“No fuckin’ way,” Logan says. “Yep. Don’t know if this is part of somethin’ bigger, or two newbies in town that don’t know how things run around here.”
“Oh, and if we don’t end up killin’ them first, a little DNA might give us further insight if they aren’t gonna cooperate,” I add.
“Oh, they’re gonna cooperate alright,” Brew says. “They’re not comin’ into our city and startin’ this shit. Not after all we’ve been through to rid this place of assholes just like them.”
Logan scratches his beard. “You know what it’s like: take one down, another pops up. It’s the way it is. A never endin’ loop of chasin’ your tails.”
“One less pedo on the streets is a good one,” Haze says, and we all agree.
“But if it’s one of Regi’s men, snoopin’ around, then I guess we’re gonna find out soon enough.” I crack my knuckles, ready to get down to it. “Kinda weird timing, isn’t it?”
“That asshole has it comin’,” Brew mutters. “But I like it when people underestimate a place they’ve likely never been. Walkin’ into Big Papa’s like that, as if they own the joint? They’ve got some big balls.”
“Or they’re suicidal,” I say. “Which I tend to think it may be a bit of both.”
“What did Cash say?” Logan asks.
“Said to find out what we can, he’ll send Tag and Harlem if needed, but until then he’ll sit tight,” Haze says.
Brew scoffs. “Don’t need H or Tag, they’ll just get in the way and do all the head crackin’ themselves, that’s just not gonna cut it.”
“I agree,” I say. “Haven’t been workin’ hard on findin’ a lead for this long only to hand it over to the two meatheads, don’t tell them I said that, by the way.”
“Idiot,” Brew mutters as the others chuckle.
“He has a point,” Haze says after a second. “H and Tag get to have all the fun. Could be a good opportunity to show Cash you’re serious, Logan.”
I don’t need to see Logan to know he’s rolling his eyes. “Don’t gotta prove shit to anyone,” he says. “Me and Cash have an understandin’, and that’s how it’s gonna be.”
“How come he gets away with not prospectin’ and shit?” Brew asks, his tone incredulous.
“I don’t know, some of us are gifted,” I reply. My prospecting in the club didn’t last long because I’d been at this game a while, just not for the MC. They take previous life experience into account, and after all the shit I’d done to help them bring down the bad guys, they more or less waived the prospect thing.That doesn’t happen for everyone, but I can no more see Logan wearing a prospect cut than flying to the moon.
“Just reaffirms me and Haze here always have to do the hard yards,” Brew complains. “And you two get away with fuckin’ murder, just by battin’ your eyelashes.”
“I don’t think they’re prettier than us,” Haze cuts in with a laugh. “If that’s what you’re implyin’?”
Logan tightens his grip on the wheel. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ, is that what I have to look forward to?”
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Sawyer
I’ve been to the warehouse a few times, but not for a while. Usually the committee members are the first on site, and they’ll call for backup from other club members if required. It is always the job of Harlem and Tag to get information out of potential threats, misfits, enemies, and anything in between. Cash allowing Brew and Haze to take over the ‘questioning’ thrills the two of them.
Catching criminals involved in trafficking was Brew’s torch to carry for many years, but since he made that promise to Erica to stay out of harm’s way until the baby is here, he’s kinda passed the baton to me. Haze is involved too, but because he’s married to a cop, the less he has to do with hiding bodies the better, though he’d kill me for even thinking it, let alone saying it out loud.
The boys all do what they have to do, regardless of what their ol’ ladies want. That’s part of life within the MC, but because we’re not 1%ers, there is a lot less risk for our club because we don’t peddle in illegal activity.
We haul the two hostages into the warehouse by the docks swiftly. The club owns various properties around NOLA, and the one by the shipping yard is the perfect place to hold sea containers, and men who do the club and this city wrong. Two birds, one stone, so to speak.
Of course, they wriggle and thrash around like they have some hope of getting away. They don’t.
When Brew and Haze tie them securely to a chair, their hands bound in front splayed on the armrests. Logan and I stand back. When they’re done, Brew’s eyes meet mine, “So, kid, you’re up.”
I stare at him for one stunned moment, then say, “Huh?”