Chapter Eleven

Montana

I had just brought the board meeting to order when my phone rang. Seeing the caller, I groaned.

"Not a good time, Phantom," I said, before quickly covering the receiver and whispering loudly, "Where the hell is he?"

"Make the fucking time, you piece of shit," I clearly heard Bullseye shout into the phone. Laying my phone on the table, I hit the speaker button as he continued, allowing everyone to hear. "You owe this club, and I'm calling in your fucking debt."

"Like I said, I can't talk," I reiterated.

God, I really didn't need any more shit on my plate.

I was at my limit with Storm and Malice's disappearing act.

"Oh, you'll make the time, asshole, or I will have my woman notify the fucking press of exactly who the board members of the Soulless Sinners are. I'm sure the NYPD would be thrilled to know that several of the city's top businessmen are fucking criminals and murderers."

"I will kill you fucking dead, you son of a bitch."

"Gotta find me first. Now, as I was saying, you owe the Golden Skulls, and you fucking know it."

Rolling my eyes, I groaned. "What do you want?"

"I want Satan's Angels eradicated from this earth. All of them."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me. They have hundreds of chapters in the deep south."

"And you run the largest motorcycle club in the world. I'd say it's fairly well matched."

"I do this, we're done. You ever fucking call me again and its war."

"Agreed."

"I'll call when it's done," I growled, pocketing my phone.

"Got a lot on our plate already, Prez," Mercy stated unhelpfully, leaning back in his chair. "Don't have time for a road trip."

"I know," I groaned, rubbing my hands down my face before looking at my brothers sitting around the boardroom. "Call Seether. Those Texas boys like hunting. Put their asses to work. In the meantime, we need to find Storm. He didn't just disappear into thin air. Who's running his company?"

It had been three days since Storm disappeared and Malice took off for who the fuck knows where. Bad enough, I had one brother off doing God only knows what, but Storm disappearing was something I never expected and couldn't afford.

Brother had always been solid.

Loyal to a fault.

Knew the fucking rules and followed them to the letter.

One little fuck up and he decides to claim amnesia?

I don't fucking think so.

"I've made calls, but everyone is saying the same thing. They haven't seen him," Shame added.

"Stopped by the Bar & Grill. Stacy is still behind the bar, none the wiser," Payne advised, then added, "Even stopped by to see Father Dominic. The good father hasn't heard from his favorite son in weeks. Even missed Wednesday's mass."

"Something isn't right here." Vicious frowned, looking around the table.

Great. The last thing I needed was the voice of fucking reason to lay down his pearls of wisdom. Had love for Vicious, but the brother always chose the wrong fucking time to make everyone think.

I just needed Storm found fast.

Not profound enlightenment.

"I've gotten to know Storm since coming here and the brother never pegged me as a runner. I understand he was shocked to learn he'd become a father, but from what I saw, he took the news rather well. My guess, something spooked him."

"Storm doesn't spook," Happy stated. "He rails against the wind and strikes like lightning. Fucker doesn't get scared. He fights."

"Then what happened? Because last I heard, he was waiting on the medical testing to verify he was a match for his daughter so he could donate his bone marrow," Vicious clipped back.

Fury leaned forward, looking around the room at all the brothers, before landing on Mercy, who kept his head down, flipping through his emails on the phone. "Vicious is right. If Storm wasn't here at the clubhouse, he was at the hospital. Isn't that right, Mercy?"

"Yep."

"That all you gonna say?"

"Just agreeing with you, Fury."

Fury smirked, slightly shaking his head. "Other than Mercy, I've been around the longest. I know your tells. So, what the fuck did you two numbnuts do?"

"Watch it, Fury. I'm still the President," I growled.

"And I'm the SAA. Like you two, I can order any brother to speak. If they lie to me, I can demand punishment. So, who should I ask? Happy? Payne? No? ... Then how about I ask Shame?"

Shame's head snapped up.

"Why did Storm disappear?"

Shame looked at Mercy, then at me. Refusing to give Fury what he was looking for, I sat back down and let this play out.

The second I did so, Mercy shook his head.

"Asked you a question, brother?" Fury sneered.

"I found something about Delany's past that would hurt the club. I took it to Montana who told me to let Mercy handle it."

"Handle what?"

"Delany's father was under investigation for arson and murdering five 9/11 families. Firefighter families."

"And?"

Shame sighed. "And that's it. Still waiting for more information. It's taking longer than I thought because all the information regarding families of 9/11 is sealed. Right now, it's only speculation."

"And let me guess." Fury slowly stood as he faced me. "You ordered Mercy to sever all ties, right? Keep the kid, kick the mother?"

I shrugged. "Only protecting what's mine, brother. Don't care about some bitch who spread her legs and popped out a brat. Won't allow her family ties to ruin what I've built."

"You son of a bitch," Fury spat out, shaking his head. "You've already condemned the woman without any real evidence because you are afraid if word gets out, it will hurt your pocket."

"Won't allow some arsonist's daughter in my club."

"Well congratulations, Montana. You've sunk to a new low," Fury said angrily, gathering his jacket. "Let me know when you two pull your head out of your asses."

Vicious said nothing as he quietly got up and followed.

"You know something," Payne said, getting to his feet, buttoning his jacket. "Just when I started to think you were nothing like your father, you showed me how much you truly are his son. I'll be back when Malice returns. Until then, I'm unavailable."

Turning to Happy, who just sat at the table looking at his hands, I asked, "What about you?"

The big guy took a deep breath and stood. "Now I know why Virginia's been quiet. You did our brother wrong, son. I'd fix it before Storm makes an example out of you."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Did you ever stop to think who controls all the investments for this club and all our businesses? Whose company this club uses to promote our charities? None of us do anything without Storm's approval. Everything he touches turns to gold, and what makes this even funnier... he knows where all the bodies are buried." Happy smiled, chuckling as he walked out of the boardroom.

Well, shit!

"Shame, get the fuck out of here and find Storm. Use Pippen if you have to. Call everyone. I want him found, today," I ordered, as Shame shot to his feet and bolted from the boardroom, leaving only me and Mercy, who shook his head, grinning like an idiot.

"Told you this would fucking backfire. You never listen."

"Shut up, Mercy."