Duke (4 page)

“
One minute you tell us you’ve learned fighting skills from the fucking champion of the world heavyweight MMA titleholder, and the next you reveal how much of a fuckin’ romantic you are by saying you get all teary-eyed just seeing the way he looks at his wife? Damn, Gen, you’re still that same free-spirited little girl, just all grown up with curves now. I’m likin’ what I see.”

“
You didn’t even know I existed back then, Keith. I crushed on you so hard and we never even had a full conversation. And you say the eff word an
awful
lot.”

Gen winced as she realized the filter between her brain and mouth was apparently malfunctioning.

Duke’s smile was so cocky she wanted to crawl under the table, but instead chose to glare at him.

“
You crushed on me?” The cocky smile grew to arrogant
and
cocky.

“
I was, like,
fourteen
,” Gen retorted. “It was a long time ago, and you didn’t know I existed.”

“
Oh, yeah I did.
Definitely
did. You were off limits, though. Frisco’s little sister.”

“
Off limits? Seriously?”

“
Seriously. Good thing I’ve got new brothers now, with different little sisters off limits. You’re no longer on the list.”

She chose to ignore him and go on with the story. She looked towards Brain and Bash and said, “So, a big group of Sam and Ethan’s friends went out to Vegas with them. Cassie avoided Frisco, who by this time was heartbroken, knew he’d screwed up, missed both Cam and Cassie, since he’d broken up with both of them by this time, because he was an idiot.” She took a breath before heading into the part she’d rather not talk about, but it was important, so she said, “Cassie had made arrangements to go to a—”

“
Hold up, Cassandra Smith? Cassie?
Fuck
.” Keith looked to the other men at the table, his jaw flexing, and they all looked just as unhappy.

 
Cassie’s rape by a famous MMA fighter had been all over the news, so it was no surprise they knew the story. Relieved to not have to go through it, Gen skipped ahead, since they knew that part. “Okay, so, Frisco refused to leave Cassie alone at the hospital. She made him stand outside her room at first, but eventually he managed to worm his way in, though she says he mostly stayed quiet in the corner to keep from bothering her. She had other friends there, so she managed to ignore him.”

Gen wasn’t close to her thirty-minute limit, and there was still food left, but she found it odd these men seemed to be this into the story. Keith, sure, because he knew Isaac and Frisco. But they were strangers to the other men. Unless throwing Sam, Ethan, and Cassie in made it more interesting? She wasn’t sure, but took a breath and kept going. “Meanwhile, even before the rape, Isaac had planned to wait until she got home from Vegas to tell her Frisco hadn’t stepped up, and he was, if she’d have him back. So, she goes home and ends up with Cam there because he lives there, and both Isaac and Frisco refusing to leave. Cam apparently laid down the law, put Frisco to work cooking, helped Isaac get back close enough to Cassie to help her move around during the day since Cam was finishing his last year of college at the time. When Isaac and Frisco started sniping at each other, Cam told them if they couldn’t behave they’d have to leave.”

She shrugged. “If the whole BDSM thing is right, and I’m assuming it is, then Isaac and Frisco are in charge, and Cam and Cassie do as they say. Cam sits on the floor at Frisco’s feet a lot, even when company is over. It looks natural, like he belongs there, but casual, not sexual. However, he’s apparently not a pushover, and he’s very protective of Cassie.” She thought about the night before and added, “Me too, actually. He made Frisco back off of me last night, when he was asking questions I wasn’t ready to answer yet.”

 “
What questions, Beautiful?”

Her eyes snapped to him. “Well, if I didn’t want to tell my brother, I sure as heck don’t want to tell you.” She looked at their table, took in the beers, and it suddenly occurred to her she was the only one not drinking. She smiled and lowered her voice to say, “I’m guessing everyone in here would be surprised to know I’m the only one at this table carrying.”

Six sets of eyes landed on her and suddenly she wished she hadn’t said anything. “How you figure, Darlin’?” She wasn’t sure she’d heard Dozer say anything since the initial introductions, and she wasn’t sure his ‘
darling’
was meant to show he liked her.

