Heathens Page 7

  Luke was very good at coming off as nonthreatening, a great trait to have when dealing with the politics of club life such as this. His kind smile and bright blue eyes combined with the tattered mechanic shirt made him an approachable local garage owner and seemingly nothing more. That's not to say he wasn't also capable of the exact opposite. The man could be terrifying when he wanted to be. The ability to control himself was what made him a great club president.

  Dean lacked that self-control and was already itching to make a scene. In the presence of law enforcement, it was his go-to response. But he had a family to provide for now, and these weren't just local street cops, so he tried to keep his mouth shut. For now, at least.

  Agent Diaz took a step towards Luke, knowing right away he was the man in charge. This movement caused several of the bikers to tense, and Murphy also took a step forward, putting himself in a position between his president and the agent should he need to intervene.

  “We're investigating a series of car thefts in the area,” Diaz said casually, trying to keep things friendly. “We were hoping you could give us some information.”

  “They called in the feds for carjackings?” Ian asked mockingly, grinning widely at the pair of agents. “Must be a slow day at the office for you guys.”

  “We'd be happy to give you any information we can,” Luke replied diplomatically. “But I'm not sure how much help we'll be. We haven't heard of any issues around this part of town.”

  Agent Diaz studied him carefully, knowing the biker would never give him information outright that could potentially incriminate his club in illegal activities. He would have to play his cards right if he wanted to get any proof that the Red Kings were running the criminal underground in this city. Even if they didn't get anything directly from this first visit, it would at least be enough to unsettle the bikers.

  “We've received some intel on the gang known as the Dead Saints. We believe they may be involved. What can you tell us about them?”

  Luke pursed his lips as he pretended to contemplate the question, feigning ignorance on the subject. “Not a whole lot. Seen them a few times on the other side of town, but it's not really the sort of crowd we tend to hang out with.”

  Knowing the answer was entirely untrue, Diaz turned slightly to the rest of the group, not actually expecting any of their responses to differ from that of their leader. “And what about you, gentlemen? Any run-ins with these Dead Saints?”

  “Nope,” Ian replied, making sure to pop the word loudly.

  “Sound like a bunch of a-holes to me,” Murphy added with a flash of pearly white teeth.

  “Right.” Diaz looked at Dean briefly, knowing by the expression on the man's face that he wouldn't be saying anything helpful today. Turning back to the group as a whole, he tried a different line of questioning. “What about stolen cars? Heard anything about those or anyone who might be involved?”

  Luke shook his head, unwilling to make any sort of connection to the rival club or the illegal activities. “Can't say that I have. Not like criminals would steal a car that needs fixing and bring them to a garage like ours.”

  “Yeah, but c'mon.” Diaz looked at him expectantly, hoping a more direct approach would get him something. “You guys are a biker gang. Not to say you guys are directly involved, of course, but you're telling me people don't come to you with stolen goods? Or that you haven't heard a single thing about these cars?”

  “Biker gang?” Luke gestured to the grungy work shirts and the run down garage behind them. “I think you might have us confused. We're grease monkeys that just happen to like bikes. We ride together sometimes after our eleven-hour days working here before we go home to our families.”

  “Well, I go home to my cats,” Murphy added with a shrug.

  Ignoring the sarcastic blonde man, Diaz leveled his stare at Luke, annoyed that they didn't seem phased by the presence of the federal agents. “Cut the bullshit. We know you guys are involved with the car thefts and God knows what other illegal activities, and we know there's some tension brewing with you and the Dead Saints MC. It won't take long for us to shut this shit down.”

  Luke crossed his arms over his chest and continued to smile warmly at the man, though his eyes hardened at the accusatory comments. “If you guys knew anything, you wouldn't be here harassing us. But like I said, it has nothing to do with us.”

