CHAPTER EIGHT

-:- AXEL -:-

Walking into church, I know we have a lot to cover. My mind has to clear as I’ve been worried about Mia and her not feeling too well of late. Stitch has given her a check over and is finding nothing wrong, but he’s thinking we may need to have an ultrasound to check up on the baby.

If anything is wrong, I’m not sure how Mia will cope, because she’s such an excellent mother. She’s loving, protective and so naturally nurturing that she’ll struggle to get over losing a child if it ever came to that.

Tuesday we have a scan booked and if I’m honest, I can’t wait to see the baby again, and this time push Mia to find out what we are having.

Taking my seat, I look around and make sure everyone is here before picking up the gavel and giving it a tap on the table. “Meeting to order, brothers. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get a move on. First, any reports PT, TwoCents or Stitch?”

‘No’, ‘Nothing’, ‘All good.’ Replies quickly thrown to me, and I give a nod to each of them so we can continue.

“Rock, I heard the building next door is ours. Well done on that. TwoCents tells me we are waiting for the keys and other paraphernalia. PT has the insurance underway.”

“Yeah, we’re just waiting for the realtor to get everything completed. It’s going to take some work to get the place operational, but I reckon once it’s as I envision it’ll be a good place. The roller door I’m going to replace, and have a concertina sliding door fitted so we can open just one-half if needed. We can have Splash paint something on it so it has the building stand out, looking classy, of course,” Rock states.

“Okay, what about men? Have you put out any feelers?” I ask.

“I’ve got Kevin to put something on his noticeboard, but if Buzz and Drag put feelers out too, it will help,” Rock states, giving a look toward them, and receiving a chin lift of acknowledgment.

Getting to my feet and tapping my knuckles on the desktop, I wait for complete silence. “I want to say something while I have the opportunity, something I should have said a long time ago. Rock, Dice and Clay, thank you for being the best of brothers. You took the strain with the custom bikes when we needed you the most. You financially helped the MC build other businesses, and without your help when we turned fully legit, we would not have what we do at this time. We as a club would not own the construction business, Club Whisky, Shooting range, Furnishings, Wine Shop, and the others. From all of us, I’m sure, thank you.”

Rock, Clay and Dice look uncomfortable with the thanks, and back slaps they are receiving from some of the brothers. But we owe them such a lot as they have always been quietly in the background giving us all support.

“Okay. Moving along, what was said about this stove insurance?” I glare at Meat, who is sitting with his arms folded over his chest and giving me a nasty look. I don’t give a shit and glare right back at him.

“I checked the insurance and they won’t pay out. Am I surprised? Not at all. In fact, I’m thinking we should not bother with insurance for things like this anymore because it’s not the first fucking time they’ve refused to pay out. I reckon the green we are paying these fuckers TwoCents puts away in an account for replacing equipment when needed,” PT snaps, and I can see how irritated he is with this. He’s mentioned insurance companies not paying out more than once and I agree with him at this time.

“Show of hands to stop paying insurance on equipment and save the green instead,” I ask, and quickly every brother raises a hand, giving a clear picture we are all on the same page.

“Meat’s stove isn’t working right. I’ve looked at it, and to be honest, Pres, it needs replacing,” Grease says, and gives Meat a slight nod of the head, which has me suspicious, I’ve got to admit.

“Get all the details to me and I’ll look, but don’t fuckin’ buy anything until I tell you,” said while giving Meat a serious look. When I get a chin lift, I move on to the next topic. “Okay, talking about kitchens, what news on Liam and the diner?”

“Liam has gone over to Nevada and left Marg in charge of the coffee house for the moment. Fran, Millie and Grace have stepped up to make sure the coffee house runs smoothly while Liam’s away,” PT states, then turns to look at BS. “BS has been going over to monitor them, and has reported everything is as it should be.”

“Has Liam said if he thinks the diner will be viable?” I ask.

BS grins, “I spoke to Liam yesterday, and he said he can turn it around to be a profitable business. It’s gotten stale looking, even more so since Suzie and Graham have thought of retiring. The place needs upgrading, but he said he will turn it around, find a manager, then he’s coming home.”

“Yeah, that’s what he told me, too,” PT adds.

“Okay, give him the go-ahead to make the offer, get it purchased and turned around. Tell him he’s got six months to do it all. That’ll put a bomb up his ass.” Grinning at the brothers as they shake their heads, but are laughing or chuckling, regardless.

“I’ll speak to him and get the purchase done fast. He’ll need financial backing to get the place stripped and made modern, I'm sure. I'll keep a running total of what is being spent so we can monitor how long it’ll take to recover costs if we decide to keep the place,” TwoCents throws to me, and I give him a nod.

“Did you get Splash settled at the house?” I ask Krylon.

“No, Rock did as I was busy with a hog,” Krylon replies.

“He was okay, got his stuff in his room and when I left he was eating chili with Cora. They were talking and laughing easily, so I reckon he’ll be fine. He already knows Fist from the shop and he’d met Jig, so nobody thinks there will be an issue. He’s a good worker, does what he’s told and when he’s told. I think we picked up a good one when we got him onboard.” Rock fills us all in, and I’m pleased to hear things are going well.

