I could’ve run away, but I didn’t. Something about this guy told me he was going to change my life.
So, yeah, no matter how pissed off this makes me—this whole bloody disaster with the Silver Knights, and having Crash here in our cellar—I will always do whatever Drax needs me to do.
I was right; he did change my life. Now I was the Vice President of one of the most powerful motorcycle clubs in New York, and I owed it all to that man.
* * *
Drax was supposed to be up in his room, asleep and resting. He’d been injured badly in the showdown with Crash, but now I could see the door to his office open. I figured he was inside, so I walked in.
Drax was poring over his diary. I’d never personally read it but knew this was where he wrote out his plans. He didn’t notice when I walked in, so I had to clear my throat.
“How’s the place looking?” he asked, finally meeting my eyes.
I shrugged and pushed my hands into the pockets of my jeans.
“We’re overrun with strippers!”
He sat back in his chair and let out a sigh.
“You know, Ghost, most guys wouldn’t say that with as much resentment as you. Especially since you don’t have an old lady breathing down your neck.”
He smirked and I did too. He had a point.
“But we have shit to do.”
“So you don’t want to get distracted, is what you’re saying?”
“I’m not distracted by them.”
Drax threw up his hands in the air and laughed, then the stitches on his side hurt and he winced and cleared his throat, hoping I hadn’t heard him.
“I just want to figure this out. Like, what are we doing with Teasers? We have a shipment arriving in a few days. Are the Silver Knights laying low for some time? Who the fuck knows?”
Drax nodded but said nothing. He was thinking. Now I was curious to know what he’d been scribbling in his diary.
“And what are we doing about Crash?” I asked. I tried to keep a neutral tone. I didn’t want him thinking I was trying to push him into a decision. Mary-Beth was probably pushing him enough.
“I don’t fuckin’ know,” he hissed and rubbed a hand over his face. “There’s something going on with him. He’s fucked up.”
I nodded, knowing what Drax was talking about. Despite my limited interaction with Crash, I could see there was something different about him. His eyes were bloodshot and crazed, and he wasn’t drunk.
“Heroin?” I said, voicing my thoughts aloud. Maybe I’d spoken too soon.
Drax was staring at me hard. He clenched his jaws and took in a deep breath.
“Yeah, maybe. Those are my thoughts exactly.”
An MC’s President with a drug problem was bad news. It was exactly the sort of shit that could get you killed and bring down the whole MC. Except, Crash wasn’t just any other MC President, was he? He was also Mary-Beth’s brother.
I opened my mouth to say something. I was going to suggest going down there and beating the truth out of him through whatever means necessary. But before I could, Drax headed towards the door.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“I need a drink.”
We headed down to the common area, and Drax spotted Mary-Beth at the bar. He walked up behind her.
“I have to go find him!” Mary-Beth said.
“Find who?” Drax asked smiling.
“Y…you. I was going to the room to look for you. What are you doing out of bed?” Mary-Beth asked as she turned towards him. The woman she was talking to looked down and quickly moved away from us.
“I feel fine,” he said and he reached for her, pulling her into his arms and kissed her. It was weird seeing him this affectionate, and obvious to me that their relationship had grown and evolved over time. He was the kind of man who gave his old lady hugs now.
“How did the talk with your brother go?” He asked.
“Yeah, fine, I guess. He’s just going to have to deal with his current situation,” she said. “But there is something else you should know about.”
“Tell me on the way. We’re going to the store first and then back to the apartment. The guys have offered to handle the scene here for the next few days. You and I are going to stay locked in the apartment,” Drax replied as he started to lead her away from us. I was about to grab a beer when I overheard Mary-Beth.
“I wish this was funny, Drax. But Iron Thunders is still under attack. It’s Eagle. He’s planning it. He’s taken over the Silver Knights in secret and he’s going to come for us,” she said.
“How do you know this?” I said interrupting them.
“One of the strippers from Teasers. I was just talking to her. Her name is Mercy, I think. She said something about Eagle and Crash…and drugs,” her voice shook slightly.
“I’ll get back to you guys when I know something,” I said.
“No. Get her here! I want to talk to her myself,” Drax growled after me.
I stepped away from them, giving them some space. I glanced around, trying to figure out who Mercy was. These girls all looked the same to me. I walked up to the bar where Sophie was serving drinks behind the counter.
“Which one of these is Mercy?” I asked and she looked up at me inquisitively.
“All you boys are feeling twitchy tonight,” she said and chewed on her lip, leaning toward me.
“I’m not going to fuck her,” I growled and the smile on her face got even wider. “Which one?” I growled louder and she rolled her eyes.
“She’s over there. The blonde. Sitting by herself.”
I turned to look and saw her across the room. I recognized her straight away as the girl from last night, the one who’d screamed in fear when the shots started ringing. I’d had to grab her by her waist and pull
