“You may have my patch, but I have something of yours,” Taz sneers, and I narrow my eyes at him.
“You don’t have shit.” I growl. “Now get out before I really live up to my road name and maul your ass!”
He cackles. “That right? Why don’t you ask little Jacky Boy about it.”
I launch myself and pin him up against the wall by his neck. “What have you got to do with Jacques? I swear if you’ve touched a hair on his head, I will put you six feet under so fuckin’ help me God!”
He squeezes out a choked laugh through my grip around his neck and I’m pulled off him.
He rubs his neck. “Don’t matter, after tomorrow you’ll never get it back.”
My fists shake and I pull against the three people holding me back as I watch him wink and walk out the clubhouse door.
They let go as we hear his engine tear off down the road, and I swing around facing Smokey, Grim and my pop. “You not hear what he was saying? You should’ve just let me go!”
My pop steps forward, hands raised. “Bear, you need to calm the fuck down. He was taunting you and making shit up.”
“And what if he wasn’t?” I shout.
“Then we’ll get to the bottom of whatever it is, but you need to calm down!” Pop raises his voice.
I take a deep breath and run a hand through my hair, scanning the room. “Where’s Jacques?”
Everyone looks around them, but he’s not here. “Anyone know where the fuck my brother is?”
No answer from anyone. I slam my fist into the wall and curse as my knuckles crack under the pressure. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, so I turn around to give everyone a warning stare to get the fuck away from me. I notice some of the Old Lady’s and club broads cowering in the corner, except one.
Kira, Grits Old Lady, takes a tentative step toward me and holds out her hands to see my fist. I look at Grit and he gives me a simple nod to say it’s okay and I let her lead me out into the kitchen. She’s only around three years older than me, was a biker brat herself until Grit claimed her as his own, real sweetheart until you crossed her, then she’s as fierce as they get to protect her own.
“Got quite the temper on you, not very smart to go punchin’ up walls,” she says matter-of-factly.
I roll my eyes. “Didn’t get my road name for nothin’.”
She giggles. “And here I was just thinkin’ it’s because you’re hairy.”
I strain out a laugh and look into her green eyes. They still hold a slight scared look in them when she looks back at me, and I sigh. “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to scare you and the rest of the girls.”
She laughs. “You think you’re the first to blow in front of them? If they can’t handle it they shouldn’t be involved with the club, it comes with the territory. You’re all hot heads, we know that.” I run my good hand down my face and she finishes bandaging the other. “You’re good to go. I don’t think it’s broken, but it’ll hurt like hell for a while.”
I smile. “You’re one of the good ones, Kira. Grit’s lucky to have you stand by his side.”
“Damn right I am,” a deep voice sounds out from the door, and her face lights up.
“Thanks for patching me up,” I say, trying to flex my hand and wincing. It’s not as bad as I thought it’d be, but it still hurts.
She waves me off. “Sure. Just don’t go picking fights with walls again.”
I walk past Grit on the way to my room and nod at him to show my appreciation for letting his Old Lady patch me up.
Pop’s is waiting for me outside my room. “What the fuck was that? You get VP shoved in your face and the first thing you do is roll around the floor like a fuckin’ animal, puttin’ on a show for everyone?”
He pushes a patch at my chest and I catch it before it falls to the floor. “I didn’t start anything, just finished it. And don’t be a hypocrite, you’re the one that taught me to use my fists to get my point across.”
He smirks. “I also taught you to choose your battles, Bear. Tank isn’t givin’ you VP, he wants me at his side, just a warning. And what’s this shit about Jacky Boy? Something you need to tell me?”
“He said it in front of the whole fuckin’ club, he can’t go back on his word,” I growl.
“And then you went and did that, so deal with it! Now, what’s going on with Jacques?”
“I’d tell you if I knew anything,” I snap.
“No you wouldn’t.” He narrows his eyes at me.
“You’re right, I wouldn’t unless it put the club in danger, but he’s not talking and now I know Taz has something to do with it, I need to find him.”
“Taz doesn’t know shit, he was tryin’ to get to you and you went to him like a bull seein’ red.”
“Yeah well he deserves everything that’s coming to him. If he keeps this up, I can’t see him lasting much longer at the club.”
A whistle catches my attention and I turn my head to see Pres standing outside his office, he motions for me to join him in there when he sees me looking, then walks back inside. I sigh and start walking to the office.