Page 51 of Believe In Us

Chapter

Twenty-Five

BASS

Killian’s Billiards is some seedy bar down in Pleasant Hills the boys and I used to frequent whenever we found ourselves in the area. After finding out Killian’s doubles as The Cobras MC’s official clubhouse, we’ve tried to steer clear of it, but business somehow keeps bringing us into the area. It’s strangely quiet today but despite it’s still light out, the usual crowd of Motorcycle enthusiasts, thugs, addicts, and alcoholics are nowhere to be seen. That may also be because of the recent activity that’s been polluting this side of town.

The Horsemen and I have always hated these dealings my father and Wesley had with The Cobras, but we’ve had to deal with them much more often in the last few months since Wesley’s death.

Beck and I head over to the back of the bar, where we know the entrance leading directly into the room they use for theirmeetingslies. Although Ace is the one who’s been following me on these impromptu runs my father continues to send me on, he had somethings to take care of with Scarlett. I didn’t ask but covered for him, insisting to my father it was time to bring Beck, his stepson, in on some of the more nefarious dealings.

Of course I didn’t want to come here either, especially not after finding Jade today in class cozying up with fucking Walker, but daddy dearest made it clear I couldn’t back out of this. I have a whole fucking week of dealings with the Cobras and if I want him off my back, I need to act like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I can’t lead him to suspect anything between Jade and I, especially not that I plan on screwing his whole plan he created, cozying up to Kinsley, just so he could close the deal for the new casino with her daddy.

So here I am, ready to push this illegal drug deal with a Motorcycle gang on behalf of my father, the benevolent drug lord.

“You think this is really going to work?” Beck asks, looking around the parking lot, making sure we weren’t followed. Beckett was reluctant to come out here with me since it’s usually Ace and I who take care of this side of the business, but as my stepbrother my father gave him no choice.

“No but we have no other option. We need to leave here tonight with a contract signed by Zeke himself agreeing to what we’ve laid out for him. Ace and I came up with the deal, it’s full proof, they either agree or they’re screwed. It won’t be easy but we’ll get it done.” Saying it out loud I almost believe it. Zeke St. Germain, the President of The Pleasant Hills Cobras MC, would be stupid not to take the deal.

Given the fact that we now know Kai is Zeke’s nephew, I’m surprised we’ve never run into him or any of the other two guys around these parts. Who would have guessed that the nephew of a Motorcycle gang President we do dealings with, would move into our town, attend our school, and infiltrate our group of friends. It’s a small, small world.

“I admire your confidence brother, especially when it comes to illegal drug deals with fucking criminals,” Beck scoffs, turningaway from me seemingly annoyed. He’s opted out of wearing his usual button-down shirts, and instead changed into a dark gray T-shirt and his tight skinny jeans, making him fit in better and not stick out like a sore thumb in a place like this.

“Whether we like it or not, we have to accept the fact that our hands are stained too Beck. Growing up in this world, being part of it, did that to us, but now we have a choice in the matter. This is the last thing I’m doing for him. Once Ace and I close this deal, we’re done.”

“How many times have we heard that Bass?”

We walk up to the back door, where a man donning The Cobras cut, black leather and a green cobra crest, guards the door staring intently at us before calling someone on his phone. I laugh at his attempt to warn the others of our arrival, when Zeke is well aware we were on our way here.

However, to our surprise, Zeke isn’t the one who appears at the door to greet us.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite Silver,” he says, stepping out and extending a hand to me. I look down at his open palm, thinking about the different ways I could break it and drag his ass to the floor.

Kane fucking Dalton.

“What the fuck are you doing here Dalton?” I sneer, stepping into him but not making it far before Beck’s arms come around me holding me back. I look up and notice five of Kane’s men, all dressed in three-piece suits, have emerged from the building.

“Well I guess it was stupid of me to expect a friendlier greeting,” Kane utters, sarcastically the men behind him laughing in sync like fucking robots. Pathetic.

“Well I must say, I didn’t think the notorious God of Galen Grove would dare step foot in these slums to do his own dirty work. Don’t you hire these goons for that? Or are they all as stupid as Skeet and his friend?”

A sinister cackle leaves him, amused by my retort. “Yes, I’mafraid Skeet and Toby are fucking morons, but I keep them around because they’re the best god damn shot this side of the coast. Besides, if I’m not mistaken, Skeet is quite fond of your girl. I mean I don’t blame him, she’s quite the catch. Would make me an easy mil on the market.”

“You fucking asshole!” I shout, pouncing on him, but I’m quickly pushed back by three of his men. Two of them, one on each arm, hold me back as another punches me in the stomach, making me crouch forward in pain.

“Now, now, I was told you had better manners son,” Kane says mockingly, his clandestine cat-like eyes staring astutely at me.

I spit out at his feet, staining his suede Tom Ford oxfords, as I try to pull out of his men’s hold. “Stay the fuck away from her Dalton, I swear to God if you so much as touch a hair on her, you’re a dead man.”

Kane’s loud laughter echoes through the empty parking lot, as more men appear coming out from the bar, each with a woman dressed in the skimpiest dresses, on their arm.

“Kane, I thought I asked you nicely to not spill any blood on my property. I don’t need the Feds coming around and sniffing blood on my turf, I can’t afford to clean your mess.” Zeke St. Germain appears from the shadows, the cobra tattoo he and all of his men get around their necks when inducted, visible with his long dreads pulled back into a bun, his beard is trimmed shorter than the last time I saw him, and the scar across his eyebrow make him look every bit the ultimate biker. Not at all like Kane and his men who look more like the crooks working on Wall-Street.

Kane steps around Zeke, placing an arm around his shoulder. “I wasn't planning on it, I swear, just ran into an old friend that’s all.”

Zeke shakes his head clearly not amused by Kane’s phony response, “Silver, what brings you to my side of town?” he asks, stepping out from under Kane’s arm and walking forward to meet me.

I decide to not take the bait Kane is clearly throwing my wayand instead focus on why I’m really here. The faster I get this deal out here the quicker I can go back to see Jade. “You know exactly why I’m here Zeke, let’s not play these stupid little games, leave that to the idiots in suits. Invite me in, pour me a glass, let's talk business like real men.”

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