“Not really.” I shrug. “She’s the opening act.”
“But some of those dates bring you close to our charters, right?”
Wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he’d already looked up every date on the schedule. “Yes, sir. Of course, I’ll stop by and pay my respects.”
“I don’t doubt you will.” He pauses and studies me for a moment. “What you did in Deadbranch probably saved this club a lot of fucking trouble. You understand that, don’t you?”
“Uh, I guess.”
“I realize it cost you personally, and I’m sorry.”
Damn. I highly doubt Priest apologizes often. “Club comes first, Priest. I know that.”
“It does. But our brothers’ happiness is important too.” His gaze shifts to the door. “And ain’t no brother happy if his old lady ain’t happy.”
I laugh with him. “She handled it okay. Her manager’s still not pleased about the exposure, but he’ll get over it.”
“Still, if there’s a way to make amends, I want you to tell me.” He holds up his hand. “Think on it. I don’t need an answer right now. I owe you one, though.”
“Okay.” Priest owing anyone a favor probably happens about as often as a total solar eclipse. “I will.”
“One last thing, what’s our relationship with the other clubs in New York looking like?
At least I don’t have to hesitate. “Good. Wolf Knights are still moving out of Slater County.”
“What about the Devil Demons MC?”
“Solid.” I gesture toward the door. “Actually ran into their prez at one of Shelby’s shows. He called to offer some help during her…what happened.”
He sits back and crosses his arms over his chest. “Chaser? That right?”
“Yes.” I have no idea how much of Chaser’s background Priest is aware of. “He has some entertainment connections. Hooked me up with someone who could help Shelby. Also said he’d introduce me to some Demon brothers if I need a hand with security at any of her shows.”
“Very nice.” His wide eyes and thoughtful nod say he’s impressed and not annoyed that I’m cozy with the president of what’s technically a rival MC. “That might come in handy on the West Coast where the two clubs’ relationships haven’t always been as…harmonious, shall we say, as they have on the East Coast.”
“Sure.”
He narrows his eyes. “And I assume any work you have would be offered to Lost Kings.”
“Absolutely.”
“Washington’s your home charter, right?”
Technically, I grew up in Northern California and then Oregon. Spent very little time in Washington. I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with the turn our conversation just took. “Yeah.”
“You know we’ve had issues there. Any chance you can stop in. Just observe, the way you did in Deadbranch.”
Yeah, because that worked out so well for me. This time, I’m not taking an entourage.
“Absolutely, I was planning to stop there. Shelby’s got dates in Spokane and Tacoma.” There isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room in the schedule around those dates, but I’ve got time to figure it out. Obviously, this visit isn’t optional.
“Good. Bring her with you. Introduce her so they get to know your old lady.”
I hesitate, not sure I should even mention this. “Unfortunately, sometimes it draws attention to me. Being photographed with her.”
He searches through a stack of papers and uncovers the damn copy of Glow with Shelby and me on the front.
Are you fucking kidding me?
“Who’s the largest one-percenter club in the country?” he asks. “Fuck, the whole world?”
I’m not sure what that has to do with the magazine but the answer rolls off my tongue easily. “The club we never name.”
“Right. You notice how pervasive they are these days? They’re everywhere. Insidious. In the Nineties they started treating the club as a business entity. Now, they’ve wormed their way into all facets of pop-culture. Built up a ‘mystique’ around the outlaw life.”
Exactly the kind of shit most true bikers hate. “Yeah, and it encourages every fool who buys a Harley to LARP around at being a biker.”
He raises an eyebrow.
“Live action role play,” I explain.
“Heh. I like that.” He grins. “Exactly, they’re even on those stupid reality shows. People treat them like celebrities. And yet, they’ve never gotten out of guns, extortion, and a host of other shit. They just do it in plain sight now.”
“Yeah, until the government goes after their colors.”
“Government lost that battle, don’t forget.” He sets the magazine down. “Why do you think that is?”
“Like you said, they treat their club like a business.”
“Right. But there’s something else. They’ve infiltrated government agencies in some way at every level. Their women work in courthouses. Family members in law enforcement. Bribing people. Forming relationships. Maintaining those relationships over years.”
I don’t know if I’d call bribing elected officials with tapes of them in bed with young women who aren’t their wives “maintaining relationships” but, whatever.
“Ice has made significant progress with a few agencies,” Priest says.
He sure has. And here I was worried Ice’s ties to ATF and the FBI were a bad thing, when all along, it sounds like Priest’s been encouraging it.
“That’ll benefit all of us.”
“Or get us all sent to prison.” Shit, I can’t believe I said that out loud.
“I understand your concern and it’s not without merit.”
“What’s any of this have to do with me?”
“This.” He taps the magazine cover. Christ, I want to hunt down every copy and toss them in a bonfire. “Doesn’t bother me. It normalizes us. Puts people at ease. She has a lovely wholesome image.”
Why do those words sound creepy as fuck coming out of Priest’s mouth?
“It’s not a negative to be seen with her. Makes the big, bad bikers seem less scary.”
I think I liked Priest better when he threatened us to keep a low profile and didn’t want us to draw attention to ourselves.
“I thought the whole point was to fuck everyone’s opinion and live outside the bounds of society?”
“Times change, Rooster. We can adapt to the world around us. Or rot in prison.”
Adapt it is.
Chapter Fifty
Rooster
After we leave Priest’s compound we head to the ranch where Dawson and his guys are hanging out.
Along the way, our caravan pulls into a rest stop to say goodbye to Wrath, Trinity, and Hustler. They’re headin’ home from here.
Shelby and Trinity share a teary goodbye.
“You’re going to come visit us for Christmas, right?” Trinity asks.
Thank you, Trinity.
Shelby takes my hand, pulling me closer. “Sooner, I hope.”
I definitely like the sound of that.