Page 37 of Elling & Jackie

Chapter 14

Elling followed Viktorand Marcus out of the Bantorus Body Shop. Staying to the shadows near the back of the building, out of view of the security cameras.

Their successful break-in turned to disappointment. The Bantorus Motorcycle Club had left a dollar in the safe.

That dollar was a big fuck you letting Slag know the other MC was prepared for them to try and steal again, and they'd upped their game.

Waiting as a group at the corner of the building, they timed their escape to coincide with a passing car, knowing the beam coming from the headlights would blind the camera to their movements.

The information they'd received assured them there would be money stashed away from a recent shipment. After months of leaving Bantorus Motorcycle Club alone after ripping them off last time, they had counted on the other MC to have gone back to holding the money at the body shop location.

"Car coming," whispered Viktor. "Ready?"

"Ja," said he and Marcus together.

As the headlights hit them, they ran onto the street, the car providing cover. By the time the camera would've adjusted to the light changes, they were on the other side, and safe.

Elling walked briskly down the block where Roar, Brage, and Rune waited and where their motorcycles were parked. Nobody asked about what happened.

He started his Harley, riding off with everyone as a group. There were two crews posted at different locations on their short ride to I-5 that joined them on their way out of Pitnam. Their intention on bringing more Slag members in hopes it would be harder for Bantorus to gun them down took a backseat to being laughed at when they opened the safe.

At the entrance ramp to the highway, a dozen Bantorus members sat on their bikes and watched them leave. An uneasy cramp in his stomach warned him that they hadn't seen the last of Bantorus.

Roar must've had the same thought because they kept riding toward Portland without stopping and going over what happened in Pitnam. Or hadn't happened.

At the Slag clubhouse, he took off his helmet and stretched his back. Roar walked away from the group and spoke with Peer, who'd stayed back to watch over the Slag property.

"That doesn't look good," said Marcus behind him.

"Mm-hm." He studied the two men.

Roar's stoic expression remained constant. Peer spoke, barely moving his mouth. Slag members came outside to hear what happened and stayed away from Roar, giving him time to talk in private.

Already in a bad mood, Elling took out the can of snuff Jacqueline had given him and stuck a pinch of tobacco behind his lip. The rush of nicotine fortified him.

Roar nodded to Peer before he stepped forward and faced the members. "Our ride today wasn't successful. The informant fucked us over, and we're going to take a break from going after Bantorus for the time being."

"What about our shipment to Norway?" asked Aron.

Elling listened carefully. He was concerned, not only for the mother club but because he understood Aron had family members and a wife still in Norway, as lots of the members had. To guarantee their protection, they needed weapons and cash from the Portland and Seattle Chapter.

"We'll find other ways." Roar looked around the group. "I'll meet with the Seattle Chapter, soon and come up with another plan."

"Bantorus knew we were there." Glenn shook his head. "I didn't like how they watched us leave."

Roar lifted his chin. "It was a slap in the face, and we'll remember how that felt as we make plans going forward."

The crowd of Slag members grew restless. Elling turned his head and spit on the ground. The unease going through them all showed the seriousness of the situation.

"Let's put today behind us. We have other things to be concerned about." Roar voice deepened. "While we were gone, the Federal Agent took Dag into custody."

Elling's gaze shot to Peer. Elling was always the buffer between Campbell and the other members, especially the prospects.

Dag was young. His loyalty to Slag not proven yet.

"I don't want anyone..." Roar looked around the crowd. "Talking to the agent. I don't want you to acknowledge him, talk with him, or fucking look at him. He's using Dag to get to Slag, and we're all at risk. Understand?"

"Ja," said the crowd.

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