Leaning back, Outlaw inhaled the smoke from the bud, then passed it to Val, not saying a word. The man’s trigger finger never wore out, so Brooks must have a death wish.
Johnnie bared his teeth. He wanted those two motherfuckers dead more than Outlaw did because they’d enabled Kendall’s bad behavior. “Well, Mr. and Mrs. Redding,” he said with heavy sarcasm. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”
Brooks ignored Johnnie and focused on Outlaw. His face was bruised and swollen, and his eyes were as red as his wife’s. They looked unkempt and disheveled. Exhausted. “O-Outlaw.”
Outlaw glanced at Charlotte. She looked dazed and traumatized, scared as hell. “What the fuck you want, motherfucker?” he finally asked.
“I-I…O-Outlaw…m-my h-house burned down—”
“For real?” Val said.
“Yeah, tell us something we don’t know, dick skin,” Cash told him.
“It’s all over the fucking news, son,” Mort announced. He had the bodies in the meatshack, but he was enjoying Herb and Al before he saw to their disposal. “Your house and office gone. Son-in-law missing. They think you had mob ties.”
“Why the fuck you here?” Digger snapped.
“We have nowhere to go,” Brooks said, tears sliding down his cheeks. His wife released a sob and he pulled her to him. “My cards aren’t working. I don’t want to risk going to my children.”
“If we wanted to fuck them up, we would have,” Johnnie said coldly.
“What fucking cards you talking about, Brooks?” Val asked.
“Our credit cards,” Charlotte cried, sniffling.
“Look who the fuck found her fuckin’ voice,” Outlaw said without mercy, his unyielding gaze traveling between Brooks and his wife. “How the fuck your cards not workin’ my concern?”
“We need money to find a place to go to,” Charlotte managed.
“No fuckin’ shit,” Outlaw said. “I needed to be fuckin’ home in my bed with my girl, not havin’ a hit put out on my ass and in jail.”
“Please, Outlaw,” Brooks begged. “My wife and I are broke and homeless. We have no other recourse. I implore you to help us. I ask for my wife’s sake.”
“Just like you fucked over me for that bitch’s sake, yeah?” Outlaw snarled. “As far as I’m concerned you motherfuckers could live in a fuckin’ dumpster. She help cause all the shit.”
She had, but Cash had a much better idea. After hearing about her from both Stretch and Fee, he knew one way to bring her to her knees.
“Wait a second, Outlaw. Charlotte looks down on bikers and their wives.” She especially looked down on Meggie, but the woman had to be alive to get her punishment. “She thinks she’s better than us.”
Outlaw frowned. “You ain’t going with this where the fuck I think you is?”
Val’s eyes widened. “Fuck, Cash, you not suggesting this bitch stay here at the clubhouse?”
“Fucking straight he is,” Mort said. “That’s fucking brilliant. Teach her some humility.”
“No the fuck it ain’t,” Outlaw snapped.
“Why not?” Cash asked, upset to see his plan thwarted.
“Kendall,” Johnnie answered. “Charlotte would be too close to her.”
“Ch-Charlotte wouldn’t be comfortable here,” Brooks managed.
“Ain’t givin’ a fuck about her comfort, motherfucker,” Outlaw barked. “She lucky she still breathin’.” He glared at Johnnie. “Your bitch not the reason either. My bitch the fuckin’ reason. Megan would have my ass.”
“We could always force Charlotte to work for Meggie girl,” Mort said.
“Megan ain’t going for that.”
Cash knew Outlaw was right.
“M-Meggie pr-promised I-I-I’d h-have n-no r-r-r-repercussions,” Charlotte stammered.
Outlaw looked at Stretch, who’d been quiet since Slipper started his bullshit.
“She did, Outlaw,” he said quietly.
“She already fuckin’ told my ass,” Outlaw gritted, then looked at Cash. “Call one of them Bob bitches. Have them find a fuckin’ thrift shop and buy clothes for Charlotte and Brooks.”
Cash cleared his throat. “I don’t handle the Bobs anymore,” he admitted. “Potter took them over while you were away.”
“How the fuck can the motherfucker do that and he ain’t even got a fuckin’ patch yet?”
“I approved it,” Johnnie said. “Bowlie’s actually over them, but Potter’s in training. I’ll brief you later.”