Page 16 of Wolf

Isatat the head of my table for the second time this week, pissed that we had to hold a second meeting when we weren’t even halfway through the week. We normally only had one or two meetings a week. Everyone’s club workload was divided in a way that meant they could handle their shit on their own, and even if they had an issue, Lamb could normally sort it on his own. Everybody was always busy doing something, so we weren’t thinking of expanding our investments at the moment, which meant fewer club decisions to be made; it was supposed to mean lessChurch.

“Somebody better tell me quickly how the fuck Anna almost ended up with her head blown off while we were none the wiser,” I growled, my hand clasped tightly around the handle of my gavel, ready to throw it at something at just the thought of what shit could havegonedown.

“They followed Lizard, the kid who got killed,” Hunter explained. “He was sprouting shit on the guy who’s got his eye on us, and that’s the information Anna got herhandson.”

“What did he manage to tell her?” Pretty asked, looking at me. But it wasn’t mewhoknew.

“Nothing you’re gonna like,” Jax answered, his eyes also on me. I felt my hands squeeze the little wooden handle. “Anna said Lizard had found out that the bastard’s been buying up real estate left, right, and center, all in our surrounding areas—including the empty factories in the industrial area north of Fellpeak. Been getting as many clubs under his wing as he can. Most of them refused offers from him because the west is still under Charon’s influence, though he’s turned a few. Got himself some dirtypoliticians,too.”

“Fuck,” I growled. It was worse than I thought. “How the hell has this guy been moving around like this without us knowing about it? Somebody buys up a shit-ton of property, some fuck’s got to notice, especially when it’s on ourterritory.”

“It’s because he’s been flying low under Charon’s radar, basically hiding behind him. People just figured it was the Grims buying up more investments. It’s not uncommon for them to buy shit under false names. Nobody put the dots together untilLizarddid.”

“But what the fuck has it got to do with our club? The fuck did we do to have this pain-in-the-ass bastard on our backs?” I pried my fingers from the gavel and threw it aside on the table, concerned I was going to start throwing it at my brothers’ heads. I would have if I didn’t have just as much a part in not noticing as the restofthem.

“He’s looking for something,” Jax informed the room, his eyes narrowing. “Apparently, we’ve got the key that’ll lead himtoit.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I snapped. “A fucking key? This isn’t some kind of treasurehuntshit.”

“I don’t think he means a literal key,” Lamb interrupted. “Whatever it is, it’s the means to getting what he wants. Be it a person orinformation.”

I looked around the room at my brothers. Neither the old ones nor the young ones looked like they had a fucking clue what he was talking about. “Anyone got anything they want to confess?” I turned and looked at them all one by one. “Someone hiding some secret stash of gold or some shit we need to knowabout.”

Nobody moved, and I thought we were going to remain in silence until I saw Jax open his mouth, and I just knew some bullshit was about to come out of it. “Not unless he’s after my Italian underwear collection.” It got worse as his expression turned into genuine concern. “That shit cost me afortune.”

“Wait.” I saw Pretty look up from his seat, his eyes dancing with light as he turned to Jax. “What about my stampcollection?”

“You have a stamp collection?” Jax scoffed, looking like his eyes were about to pop out ofhishead.

“No,” Pretty scoffed. “I was kidding, you dick. Do I look like some pussytoyou?”

“Hey,” Polo snapped from across the table. “Ain’t nothing wrong with collectingstamps.”

“There ain’t nothing wrong with it,” Jax returned. “If this were still the1950s.”

“Youbastard—”

The gavel slammed down on the glass table and sliced through the noise like the crack of a whip. Silence fell upon the whole room as their gazes traveledtome.

“I run a fucking motorcycle club,” I growled, looking at each and every one of them. “Not a goddam fuckingnursery!”

“Sorry, Prez.” Jax raised his hands in surrender. Pretty apologized in a similar suit, and Polo gave a huff and looked away. I’d known the old man my entire time in the MC; he’d been a hardass from the very beginning, and getting a full apology from him was like trying to get blood out of a stone. Not to mention, I didn’t have time to grill him, so I let it be and got on with this shit before I managed to blow my cap and smack one of them intoawall.

“We’re going into lockdown. We don’t have a fuckin’ clue what this bastard is after. With what happened with Anna today, I’m not taking any chances. I don’t like this shit happening so close to our turf, so I want everyone in. Part-timers, weekenders, the whole lot. I don’t give a shit if we don’t have enough room; you bastards are going to have to share. And if you even think about bitching about it, I’m gonna knock you into next week. Am Iclear?”

“Yes, Prez,” echoed throughout the room, some of the bastards grumbling under their breath but conceding to my authority nonetheless. There wasn’t much more to argue on, since none of us had a clue as to what the bastard wanted, nor whohewas.

With everyone in agreement, I told Jax to fill Mint in when he got back, and I slammed the gavel down once more, getting the fuck out of that room as fast as Icould.

Chapter Six

Anna

Igotout of my car, popping my trunk and reaching for my bags as I heard his familiar voice roar across the car lot. I made a point of ignoring him as I continued to pull my bags out and shut the trunk before locking it withthekey.

His towering shadow swallowed me as I opened my purse and dropped my car keys inside. I then proceeded to count the bags I had on the floor to make sure I got them all, despite already knowingIdid.

I waited until I heard his growl before I looked up from my bags and pretended to feign surprise at him. “Oh, I didn’t see you there,” I said, drowning my voice in that fake, crappy-acting voice on purpose. He did that thing where his height seemed to grow, towering over me like a huge, enraged giant as his heavy brow formed that perfectly constructed scowl across his face, squinting his deep brown eyes into tiny slits. I ignored his anger and instead pointed down to my bags. “Since you’re here, get those for me,” I ordered before strutting past him towardthedoor.

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