“It seems we have some theft going on in the clubhouse. Flick is living in a room upstairs because Rita stole her savings.” I throw the purse with the cash inside onto Tracker’s desk, whichhe glances over but doesn’t pick up. I continue, “Flick and Rita will be here in a minute so you can sort out the mess. Me, the mood I’m in, I’d drop Rita in the fuckin’ acid pit.”
Chuckling before he smirks with one side of his mouth, Tracker amusedly asks me, “Who shit in your Cheerios this morning, Finger?”
“Bitches, that’s who!” For some reason Cilla pops into my mind as I remember her giving Books a reprimand for cursing and calling women bitches unless they were acting like one. Well, I think these bitches are acting like bitches.
“What’s going on with you?” Tracker notices, of course, that my mind wandered. I reminded him of the conversation with Cilla, and he shakes his head, but I can see the smirk on his face which he’s trying to hide behind his beard. “I like her,” Tracker announces, and I knew he would because this man loves anyonedifferent,and Cilla is sure different.
The door opens and Jethro drags Flick into the room, followed by Rita who is looking smug in my opinion. Well, I’ll make sure to knock that look off her face. “Sit, both of you. Jethro wait outside.”
“Okay, Finger,” Jethro quickly walks out of the office and closes the door. He’ll know not to allow anyone into the office until we are done.
Tracker leans forward in his seat, steeples his hands on the desk, and gives both women a steely-eyed look. I’m sure they are ready to pass out with fear because the look he’s giving them isn’t a nice one. “Flick, explain,” it is all he says, but they both know he’s only going to ask once.
Flick wipes her face with the palm of her hands, then gives Rita a nasty look before starting to speak, giving all her attention now to Tracker. “You know when I came here it was asteppingstone to a better life for me. I’d been in the system, and it hadn’t been a pleasant experience.…”
Rita scoffs, and under her breath I hear her mumble, “Pity party, here we go!”
I grab that bitch around the back of her neck, and squeeze while lifting her onto her feet. “What have you got to say, Rita? Something you want to share with us all?”
“No, Finger,” Rita freezes under my hand.
I look at Tracker who has a vicious sort of amusement crossing his face. “Keep your trap shut until you are asked to speak. One word out of place, Rita, and you are going to be just a fuckin’ memory. You get it?”
Rita looks at the floor as though it has the answer to the predicament she is in right now. Flick is now standing quietly waiting, and when Tracker gives her a nod, she continues speaking.
“When I came here, I spoke with you, Tracker, and we agreed I could be a club girl and save for a better life. I want to go to Florida, Michigan, Kentucky, just anywhere to make a new start. I had a lot of savings because I buy nothing I don’t need. I never waste things, using until they are done before buying a replacement. I do what I’m told, when I’m told, and I try to be kind to everyone. But Rita has been horrible to share a room with, and she steals my things as well as now stealing my money.” Flick never looked away from Tracker, and I know he can read a person better than anyone.
Tracker flicks his eyes to Rita, gives her another steely-eyed stare before speaking. “You will be discussed with the brothers at the next church meeting. I will put forward a vote as to you either staying or leaving. Until then, you will clean every room in this building, starting at the top floor. I will inspect and if it’s notdone to my satisfaction, you will redo it under the watchful eye of Coin, and we both know he can’t stand to look at you.” Now, Coin is our treasurer, and he had a run-in with Rita the first month she was in the club, and he’s shown nothing but dislike for her since. This, I’m thinking, should be fun!
“I haven’t said my side of things,” Rita tries to argue.
I chuckle, give Tracker a raised eyebrow, and wait. It doesn’t take long. Tracker stands slowly, showing his full 6’5” height, looking down his nose, and his face is set. Rita takes a step back, but I push her forward just for the hell of it. “I don’t need to know your side,” Tracker snarls, and again I smirk. “The cash is here. It’s proof of what you did because I know Finger took that money from you while you were lying on your bed naked. I also know that Flick has been nothing but honest while she’s been here. I know she wants to move on to better things, and I can’t blame her for that. In fact, I am proud that she’s doing this so she can have a better life than she has now. You, on the other hand, have shown nothing but spite, drama, and ugliness. Why a brother would want to fuck you I’ve no idea. Now get to work. Jethro!” Tracker shouts for the prospect, knowing he is waiting outside the office door. “Take Rita upstairs where she’s going to be cleaning the rooms. All but the one Flick has in use. Flick, you stay in that room for now but lock it. Jethro, stay and watch Rita work and make sure she doesn’t waste time. Report by supper what’s gone on.”
“Yes, Pres,” Jethro nods, grabs Rita’s arm, not aggressively but firmly enough to get her moving.
Tracker holds the purse and looks at Flick with a much softer look than the one he’s been giving Rita. “Do you want me to have Coin keep this safe for you? He’ll put it in the safe, and you can add to it whenever needed. How much more saving do you need before you move on?”
Flick nods. “Yes, please. It would be good if Coin could keep it safe. I have around five thousand dollars now. I was aiming for ten or fifteen before I leave. I have a way to go before I leave.”
I know the club women don’t get a massive amount of cash because they get food, lodging, and a clothing allowance, well more like a non-clothing allowance. Saving five grand is good going in my opinion, and it shows she is genuine in why she is here and improving her life.
“Try to stay away from Rita, but if she bothers you then you tell Cap, Finger, or myself. I don’t want excuses Flick, you tell us.” Tracker, I know, is doing his best to help Flick and apart from giving her money so she can leave there isn’t much more he can do. We both know Flick would not accept money, as she would see it as charity, and that is not who she is. She is very well liked amongst the brothers, and not because she fucks them, but because underneath being a club woman she’s a sweetheart.
Two hours later I’ve closed up rooms that are not being used right now, and I mean they are locked so nobody can sneak in and use them.
I’ve also spoken to Jethro, and he’s reported to me that Rita is working, but she is continuously complaining under her breath, which has both of us grinning.
Now I’m heading to the meeting Tracker has called. It’s a meeting of the brothers that ZeBach has a grudge against. We are all in church, although it is not a normal church meeting. I look around and acknowledge, Rides, Keys, Ghost, Judge, Demon, Bowie, and Cap. Now, Cap wasn’t part of our team at that moment in time, but he is our VP and needs to be in the know.Tracker walks in and closes the door firmly. Takes his seat and looks around.
“Okay, brothers. I’ve been in contact with people who owed us information and Finger, your friend Cilla is right. ZeBach is in the USA and has been seen heading our way. Although he is a wanted man, he’s slippery as an eel and has evaded all opportunities to be arrested. You are all here in church because he’s after us. He wants retribution for us taking out his compound and men. How many men he has with him is unknown. Maybe your lady friend will know, Finger?”
“She’s not my lady friend. I don’t know her. Books, Bowie and I met her at the club is all. I reckon she’s real with this hearing the dead thing, but fuck it’s spooky.” Of course, I get the usual bantering comments flying, and I take it as I can give as good as I get so they’ll get it returned at some stage.
Ghost speaks, getting everyone’s attention. “I’ll get answers and report back. I have contacts, too. But I’ll find the fucker.”
We know that’s all we’ll get out of Ghost, so he gets nods in response, but Tracker looks at him firmly. “You take Demon with you. I want you both back here in a week, only that long, Ghost. This bastard is after us, and we all here know what he’s capable of. I’ll hold church and have all the brothers on alert.”
Ghost and Demon leave the meeting, which is what we would expect from them. Ghost can get himself in and out of anywhere and never be seen. Demon, however, can fight his way out of any trouble. I’ve suggested he be our second enforcer more than once, but he’s not interested in an officer position.