Me: Working on it.
I had started pacing by the time the girls came back outside. Lisa seemed calmer now; Harlow had somehow made that happen. Watching them walk towards me, I took in Lisa’s smile as they chatted; the smile I
’d hardly ever seen on her face. She caught my eye and directed that smile at me.
Smiling back at her, I asked, “All sorted?”
She nodded but didn’t say anything.
Harlow agreed, “Yes, but Lisa’s still hungry. What happened to all that food you guys had?”
“They packed it up for me and it’s in my car. I’ve got to head out to sort something out. Are you able to take Lisa back to my house and stay with her until I get home? I shouldn’t be too long.”
Before Harlow could reply, Lisa asked, “Why am I staying at your house, Scott? I can just go home.”
I shook my head. “No, your Mum’s not in any state to look after you so you can stay with me tonight.” I was worried about her and wanted to keep an eye on her tonight.
Looking at Harlow, I asked, “Can you do it?”
“Yes, it’s no problem,” she replied.
I gave her my address and house keys. “I owe you,” I said, as I took the food out of the car and passed it to her.
“Yeah, you do,” she agreed, and winked at me, taking the food out of my hands.
As I drove away, I watched them in my rearview mirror; chatting and laughing together. Something settled in my gut, something I’d never felt before. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I was damn sure I wanted this thing at the clubhouse over as quickly as possible.
Chapter 15
Scott
I entered the room and Blade hit my sight. Motherfucker. He couldn’t be trusted. Why the fuck was I the only one who saw that?
“Scott, glad you could make it,” Blade greeted me as he stood up; cold eyes glued to mine.
I stopped in front of him, and said, “If I’d had more notice you were coming, I would’ve been here sooner.”
Neither of us moved; distrust and contempt thick in the air.
Griff broke the silence. “Blade’s changed his mind; he’s not willing to halt his distribution into Black Deed’s territory.”
I snarled at Blade, “What the fuck is your problem?”
Blade held my glare. “Black Deeds pissed a lot of people off under Nix’s control. Those people are more than happy to consider a new supplier. If the business is there, I’ll take it.”
“You’ve got no fucking idea what hell you’re bringing on yourself and your crew with that kind of decision.”
“My crew can hold their own.”
“You’re fucking delusional. Black Deeds will call in other chapters and favours; you won’t know what the fuck hit you.” Jesus, he was a dickhead and I was fast losing my cool. I knew he’d been bullshitting Dad when he agreed to pull back.
Griff knew my bullshit tolerance level and stepped in. “Scott’s right. Black Deeds’ power runs deep. They’ll smoke you before you even know it.”
Blade’s face contorted in anger. “Why don’t you let me worry about that and you stay out of it? This has got nothing to do with Storm.”
My anger had been walking a tightrope and that rope just fucking snapped. “This has got everything to do with Storm. Bullet’s asked us to get you to pull out, and if you don’t we’re in the fucking middle, and on Bullet’s shit list.”
“Not my fucking problem,” Blade snapped.