Struck Love

If everyone wanted to keep running drugs, then we’d do it the right way. Thanks to Arch and the money I’d put away while I was in the Marines, it was possible.

Arch was the biggest help. You’d never know it from looking at him, and most of his family might want nothing to do with him, but he’s still a trust fund baby. We had no idea when we started our little weed growing business that we’d actually strike gold. I thought people struck oil. I had no idea they could strike gold, but we did.

“We don’t want that shit blowing back on the club. We’ve been working on getting our name clean. We might not be making a huge chunk of money on the marijuana, but he could jeopardize our licenses and have our permits stripped from us.”

Both of us have worked way too hard to get this shit on the straight and narrow to allow that to happen. We were only able to go into this line of business in the first place because our records had been sealed when we were kids. We’d done what they asked us to.

Hell, we went beyond what they asked for and signed up for a few more years of service. Arch and I won’t lose that because some little shit enjoys sniffing shit up his nose. We need to figure out how we’re going to handle this situation.

I nod in agreement. It’s a very small margin of profit compared to mining, but I enjoy having my hands in both businesses. I don’t need some junkie fucking that up while trying to make extra money on the side to cover his own habit. I’d bet my ass he’s using the club's name while he’s doing all this.

“This has to be why he’s been hanging around here so much. No bounty hunter is going to show up here looking for him.” I push back from my chair.

Copper’s dad might be a full-fledged member, but his son is still a prospect. Has been for years. He’s done nothing to earn himself a patch. There’s little chance he will. That doesn't stop him from crashing here all the damn time. He gets away with it because he crashes in his old man’s room.

“Not a chance in hell.”

“We need to go make a round and be seen at the party. Might as well see what the little shit is up to.”

Arch comes to his feet to join me. He tosses his half-full drink into the trash can. I know the last thing Arch wants to do is go hang around the party. Women tend to be like moths to a flame when it comes to him.

He’s really done it to himself. Not that I have room to talk. The more you push them away, the more of a challenge these girls see it as. It doesn’t help that the girls also know Arch is loaded. He doesn't throw his money around, but he doesn't hide it either.

When I took over, I was struggling, barely getting the club by. It took time for me to build a nest egg. A very big fucking nest egg that keeps on growing. More so after we found that gold. It will be expanding even more once I get my hands on the McGuire land. It will be smooth sailing after that.

The music hits us the second we step out of my office. We make our way around the party that’s already in full swing. A couple of girls are up on the bar dancing, and the three stripper poles that have been there since I was a kid have girls swinging from them. Off to the side, there is a line of girls waiting for a chance to get their turn on the pole.

“Don’t,” I say when two girls step in front of Arch and me.

I keep my face hard and filled with warning. I’ve never laid my hands on a woman before. I tend to be able to scare them off easily with a look alone. I don’t have the pretty boy handsome face like Arch. They see him and think he helps old ladies cross the street. They have no fucking clue.

“But—”

“You heard him.” Arch cuts the one with red hair off. They start to try and make pouting faces.

“Get going,” I snap. They both take off finally.

“You know if you don’t get yourself an old lady soon, people are going to start to think we’re together,” Arch teases me. He’s the last one to care what people have to say.

“You think I could land you?” I tease him right back.

“Maybe with the way your bank size keeps growing.” A bark of laughter comes from me that has people turning to look our way.

“You have your own money. Stay the hell away from mine.” I shake my head as my eyes scan the crowd, not seeing Copper anywhere. Something tingles at the back of my neck. At the same time, I can sense Arch’s mood change next to me.