  The two men stared each other down for a few moments, making the rest of the group rather anxious as they were unsure if something was about to happen. In the end, Diaz sighed in frustration before shoving his dark sunglasses back onto his face and turning around. “Let's go, Malloy.” His partner remained still as he stared at the bikers in suspicion, his gaze lingering a few extra seconds on Dean as he studied the man.

  “You got something to say?” Dean asked gruffly, uncrossing his arms and taking a threatening step forward. The agent matched his movement, and Diaz looked willing to let the fight happen if only to have an excuse to arrest someone. The Kings were less thrilled by the idea, so Murphy quickly put himself in front of Dean and began shoving the hothead back towards the garage. Luke looked on in disapproval at his right hand's immature behavior but said nothing as Diaz called Malloy again and headed towards the car.

  “We'll be in touch,” Agent Diaz said with a smug smile. “Don't make any plans to leave town.”

  “Feel free to come back for that oil change anytime!” Ian added with a wave as the agents got into their vehicle. Luke headed towards the garage, where Elijah and Murphy were trying to calm down the raging tattooed biker.

  “Christ Luke, you shoulda just put everything on the Saints!” Dean shouted as he paced across the concrete floor. “They could have gone down for all this shit and got tossed in jail for a while. Would have solved that problem and gotten rid of the Feds.”

  “Lower your voice,” Luke said sternly, glancing around to make sure nobody else was nearby to overhear their conversation. “If we tried to pin everything on the Saints, they would retaliate. We don’t need anybody with even a little information talking to the cops about us.”

  “Who gives a fuck about the Saints? We need to make the feds go away.”

  “Relax,” Luke said to the big man. “They don't have anything on us.”

  “They clearly have something. They showed up on our doorstep!” The two stared each other down, one barely keeping a lid on his temper and the other observing critically. Luke turned to the other three men standing by anxiously as they watched the conversation. “Give us a second, fellas.”

  When it was just the pair of them, Luke turned back to Dean with a sigh as he placed his hands on his hips. “What are you on?”

  “What? Nothing,” Dean replied with a sniff, trying too hard to maintain eye contact with his boss.

  “Don’t give me that bullshit, I can see it in your eyes.” Luke shook his head in disappointment, contemplating the man in front of him. “Don’t forget who pulled you off the ledge last time you went down this road.”

  “I was barely old enough to drink. I didn’t know what I was doing.” Dean raised his chin in defiance, refusing to back down to the older man. “I’ve got a family now. I’m not gonna get hooked on that shit again.”

  “For your sake and theirs, I hope you mean that.” With a final glance, Luke headed back out of the garage, shouting to the other guys to get back to work. Dean stuck a hand in the right pocket of his jeans, feeling the small plastic baggie half-full with powder, and sighed. He was determined to keep his drug habit in check this time, only to use it when he really needed it.

  Just to take the edge off, he thought to himself. It won’t be a problem this time.

  17

  The black Range Rover rolled smoothly down Main Street in the older section of downtown Macon, headed towards the diner Jackie had called home for several years before her abrupt departure. She had made a few visits to her old workplace since relocating back to Macon but had not mentioned anything about getting re-hired. While
going back to her simple job as a waitress wasn’t exactly what she had planned to do with her career, it was the easiest option available to her right now. For the time being, she just needed a source of income to help calm down things at home and get some stability for their little growing family.

  Pulling into the parking lot, Jackie glanced in her rearview mirror at the half-asleep baby in the backseat. This would be his first visit to the diner since entering the world three months ago, and he was sure to be a hit with all of the ladies.

  “Alright big guy,” she said quietly. “Time to work your cute magic and get mama her job back.”

  She hopped out of the vehicle, her eyes quickly surveying the parking lot for anything suspicious. Jackie was now acutely aware of the dangers she brought upon herself with her association to the outlaw MC. She actively tried to be knowledgeable of her surroundings, just in case. She opened the back door of the car after another glance around and gathered up Oliver and her tote bag of mom stuff.

