Page 18 of Heart of Stone
“Since Hawk started adopting strays,” Ginger smirks.
“You want to control your woman?” I ask Tank. He yawns, wrapping an arm around his harpy.
“Nope.”
I sigh. “Don’t we have bigger shit to worry about than my new mess of a neighbor?”
Stone’s expression darkens. “Chapel. Ten minutes.”
The others sober. This is business now.
Duck catches my eye as we head inside. “You know, if you’re interested?—”
“I’m not.”
He raises his hands in surrender, but his knowing smile tells me he isn’t buying it.
Neither am I.
The chapel sits off the back of the house, away from the chaos of the main living spaces. The heavy wooden table dominates the space, carved with the history of our club. Stone takes his place at the head, Tank to his right. The rest of us file in, taking our usual seats as prospects scramble to bring coffee and clear the empty bottles from last night.
Mack, our secretary, is already set up, his laptop open and reading glasses perched on his nose. He looks more like a biker than the business brains of our club, but the man has an encyclopedic memory. Beside him, Cash—our treasurer—isburied in paperwork, his brow scrunched into a frown as he hunches over figures.
For two young guys, they both take their jobs far too seriously.
“All right,” Stone calls the meeting to order. “Mack, what’s first?”
Mack adjusts his glasses. “Bike rally next month. We need to confirm numbers for security detail. Also got word from the Rattlers MC—they want to discuss expanding their run through our territory.”
“‘Discuss.’ Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Lee mutters.
“They’ve been peaceful lately,” Axel points out. “Might be worth hearing them out.”
“Numbers first,” Stone directs. “Cash, what’s our take from last quarter’s runs?”
Cash shuffles his papers. “Up twenty percent from last year. Shop’s doing well too, though we need more merch.”
“Duck?” Stone asks.
“On it. I’m updating the patch design and will put the order in this week.”
“You need anyone to take a second look at the design?”
If looks could kill, Cash would be six feet under.
“Do I need someone to look at a patch whichIdesigned? The patch you’re wearing right now? The patch I personally inked on most of you?” He scoffs. “The updates are minor so no, I don’t fucking need a secondfuckingopinion.”
Cash clears his throat. “Got it. Moving on, Duck’s mechanic is bringing in restoration work from all over the state. She’s really carving out a name for us in the territory.”
My jaw clenches at the unexpected mention of Andi. For a woman I barely knew existed twenty-four hours ago, she’s coming up a whole fuck of a lot.
I don’t like it.
“Speaking of territory,” I cut in, ready to move past the usual business. “We need to talk about Summit Development.”
The room quiets. Stone leans forward, elbows on the table. “You’ve confirmed the rumors?”
I nod. “Three houses this week had utilities shut off—not including your girl’s across the road last night.” I nod at Duck.
