Chapter Seven

Cash

I KNOCKED ON my dad's open office door and walked inside. "Hey."

He looked up from his computer. "Hey."

"Problem with the parts delivery from Motorworks."

Dad frowned. "What kind of problem?"

"Less than half the order was filled."

"Jesus fuckin' Christ," Dad hissed. "That's the third time they've shorted us. The second time this month. What was Daryl's excuse this time?"

"Supply chain issues."

"We've never had problems with these guys in the past. What the fuck is going on over there?" Dad hissed.

I nodded. "Want me to call Daryl again?"

"No. I think this needs a face-to-face. How about you and I head out to Motorworks and pay him a visit."

"Sounds good," I replied.

"Grab a truck and I'll meet you out front in five minutes."

Portland Motorworks was a boutique auto parts shop that specialized in ‘new old stock' MoPar and vintage bike parts. Just the kind of hard-to-find inventory our shop needed. We'd done business with Daryl Martin since the day he opened. In fact, the Dogs supplied him with labor during his shop build, as well as using the club's resources to secure some of the trickier permits he needed in order to do business. In exchange for these favors, Daryl agreed to stock and reserve some of our most used and/or hard to find items. We'd never experienced supply issues in the past, but lately more and more of our orders had been coming in light.

As we entered the Motorworks showroom, we were immediately greeted by a young guy dressed in khakis and a black Motorworks branded polo shirt. He looked more like a guy you'd see working at a cell phone kiosk at the mall rather than a parts shop.

"How can I help you gentlemen today?"

"Is Daryl around?" Dad asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry but Mr. Martin is on a call at the moment. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Well, Ben," Dad said, reading the name tag pinned to the Polo. "You could let him know that Booker is here and needs to talk to him right now."

"As I said, Mr. Martin is in a teleconference and can't be disturbed. I'd be happy to assist you, though."

"Nope," Dad replied, before turning and heading to Daryl's office. I followed close behind.

"Excuse me, but—"

Dad raised his hand in the air as we continued walking. "You're excused."

"Stop or I'll call the police," Ben shouted as we reached the door to Daryl's office.

I turned around to see Ben holding up his cell phone.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I said, throwing him an icy stare.

"Why's that?" he challenged, clearly not getting the message.

"Because if you don't put that fucking phone back in your pocket, the next call you'll make will be to 911 and you'll need to dial it with ten broken fingers."

This time Ben got the message and slid the phone back into the pocket of his khakis.

Dad opened the office door to find Daryl sitting at his desk, pale as a sheet, with a bottle of Old Crow on his desk and a shot glass in his hand.

"Hey Booker," Daryl said, sheepishly, without looking up.

"What the fuck is goin' on D?" Dad asked, closing the door behind us.

Daryl pointed to the bottle. "Oh, just having a little lunch break. Ya know."

"It's a little early for happy hour, isn't it?"

Daryl slid the bottle towards us. "Not if you join me."

"Sorry, D, but I'm not here because I'm happy. I'm rip shit pissed and I want to know why you've been shorting me."

"I told Cash earlier on the phone, I've been having some supply chain issues—"

"Bullshit," Dad barked. "You've never had a problem holding up your end of our deal before and I want to know what the fuck is going on."

Daryl poured a shot and tossed it back. "It's the Spiders."

"What about the Spiders?"

The Gresham Spiders were a local one-percenter club, made up entirely of criminals and dirtbags. Not too long ago, the Dogs had banded together with several other clubs to wipe out the Spiders, but they'd since regrouped and were regaining strength under the leadership of the Club's new president, Warlock.

"A couple of months back, three Spiders showed up at my house while me and my family were having dinner," Daryl said, his voice trembling. "They broke in and tied us all up at gunpoint. Then they beat my wife right in front of me and my children and I was helpless to defend her." Daryl's hands shook as he poured another shot. "Then Warlock held a knife to my little girl's throat, and he told me that Motorworks belonged to him now. He said that the Spiders would cut me in every month if I did as I was told. I was told to reserve my stock for the Spiders, and to begin to cut ties with any and all other area clubs. Warlock said, not to worry, that I'd make more money than I ever had, but that if I made trouble, he'd cut my kids up in front of their mother."

"Jesus Christ, Daryl," Dad sighed. "Why didn't you come to us? The Dogs have always had your back."

"How are you gonna protect my family? You took your shot at the Spiders and lost. Sure, you got rid of Wolf and slowed them down for a while, but what did you really expect? That the Spiders would all run away and hide forever? Those fucking guys are stone cold killers. They aren't like the Dogs. They have no code. No honor."

