"So is this some permanent shit we're doing?" Throttle said.
"No. I told Liam we'd help out a few times, but then we're done. It seems like this rich dude had a big problem with the last several security people he used. Things leaked out about his lifestyle and business dealings. Liam suggested a biker club for security. And here we are. I was thinking to pass it to the Iron Dogs MC."
"The Iron Dogs are cool. We've always gotten along with them," Chas said. "I'm pretty good friends with their Road Captain. They're always looking for some easy cash."
Banger nodded. "Now on to a problem that Hawk and I think could be huge. I'll let him explain."
Hawk stood up. "The word is that the Demon Riders are forming a bond with the Gypsy Fiends to buy some fuckin' hardcore weapons from them."
"The Gypsy Fiends? What the fuck are the Demon Riders doing with them? Iowa is a long ways from Louisiana." Rock shoved away from the wall.
"That's what a lot of the MCs wanna know. Rock, you're from their territory. Did you ever come across them?"
"I met a few when I was in the pen, but I didn't know much about them except that they were bikers who scared the hell outta people. I'd see them around Lafayette when I was young, heard they ran some of the casinos in the nearby parishes. I know they have charters in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama, but them venturing into Iowa is fuckin' crazy."
"They're not aiming to set up any chapters, just selling high-powered shit to the Demon Riders. I didn't think they had that kind of money to buy the shit to sell."
Rock shook his head slowly. "They don't. I know they're in a turf war with the Hellbenders in Georgia. Gypsy Fiends are claiming the territory and so are the Hellbenders. Is Liam supplying the arms for them? That's gotta be expensive. Where the fuck are they getting the money? Last I heard their casinos weren't doing all that great."
"Liam's not involved in the deal. We're positive the Demon Riders have their hands in this. The word is also out that the Gypsy Fiends are buying some hardcore shit directly from an international dealer."
Rock and Bones exchanged looks before Bones cleared his throat. "There's no way they're acting alone. Some company or person is backing them financially. Remember when I was out there visiting my buddy who was in the Devil's Legions in New Orleans?"
"How could we forget? Your drunken brawl got you six years in the pen and put you outta commission for the Insurgents," Banger said.
"Yeah, but I met Rock, so it wasn't a total loss." The brothers hooted and Banger smiled. "Anyway, they were telling me that the Gypsy Fiends had started putting their fuckin' noses in places they never even knew existed, like oil stuff and banking shit."
Hawk narrowed his eyes. "They most probably have a group of investors who need them to do the dirty work. MCs are an asset to crooked people. They know we don't snitch or leave evidence. But if the Demon Riders get a partnership going with the Gypsy fucks that puts our club and affiliates in jeopardy. As we know, Dustin and Shack have been aiming to take us down since we threw them outta the Insurgents, and with one of our brothers killing one of theirs at the expo, you know the Demon Riders are chomping at the bit to get back at us."
"We gotta find a way to make sure the fucks don't buy the weapons from the Gypsy Fiends, then see who's backing the Gypsy assholes in buying the expensive as hell weapons," Jax said.
"Exactly. We got Liam working on it through his network, and that's why we gotta do this fuckin' babysitting job." Banger tipped back on his chair. "We're on high alert until we find out something. Once we do, we'll strike first if need be."
"It's been a while since we've gone to war, but if that's what they want we'll fuckin' give it to them. We'll show them not to mess with Insurgents." Hawk banged his fist down on the table, bringing the brothers to their feet, their arms held high in the air with their fists clenched as they chanted, "Insurgents forever, forever Insurgents."
After going over the financials for the club, the meeting was adjourned and the somber group headed to the great room. The thought of going to war weighed heavy on them. For the past several years they'd enjoyed a truce with the Deadly Demons, and the violence of the turf wars hid in the dusty corners of their minds. At that moment, the threat from the Demon Riders was real, especially since they were gearing up to buy some pretty intense weapons. To the brothers, it signaled that the rival club was preparing for an attack on them. No MC would take that lightly, especially an outlaw one.
Rock slammed back his double shot, tilting his chin at Hawk when he approached. "This is some crazy shit, huh?"
Hawk nodded. "Yeah, and the worst fucking timing. Cara's not gonna understand this at all. We got our wedding coming up. How do I tell her and her parents that their society friends are gonna have to be cool with the brothers surrounding the country club during the reception?"
"I wouldn't put it past the fuckers to strike at your wedding," Rock said.
"Me neither. Fuck. What a mess." Hawk threw back his shot. "I think it's time for Puck, Blade, and Johnnie to wear the full patch. We got three more prospects who're coming in, and we could use a few more full patches to deal with the shit we got going all around us."
"I agree. They've earned their patches. At the next church we should put it to a vote." Rock popped a couple pretzels in his mouth.
"How do you like the guard job? The truth." Hawk grinned.
Rock shrugged. "It's okay."
"You're fucking outside on Saturday and I'm in the house," Rags said as he scooped up a handful of pretzels.
Rock stiffened and his eyes turned to slits. "I'll decide what's going down for Saturday."
Hawk and Rags exchanged puzzled glances, and then Rags laughed. "Just joking, man. I know you're in charge."
"Yeah." There's no way I'm leaving without talking to her. If I have to beat the shit outta the pansy-ass rich guy to get to her, I'll do it.
"I gotta go." Hawk placed his empty shot glass on the table.
"I'll walk out with you. I gotta make a phone call and it's too damn loud in here." Rock followed the vice president outside. Threads of blackberry-colored clouds striped the sky as twilight approached. He waited until Hawk drove away, and then he pulled out his phone and called his sister. After he'd exchanged pleasantries with her, he asked, "Did you send me a mojo bag?"
"A mojo bag? No. Why would I do that? Do you need one? I can get one made for you from Madame Vincennes."
"No, I don't need one, but someone sent me one. You don't know anything about that?"
Her gasp filled his ear. "What color is it?"
"I don't know. It looks like blue but it has some purple in it too."
A louder gasp. "Have you pissed someone off in a big way?"
He chuckled. "I'm always pissing people off."
"Roche, this is serious. You have a mojo to ward off curses or evil."
"I know what it means. I was just wondering if you sent it."
"Why would I do that?"
"To mess with me so I'd come home for a visit."
"You don't joke around with mojos or gris-gris."
"So who do you think would do it? Lille? I don't know that many people anymore back home. It came from Lafayette."
"Lille would never do that. Anyway, she's been in the Hamptons with her new boyfriend, the old, rich guy. That is strange. Any note with it?"
"Yeah, some shit about someone putting a gris-gris on me. It's no big deal. I was just asking because I found it strange, that's all."
"I'll see if I can find something out. I'll pay a visit to Madame Vincennes and have her do your cards. I'll let you know what she says."
"Isn't she like a hundred years old? When we were kids she looked about eighty."
Isa laughed softly. "She's not as old as she looks. She's had a hard life. When her husband was killed in the coal mines in Tennessee she had to raise all her young children by herself. Maman used to go to her for amulets, mojos, and card reading. You knew that, right?"
"A lot of good it did her," he muttered under his breath. "Her whole family was fuckin' superstitious."
"It's not superstition," Isa whispered.
"Well, I don't fuckin' believe it. I got shit to do. Take care of yourself."
"I'll let you know what Madame says."
He snorted. "Yeah, you do that."