Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(36)

"Copy that," they said in unison.

He clomped down the steps in his thick boots and walked along the trail toward headquarters. The snow fell lightly around him, and the muddy ground had hardened to crisp cracked dirt with frost. His normal metabolism had returned: he didn't feel the cold even while wearing just a T-shirt.

But he stopped in his office to tug on his leather jacket and cut with the Grizzly logo on the back. There were people he didn't know in his organization, and that had to end.

Lucas came in the front door, brushing snow off his hair. "I've had all members in the area come in. They're waiting in the main rec room."

"I want everyone recalled," Bear said, rolling his neck. Being in human form still felt weird. "I don't care where they are, what they're doing, or who they're with. If they want to continue to be members or prospective members of the Grizzly Motorcycle Club, then they will be here by the end of the week." He also wanted to reach out to members of the grizzly nation who weren't part of the MC. While many of them roamed in independent packs, at the end of the day, he ruled them, too. 

"Understood," Lucas said. He'd also changed into his cut. "Listen, Bear. I've known you a long time."

Bear paused. "Yeah?"

"Now's not a good time to do what you're about to do." Lucas's eyes glowed a serious hue.

"What's that?"

Luke shut the door behind him. "Get rid of all the humans. You're going to go in there, tell the humans to get out, and then put the entire club on lockdown."

Bear lifted his head. Yeah. His friend did know him. Well. "Humans can't be members of the club. Sometimes we shift. We talk shifter nation business. You know we can't have humans here unless we're having a big party." What the hell had Lucas been thinking to allow humans in?

"We need them," Lucas said simply. "At least until everyone gets back-especially Lars, Brinks, and Duncan. We have full appointments all next week for repairs and a whole lotta snow tires. We need the funds, Bear."

"My men will return," Bear said evenly. "I'll fund the motorcycle club until then." He'd made money for years and didn't see any need to buy shit he didn't want, so he'd invested most of the money. His private accounts could support the club indefinitely.

Lucas shook his head. "We agreed the business would stay separate. You can't fund it."

Bear rolled his eyes. "If you weren't so shitty with money, you could've loaned the club money while I was gone." He grinned. His buddy was the worst with money-just terrible. Never had any. "Remember that biofuel company you bought a couple of decades ago?"

Lucas sighed. "I thought tree sap would make a good fuel."

Bear snorted. "I'll loan the club money, and when the guys get back, we'll be fine."

"I know, but when? I haven't been able to track down any of the three. If they wanna be lost, they're lost. We also have about thirty members roaming the earth elsewhere." Lucas wiped snow off his forehead. "At least let the humans stay the week to get the work done. Even if we have money, we need good mechanics. We don't need any more bad press, either. If they leave and start badmouthing us around town, we could be harassed again by the bloodsucking DEA."

That's all Bear needed, especially with Apollo overdoses already having happened on his property. "How many human prospects are there?"

"Just five," Lucas said. "All good mechanics. We have four shifter prospects as well."

Bear blew out air. "Fine. They can stay the week, but then they're gone."

Lucas nodded. "Thanks."

Bear paused. "I'm sorry I dumped all of this on you."

"No choice." His friend grinned. "I get it. Plus, it was fun being in charge for a little while. Lots of tail."

Bear snorted. "You've never had trouble with the ladies." But had Lucas ever been serious with anybody? "You ever think of settling down? The whole mating and cubs thing?"

Lucas sobered. "Yeah. Now that the war has ended-the most current war, anyway-I've been giving it some thought."

Bear perked up. "Is that a fact? Anybody I know?"

"Nope," Lucas said, nudging the door open with his hip.

Bear followed, noting the snow had almost stopped falling. "Wait a minute, here. Are you ‘in lurve,' Lucas?"



       
         
       
        

"Shut up." Luke punched him in the arm hard enough to break a human's bone.

Bear just grinned and punched him back as hard. "Come on. Tell me who. Is it Angie?"