Page 64 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
He opened his big ass mouth, but looked around first.“If you haven’t noticed, this is a biker clubhouse, complete with whores, set inside a junkyard.”
My glare should have had him ducking for cover.But fool that he was, he kept talking.
“I know if it was my Danielle or Ma, I’d want something better.”
“You got a castle you can pull out of your ass?”Complete with a moat, guards, and afire-breathing dragon?
“I’ve got three showcase houses, and I only need one.Maybe two.”
I blinked.
Somewhere between that email and holding Zoe in my arms for the very first time, I’d forgotten all about the club, the businesses we ran, and the sometimes competence of it all.“I wasn’t going to ask.”
“But I’m giving.”
If it were any other man, I’d ask what was the catch?But this was Sprout.He was born into this shit.His grandfather was a member.His father died for this club.He shared millions of dollars he didn’t have to share because he believed in us.It was about time I showed some faith back.“I appreciate the offer.But you know Shock might fuck it up.”
He shrugged.“They’re insured.And right now none of them are making me any fucking money.So, that might be a good thing.”
I slapped the top of his head.“And while it’s getting fucked up, my woman and daughter are there.No.It ain’t a good thing.”
“But it’s better than this.”He motioned around at the squalor.
Reluctantly, I had to admit it was a valid point.“I don’t want to…” I didn’t want to what?Get their hopes up?Play house, and then have them find out I was an utter asshole?Better they find out exactly who I was first and then see a better side of me later.
Or else it would all be lies.I’d had enough of those.
“Get everyone who was on the run in the fucking meeting room.We gotta put a lid on this shit immediately.”Before Nonno or Big G, or God forbid, Shock, found out.
“On it.”He whistled, “Prayer session.Specks, you heard Jackson, the girls gotta get out.O.U.T.Now.”
One of the hookers complained.As did a member who must have shown up while we were out.
I bitched right back.“Baldy, shut the fuck up and get your ass in that room.Smoke, you can keep a lid on this shit out here, yeah?”Smoke was almost out of his prospect phase, and already shacked up with an ol’ lady.He’d done a stint in prison between his first two years as a prospect and this finalyear.He was one of the few I believed in to lead this group of misfits.And he’d already proven to be an asset.
“You got it, boss.”He personally helped one of the women off their barstool and pointed her to the door.The other prospect, who hadn’t earned more than the name “Speck” was doing a piss-poor job of corralling.He would not make it.I didn’t see the fire in his gut.He was strictly here for the money he’d get someday.
I had enough of that type of asshole.With Kate and Zoe here, there were going to be no more free rides for anyone.“Sprout, put that one on the list.”
“The shit list or short list?”
“What the fuck do you think?”
He tipped his head and forced a comical frown on his face.“I don’t know, we don’t have anyone to replace him yet.But you do you.”
“Who runs this club?”
He grinned.“The ol’ ladies, of which, I think we just got another one.”
That didn’t deserve a response.
Neither did the jeers and bullshit my men gave me in our little “prayer” session.Then again, at least they booed down Wolf’s suggestion that I take the women and run.Maybe those fuckers wanted to see me dead?Whichever way you sliced it, the club knew about Kate.And worse, they knew about Zoe.From that point on, it was an endless stream of “how old was that hooker you had last month,” to “Gee, Dad, a couple more years and you’ll be a grandpa.”
The noise followed me out the door.
Smoke had one of the hookers by the arm, a deep frown on his face, and if I wasn’t mistaken, a war storming behind his eyes.
“Why isn’t she gone?”