  The pair entered the diner, Jackie stopping briefly to push her sunglasses up onto her head. It took just a few seconds for the ladies to acknowledge the presence of a baby before squeals filled the air, and she, but mainly Oliver, was bombarded by two waitresses.

  “Well, aren’t you just the cutest little thing?” Charlene asked rhetorically to the child, her voice husky from decades of smoking and smog-filled New York City air. The older redheaded woman rubbed a onesie-clad foot gently with her finger as a young, blonde waitress made faces at the baby.

  “Oh my word!” Elaine exclaimed, leaning through the food window to see what the commotion was about. “It’s about time you brought him by.” She quickly headed through the swinging door and out into the main dining area. Making her way through the tables, she reached her arms out to hug Jackie tightly, being careful not to squish the baby. “It’s so good to see you, sweetheart.”

  Jackie sighed happily as Elaine enveloped her in a warm hug. The older woman had been a huge part of her life before she left Macon and had welcomed her back with open arms when she returned, no questions asked.

  “It’s good to see you too, Elaine,” she replied.

  The cook pulled back with a huge smile, turning her attention to the sleepy baby. “And hello to you too, little Oliver,” she said quietly, happy to take him as Jackie handed him over. “Oh my, you’ve gotten so big since the last time I saw you.” Oliver yawned, his eyes struggling to stay open as he cuddled into the woman’s gray knit sweater. Turning her attention back to the new mom, Elaine raised an eyebrow as she scrutinized her. “How are things going with him? And don’t lie to me, I can already see it on your face.”

  Jackie chuckled at the woman’s words, dropping herself into one of the red vinyl stools at the counter. “It’s exhausting, beyond anything I could have imagined. He doesn’t sleep more than a few hours at a time. He’s always hungry, and my boobs always hurt.” Elaine’s soft laughter filled the air as she recalled feeling the same way with her first child. “But I wouldn’t change anything. He’s basically perfect.”

  “It’ll get easier in a month or two when he starts sleeping,” Elaine replied with a knowing smile. “You’re almost through the toughest part, just hang in there.”

  “I dunno, the teen years don’t sound too fun either. But one step at a time.”

  “And how is Dean handling everything?” Elaine asked, raising a brow as she waited for the answer.

  Jackie paused momentarily, trying to find the right words to not completely throw Dean under the bus. “Well… I think he’s been hiding out at the clubhouse to avoid daddy duty a bit. He really likes the easy parts. Playtime, the bottles, hell even the diapers. He’s a little more reluctant when it comes to three in the morning wake up calls, endless crying fits, that kind of stuff.”

  “Well, yes, that’s to be expected, I suppose. Men just aren’t built to handle these kinds of things like we are, dear. He’ll get the hang of it, though. Dean is a good boy. Just make him babysit alone one night, and he’ll get over his anxiety.”

  Snorting, Jackie nodded her head. “Yeah, that or he’ll hit the road and never come back. Ya never know with him sometimes.”

  “I’ll drag him back here by the ear if he tries to leave you with this baby, don’t you worry about that.”

  Jackie cackled at the image her words produced, having no doubt the woman would do just that if such an event occurred. “Gosh, I’ve really missed you and your very direct ways.”

  “I’ve missed you too and am very glad you decided to come back up here where I can look after you,” the cook replied with a smile.

  “Speaking of, is Sandra here? I was hoping to ask her for my old job back.”

  “I didn’t tell you?” Elaine asked with a furrowed brow. “Her kidneys have gone bad. She’s been in and out of the hospital.”

  Jackie sighed with a shake of her head at the news of the diner owner’s failing health. “That’s terrible. I’ll have to take Ollie by to see her. Who’s been running the place while she’s been gone?”

  Huffing, Elaine put her hands on her hips in annoyance. “Well, mostly me, but not by choice. Her good for nothing son pops in every now and then, stays long enough to piss us all off and then disappears. Leaves all the work for us to handle. Been a bit of a zoo in here the past few months.”

  “Sounds like you could use some extra hands,” Jackie replied with a hopeful smile, causing the older woman to laugh.

