Page 42 of Paco
Chapter Twelve
“Itold Roughneckthat we have to move on this quickly,” Steel said.
Paco looked around the room and saw the members weighing what Steel had just said. Those words meant war with two gangs who probably didn’t play by the same rules as bikers. It meant possible lockdowns, casualties, and death.
It’d been a while since the Night Rebels had engaged in an all-out war. The measures they took with the Skull Crushers and Satan’s Pistons had been warnings but not declarations of war. This would be different. It wasn’t just about the turf—it was about the lifestyle. There was no doubt in Paco’s or any of his brothers’ minds that women were being trafficked in the surrounding area, and the Night Rebels wouldn’t tolerate that under any circumstances. They knew the Insurgents were on the same page with them when it came to sexual slavery, but Night Rebels preferred to handle the situation in the south on their own. As long as the Fallen Slayers were on board, they could manage it.
As the talk shifted from beating the asses of these gangs to the Insurgents’ charity poker run, Paco’s mind went to Misty. He had to admit that he’d been attracted to her since the first time he saw her. He shook his head. She was really playing havoc with his emotions. It’d been a long time since he’d had real feelings for a woman. After Cassie, he’d encased his heart in steel, and in all those years nothing had threatened its imprisonment until Misty.But how can I even think about getting involved with her when all she’s done is lie to me since I’ve met her?Paco suspected she’d stolen money from Bobby when she took off. He wasn’t sure what made her run when she had, but he knew she was keeping things from him.
The pounding gavel drew Paco back to the meeting. Members pushed their chairs back and headed out of the room, talking to one another in low voices.
“I knew we could count on all the brothers,” Steel said as he put the gavel in its box.
“Can we count on all the Fallen Slayers members?” Paco asked.
Steel nodded. “From the way Roughhouse and Patriot were talking, I think we can. We gotta get together with Knuckles and Diablo and get a plan in motion. Chains is already doing the research on both gangs. We have to hit hard and fast. Surprise is the best defense.”
“Agreed. I’ll come up with some strategies. All that combat in Afghanistan will come in handy. I’ll have Rooster help out. He did a tour in Iraq years ago. But Brick has to work with Diablo on the plan. Knuckles isn’t the brightest and he’ll drive Diablo fucking crazy.”
Nodding, Steel sniggered. “I’ll tell Roughhouse. One thing is for sure. We’ve got the arms and supplies. The fuckers won’t forget this. We should add more security cameras around the place. Army’s got a buddy who’s gonna build a steel-enforced wall around the clubhouse. I’ve been thinking that while this is going on, we gotta have a lockdown.”
Paco chuckled. “I can’t see Breanna and Raven embracing that. Fallon’s easygoing, though I’m not too sure about Hailey.”
Steel jutted out his chin and narrowed his eyes. “Doesn’t matter if the old ladies want it or not. It’s for survival. Breanna will just have to deal with it. All of them will.”
They walked down the hallway. “You sticking around?” Paco asked.
“Just for a drink. Then I’ve gotta get back to my woman and show her some loving. It’s been too long.”
Paco laughed. “I hear you. I’ll have a drink with you before you take off. I’ve got some stuff to do, so I’m cutting out soon.”
The members were already in full swing in the main room, drinking, laughing, and having fun with the club girls. Steel and Paco went over to the bar and picked up the shots the prospect had waiting for them.
“Why the hell did you leave Silverado early?” Army asked.
“I didn’t want the club to be without a prez or VP the whole weekend,” Steel answered for Paco. Army stared over Paco’s shoulder and whistled.
As Paco turned around, he heard Sangre asking, “Isn’t that the stripper from Satin Dolls? What the fuck’s she doing here?”
Shotgun elbowed Paco. “You didn’t tell us she was a stripper, bro.”
“Way to go,” Skulls said.
When Misty walked into the room, she took his breath away: her indigo knit top hugged her round breasts, her faded jeans fit snugly around her hips, her long hair spilled loosely about her shoulders, and her face had a rosy glow. She looked beautiful. Their eyes locked and a spark of desire flared in the pit of his stomach. As she came up to him, her lips parted, lips that were made for sinning, and he felt a tug in his jeans.
Steel spun around, then looked at Paco. “Why the hell is she here?”
“She was in a bad way. I’m just helping her out temporarily.”
Misty stopped in her tracks, only a short reach from him. It was like she sensed the tension between the men.
Army shook his head. “You’re bringing shit to the club because of a two-bit stripper? If Los Malos or the West Avenue fucks find out you took one of their strippers, it’ll fuckin’ jeopardize all of our plans.”
“He’s right,” Steel said.
With his chin high, his legs planted wide, Paco shook his head. “She doesn’t work for them.”
“Maybe not, but we’ve found out some more stuff in the last couple of days about the prez of Los Malos. He’s got the hots for her, so I’m sure he’s not gonna like that you took her away,” Sangre said.
