Page 10 of Trigger's Temptation

“Thank you, Carter.” Elise closes the door on me, and I spin on my heels.

The anger and rage thump through my veins and boil my blood. I held it together the best I could around Elise, but now I need to shed some blood. I need to fuck someone up no matter who it is or why.

Chapter 6

TRIGGER

After leaving Elise in her new room, I find Danyella, Monica, and Daisy watching a movie with the kids. I walk up to them and bend down so I’m near Danyella’s ear. “Elise needs clothes when you get a chance. Would you be able to get her some?” I whisper so I don’t disturb the ankle-biters.

“Of course. Is she alright?” Danyella asks, concern etched in her voice.

“She will be, but right now, she’s hurt.” I hold back the anger in my voice, but it still comes out raw and raspy.

Danyella gives me a reassuring squeeze on the hand. “We’ll take care of her, don’t worry. Capone and the rest of the brothers are waiting for you in Church.” Danyella responds with a gentle voice. She is the one to help those who need it.

I nod. “Thank you, Dany.”

“We’ve got you and her,” she says softly.

Leaving them to their movie, I head straight for the bar. Grabbing a bottle of Crown, I pour a shot, down it in one go, and slam the glass onto the counter. The burn barely registers. With that, I make my way to Church.

Inside, all eyes are on me as I take my seat. Capone sits at the head of the table, Blayze on his left, Torch on his right. Red has his laptops set up, and the rest of the brothers, Derange, Tiny, Aftermath, Dagger, Pretty Playboy, and Bones, are in their respective seats. The air is thick with expectation. All eyes are on me as I straighten my back and take my seat.

Capone slams his ivory gavel on the table, signaling that Church is in session. “First order of business. Since we have two new patched-in members, they need to have titles. Pretty Playboy, you’ve proven time and again that you have what it takes to keep our meetings in check, and your attention to detail is outstanding. I want you to be in charge of Secretary duties as of further notice and take some weight off Red.” Then he looks at Bones. “Bones, since you know how to take care of and dispose of our enemies when it’s called for, you are our official cleaner. If anyone needs someone to disappear, Bones is the man you want.” Capone tosses two patches at Bones and Pretty Playboy. “Find an Ol’ Lady to sew these on for you once we’re done here.”

Hoots and hollers, with feet stomping and whistling erupt, making Bones blush and Pretty Playboy smirk. Capone holds his right hand up silencing the rowdy bunch of assholes. “Trigger, how are our legit businesses holding up?”

I don’t even need to look at my notes for this. My photographic memory serves me well. “The bar, casino, and repair shop are all in the black. The fighting ring is slowly making us extra cash, and I’m seeing a turn in profits by the end of the year. As for our contracts, those speak for themselves.” I pull a stack of envelopes from my cut and pass them along to all the brothers. There’s a total of fifty-k split between everyone. It’s not much, but it’ll do for now.

“As for Bones’ idea about the gentleman’s club.” I continue. “I think we can swing it by next year as long as our other businesses stay in the black with no setbacks.”

“What about using the money from our Cartel operation to fund the opening?” Bones asks.

Capone shakes his head. “We’re not running as hard for the Cartel as we used to. The cash coming in is just enough to keep them happy. We’re contracting most of the work out to our sister chapter, the Royal Harlots. They need money, and we can provide it. Once they’re on their feet and able to go legit, we’ll cut ties with the Cartel completely.”

A beat of silence. Then, Capone adds, “But I don’t see that going over well, so be ready for a fight.”

“Thanks, Prez, I really want to see this through.” Bones responds.

“I know you do, and you will. Just give us time to get shit organized and prepared. It’s not something we can handle overnight.” Capone acknowledges. “Anything else?”

Murmurs of no ripple through the room. “Ok then. We have a guest staying with us until her safety is taken care of.” Capone nods to me, and I rise from my seat. Time to bring my brothers up to speed.

“My sister, Elise, had some bad luck these last few months. Herboyfriendracked up a bill with a loan shark, and now they want my sister to pay it back. If she cannot come up with a hundred grand in a week, they’re going to take it out of her skin. She isn’t to leave this Clubhouse, no matter what, until I can get a handle on this. They banged her around pretty good the other day and that is why she is here. She knows we can and will protect her at all costs, without laying a hand on her delicate skin. And if I find out anyone has touched my sister, I will skin their dicks and make them choke on it.” I narrow my eyes at Pretty Playboy and he narrows his back. Fucker is going to give me grey hair.

Capone speaks, cutting the tension between Pretty Playboy and myself. “Red, look into Elise’s personal life and give me thename of this boyfriend of hers. Dig as deep and as far as you can. We will help you, Trigger, but we can’t if you plan on skinning all our single men.”

I sit down in my seat and cross my arms over my chest. “Just don’t touch my sister, and I won’t have to skin anyone,” I grumble like a scolded toddler.

Capone moves on. “Torch, it’s your turn to collect the cash drops from our businesses this week. Take Pretty Playboy, Bones, and Aftermath with you. Trigger, you get the casino drop, and we’ll see what we have by Friday. Church dismissed.” Capone slams his gavel on the table.

I drag my hands down my face and exhale sharply. Fuck, why is this adulting shit have to be so hard? I rise from my seat and exit the Church doors. Usually talking about finances and shit puts me in a good mood but not today. Tiny is waiting for me on the other side of the doors.

“C’mon. I got a place you need to go.” He motions with his big beefy hands to follow him, and I do without question.

Tiny mounts his bike, and I follow. Together, we ride out of the garage and into the setting sun, the L.A. skyline glowing in the distance. After thirty minutes, we reach the industrial side of the city. Tiny turns into a warehouse parking lot, lined with muscle cars and filled with women in barely-there outfits, dancing to the beat of the music. The crowd parts when the rumble of our bikes vibrates through the pavement. All eyes are on us. They know better than to fuck with us or who we’re connected to.

Once we park our bikes near an old warehouse, a familiar woman with long blonde hair steps away from her dark grey Shelby and heads toward us with her hound dog on her heels. She’s wearing black skinny jeans, a black tank top, and a black and white flannel. Her long, lean legs eat up the pavement until she reaches us.

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