stressed sound to it. He’s under pressure by someone or something and if I can tell by talking to him for a few minutes then it means he is up to no good. I don’t know this man but my training in the Marines makes me not only pay attention to what is said but also how it is said.

  “That’s what happens when you come into territory and don’t show respect. I should have heard from you before you ever set foot anywhere near here, let alone setting up a compound of sorts. Why do you want a meet now? What’s changed since you arrived?” I ask Priest.

  “I was under the impression that Mt. Vernon wasn’t part of the Rebellions 4 Blood territory. Was I misinformed because I meant no disrespect? I wanted the Legions MC in a position we could protect our own if need be. It’s a long story that can’t be discussed over the phone. I have a business proposition to discuss and if you have the time then we can talk today. The sooner the better.” I see Stealth walk back in and he is nodding his head yes. I relax because I know we know his location.

  “Well since you asked so nicely, and I was already planning to drop in for a surprise face-to-face with you today, that can be arranged. One hour, your place.” I don’t give Priest time to respond before I disconnect the call. He will soon learn that he doesn’t call the shots.

  7

  Micah…