Crow: Kings of Carnage MC - Prospects

Walking over to Bear, I’m closer to him than any of the brothers. I discreetly point toward Ruin.

“He okay?”

He glances over and then nods.

“Yeah, shit with the tracks I think.”

Slowly nodding, I try to read Jinx’s lips. Something about a shipment needing to go out.

Jinx lifts his head and I quickly turn, grabbing a pool stick from the wall. I hate to eavesdrop but I think it’s the only way I’m going to find out anything while I’m a prospect. I know the guys like Sly, Sterling, and Bear did what they were told and didn’t ask questions because that’s how it’s supposed to go, that’s how the patched-in members gain their trust and you learn loyalty… but I need to know what the hell I’m doing so I can complete my tasks one-hundred percent. Getting into this club is all I have.

“Prospect!” North hollers and I jerk around, finding him standing next to Jinx.

“The building next door that Maybelline is running, we need security cameras put up. Seeing you’re the man behind the camera at Porn Kings, I assume this will be easy?”

Slipping the pool stick onto the table, I nod, swiping my hair out of my eyes.

“Yeah, I can do that.”

“Bring back some coffee when you’re done,” Chaos tosses over his shoulder.

Standing there a second longer to make sure there’s nothing else, North gives me a get-the-fuck-out-of-here look. My eyes meet Bear’s for a second and he can tell I’m sick of being ordered around like a bitch boy, but my day is coming where I get patched in and I don’t have to run these stupid ass errands.

So that’s what I do, I leave the club and walk across the quiet street to Latte Da. Pulling the door open, the smell of coffee beans makes me inhale longer than normal. Fuck, that’s good.

Maybelline stands on a ladder near a white leather love seat, putting books onto a slanted shelf.

“I’m here for the security.” Rubbing my hands, I watch her drop a book, cuss, and climb down the little white ladder.

“Yes, Ruin wanted me to get them up but I don’t know what I’m doing or how to get them to sync to Bluetooth or whatever he said,” she rambles, setting a couple books on a table. She has on a white blouse and green shorts today, her little brown sandals making her skin look particularly bronzed.

She passes by me and heads toward the register. The smell of sandalwood with a hint of flowers takes over the smell of the morning before coffee settles in the air again.

She bends down and then piles cameras onto the counter with a long sigh.

There are cords everywhere, and pieces torn apart.

Coming up to the counter, I grab the box to look at what we got here.

“I think he just wants to make sure that club that came through not too long ago doesn’t mess up anything else.”

“Probably.”

Looks like a SimpliSafe system. There are motion sensors, base station, keypad, and a camera, along with some other things. I’m assuming Chaos or Ruin didn’t want to have it installed because they don’t want anyone knowing the layout of the place which makes me think there’s something here besides coffee and books. I can feel her staring at me, the heat of her gaze making me shift where I stand.

“Is there somewhere Ruin specifically wants this?” My eyes lift to hers and my stomach knots. Fuck, she’s so beautiful. What is she doing here and how did she get mixed up with the likes of the club?

Lifting her head, her honey-brown eyes don’t quite make contact. She shrugs. “I don’t think so… Crow.” here,

She said my name and it stirs something inside of me. I don’t know what it is, but it has me glaring at her and wanting her all at once. Clearing my throat, I look away.

“I’ll get started on this.” Grabbing the base station and paperwork, I head toward the door. The smell of something burning makes me stop, and I turn back around.

“Is something burning?”

Her eyes pop open the size of saucers.

“Oh shit, the muffins!” She rips away from the counter and slams through the door into the back, where a billow of smoke comes wafting into the café.

Dropping the security shit onto a table, I jump over the counter and push through the door. She’s got the oven open with a bright flame trying to bite at her, she’s panicking and waving a fucking oven mitt at it trying to put it out. Thinking fast, I spot the sink and a big bowl that was used to mix something up, I fill it and throw it on the flame, snuffing it out.

We both cough as the black muffins in a charred pan come to a smoky view.

“Shit!” She stomps her foot, grabbing them with the mitt she carries them to the sink and tosses them in, shaking her head.