“That leaves the MC, but I gotta say, this does not sound like that particular MC. They seem to be smart about managing their risk. What Ace photographed in that cave was some seriously sloppy shit.” Ryder, as always, was opinionated and never held back.
Jack spoke, even though Darkness had warned him not to. “It could be that the MC found a couple of rats in their club or they had a couple of men who were too stupid to live. Maybe stashing them with the other bodies was a half-assed way of making them disappear with the added benefit of throwing law enforcement off their trail if the site was ever discovered.”
Darkness shot the young man a half-smile. “You’ve got a good nose for this shit.”
Jack smirked. “I watch a lot of television.”
Ignoring his flippant comment, Darkness added, “After looking at Ace’s pictures, the footprint stands out as the main clue. We know that Aryan gangs usually chalk their boot and stomp their victims on the back. Since no other groups we’ve talked about are Aryan, we need eyes and ears in the local area. Tonight we eat, sleep, and booze it up. Tomorrow we break up into pairs and swarm the area. Leave your cuts at home, ‘cause we’re going undercover. I don’t want any nastiness with the MC who’s claimed that area. If anyone asks, we’re just passing through.”
Ryder reiterated the safety piece. “You heard the prez. No one goes off half-cocked by himself. You know the rules. Two riders are likely to be seen as friends out for a ride. Three riders are concerning but more will put the local MC on high-alert for possible incursion.”
“I’ll go out myself and have a sit-down with him. Hickory and Ven will accompany me. Ace, you are in charge of the clubhouse and the strays you dragged home,” Darkness instructed.
“I can help you dig up clues,” Ace offered. The last thing he wanted to do was play babysitter. He wanted in on the action.
“I don’t want you in that area. Let your club brothers handle this. Stay here with Peb and hold down the fort. Remember we have ATF breathing down our neck. That situation is going to circle back around and bite us in the ass at some point.”
Nodding solemnly, Ace felt like shit for having his club brothers doing all his dirty work.
Darkness’s rough voice asked, “You hearin’ what I’m layin’ down, Ace?”
“Yes, sir. I’m hearing you loud and clear. We eat, drink, and be merry, and tomorrow we untangle this mess.”
Darkness nodded grimly. “Get the hell outta here. I’ll see you all at dawn.”
~ Barbara ~
Ace and the other men came from around the back of the building. Barbara gave him the once-over with a critical eye, only to realize the handsome biker didn’t have a scratch on him.
Shifting her eyes to his friend, he looked tired but not beaten up. Letting out a shaky breath, she was relieved to discover that they were really just sparring instead of beating the crap out of each other.
Ace dropped down in the seat beside her and snagged a chip off her plate. “Are you makin’ friends and influencin’ people out here today?”
“Not really. They’ve been real nice to me, especially Tiffany.”
“Yeah, she’s all right.”
Tiffany’s playful voice interjected, “Hey, I’m sitting right here listening to you damn me with faint praise. I saved you when you were on the path of self-destruction. Can’t I at least get an upgrade to a real nice or fantastic person?”
Shooting Tiffany a smile, Ace grabbed Barbara’s hand. “Are you ready to rest, angel?”
Heat curled in her stomach at the thought of cuddling up with him. “Yes. I’m more than ready.”
Standing, he pulled her to her feet. “C’mon, I’ll get you settled in. Ryder will see to your students.”
Since they were all grown adults that had chosen to come to the clubhouse, Barbara tried not to be overly focused on them. Instead, she allowed Ace to lead her into the building.
“Want a nightcap?”
“Gosh, that would be so nice,” she told him. After a day like today, she needed a little something extra to help calm her nerves.
“What’ll you have?”
She gave it some thought. “Appletini?”
Ace smiled. “You got it, angel.”
Barbara slid onto a barstool as Ace jumped behind the bar, washed his hands in a tiny sink, and began mixing drinks like a demon. He slid a candy-apple-red martini in front of her moments later.