Page 32 of Outlaws’ Runaway

17

PAIGE

Fifteen minutes later,I’m wearing one of my own shirts again and we're walking to the church. I didn't get a very good look at it in the dark, but in the light, it's pretty. They keep it in good shape. From the outside, I wouldn’t think it was anything but an ordinary, medium sized, stone church. The stained glass windows are in good shape, with typical religious themes, though with this bunch, I bet the saints have seen some things that they would have to bring up in confession.

We pass a few bikers who watch me curiously. “Who’s the new pussy?” One of them shouts.

“Our use only!” Savage snaps back.

There’s some laughter and grumbling. I’m glad my back is to them, because if they saw the look on my face, it would be clear that I’mveryout of place. “Your use?” I whisper.

Crank chuckles. “Relax. With legs and tits like you’ve got, they’re just curious. If they think you’re ours, it’ll save us from having to keep defending your honor.”

Ours?

We walk around to the front of the church and go in the main doors. Inside, it’s obvious that the bikers have fully claimed the place. The pews, other than a few along the walls, have been replaced with sitting areas, leather couches and easy chairs in groups around tables, obviously made for hanging out and talking. There’s a big screen TV in the back and a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. In front of the altar, the floor is clear. For gathering or dancing, maybe? And the altar itself has been cleared off. Instead of a cross on the wall, there’s a banner with the Outlaw Sons logo on it. Over it hangs a biker vest with the Outlaw Sons logo on the back in a place of honor. Underneath the banner, is a full-stocked bar.

I'm guessing this is where the parties happen. A whole different kind of worship.

There's a mountain of a man sitting on the altar, bare chested except for his vest, with his jean clad legs hanging off the side, and between them is the back of a topless woman, her long blonde hair flowing down over her shoulders. At first I don’t understand what I’m seeing, but as we step closer, I realize he’s leaning back on one hand, with his other on the top of her head, and she’s very publicly giving him a blow job.

He looks up, watching us approach from hard, dark eyes. Eternity passes before he taps the woman on the shoulder and pushes her back. Thankfully, when she stands, it covers him up enough that by the time we get to the altar, his clothes are back in place.

She hangs around, not trying to cover up. “Should I come back later?”

An annoyed look crosses his face before he smothers it. “No.”

Now long ago I would be completely mortified at seeing what I just did, but it’s been a crazy couple days. I mostly feel a little bad for her because she was obviously hoping for a different answer, but when I give her a little smile trying to be friendly, she just flips her hair over her shoulder and leaves. Well then.

Hellfire looks down at me with hard, dark eyes. You could put him in a lineup with a hundred other bikers and it would still be obvious that he’s in charge, just by how he carries himself. I angle myself a little behind Crank, not wanting to bear the full brunt of Hellfire’s attention.

“How bad is it?” he asks in a dark, gravelly voice. A deadly voice. If my guys are dangerous, Hellfire is lethal. His eyes flit to me, evaluating me for a second or so, before he returns his attention to Savage.

“Undecided, but the mob is involved so it has the potential to turn into a shitshow.” Savage doesn't mince words.

“Motherfucker.” Hellfire turns around and grabs a beer from the bar. “Catch me up.”

We follow him away from the altar and into a room off to the side that’s been turned into his office. Between the three of them, Crank, Savage and Poe explain what's going on. Every so often, Hellfire asks me directly when he wants me to clarify something, and I can’t help feeling like I’m in an interrogation that could determine if I get tossed to the wolves or not. I didn't think I was that easily intimidated, but he’s freaking scary.

When they’re done, he eases back in his chair and takes a long drag, emptying his bottle. “Eddy’s whole crew’s dead? That’s a silver lining I suppose. Fucker had delusions of grandeur but without the brains or skill to get anywhere. I don't like this, butI can’t say I disagree with any of your choices along the way. It is what it is.” Hellfire twirls the bottle between his fingers and turns his attention to me. “And now you’ve picked up a little alley cat and from the way she’s clinging to your side like velcro, I’m guessing handing her over is out of the question.”

“I—I hired them,” I point out in their defense.

Hellfire fixes me with a flat stare. “With stolen mob money. Unless you’re secretly an heiress?”

“Relax, put your fangs away,” Savage growls. “You’re scaring Paige, and I know damn well you wouldn’t hand her over either if you were us.”

Hellfire waves it away with the flick of a hand. “Yeah, yeah. That’s why I don’t get attached. So what do we know about the Fabbris?”

“Almost nothing,” Crank says. “The mob never stretched out this far before.”

“Rumor has it they got squeezed out of their old territory when the Screaming Eagles got into bed with the Giordanos a few years back. On the bright side that means they aren’t as powerful as they could be, but if we ignore them for too long that could change. How do we feel about them setting up farm in our backyard?” Hellfire asks.

“I sure as hell don't like it,” Savage responds. “Up until now, all the players in this city have been pretty good at staying in their own lanes. We do our shit, they do theirs. Fucking Mafia never seems happy with what they’ve got. Turn you head for a second and they have their fingers in every-fucking-thing.”

Hellfire nods. “Agreed, but until we know how deep their roots go, we're gonna have to play this easy. I’ll spread the word and fortify our defenses without making it look like we’re prepping for war, but I think it's still early. Let’s lay low and use the time you bought to figure out our next move.”

“I'll do some poking around.” Poe leans forward eagerly. “I've got some contacts and I'll see what I can find on the darkweb. See what people are saying.”

---