“Good to hear. Okay, so what’s this about a new paint supplier?” I ask.

Rock quickly replies, but has a grin on his face for some reason. “Splash knew someone who mixed paint to order, and we put in a first order that was spot on. There were no issues at all. Turns out she’s called fucking Sigourney Grimsworth.” Everyone is laughing and yeah, throwing out about Sigourney Weaver and Aliens. “She’s going to supply for us for the next two months on a trial basis. If I don’t like what she supplies in that time we step away with no hard feelings. Splash has nothing bad to say about her, so I think she’ll be good for supplying what we need. Oh, she likes to be called Siggy.”

I wait for the comments to stop, as they are all having a great time taking the piss out of the woman’s name. Me, I don’t give a fuck as long as she supplies what we need.

“Anything else?” I ask, then turn to look at RoadRunner, who speaks out.

“We gotta have a second recovery vehicle and driver. We have so much work thrown our way that we can’t keep up with it. Working from the compound isn’t working well now either because Mia and the twins like to be out in the compound and we are driving the vehicle in and out, then have the recovered vehicle sometimes at the compound overnight. What if we take on Hammer’s building for our recovery operation?” RoadRunner is looking around at each of the brothers for comments.

“I think that’s a good idea. I’d rather one of our businesses use it than sell it,” I add and look at Drag, who is grunting in agreement. “Check it out, then let me know if it’s gonna work for you? What about you, Web? Are you going to keep your office here or move it along with these fuckers?” Pointing at RoadRunner and Mensa.

“I’ll stay at my office for the first three months at least, and then, if it’s obvious I need to work from there, then I’ll move. But I don’t work day hours as such, I can work up to midnight if things are busy. I’d rather do that here than in a building on my own when the recovery team is home.” Web is frowning at that thought, and I can understand that.

“What about having your office with a system here and a system there, so you can leave to come here for the evening meal, but then work from your office here if you have to?” I ask, putting out feelers to see how he’ll react to that idea.

"Works for me, Pres." Web seems easier with that suggestion.

“Start looking for a recovery vehicle and get some feelers out for drivers. Maybe a mechanic to maintain the damn things, too,” I add, and Web gives me a nod. Now my eyes must widen when he takes out a fuckin’ tiny pencil and notepad from his top pocket. I turn and look at BS, who has a shit-eating grin on his face. Chuckles around the room confirm others are as shocked as I am that everyone seems to have this pencil addiction.

“Now, the last thing on my list to speak about is Garrett being in prison, and this Stone fucker that we need to feed to Nell’s gators.” I rub my hands together, my eyes I’m sure are damn gleaming with excitement and my feral grin has to be apparent.

Rock sits forward, but it’s Fist that gets the first words out. “I got a little information from Destiny, and then Rock and I spoke with Garrett. After that, we had a long conversation with Specs, who has found some information that is pertinent to where Jerica is, and what she’s doing, or not doing. But I’ll let Specs fill you in, Pres.”

“Okay. Jerica is in Oregon. I know that because I’ve followed her banking trail. She’s not working that I can find. She is, however, taking money from one of the bank accounts I’ve found. One has a large amount and from what Fist has told me, that is savings for a down payment on a house. The account she is using shows she is taking small amounts out every few days. She stopped moving from place to place. That’s obvious from the ATM she was, and still is, using.

“What I didn’t understand, at first, is the account she is using has money being paid into it on a monthly basis. She’s not touching the other account at all. Not a single dime has been taken out of that account. But then I found out the one she is using her sister Destiny is paying money into. I’ve looked at Destiny’s banking and she’s working two jobs. She’s working at the Fire Department and that salary she’s giving to her sister. She also works independently from what I can gather, editing books for authors, arranging interviews, book signings and other shit. She earns a decent living from that, but it’s being used for her and Jessica to live on.

“For those of you who don’t know, Jessica is Jerica and Garrett’s daughter. Destiny, in my opinion, is stretched to the limit. She’s working two jobs. Looking after the daughter, she leases the house they are living in, and looking at it on Google Maps, she is keeping it spotless, if the outside is anything to go on.”

“What MC are we allies with in Oregon?” I ask, because I don’t like what I’m hearing.

“Red Dogs MC are in Oregon. We have friendly relations with them. Ryker is their President, and he’s a decent man,” Specs supplies.

“Okay, I’ll speak to him later and see if he can find Jerica. Take her to his compound and keep her safe in their clubhouse. That way, Destiny won’t have to work two fucking jobs. Jerica can work bar at the clubhouse, cook or something else to earn her keep,” I state and when Specs gives me a nod of agreement, I look around to see if anyone has anything to say.

Rock grabs my attention when he speaks. “I’ll keep Garrett informed, and I’ll speak to Destiny about it. She’s going to be my Ol’ Lady, so I’m looking out for her.”

Fist laughs. “Does she know that?”

“Not yet, but she will. Now you all stay the fuck away from her,” Rock snarls, and I’m thinking, oh, this is gonna be fun. It’s not a voted and sealed Ol’ Lady deal, but it’s near to it.