“
I’m the only one not drinking. Carry license is invalid if you drink even one drop.”

The high-beam intensity shut down on all of their faces, replaced by grins.

“
Beautiful,” Keith said, his chest moving as if he was trying not to laugh, “don’t know how to tell you this, but we’re outlaws. We pretty much do whatever the fuck we want.”

She glared at him, keeping her voice low. “Alcohol and firearms don’t mix. It’s a bad idea. Not just because of physical coordination, but also your judgment, being able to make split second decisions—”

Keith put his finger to her lips. “Not gonna argue any of those points. I agree with every last one of ‘em. You want to pick this conversation back up at a later date, a much later date, we will. Until then, time to change the conversation.”

Okay,
clients
. Not friends. Also, there were no news articles of them pulling their guns out and randomly shooting up restaurants in Atlanta, so she’d just have to be happy with that.

“
Point taken. Time for us to get back to business anyway.” She looked at Brain. “What are you gonna do with the land?”

Brain’s gaze flicked to Duke, back to her. “We’re forming a Chattanooga chapter of Rolling Thunder. We need acreage for our compound, as well as separate land, not too far away, for a bike shop and a bar. Lots of parking for the bar.”

“
Compound?”

“
Yeah. Walls around it, and then it’s our sanctuary. Clubhouse is big, and the back has rooms so club members can live there, if they want, or just crash if they get drunk and don’t wanna go home. Part of the first lot we walked is already wooded, which works for us. We have a paintball battle area set up at the compound in Atlanta, and would like to do it here, too. We’ll also need space to park our bikes, space for our guests to park, and spots for club owned vehicles.”

“
In Atlanta,” Duke said, “the bike shop and bar are right across the street. We haven’t been able to find two tracts we like enough to make it happen here, but the third spot we looked at is probably close enough to make it work, if you think it’ll be a good spot, location wise, for a biker bar.”

Gen looked at her unsweet tea and considered her response. Keith had taken it personally at first, thinking she was carrying a weapon because she was meeting bikers. However, they had to know they weren’t looking at land in a biker haven, but in a gang infested area. How did she give them the low-down, without insulting them?

“
You asked me earlier about the crime rate, so in case you really don’t know, the area has a lot of gang activity. Drugs, prostitution, fights, shootings. You could get closer to Glass Street and get a little worse, but not much. I don’t think you’re worried about it for your own safety, because I’m guessing you can all take care of yourselves, but the redneck, white-folk, country-music bars tend to be in the rural areas. If you’re asking my advice about where to put a biker bar, there are other properties I can show you.”

“
Damn, and you’re honest too, even when it could mean a huge sale,” Duke said.

“
Of course I’m honest. You’re paying for my expert opinion, I’m giving it you.” She didn’t mean to snap, but her tone of voice showed just how irritated she was getting with Keith. She could feel the heat rolling off his body, pressing into her side, and he just kept saying nice things.

He tilted his head, didn’t seem to take offense. “We may talk to you in eight to ten months about opening a second bar in a more rural area, but we’ll start with one in this section of town, and we’ll do it for a reason. A lot of MC’s have a problem with black people—”

Gen interrupted him. “MC?”

He chuckled. “Motorcycle Clubs.

Suddenly, she felt stupid. “Oh, sorry.”

“
Always ask if you don’t know, Beautiful. You’re such a breath of fresh air, I find it charming you didn’t know.”

She had to put a stop to this. “Okay, Keith. First off, I broke up with someone from a long term relationship, last
night
. Isaac drove me to their house, and the four of them got me drunk and talked me through it. Second, I’m off men. Never dating again. If this is your idea of flirting, stop. You’re wasting your time.”

“
Okay, Beautiful.” His eyes were solemn, serious. “I don’t tend to follow orders very well, but thanks for the information. Sorry you got hurt, but can’t say I’m sorry to hear you’re available.”

