Six-Gun, page 7
“I heard Barracuda talk to Menace. While he wasn’t overly friendly to him, he wasn’t a dick.”
Mick shrugged. “Maybe they learned to bury the hatchet. That was over fifteen years ago. You can only hold a grudge for so long before it starts eating you alive.”
“It wasn’t completely Barracuda’s fault, right?” I asked.
Mick shook his head. “Nah, Menace took partial blame for it, too. Barracuda wouldn’t have been going so fast if it hadn’t been for being chased.”
“But you said they were fine, right? At least, eventually.” I’m sure I was supposed to be quiet, but this was to juicy to not say anything.
“For about five years after, they were constantly back and forth with each other. Menace would do something to piss off Barracuda, then Barracuda would get back at Menace. It was never ending until Menace almost killed Barracuda. They called a truce and were able to be amicable with each other. They weren’t back to being friends or anything like that, but they at least weren’t trying to kill each other.”
Six-Gun nodded. “Okay. There anything else you could tell us? Anyone who might have something against Barracuda?”
Mick shrugged. “For a long while, Barracuda didn’t give a fuck about anything, and that included pissing people off. Hell, he pissed off half of Woodland by the time he was twenty-five. Pick a name out of a hat and you have someone who he got on the bad side of for a bit.” Mick ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not sure why you’re asking me all of this, but that’s what I know. Number one person who might try to hurt him that I can think of? Menace. After that, who the fuck knows.”
“What about Charlene? Did she have any family who might be upset?” I asked. Might as well ask all of the questions while we were here.
Mick shook his head. “Nope. At least, not now. Both of her parents died about ten years back, and she didn’t have any brothers or sisters.”
“Why didn’t you want to tell me this on the phone?” Six-Gun asked him.
Mick looked around. “Because I prefer to do things in person. I need to see who I’m talking to. You can never be too safe.”
Six-Gun held up his hands. “I am who I said I was, man. Just looking for information. You just told us what happened fifteen years ago, man. Nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, well, you don’t need to tell anyone where you got that information from either.” Mick finished his cigarette and then dropped it in the dirt. He ground it out with the heel of his boot and nodded to Six-Gun.
He walked away and disappeared around the building.
I blew out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and looked up at Six-Gun. “Well, that was more information than I thought you would get.”
Six-Gun ran his fingers through his hair. “Me too, doll.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed a message. “Monk and the rest of the guys probably aren’t even going to believe this. Fucking crazy shit.”
“Do you think this Menace guy is the one who shot Leona?” I asked.
Six-Gun shrugged. “It seems likely, but then this happened fifteen years ago. I don’t know why Menace would suddenly go after Barracuda now.”
That was true. It seemed a bit farfetched for Menace and Barracuda to call a truce years ago and for Menace to choose now to seek revenge on Barracuda.
“What happens now?”
Six-Gun stuck his phone back in his pocket and held his hand out to me. I put my hand in his and tipped my head back to look him in the eye.
“Grab something to eat, take the long way back to the clubhouse, church, and then we get you to work.”
“Sounds like an awful lot.”
Six-Gun shrugged. “It’s still pretty early, and you gotta know life with the Royal Bastards is never chill and quiet.”
I sighed and tipped my head to the side. “I think chill and quiet would be good right now.”
Six-Gun laughed and pulled me back around the building. “It would, but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.”
He threw his leg over the bike, and I climbed on behind him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his shoulder.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
I realized what I had just done. I touched him much more than I had before. I did it without even thinking about it.
“Uh, yeah. I’m good.” And I actually meant it. I was good.
Granted things were heating up with the hunt for Leona’s killer, but I was good.
Better than I had been for months.
I slid my hand down and laid it on Six-Gun’s leg. “Thank you.”
He put his hand on top of mine and squeezed. “Whatever you need, doll.”
I still couldn’t put into words what I needed, but Six-Gun simply being there and letting me just be was a good start.
Chapter Nine
I know a guy...
Six-Gun
Monk shook his head. “Well, fuck. Had a lot of things running around in my head that Mick could have told you, but that wasn’t one of them.”
“That gives Menace a reason to come after Barracuda,” Playboy pointed out. “Though it seems pretty fucking weird he would wait this long to do something about it.”
“That’s what I’m fucking saying? Why wait this long to do something?” Jinx asked.
“This does make sense though,” Mace called. “Menace and Barracuda never really got along. It always felt like there was something more going on between the two.”
“And that something was obviously Charlene,” I sighed.
“Menace is fucking crazy if he went after Leona because of what happened fifteen years ago,” Tank scoffed.
“Or he’s mentally unstable,” Rebel muttered.
“That’s the damn truth.” Monk sat back in his chair. “So, now what the hell are we going to do with this information? It’s not like we know it was Menace who killed Leona, but it seems likely.”
“We know anyone who rides with the Devil’s Rebels?” Playboy asked.
Monk shrugged. “Sure, but I don’t know them enough for them to flip on their prez for us.”
“There’s gotta be one of their guys who will flip for the right price,” Rebel laughed.
