“Cash flow. How we gonna deal with it?” Axel chimes in as Edge and Ryder look at each other and down at their beers, both not even trying to hide their grins.
I sit up and grab my bottle of Budweiser. “The drug should be put to rest. I have no interest in bringing it back to life.” Silence is all I hear, followed by Axel telling everyone how we need to stay quiet until this is final.
I glance at the clock—it’s close to five, and I tune out the conversation about selling marijuana while we decide what’s best.
“I want to deal with guns and that’s it.” Heaving myself up, my exhausted body starts to reject the lack of sleep. I toss the beer bottle in the trash can, hearing it shatter as I move the old brown filing cabinet so I can open the safe. The room goes quiet again minus the annoying hum from the sign. I don’t care. I’m too tired to care. Moving money aside and a bunch of Glocks, I pull out my very first knife. It was my grandfather’s. He brought it back with him from Vietnam. It’s nothing special, just a standard hunting knife. But the old wooden handle has the Disciples logo branded on both sides. The brand is the same one that Eve has on her neck. I take it out and close the safe, moving the filing cabinet back in front of it.
No one speaks as I walk toward the door and kick an empty bottle of Jack Daniels to the corner as I stop next to Ryder.
“We’re done. I need sleep.”
Axel clears his voice. “O-kay, so you’ve decided?”
“Yeah, I’ve decided I want to fuck and sleep. Everything else can wait until tomorrow. Ryder?”
He glances up from the laptop he’s been staring at all day. “Yeah, Prez?”
“Tell Amy to send up dinner for me and Eve.” He grabs his phone and starts typing as I look around the room daring anyone to say anything.
His phone dings. “She says she already has it ready, Prez. You go get some rest. I’ll know more tomorrow.” He sets down his phone and goes back to his computer.
We found a couple of stupid bikers stalking around the Hemet lab site on one of the security cameras we planted in a tree on the property. They were not Disciples and they were dumb enough not to know we have serious surveillance equipment at all our businesses. It’s only a matter of time until Ryder figures out who the two stupid fucks are. They basically smiled at the cameras, their tattoos visible. Obviously, it looks like Doc has been doing business on the side, another headache.
“Thanks, man.” All my guys stand and if I wasn’t so tired, I might smile at Axel who looks like his eyes are going to pop out of his head.
“Meeting adjourned until tomorrow. What time, Prez?”
“Later. I have something I need to take care of in the morning.” I don’t enlighten them that I’m too tired to take Eve tonight to see her old man. As I’m closing the conference room door, I see Amy carrying a huge tray of food. My stomach growls. “Amy, why don’t you get one of the guys to help you?” I snap as I make her give me the large tray.
“They’re all drunk or high. Besides, I don’t trust them around Eve.” She marches up the stairs with me.
I arch a brow. “What does that mean?” Instantly my body goes on alert. My heart starts to pound in my temple. “Has anyone bothered her?”
“Only Crystal.” She smirks.
I reach the top of the stairs and give Amy my full attention. “Spit it out.”
She smiles at me and I almost drop the tray. “Fine. You’ve been gone too much.” Before I can respond, she cocks her head and I nod for her to continue. “Crystal’s been trolling around and I heard her telling Eve that her time is almost up.” She puts her hands on her chest. “Now I know that Eve is the one, but maybe it’s time to let others know.” She straightens her shirt.
“Trust me, word is spreading,” I grunt as I walk toward my door.
“Good,” she says over her shoulder and walks down the stairs as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.
What the hell? Somehow without even trying, my little badass gypsy has everyone eating out of the palm of her hand. Well, all but Axel, but he doesn’t trust women.
I adjust the tray and open the door and instantly breathe in her coconut scent. Her smell reminds me of sunshine and happiness. Christ, I need sleep. I’m not even making sense to myself. Eve is sitting on the edge of the pool table dressed to kill, and a pang of guilt fills my head.