Page 85 of Disturbed Lucidity

“Considering the new stipulations Luc set into place, until we can find someone trustworthy, it’s going to be me and Ivy.”

“Don’t want her working that place alone,” I said firmly.

“I don’t either, that’s why when she’s scheduled to be there, one of us will be with her,” Mouth advised. “I can easily put the Plebs on a revolving schedule, but that creates another problem itself.”

“The question is, can they handle her if she loses her shit?” Logic spoke up.

“That’s why I was thinking of assigning only one of them. Pyle would be a good battle-buddy for her.”

“Gomer Pyle?” Slash shouted. “The fucking idiot?”

Mouth sneered, pointing a finger at Slash, “Say one more motherfucking word, Slash, and I will have your ass on KP duty for life!”

Yeah, that was the other thing.

No one wanted to piss off Mouth. I may be the president of this club, but Mouth ran the place. Fucker liked to believe he was a grunt like the others, but I knew Mouth was a class unto himself. Enlisted like the other brothers in the club, Mouth forewent the Green to Gold Program in the Army and went Warrant Officer. After surviving a deep-classified mission, the President of the United States bestowed Mouth with the commission of WO5. The highest rank in the Warrant Officer Program. Not only was Mouth a highly decorated soldier, but he was also expertly skilled in many areas and the second deadliest brother in the club next to me. Because of his classified past, Mouth was the only brother in the club that technically didn’t have to salute me when in uniform.

The man deserved respect.

Plain and simple.

So, when I saw Mouth’s shoulders square up, I leaned back in my chair and grinned, because I knew Mouth was about to hand Slash his ass.

“That fucking idiot deserves our respect, shithead. Pauly McCoy served just like every motherfucker here. Yes, he isn’t all there in the head, but that boy is as loyal as they come. Ain’t no one better to watch Ivy. You think I’d just put anyone on her? Barbie may belong to the Prez, but she’s ours. We all care about her. Even the Plebs. She dotes on them. Listens to them, cares what they think. And don’t forget, Slash, that kid is fucking deadly as hell when push comes to shove.”

Slash held up his hands in surrender.

“Sorry, brother.”

“Got no problem with Pyle shadowing Ivy,” I stated, ending any argument that may occur. If Mouth thought Pyle would work, then that was good enough for me. “Just make sure he knows that she is to be protected at all costs. No matter what. Got me?”

Mouth nodded.

“Anything else?” I asked.

Gathering his shit, Mouth stood. “Nope. See y’all next month and, Saint, I expect those extra funds for housekeeping first thing tomorrow.”

Saint dropped his head to the table and moaned, “When is Berlin due back, cause his fucking job sucks?”

The brothers chuckled.

The club’s treasurer, Berlin, was following up on a lead that he pulled out of his ass a few months back when he was in D.C. visiting an ailing friend. It was only by chance that Berlin was in the right place at the right time, because when he was walking out of the VA Hospital in D.C., he saw a familiar face getting into a government vehicle with a high-ranking political figure. Someone we all thought was dead, was, in fact, alive and well, which set off major alarm bells.

Doing what Berlin was good at, he followed the motherfucker.

The last time I heard from him was three months ago when he told me he was following up on a lead and wouldn’t be around for a while.

Brother was off the reservation and none of us knew where the fuck he was. However, we weren’t worried. Berlin was more than capable of taking care of himself. He would call when he needed help or an extraction.

“You know Berlin.” Alias smirked. “The longer he’s gone, the more interesting shit’s gonna be when he returns. Enjoy the downtime, brother, while you can.”

“Is that what you’re calling the current state of the club? Downtime?” Saint complained.

“Enough,” I growled, halting any arguments before turning to Frost. “We still set for later tonight?”

“Got the shipment ready. Twenty crates of M4s and two crates of AKs ready to be delivered. Los Diablos has agreed to the terms and conditions. In fact, they jumped at the chance. Said it would be their pleasure.”

“And Los Santanas?”

---