Page 61 of Biker's Baby

TWENTY-SEVEN

Abe

“We’re puttinga stop to this before it has the chance to start!” Tad slammed his fist on the table, causing people from around the restaurant to look over.

It wasn’t as though the town wasn’t used to seeing the club meeting at the Mexican venue, but it was rare for Tad to be so worked up about what was going on in club affairs that he was willing to discuss it so publicly.

“It’ll be easy for you to keep an eye on this guy living right next door.” Tad glared at me. He’d found out about Trey, and he wasn’t happy that I hadn’t told him. I knew I would be punished for it in some way, that is, if he wasn’t satisfied with how I handled the situation now.

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“I trust you’ll make as many friendly gestures as you need to in order to get him to tell us more about what’s going on with his club,” Tad continued. “We can use the one to get to the rest. Then we can throw them all!”

“Yes, sir,” I said again. I felt almost like a machine as I agreed to the assignment. I would tell him that I’d do it, but my heart wasn’t in it. Not by any means. I didn’t want to use Trey to get to the rest of his MC, and I really didn’t want to start a war.

If Tad was so set on a full-on war between the MCs, that meant innocent lives were at risk. There would be a lot of people hurt who had nothing to do with either of the clubs, and that bothered me. It went directly against what I was supposed to be doing here in the first place, and I started to feel trapped.

I knew I needed to call and check in with my brother. Not just any of them, but with the oldest. He always had good advice. And, after I called him, I would check in with Mikey, my father’s old friend. He was another who had been familiar with Tad back in the day, and someone who might be able to give me even more personal advice than my brother could.

But I had to get through the rest of this meeting first.

To do that, I had to make it look as though I was contrite over the fact I hadn’t been the one to come to Tad about my neighbor, and I would do what I could now to set things straight.

“With Glenn down for the count, I’m also trusting you to inform him of this latest development.” Tad looked at me again. “Do you think you can handle this?”

“I can handle it.” I nodded.

“No, I’m not just asking for lip service here,” he said. “I want to know you’re on the right side, Abe. I’m sure you’re not surprised why I’m questioning where you stand right now.”

“Not at all,” I said.

“Good.” He didn’t let me elaborate. “Then you’re sure to be a shining example of loyalty and dedication to the club taking care of this issue, I’m hoping.”

“Yes, sir,” I continued with the same monotone attitude.

“Good. Anyone with any questions, come directly to me. I don’t want there to be any misinformation or mistakes made. These men will try to come in slowly and carefully, disarming us in the process. I’ve seen it happen before, and I’m not letting it happen again!” Tad looked around the table, making eye contact with each of the other members.

I managed to keep my calm throughout the meeting, but I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I felt hot, as though he was lecturing me in front of everyone, and there was little I could say that wouldn’t wind up coming back to bite me in the end. I had to mind everything about myself if I was getting out of this.

Though I had to admit, with each passing day, I wanted out of the club entirely more than ever. I cared less about the inheritance than ever before, and it was still the fact that I didn’t want to disappoint my brothers that I was still here. I cared more about Iris than most anything else in my life, and it bothered me to think that I would have to choose between her and my own family.

But I could worry about that later.

As soon as I was out of the meeting, I called my oldest brother. It was a brief conversation, cut short when I told him I could talk to Mikey.

“That’s a good idea,” he said. “Tell him everything Tad’s doing and what your position is. He’ll be able to give you a hand I’m sure.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I’ll do that as soon as I hang up with you.”

Which didn’t take very long.

We always kept our conversations short and to the point. It was safer that way.

Next on the list was Mikey.

I hadn’t called the man in forever, but I still had his phone number. One of those things I kept in case I ever needed it. Wasn’t sure that day would come. But here I was, calling him up.

We got through the pleasantries easily enough, but Mikey knew that I’d called him for a reason, and he cut right to the chase.

---