Diesel(19)

I woke early to find Ink wrapped around me, like she were holding on for dear life. I could get use to waking up to this every morning! I prised her off and got out of the bed as quietly as possible as I didn’t want to disturb her. I went into the kitchen, quietly making myself a cup of coffee. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I looked at the screen to see if I had any messages, nothing! I didn’t know how long I could wait until my rage would boil over. We needed to make some headway with the Skulls and fast. I dialled Amy’s number, “Can you get Chloe to cover you at the cafe today? I need you to look after Ink.” I could hear that I was on loud speaker. “One step ahead of you Ethan. Jimmy and I are on our way round to Harlow’s apartment now. Duke called me this morning.” I smiled from knowing the guys were looking out for Ink. She wasn’t my old lady yet but they were starting to see that I was serious about her. “Thanks Amy, I need to be at church as soon as possible.”

An hour later I was at church. Between Duke, Spike and myself we explained the situation regarding Ink to the Brothers and that we knew the Skulls had something to do with the attack. “We don’t want to go in all guns blazing but the Skulls have to pay for what they’ve done to Harlow. She seems to have a good relationship with Flex. He practically helped raise her when her mother died. I think we need to contact him and find out what he knows.” Duke looked around the room to see if there were any objections. “Diesel’s too close to the situation so I want Locke, Bear and Rex on it. Come to think of it, where is Locke?” The room went silent. “I couldn’t get hold of him again. I’ve left several messages.” CJ spoke with hesitation not wanting to get his mate in any more trouble. “For fuck’s sake, as if I haven’t got enough to deal with without one of you going AWOL!” Duke threw his glass across the room in rage. “Justice, you go with Rex and Bear. We need to know who is responsible and why? All in favour say ‘yeah’.” The gavel went down with all in favour of the plan.

Rex

Justice and Bear followed me to the Cross Keys cafe on the edge of town, where Diesel had told me he last saw Flex. There were several Harleys parked outside but that didn’t bother me or my Brothers. We went in to find four members of the Skulls sitting in a booth eating lunch. They clocked us as we entered and lifted their heads in acknowledgment. There was no animosity between the two clubs, they just believed and represented very different things to the Aces. We were on middle ground so I couldn’t see there being a problem with us all being under the same roof unless one of them stepped out of line. I noticed Flex with the group. I’d spoken to him before and he seemed reasonable. He’d been in the club for years and had probably seen the most changes out of any of them. I knew that he was close to Trigger and Harlow so understood the importance of me catching up with him.

Flex was a smoker so when he’d finished his meal, I took myself outside in readiness for him. It didn’t take long for Flex to leave the cafe and spark up a fag. “Flex we haven’t got long, can I have a quick word?” I said eagerly looking around the car park. He inhaled his smoke and I could see that he was contemplating what I could possibly want. He blew out a puff of smoke in my direction, “And what do I owe this pleasure Rex?” I started to walk closer towards him, “That’s close enough, start talking before we’re spotted.” He said pulling on his fag again. “Harlow was attacked.” There the words were out. I saw the look of horror on his face as he threw the fag on the floor and came at me grabbing my cut. “Diesel said she’d be under your protection. She was always safe with us.” I could see his anger building. “What the fucks going on and why do you want to tell me this shit?” Flex was now speaking through gritted teeth and I could smell the tobacco on his breath. He was obviously trying to control his temper, so I quickly started to explain, trying to defuse the situation.

“We think the Skulls did it. Harlow was getting various texts that addressed her as Princess. She isn’t speaking but we need to find out who did it and fast. Diesel wants their heads.” I let him digest the information and he slowly let go of my cut. “Heads, as in plural. You think more than one person did this?” He was getting agitated, running his fingers through his long greying hair shaking his head.

“Her injuries revealed that there were at least two attackers. I take it from your reaction you know nothing about this?” He glared at me disgusted, like I had my cock hanging out. “Will you help us find out who did it?” He was silent, obviously torn between his loyalties for his club and Harlow. “Her dad asked me to look out for her, if anything happened to him. Of course I will help you but I need to be careful. You understand the repercussions.” He blew out a loud breath, “Leave it with me and I’ll contact Duke when I find out which fuckers hurt her.” I could see the love he had for Harlow as he almost looked pained. “Is she going to be okay?” He asked almost softly, tears springing in his eye. “Yeah, Doc said three to six weeks for her ribs to heal.”