"Now we know who's been fucking with us," I said.

"Warlock's leaning on everyone," Daryl said. "The Spiders are recruiting, big time. I'd watch your ass if I were you."

"You should have come to us, D. We may not be the kind of club that threatens innocent children, but the Dogs of Fire have bigger fangs than you might think. And I don't care if you like it or not, but I'm putting four guys, two here, and two at your home, round the clock."

Daryl sprang from his seat. "No, please. If the Spiders see you, they'll kill my family."

My father put his arm around Daryl. "You've forgotten something. You're already under the protection of our club. We made that agreement a long time ago, and we will honor that."

"We're not scared of the Spiders," I added.

Daryl turned to face me. His eyes wide. "You should be."

* * *

Two days after our visit with Daryl, a letter addressed to Hatch arrived at the shop. It was an invitation from Warlock for a sit down. A good ol' fashioned four on four, on neutral ground. No weapons, no phones. When my father asked Hatch what he planned to do about the invite, Hatch replied, "The window for keeping the peace will never be wider than it is right now."

Dad then asked, "So, you think peace with the Spiders is possible?"

To which Hatch replied, "Probably not, but I'd like to hear that directly from them, so we know what we're in for. I won't have any of our women beaten or our children terrorized. If Warlock wants to pick up where Wolf left off, I'm prepared to come heavy."

In the meantime, prospects were ordered to stock the compound with enough food to feed members and their families for a month. It looked like a lockdown might happen sooner than later.

* * *

Teagan

Saturday night was family night and I had been pacing the gravel driveway waiting for Daisy to arrive. The second I saw Harm's truck pull up, I made a run for it and dragged her from the cab.

"Oh my god, you took your time getting here!" I admonished.

"Hi, bestie, how are you? Congratulations on passing your finals," she teased.

"I already texted you all that flowery bullshit earlier." I took her hand and pulled her toward the door.

"Thanks for the ride, Harm," Daisy called.

"You're welcome," he called back.

"Where's the fire?" she asked.

"New recruits," I whispered in an effort to keep up my ruse of boy-crazy, unattached Teagan.

"Okay, honey, calm your tits."

I paused briefly and fluffed up my boobs. I was already spilling out of my V-neck, so I had to stuff a little back in. "I will never."

She chuckled, following me through the little lobby area, then into the great room. It was already full of our family and friends.

Daisy's mother interrupted our trip, pulling her in for a hug. "Hey, honey. How's my girl?"

"Good, Mama." She leaned back and took her in. "Good lord, you're supposed to be getting old, woman. Why do you just get prettier?"

This was true. Dani Carver was in her fifties and looked closer to thirty, her blonde hair still long and her face still void of wrinkles. She currently wore a pair of skinny jeans and a Harley-Davidson long-sleeved T-shirt with a pair of knee-high boots.

She narrowed her eyes. "What do you want, Ducky?"

Daisy laughed. "Nothing. But I reserve the right to keep that compliment in my back pocket for a later date."

She cupped her daughter's face. "I'm so proud of you and acing your finals, baby."

"Not sure I aced them."

"Of course, you did. With how hard you work? How could you not?" She wrapped her arm around her shoulders. "You're a rock star."

"Thanks, Mama."

"Hey, baby girl," Booker said once he reached us, leaning down to kiss her cheek, then mine.

"Hi, Daddy."

"Any issues gettin' here?"

"Harm delivered me tout de suite, safe and sound, as you can see," Daisy sassed.

"I see that French degree is payin' off," he retorted.

She smiled. "Speaking of that… do either of you care if I skip the walking ceremony in June?"

"Hell, no," Booker said.

"Not at all," Dani said.

Daisy sighed in relief. "Oh, thank god."

Her parents laughed. "You kids go have fun. I've got plans for your mom."

"Ew, gross, way too much information," Daisy complained.

Booker pulled her away and Daisy faced me again.

"Did you get the hot neighbor's number?" I asked.

Daisy had met the ‘hottest guy on the planet,' and that was saying something in my bestie's opinion. Daisy didn't wax poetic when it came to guys and she initially thought he was her neighbor, Louisa's, boyfriend, but come to find out, he was her brother. He'd already had a run-in with Cash and Archer, shoving Cash up against a wall, so I immediately liked this guy. Anyone who would stand up to Cash was good in my book.

She groaned, pressing her hand to her stomach. "Oh my god."

"What?"

"Sort of?" She grabbed my arm and dragged me into the kitchen. Luckily, it was empty. "He totally gives me the collywobbles, Teagan. I made a total fool out of myself."

"Spill," I demanded.

