Page 3 of Pearl
“They were harassing the ladies. We stepped in.”
Capone looks over the fuckers who look like they’ve just been handed their asses. “You’re in Larussio territory, no fucking permission, acting like a pack of animals and messing with our friends. Get the fuck out of Nevada and don’t come back or we’ll put you in the ground. We’d do it today, but you’ll get yours in Tucson.”
Baldy’s eyes narrow.
Ryker’s blue eyes flash as a warning. He and Capone may have been from rival clubs at one time, but they’ve mended those fences a long time ago, and no one’s more dedicated to the Larussios, the mob family who took over Vegas not that long ago and pays me well to run what they need, than these two. “You want to stay and play?” he asks Baldy.
A shake of heads from him and his scumbag crew confirms what I already knew. They stalk out, and two of them toss the pool sticks meant for me and my head onto the floor. Capone slides his gun back in his holster. “At least for now, they’ll get out of town and head back to New Mexico where they should have stayed. That crew is nothing but trouble and getting worse. At some point, we’re going to need to deal with them. They don’t seem to understand the boundary lines so good. We’ll see if they show up to the Tucson rumble. If so, they won’t fucking see our crews coming.”
I glance at Capone and Ryker. “We appreciate your help.” Capone extends a hand. “The Desert Riders rode in from New Mexico, they’ve been aligning with the fucking Scorpions who are a pain in our ass, causing trouble with the locals on the outskirts of Vegas with increasing frequency. Right now, we have orders just to watch them. See what they’re up to. “You still heading to Az in the a.m.?”
“That’s the plan.” I gesture to Capone. “This is a friend of mine, Lucky. We did a stint together in Florence, near Phoenix, a few years back. He’s in town doing a favor for a friend, andwe were just catching up tonight. Capone gives me a nod, and I follow him to the bar while Ryker talks to Lucky.
“Thanks for the heads up,” he tells the barkeep. “Bruiser, this is a friend of ours, Canyon Carver, but Carver for short.”
The grey-haired man with a long beard and lots of silver on his hands and tattoos up and down his arms gives me a grin. “Took some guts to take those bastards on single handed. I had my shotgun on the ready, but you were holding your own until Capone stepped in.”
I laugh as he pours us both a beer. “Lucky had my back too, but I’m sure as hell glad Capone and Ryker stepped in when they did. I didn’t expect the bastards to pull a gun instead of just brawl. Sorry about the mess back in your bar.”
Capone pulls out a wad of hundreds and lays them on the counter in front of Bruiser. “The clean-up and repairs are on the Larussios. Those bastards come around again you let us know right away. They aren’t welcome here again. They’ve been warned.” He looks to Bruiser. “Ryker’s old group the Desert Riders are getting a little chummy with a rival of ours, the Scorpions. Keep your ears to the ground and if you hear anything give me a heads up.”
Bruiser tucks the money in a jean pocket. “Appreciate the cash. You know I’ll have both eyes and ears out for you,” he says, heading into the back and leaving us to drink alone at the bar.
Capone turns to me. “Any chance you can make two runs to Phoenix this week? There’s another shipment coming in from the East Coast. Let’s just say it needs to find a way over to Phoenix. We’ve got some folks who will get it to Tucson if you can get it that far. Word on the wires are the cops are out in full force, stopping everyone. They know the biker convention in Tucson is going to heat up the main roads with a lot of bike traffic.”
I take a long pull of the ice-cold beer. “Shouldn’t be a problem. The straight line between Vegas and Phoenix may be faster, but I’ll steer clear of main roads, sky patrol, police cruisers and motorcycle clubs who aren’t as friendly to the lone wolfs. I’ll take the backroads and canyons any day of the week. It won’t be a problem.”
“Copy that.” He pulls out a few thousand dollars. “For picking up the extra run. Pick up the package at the same location, and same deal applies. You get caught, you’ve never heard of me or the Larussios. The lawyers will have you out within a day.”
“Done. It may be a little farther to go through Sedona and take Interstate 11/US 95 but cutting across 163 and driving by the Colorado River along the shores of Laughlin and Bullhead City makes up for any inconvenience in time. And keeps the police off my ass, which is more than a plus in my book. I’ll take the alternate routes through Christmas Tree Pass, Grapevine Canyon. One thing though. You have any issue with Lucky riding out with me as long as I don’t fill him all the way in?”
Capone looks thoughtful, cuts a glance over at Lucky who’s still talking with Ryker. “If you trust him, that’s your call, and we’ve got no beef. Ryker and I are going to take a drive to make sure the fucking Desert Riders cleared out and didn’t set up camp anywhere.”
“Sounds good. I’m going to have a couple of cold ones, get a good night’s sleep, and head out in the morning.” Capone laughs as the sound of females laughing and giggling stirs in the air. I turn to see the same damn woman I told to get lost crooking a finger with a long pink nail at me from across the room, still bare-ass naked.
It makes me wonder if she came back to party and say thank you, or if the fucking Riders sent her back to get a little more information from the man they didn’t expect to meet. Eitherway, we’ve got a long day ahead tomorrow and she’s not getting any information from me.
The next morning,we get up early, stepping over all the bodies, beer bottles, and half empty whiskey glasses strewn about the club. I look out the grimy window and in the distance see two riders, just watching from the hill.
I have no doubt as soon as we’re out on the road, they’ll either be hot on our tail or on the phone calling in some reinforcements. Because they may not be wearing colors and patches, and may be just riding through, but they’re affiliated with someone with a beef. I’d bet my last dime on that. “Let’s go,” I tell Lucky, who may have come into the bar alone, but is leaving with me.
The minute we’re out the door, we kick our bikes into gear and peel out as quick as we can. I take the lead, because we’re not taking the scenic route today. No, we’re going to hang out in the canyons, my home away from home, at least until the dust has settled or these rogue bikers get out of town.
I move with unparalleled speed, taking all the hidden back ways in and out of the red rocks of the desert, no matter the gravel roads and washboard stretches. The canyons are in my blood, and I’ve run them since I was able to ride, especially when trying to avoid the law. This time is nothing, just a steady ride, not like the times I’ve had to run for my life.
Chapter 3
Pearl
Istare down the three women who have the nerve to disobey our rules after the safety we’ve provided. Charity’s eyes flare with attitude, but there’s a softness in them when she looks over at Angel. I’ve seen that look before in group homes when one woman, whether she’s barely a child herself or not, begins protecting another. That’s what I’m seeing now. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
Charity clears her throat. “Angel’s twin sister, Lacey. They got separated and she was taken away from the group. I have a clue where she’s at, but we don’t have much time. They have her stashed in some club house right outside of Vegas. Some sister of a rogue biker group owns it.”
My eyes narrow at the woman, my mind clicking, trying to put the pieces together as fast as the possibilities evolve. “Why the hell didn’t you say something sooner?” Fucking trust. Nobody has it. “How the fuck do you know all that?”
Now it’s Charity’s turn to look nervous.
“You get busted out of a truck, you’re not together, get taken to a temporary safe house, we pick you up, ride you through the desert to a fucking secure clubhouse, where no one could haveseen you until you broke the rules and came upstairs, and you know where the sister is? How the fuck do you know anything about her or her whereabouts, Charity? I’m not going to fucking ask you again.”