She rolled her eyes and turned her tablet on. “The house across the street from the property you like the most has been on and off the market several times in the past couple of years without selling. The woman is asking more for it than it’s worth, but there may be a way to make it worth the cost, if you’re willing to put in a little more effort.” She brought the picture up, as well as the history. “With your brother in the construction industry, if you can move the house to another property, in a better section of town, it’ll sell in a heartbeat and should easily recoup moving costs and then some. We’ll have to be careful with the right location, and find a deal on some land, but that could get you either the bike shop or the bar right across the street.” She pulled up another listing. “This is the property right behind it, so it’s adjacent, even though it’s on a different street, which happens to be a main thoroughfare and would get lots of eyeballs. You can put the sign for both the bike shop and bar here, and route people to the other through the parking lot.

“
Hot damn, you’re a fucking genius.” Duke was smiling at Brain when he said it, but she didn’t want him to get his hopes up yet.

“
If
we can get the lady to sell, and
if
she doesn’t jack the price up because we’re coming to her.”

Duke sat up, pulled his arm away and reached for his wallet. “Brain, change clothes, no cut. Go with her to talk to the woman. You know our budget, make a decision.” He looked down to Gen. “Take a contract, see if you can get her to sign something today. If we like the house we might just move it across the street, use it for ourselves. Make that decision later. Do you own a pair of jeans?”

“
I own two pair of jeans. Why?”

“
Two? Seriously? That’s it?”

“
Yeah. Why?”

He shook his head. “I want to take you for a ride on my bike tonight. Interested?”

The question sent more heat to her already warm girly parts, but she never dated clients — not even when she’d known them decades and once crushed on them.

“
I don’t think that’s a good idea, Keith.” Her voice was soft, she didn’t want to be mean. She took a breath as she swiveled her head to Brain. “I’ll get the check, go back to my office to make a few phone calls, and let you know what I worked out. If I can swing a meet, I’ll pick you up at the hotel later this afternoon. Where are you staying?”

“
Beautiful.” Duke’s voice was gentle but demanding this time, and Gen turned back to him. “Brain did the research, found us the best Realtor for our needs. I didn’t know it was you until we arrived. We’d protect anyone working for us, man or woman, but I’m gonna go the extra mile to make sure you’re safe. This means Brain’s gonna go get changed, and I’ll hang with you while you make the phone call. We’ve made some noise and worn our cuts, and I’m sure we’ve drawn attention. I don’t expect trouble yet, but you’ve been seen with us so we need to stick with you while you’re downtown. Brain will look respectable but not too high dollar for the two of you to talk to the homeowner. He’ll talk to you about strategy before you walk in the door, so you’re both on the same page during negotiations. I’ll be sitting in your car making sure the two of you are safe in the house. None of this is open to discussion.”

“
If you want my best work, you can’t make those decisions. I need at least two hours in my office, at my computer, before I make the phone call to the homeowner, and that’s assuming Drake has someone sitting in
their
office with time to give me a rush job.

His lips turned up at the corners. “Drake? You know Aaron Drake?”

“
No, haven’t met him. Tyler Hastings set me up with them when he found out who I was using before. Drake Security does much better work. Costs more, but
totally
worth it.”

Duke had waved the server over and handed her a credit card. Gen instinctively knew arguing would be pointless, but had to say something. “I told you this was my treat.”

He smiled. “You did.” His gaze shifted back to Brain. “She’s gonna get Drake to give her the skinny before she makes the phone call. Does this girl kick ass, or
what
?”

Gen put her nine millimeter on her nightstand, the extra magazine beside it, undressed and got into her pajamas, crawled into bed, and pulled her laptop onto her legs to look up the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club. She looked up news articles, tax records, and found their Twitter hashtag and spent some time looking through feeds.

She didn’t find out much. They organized rides, supported several charities, and their bike shops seemed to be highly respected amongst those needing their services. There was a news article about them rescuing a schoolteacher from a gang rape a few years before, and two of the members had been arrested and stood trial for beating the tar out of the rapists. Apparently, the jury couldn’t find them totally not-guilty, but also didn’t have it in them to send the men to prison long-term for it. Their guilty verdict was for the misdemeanor portion and not the felony charges, and came with a ninety-day jail sentence, but the men had been out in six weeks.