“Yeah, but what if you pay that price and then they don’t have anything to say?” Playboy shook his head. “I say we just straight out ask Menace if he had anything to do with it.”
Monk looked around. “Did you just teleport us to a fucking dreamland?” he asked Playboy. “Why in the hell do you think Menace will just come out and tell us he killed Leona? It’s been almost three fucking months since it happened and he hasn’t said a word about it. You think us just going to him and asking is going to make him tell us?” Monk shook his head. “That shit ain’t gonna fucking work.”
“Then what do you think we should do?” Playboy spat. “Raelyn and Leona were the only ones who witnessed it. Leona is dead, and Raelyn had her back to the shooters or her face in the dirt. She doesn’t know anything.”
“So we’re pretty deadset it was Menace?” I asked. “No other leads came up with anything?”
“I looked into the Kings of Vengeance. Thought maybe since they owe us a chunk of change that they might have decided to start offing us.” Tank shrugged. “Yeah, it was as dumb as it sounds. Wasn’t them.”
Mace raised his finger. “I checked with anyone who had connections with Jester. From what I can tell, they didn’t have any plans to sell Memphis or Billie Jean. They snatched them only because they found out Billie Jean was a snitch.”
“Police informant,” Playboy clarified. “Who is now becoming a cop.”
Tank laughed. “Man, brother, is that what happens when you get an ol’ lady? Defend everyone in her family?”
Playboy flipped him off. “Fuck you.”
“Anyway,” Mace drawled. “I couldn’t find anyone who would want revenge on Barracuda or us that is connected to Jester. Same answer I gave you when we looked right after Leona was killed.”
“I just wanted to be sure. That’s why I had you guys double check everything. So, I guess we focus on Menace and the Devil’s Rebels now.”
What I got from Mick was the first info we had that actually could lead us somewhere. When we had first looked around to figure out who had shot up the clubhouse and killed Leona, we got nowhere. Reaching out to people from Barracuda’s past was a longshot, but it paid off.
“And just how are we going to focus on Menace?” Jinx asked.
“The couple of dealings we had with the guy were barely friendly,” Playboy pointed out.
Monk laid his hands on the table. “I might have someone who can help us, but it’s a longshot.”
“What the hell are you hiding up your sleeve?” Jinx asked.
“I went to school with a guy. We managed to keep in touch over the years, and if the offer we give him is good, I’m sure he’ll help us.” Monk looked around the table. “We’ll have to put it to a vote.”
“Wait, wait,” I called. “You’re making this sound like a big fucking deal, so maybe we should know just who you’re going to approach with our business.”
“Banachi.”
The name hung heavy in the air.
We all knew the name.
One of the biggest mafia bosses in the country. Leo Banachi had the largest underground network of organized crime and drugs.
He was so high up on the chain of crime that it was always impossible for the law to trace anything back to him. He was the guy who mob movies were made about.
“Wait, wait,” Jet called. “How the fuck did you go to school with Leo Banachi? The guy is in his fucking fifties.”
Monk laughed. “His nephew. Marco.”
“Oh,” Tank nodded. “Now that makes more sense. He high up enough to actually help us?”
Monk nodded. “He is. He’s a direct line to his uncle.”
“So are we getting help from Marco or Leo?” Playboy asked. “And just what kind of help?”
“I just thought of the idea, but I’m thinking we get Leo to approach the Devil’s Rebels with a business deal and see if he bites.”
“He’d be a damn idiot if he tells Leo no.” Tank pointed at Monk. “You might want to see if he has a deal for us, too.”
“I think we have enough shit going on right now without adding working for the Banachis.” Monk sat back in his chair and sighed. “All in favor of bringing in the Banachis to help figure out the whole Devil’s Rebels bullshit?”
We all raised our hands or nodded.
Monk slapped his hand on the table. “That’s settled. I’ll let you guys know how it goes. For now, just stay on alert and don’t let your guard down. Whatever the fuck is going on is far from over.”
Memphis
“That’s totally unfair.”
Six-Gun leaned against the edge of the bar. “It is what it is, doll.”
“I was there when you talked to Mick, got all of the information, and now you can’t tell me what you guys are going to do?” I grumbled. “What the hell kind of sense does that make?”
I knew how the club was. If you’re not part of the club, then you don’t know club business. Blah, blah, blah.
After we had returned to the clubhouse from talking to Mick and grabbing lunch, Six-Gun had holed up in church until it was time to take me to work. Now I was trying to wiggle out of him just what was going on in between taking care of customers and delivering drinks.
Mitzy had already glared at me a couple of times for not paying attention to my tables. I needed Six-Gun to spill the details so I could focus on work.
“It’s club business, Memphis.”
“Six,” I whined.
“Six?” he laughed. “We doing nicknames now?”
I shrugged and leaned against the bar next to him. “If I call you Six does it make you want to tell me what is going on with Menace?” I batted my eyes at him and pasted a huge smile on my lips.
“Got something in your eye, Mem?”
