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Alexa is visiting with Wylla Mae and the baby. I needed East here for church. Grudge has gone off the radar. I don’t trust it. Don’t trust him. Shit doesn’t add up. Him losing Ruthie. He’s tailed her for years under my order. Got the prospect, Rio collecting phones at the door. I sit at the head of the table watching each brother file in and take their seat. East to my right. Viking to my left. The chairs fill up. Sandman, Banks, Crawl, Slick, Holy, Roane, Hound, and Link. No Grudge.
Rio gives me a nod and closes the door. He knows the drill. That door doesn’t open till church is over. No interruptions. No women. I slam my gavel on the table with our club insignia carved in the center. “Meeting is called into order. First off I want to congratulate our VP on the birth of his beautiful baby girl.”
A few whistles and cheers sound. Sandman pounds his fists on the table.
“Up first is old business but Grudge isn’t here to report. If you didn’t notice he’s been absent a lot lately. As most of you are aware, I sent Ruthie packing after the fiasco with Lynn and those cunts plotting to kill Alexa and Wylla Mae. Grudge was supposed to escort her to the ends of the Earth. Said he lost her, but I don’t trust it. Truth be told there’s always been some bad blood between us due to my sister, Lily, slighted him when she turned him down after her husband died. But still I trusted he’d be loyal to this club. I’m not sure that’s no longer the case.”
Some murmurs resonate around the table but Holy is the first to speak up. “He came to me once for counsel. Had something weighing on his heart. Affection for another man’s wife. At the time I thought he had the hots for Pam. Looking back I think I had it wrong or he led me to believe what he wanted me to assume.”
“Wouldn’t have been Lily, that’s been too many damn years ago.”
“Could been he meant Ruthie. She was still your Old Lady at the time.”
“What do you want to do?” East questions.
“Let’s see if he turns up but Sandman and Hound want you two on the brother. Wanna know every move that bastard makes.” Both men share a look then give me a nod. “New business. Viking, want you and Holy to head up north soon as we’re done here. Got a call from my sister. Swing by her center. You know the place. She’ll give you the details. Ride will take you to Baltimore. Gamble has extended an invitation to you two since you’ll be in her territory. Banks, how’s our accounts looking?”
“Everything’s up to date. Bills, dues, the girls at the club are bringing in some serious cake. It all looks good, Prez.”
“Anyone have anything to add? Any grievances?” I wait a beat.
Roane holds up a hand. “Just need to know what kind of tattoos you and the Old Lady are gonna be wanting, so I can get a head start on the designs.”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Am I officiating?” Holy asks.
“Yeah, man, so don’t you two be dicking around when you get to Baltimore.”
“Real happy for ya, Prez,” Crawl says with a chin lift. He’s lucky I don’t put his ass in the dirt. He dated Alexa a few years back. I’m not too damn fond of the shit I heard about how he treated her or any other woman for that matter.
“Anyone else?” I’m itching to get out of here before I lay into Crawl. No one has anything to add. “Meeting’s done.” All the brothers file out except for East. I wait for the room to clear. “What’s on your mind, VP?”
“This Grudge situation. Man never has been a fan of Alexa, but you think he’s working with Ruthie?”
“Can’t say for certain. I just have a bad suspicion. That prospect, Rio. Dude said he overheard him on the phone talking about shit being all good, and he’d see them soon. What’s that sound like to you?”
“He coulda been talking to that granddaughter of his. What’s her name, Katie?”
“Fuck. Maybe I’m seeing what I want to, but still doesn’t sit right with me. Ruthie wasn’t any more faithful in our marriage than I was, but Grudge is the man I had on her.”
“Think he was feeding you bullshit and reporting back to her on you and the club?”
“Someone was giving her something, man. I don’t know why I never saw it before now. There’s something I’ve not shared with anyone except Alexa and Wylla Mae knows bits and pieces. Ruthie was blackmailing me.” I tell him about the shit Ruthie put me through and when I’m finished East stares at his shoes.
“Damn. I think Hound and Sandman had better find Grudge and bring the bastard in for questioning.”
“You got that right.” I follow him out to collect our phones.
The second East slides a finger across the screen he starts cursing and puts the phone to his ear. “What happened? Slow down, baby, I can’t make out what you’re saying. What do you mean Mila is gone? Where’s Alexa?”
I immediately dial my woman but get sent straight to voice mail. I stare at East who is glaring back at me. “What the fuck happened?”
East punches the wall next to my head. “We’re too fucking late. Grudge and Ruthie disarmed the alarm on the cabin. Took Alexa and the baby at gunpoint.”
Goosebumps fan up and down both my arms. “God damn I’m going to kill them.”
“Not if I get to them first,” East growls.
“Prospect,” I roar, and Rio comes running. “Get me Hound and Sandman now.” He shoots down the hall at my order. “You go to Wylla and get as much information as you can. I’m going tracking.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“Best place for you is taking care of my daughter.”
“They got my kid.”
“That kid is my granddaughter and they have Alexa. If I don’t get to her, they’ll kill her without a thought. Ruthie’s a fucking cunt but she won’t hurt a baby.”
“I shouldn’t have to choose between my wife and my daughter.”
“No man should.” Ruthie’s good at fucking forcing it. I’m going to kill the bitch. Hound and Sandman come charging back down the hall. “Sandman, you’re with East. He’ll fill you in. Hound, brother, let’s go hunting.” I grab East by the shoulder. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’ll bring them both home. Don’t worry. Just take care of my daughter and I’ll take care of yours.”
He gives me a nod. I hope he doesn’t go rogue, but I’ve got more important shit to think about it. Like all the ways I’m going to torture Ruthie and Grudge.
First, I’m going to tear off her fingernails with pliers then dip the raw bloody appendages in salt while Grudge listens to her scream. I want her to beg. Want her to suffer. Then I’ll cut out her lying tongue and traitorous heart. Fry them up and feed them to the piece of shit who betrayed me and this club. I’ll force him to swallow every last fucking bite. His death will be slow. Gonna bury him and Ruthie with their beloved Lion. The three of them can rot in hell together forever.
I climb on my Harley and roar out the lot with Hound, East, and Sandman. Grudge used to spend his downtime at his grandpa’s cabin. It’s the first place I’m checking. Should’ve brought a cage because of the baby but my bike is faster. The sooner I find them the quicker I get to put a stop to Ruthie for good. The world will be a better place without her in it. I’ve given her one too many chances. She’s made a fool of me for the last time.