"I invited him tonight, which was so dumb, because he won't come, but Harm says he was totally checking me out, and watching him like a hawk to make sure I was safe. He rode down in the elevator with us, using the excuse to get the mail, then asked for my phone so he could put his phone number in it. He said, ‘Text me the address to this shindig and we'll see if we can make it.' And Harm said that was a baller move and I'm kind of clueless when a guy likes me."

"Well, Harm's totally right."

"About which part?" she asked, as I poured the wine.

"All of it." I smiled. "You're way too hard on yourself, for one, and I think Huck's totally interested, for another."

"I just don't understand why I lose my ever-blessed mind around him," she breathed out.

"Yeah, that's the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question." I shrugged. "You're usually so eloquent around boys."

She grabbed an orange sitting on the island and chucked it at my head, missing me by a mile.

"Well, your career in the Majors is over. Back to the farm teams for you," I joked picking the fruit up off the floor and dumping it in the trash can.

She laughed. "I better gas up my tractor."

"The farm league isn't made up of actual farmers… you know what? Never mind."

Suddenly, the building went eerily quiet. If there'd been a turntable present, you'd have heard a needle scratch.

Followed by…

"What the fuck are you doin' here?"

That sounded like Buzz's angry voice.

"Huck the Puck?" Buzz bellowed. "I'll ask again. What the fuck are you doin' here?"

"Is he talking about your Huck?" I hiss-pered.

"No, I'm sure someone else just happened to invite someone else named Huck to family night by coincidence," she hissed back sarcastically.

I waved my hand toward the door. "Well, go out and see."

"I can't believe Huck the Puck is here at this party," Buzz continued. "Now I can personally kick your ass."

"Oh, shit, you better go out there," I said.

"You go out there," she snapped.

I threw my arms in the air. "Huck the Puck isn't the guy I'm trying to fu—"

"Okay, fine, I'll go out there!" she growled, grabbing my hand, and pulling me toward the door. "But you're coming with me."

"You cost me twenty-grand on that playoff game against Philly last season," Buzz accused.

We walked out to find Huck giving Buzz an amused grin. "Well, I'm not usually one to throw my teammates under the bus, but I have to say, it was technically our right wing who cost us that particular game."

"Yeah, maybe, but Cherkowsky ain't here," Buzz pointed out.

Huck shrugged. "Well, I don't usually fight off the ice, or without pads."

"Yeah, figured you'd need pads to throw down."

"Oh, no the pads are for you," Huck retorted, putting his hands up in a boxer's stance.

Buzz bust out laughing. "Come on, man, I'm just fuckin' with you. But what the hell's a Stanley Cup winner doin' in our house?"

"The team won the cup, and I won a trip to an orthopedic surgeon."

"Yeah, man, I was real sorry to hear about that. I thought you were a shoo-in for rookie of the year."

Wow. Huck was a hockey player? Hockey was kind of a big deal around here. Ever since the Ducks had become a team back in the early nineties according to Hatch. I mean, football, basketball, and baseball were also a big deal, but hockey for Buzz was life.

"Um, I invited him," Daisy squeaked. "Hi, Huck. I see you've met Buzz."

Huck smiled at my best friend, his face soft and he was obviously totally into her. "Hey, Daisy."

"God damn, Buzz, hockey?" Fletch admonished. "Is there anything you don't bet on?"

"The kids are playin' hide-n-seek, why don't you see if you can get in on the action on the boys' team?" Chigger suggested.

"I would never do that," Buzz scoffed. "I already got twenty ridin' on the girls." Buzz turned to Huck. "Let me ‘buy' you a beer."

"Thanks, man." Huck nodded toward her. "I'm gonna hang with Daisy for a bit, cool?"

Buzz gave him a chin lift, but I could see disappointment in his eyes. "Oh, yeah, sure. Find me later."

Huck smiled and focused on Daisy. I took him in. I could see why Daisy liked him. He wore dark jeans, a tight, black T-shirt, and a pair of Nike high-tops, and it was so different than what we were used to seeing. No cut, no leather jacket, and certainly no motorcycle boots. Not my type on any level, but certainly something Daisy would adore.

"Did you find the place okay?" Daisy breathed out.

"Yeah."

I reached out my hand. "Hi, I'm Teagan."

"Oh, my god, sorry. This is my bestie," she explained as we shook hands. "Did you bring Louisa?"

Huck shook his head. "Nope, just me."

"Nice to meet you, Huck. I'll let Daisy show you around." I hugged her, whispering, "Into you, honey. Into you."

I gave her one more squeeze, then walked over to the pool tables and challenged Razor to a game.