Something wasn't right in that boy's head. He'd gone screwy when my old man was still breathing. Never knew from what.
“She's not just another whore. I wouldn't have pulled her outta Ricky's hole if that's all she was. I ain't completely stupid, or reckless, or fucking this club with my dick.” No, I wasn't. But the Prez didn't need to know I actually had a heart. “The pimp caught the girl and decided to sell her off months ago. She's got rich parents who are ready to pay up pretty damned handsomely for any info leading to her return. Ever heard of the Wilders in Knoxville?”
The Prez sat up like a dog catching wind of a juicy steak, but he kept his cool. “No. Can't say I have. How much money are we talking?”
“Quarter million. Pretty sure you could squeeze out more if you even give them a whiff you know something about their baby girl.”
“Fuck. That's a lot of scratch.” Dust leaned back in his chair, the wheels turning in his head so loud I could practically hear them grinding. “Tell me you've got a plan. We could drop her off at their doorstep tomorrow, but they're not gonna give that money to the Pistols MC, especially if the Feds are involved. Hell, Uncle Sam's glad we're almost out of commission. We're so far off their radar they barely even send goons to sniff around us anymore.”
I had to think fast. For a second, the Prez and Veep eyed me so hard I thought they'd set my cut on fire. Sweat beaded on my brow, but I didn't earn my name by getting stumped.
They called me Skin because I'd saved this club by the skin of its teeth more times than anybody could count, especially from the IRS. Those bastards combed everything, looking for any little misstep to shut us down. As long as I wore the Treasurer patch, they'd never find a goddamned shred of evidence.
“I'll convince her to play along. The girl only needs one hero – if I come forward and she's got my blessing, they won't be any wiser. It's probably her rich daddy who'll be handing off the money anyway. I'll smile for a press photo when they give me the check. I'll look nice and I'll be there as Parker – not Skin.”
I stopped. Perfect timing because the Prez was shaking his head, trying to hold in laughter or else keep his fist from flying into my face. I couldn't tell which.
“That's weak, brother. Even by your standards. I expected better.”
I shrugged. “Take it or leave it, Prez. We can talk about it in church, but I doubt the club's gonna come up with anything better. Me and this whore, we've built ourselves an understanding of sorts.”
That was a total lie. Sure, I'd given her my ring, and she'd looked at me at first like the only man who hadn't treated her like a total piece of meat. Then I'd ripped her out of the fire, only to throw her into mine.
I'd betrayed her. This whole idea was insane, if the Prez decided to give it a chance. I had no fucking clue if I could really convince her, ever repair the damage I'd done.
But there wasn't another choice. Joker grunted in the corner, holding in his dead tone sarcasm. The Prez just stared, ready to open up on me, but I knew he didn't want to do it when I had him by the balls.
He knew this was our only choice too, the best shot we'd had in forever to inject some lifeblood back into this club.
“Yeah? What kind of understanding is that? One where she doesn't pay you back for holding her ransom with a blowjob and hands over a couple hundred grand?”
“Go ahead and be cynical. I'll prove how wrong you are. No different than that time you decided to go all in with the chop shops, and I told you that much expansion would bring the whole house down.” I looked him dead in the eye. “I was right then, and it's no different now.”
His lips twitched as his hand moved, scraping his heavy metal rings across the table. He looked at Joker.
“Step aside so he can get to work. He's got three days to convince me this isn't just bullshit.” Slowly, Dust turned back to me, a mischievous gleam in his eye. “If I'm not convinced, I'm handling this myself. I don't give a shit who she is, or what we're putting on the line. The club needs cash, and we just landed ourselves a golden goose. Her parents will pay up one way or another, mark my fucking words. I'll use all the vinegar I've got if honey won't do the trick.”
Joker grinned, cold and artificial as ever. Creepy motherfucker.
I stood up, nodded, and put my hand out to the Prez. He could be a total bastard and a stubborn SOB at times, but he knew how to motivate a man.
I promised myself I wouldn't let anybody down while we shook hands. I wasn't in the business of making promises I couldn't keep, and this one wouldn't be the first I'd failed to honor. Didn't matter that this happened to be the biggest conundrum since I'd put on the patch.
My word was gold. Always. The broken dove holed up in my room wasn't gonna be the first to turn it into mud.