“Sparky, when will you have some product for Loco?” Rock asks. “I know he’ll want an update.”
Sparky squirms in his seat for a second. “Well, boss. Production is a little low. I diverted some of the last harvest to our edibles division.”
Rock grits his teeth. “How’s that going?”
“Good, good. Willow knows a guy who distributes to a few of the college campuses in the area. We’re setting something up.”
“Okay,” Rock says slowly. “But it’s easier to wholesale our harvests to Loco, isn’t it? You’re getting tied up baking and making edibles and now distributing them instead of growing.”
Sparky slumps against his chair like Rock just told him unicorns don’t exist. “It’s a new outlet for my creativity,” he protests.
Rock, Wrath, and Z share a look, then Rock’s inquisitive eyes turn Teller’s way. Teller shrugs.
“All right. Is it making you happy, Sparky?” Rocks asks.
That right there is why Rock’s probably managed to stay president for so long and earned the brothers’ undying loyalty and respect. Not many bikers would tolerate Sparky’s eccentricities.
“Yeah, boss. And I’m providing treats for the clubhouse too.”
“Yes, you are, bro.” Rav leans over and offers Sparky his hand for a high five.
“Is this exposing us to more risk?” Rock asks.
Sparky scratches the side of his head. “I dunno. I don’t think so. It’s legalish now.”
Teller leans forward and scribbles something on a notepad in front of him, then turns toward Sparky. “Catch me afterward.”
Rock lifts an eyebrow. “You gonna have Charlotte look into it?”
“Yeah, but I want to get a clearer picture first.”
“Thanks.” Rock scans the table again. “All right. Bricks, you’re opening CB today, right?”
“Yup.” He nods. “You’ll let me have Dex later, though, right?”
“I’ll be there,” Dex promises.
“Anyone else have business?” Rock asks. When no one raises their hand, he nods. “All right.”
Murphy clasps his hands together and turns his gaze toward the ceiling. “Thank you, Jesus.”
“Don’t go thanking your magical sky daddy yet, I got plenty of work for you,” Wrath warns.
“When’d you find religion, brother?” Bricks asks Murphy.
“Probably when he started praying that Heidi’s baking a boy in her oven,” Ravage answers.
“Don’t talk about my wife’s oven…or anything else,” Murphy snarls.
“Are we done here?” Teller asks, scowling at Ravage.
“Yeah, everyone can go.” Rock nods at Teller. “Let’s meet up outside.”
“You got it.”
The volume of chatter in the room rises as brothers shuffle out of the room. Rock stops Ravage with a quick, short whistle.
“Rav.” He curls his fingers in a “come here” gesture.
Rav’s eyes widen and he glances over his shoulder.
“We only got one of you, get over here,” Rock says.
Rav jams his hands in his pockets but lifts his chin and squares his shoulders as he approaches Rock’s end of the table.
“Prez, I was only kidding around,” he says in the most serious tone I’ve heard the fucker use since I’ve been here.
“No, you’ve got a point, crude and annoying as it is,” Rock adds.
“That should’ve been his road name,” Murphy says. “Crude and Annoying.”
Rav grins and flashes his middle finger Murphy’s way. “Fuck off, Ginger Yeti.”
“Great, glad that’s sticking.” Murphy shoots a glare across the table at Wrath who grins at him.
Rock pulls Ravage away from the table out of earshot. Doubt whatever they’re discussing affects me one way or another.
Chapter Six
Serena
A new day is your opportunity to make it better than yesterday.
* * *
In my first act of earning my keep at Emily’s house, I’m up early to drop Libby off at school.
I can’t tell if it’s the early hour or usual teenage sullenness but she’s quiet and busy checking her phone while I stick to the local thirty-mile-per-hour speed limit.
“Everything okay, Libby?”
“Yeah,” she mutters, staring out the window. “Thanks for taking me. Em likes to sleep in after she works late.”
“No problem.”
We haven’t told her why I moved into their house. Libby seemed excited about it. She’d given me a big hug before heading to bed last night and that was it.
Today, she seems indifferent or distracted. I always thought she liked school. Maybe she’s just not a morning person.
“What’s wrong?” I try again. “And don’t lie. I can tell something’s bothering you.” I don’t take my eyes off the road. Somehow, I think it’ll be easier for her to spill whatever she’s bottling up if I’m not looking at her.
“Nothing.” She sighs. “There’s this new kid at school. Kyle. I thought we…I don’t know. He was supposed to call me last night and he never did. He just sent me this lame, ‘oh sorry. I forgot’ text. And asked if I’ll meet up with him after school.”
Maybe all the hard lessons I’ve learned over the years can finally be of some use. “Can I give you a piece of advice I wish someone had given me at your age?”
“Don’t date until I’m twenty-five?” Libby scoffs. “Emily says that all the time.”