Page 71 of Claim Me

The pool table is soon filled with our IDs and weapons as the uniformed cops pat each of us down.

“If you want,” Elvis says when the detectives seem scared to clear the back bedrooms and start talking about bringing in SWAT, “I can get everyone out here for you. I can even help you find the person you’re looking for.”

The detectives seem out of sorts. However, the uniformed cops are dying to start shit. They’re the ones running the show, which makes sense. A few of them are members of the Brennan family.

Dirty cops are a dime a dozen in any big city, but the Brennan family took control of the Banta City police department. They have family members in important roles. Anyone who wants to be safe on the streets needs to bend a knee to Alec Brennan. He carries a badge while also running various criminal organizations on the side.

Last year, he tried to make a deal with the Backcountry Kings to dethrone the Kovak Syndicate. This idea always seemed nuts to me. A war in Banta City would cost each side a lot of money. The club responded to the offer by having Bear marry Natasha.

Since then, the cops have been slow to aid us when things went sour. If the local cops were in charge of finding Hunter’s stalker, Matt Parker would still be living it up in France. Having the feds roll in and take over was another kick in the balls for the Brennan family.

I assume tonight is their way to feel powerful. The problem is they miscounted how many members were still around. Despite all the yelling about Zoot, I sense they waited until our president and VP were gone before rolling in with their warrant bullshit.

“What is all this, boyo?” Caveman asks, strolling out of the back hall.

“Hands up!” the cops scream and point their guns.

“Be cool, Caveman,” Elvis warns. “These boys are on edge since they can’t find the guy from their warrant.”

“Let’s just be grownups here,” Caveman says, standing in only his Santa-themed boxers. “We all know there isn’t any warrant.”

A uniformed cop barks, “You need to stand with your hands against the wall.”

“So, you can pat me down for weapons?” Caveman asks and lifts his arms. “The only weapon I’m packing can’t be tossed on the pool table.”

“With enough effort, I could take it off you,” the cop growls at Caveman.

“This won’t end the way you want. A year from now, you’re bound to wish you grabbed a beer with your bros rather than walking into this bar.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I think you know I am.”

When the uniformed cop moves to hit Caveman, the detectives quickly act as buffers to prevent violence from breaking out. I glance at the man who saved Lorrie, Bubby, and me so long ago. Cavemanabsolutelywants to get his ass kicked. Any pain will give him permission to stomp down on the Brennan family.

That’s why the detectives don’t let the uniformed cops start something bigger than what was planned. Tonight was likely meant to be an annoyance. The cops want to prove they can walk into our territory and make us temporarily obey. If Zoot or Noble were here, the men would call in the lawyers. Shit would get real in a way the Brennan family doesn’t want. Unfortunately, they forgot about Elvis and Caveman.

Other members of the Hills Chapter exit the bedrooms. The mood in the bar changes. Bear exhales deeply like he’s wondering how bad shit is about to get.

Zoot is a beast, but he lives in the city and knows how this place works. Publicly fighting with the police is a no-no for even him.

Caveman and his men live in the backwoods, where no one is above reproach. Years ago, when I was a boy, the hills had a goofy sheriff and a single deputy. They weren’t in charge of anything, but they wore the uniforms and made people think the law mattered. One day, the men’s egos convinced them to push back against Caveman.The hills don’t do stealth.Caveman beat the shit out of both men in the middle of Main Street with an audience clapping along.

Right now, he wants to make another mess. Elvis smells blood in the air and proves he’s more than the goofball brother.

“Let’s remember how the O’Malleys, Brennans, and Callaghans go way back,” Elvis tells two uniformed cops with Brennan blood in their veins. “Our families used to run bootleg booze together. Caveman’s pappy and your granddad did the bank job in Tempe Falls together.”

Elvis channels Aunt Fred’s calm tone. He mentions things Alec Brennan said to her and Noble back when the cops wanted to take down the Kovak Syndicate.

The cops might not care about Elvis’s tone, but his words remind them of the bigger picture. They start thinking about what happens if violence breaks out. Someone might get killed. No way did Alec Brennan authorize anyone ending up in the morgue.

As the cops back off, Caveman frowns at his brother-in-law’s successful efforts. Though I admire the man in a million ways, Caveman’s love of drama can be annoying at times. Right now, I just want to go home to Siobhan. I see myself curled around her body. I can already feel my son kicking my hand. None of that will happen if Caveman starts a brawl.

“The person we’re looking for isn’t here,” Tommy Brennan announces, having held back until this moment. “We’ll be back if the situation changes.”

The other cops file out of the clubhouse while Tommy just stares at us with those dead blue eyes all the Brennan men own. He flashes a dismissive look at Caveman before giving Elvis a little head nod. Then, Tommy follows the others outside.

Once the door closes, Elvis announces, “Tommy likes me!”

---