I curled my lip and growled. “Not a fan of the nickname, Six. It’s Memphis, not Mem.” My mom use to call me Mem. If you could really call her a mom. She was more like an egg donor who used me for any and all kickbacks she could get from the government while she shot her arm up with any and all drugs she could her hands on.
“Gotcha.” He winked and picked up his glass. “You can call me Six if you want, though. I’m not picky just as long as you call me.”
I rolled my eyes. “How accommodating of you.”
“You get kind of grumpy when you don’t get your way, Memphis.” He drained his glass of whiskey and set it on the bar.
“I’m no grumpy, just irritated that I can be there for one thing and then not be told what is going to happen,” I growled.
“I’m not telling you because I don’t even know all of the details of Monk’s plan. He’s still working out the kinks with Leo.”
I tipped my head to the side. “Leo?” That name wasn’t familiar to me at all.
“Don’t look like that, Memphis. I don’t want you taking that name and running with it trying to figure out what we’re doing.”
I grabbed my tray off the bar and smiled. “Raelyn and I would never do anything like that, Six.” I winked and blew him a kiss. “I better get back to work. These tips aren’t going to make themselves.” I flounced away from the bar toward my tables.
“Memphis,” Six-Gun called.
I glanced over my shoulder at him.
“You better behave.”
I took it more as advice than I did as a threat. “I’ll keep that in mind, Six.”
If Six-Gun didn’t want to tell me what was going on with Leona, I knew Raelyn would more than gladly help me.
Chapter Ten
Like a dick...
Six-Gun
“The guys are going out for a ride. You wanna come with?”
Memphis looked up from her phone. “Me?”
I laughed and nodded. “You’re the only one who gets to ride on the back of my bike, doll.”
She pursed her lips and looked around. “Uh, say what?”
Raelyn walked in from outside and closed the door behind her. “Who’s saying what?”
“Six said I’m the only one who gets to ride on the back of his bike,” Memphis told her.
Raelyn smiled wide. “Cool. Playboy is the same with me.”
Memphis’ mouth dropped open. “Is there some biker thing going on that I don’t know about? I mean, I tend to get most things you guys do, but this one is new to me. Who cares who rides on the back of your guys’ bike?”
I shook my head and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “You tell her, Rae.”
Raelyn cracked her knuckles and sat down next to Memphis. “The back of the guy’s bike is like his dick.”
“Raelyn!” Playboy called. “What in the hell shit are you feeding Memphis?”
“What?” Raelyn replied innocently. “That’s exactly what it means?”
“No, it does not,” Playboy laughed.
Raelyn propped her hand on her waist. “Excuse me? That is what it means. Just like you’re not gonna let any girl ride your dick, you’re not gonna let any girl ride on the back of your bike.” She pointed to Playboy’s junk. “That’s mine to ride, and so is the back of your bike.”
Playboy’s jaw dropped, and he looked at me. “You think you could help me out here?”
I shrugged. “I mean, she’s pretty much right.” I took a sip of water and decided to just let Playboy handle this. Raelyn was right on the money, but I didn’t think Playboy thought she would say it so bluntly.
“Uh, what?” Memphis whispered.
Oh, hell. Maybe Memphis wasn’t okay with what it meant.
It had been over a week since I had been giving Memphis the choice to be with me. To feel like she was the one calling the shots.
Then Raelyn had to go and say riding on the back of my bike was like riding my dick.
Again, she was right, but Memphis and I weren’t up to that at all. She was just getting comfortable wrapping her arms around me and holding my hand. Dick riding was a ways off.
“Oh, uh,” Raelyn looked around frantically. “It’s not exactly like that. It just means, uh, Six-Gun cares about you and you’ll always have a seat on his dick...I mean his bike!” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “I should stop talking,” she mumbled.
I twisted the cap back on my bottle and set it on the counter. “That might be a good idea, Rae.” I moved to Memphis and held out my hand to her. “Just a ride on the back of my bike, doll. It doesn’t mean anything more than what you want it to.”
She looked warily at my hand. “I don’t have to work tonight,” she whispered.
I shook my head. “Nope. A rare night off for you.” Ever since Memphis had returned to work, all she did was that—work, work, work.
She bit her bottom lip.
She did that a lot when she was trying to decide what to do. I wasn’t going to tell her it was cute as hell.
“Is Raelyn going?” she asked hopefully.
Power in numbers.
“You betcha!,” Raelyn exclaimed. “Playboy barely ever lets me ride with him.”
Playboy scoffed and shook his head. “What in the hell are you talking about, woman? I can’t leave this club without you on my back.”
Raelyn rolled her eyes. “You barely go anywhere.”
Playboy spread out his arms and turned in a circle. “In case you forgot, we’re kind of hunting a killer right now. Going for a jaunt just for the hell of it isn’t really a good idea.”
“Jaunt?” Memphis laughed.
Raelyn tried to hold in her laugh but sputtered into her hand. “Oh, my God, babe. When did you turn into a ninety-year-old? Are we going on a jaunt today?”
Play threw his arms up in the air and stormed out of the clubhouse. “I don’t need to take this kind of abuse,” he muttered as the door shut behind him.
“I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings,” Memphis cringed.