  “We’d love to have you back, dear. You know you’re always welcome here. And since I’m apparently in charge, that means I can hire whoever I want. What are you going to do with my little man, though?” She rocked the baby gently in her arms and stared down at the chubby face.

  Jackie shrugged with a half-smile. “Haven’t really gotten that far in the plan just yet, but I’ll figure something out.”

  “Well, when can you start? I can use you whenever you’ve got time. You were always much better at the back of the house stuff than me. The inventory gives me a headache, and I can’t seem to figure out the ordering system. I just like to cook!”

  Jackie laughed and stood up from the counter chair. “If you want, I can take a look at the inventory now, maybe put in a quick order on the things we’re running low on.”

  “Oh, you’re a doll! Come on. I’ll show you the mess I’ve started.”

  18

  Jackie entered the Red Kings’ clubhouse, searching out her missing best friend. He had taken up residence at the clubhouse whenever he was in town, preferring one of the spare rooms there as opposed to sleeping on the couch in Dean’s living room. Jackie understood the ease that came with him staying here, but she missed having him around. It had been three weeks since she’d last seen Tyler, and despite their numerous texts, it just wasn’t the same.

  Now she was looking for him because he was supposed to be babysitting his surrogate nephew while Jackie went to her first day back at work.

  And of course, he hadn’t shown up at the apartment and wasn’t answering his phone.

  “Hey Princess,” Mack said from his seat at the bar where he and Elijah were digging into a late lunch. Elijah waived at Oliver, who gave a toothless grin in response as Jackie approached the pair.

  “Hey fellas, how are things?” she asked easily, placing the baby carrier onto the bar where the two guys could get their fill of infant goodness.

  “Oh, ya know, just another day at the garage,” Elijah replied, continuing to make faces at the baby. “I think he’s growing faster than mine did at this age.”

  “Nash mentioned that you had a kid, how old is he?”

  Elijah grinned and immediately pulled out his phone to pull up pictures of his son. “Logan, he’s almost three.” He held up the phone for both her and Mack to see, a toddler with a bright smile looking back at them from the screen.

  “You’ve got a cute kid, Eli,” Mack said with a smile, having met his wife and son at several of the club gatherings over the years.

  The c
onversation was halted as a frazzled Tyler came barreling down the hall from the back of the clubhouse, hair disheveled and duffle bag in hand. He came to a halt when he saw Jackie, immediately remembering the offer he had made. “Ah shit, Jack, I forgot.”

  Jackie sighed, acutely aware that it appeared he was on his way out the door. “You said you’d watch him on my first day back.”

  “I know, and I totally want to watch him.” He scratched the back of his neck, messing up his shaggy hair even further as a sheepish look formed on his face. “But Vic called, and he needs me down in Lakeside pronto.”

  She stuck her hands on her hips and glared at him, tired of hearing those words from everybody that was supposed to be helping her out. “Ya know, I’m really starting to not like those Lakeside guys.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Tyler said as he stepped up to her and gave her a quick hug. “I swear I’ll get him next time. But I gotta go.”

  Jackie huffed but took a step back. “Fine, fine, go. I’ll just take him to work, I guess.” He smiled and grabbed his duffle off the floor, before bolting out of the clubhouse with a quick wave. Spinning on her heel to the two bikers still seated at the bar, she looked at them questioningly. “I don’t suppose Dean is around anywhere and available to watch his son, is he?”

  Mack shook his head sympathetically as he gently rocked the baby carrier. “‘Fraid not, he headed out with Murphy about an hour ago. Not sure where, not sure when he’ll be back.”

  Running a hand through her tangled tresses, she sighed in disbelief at yet another disappearing act from her partner. “Story of my life. I swear he’s sleeping here more than he’s sleeping at home lately.”

  “Yeah, well…” Mack paused, trying to find the right words so as to not alarm her. “He had kind of a rough night, wasn’t really in a state to be going home.”