Page 6 of Barron

“The best entertainment ever,” Cel said. “I’m going back inside. Unless you’re hungry. I can make you a quick sandwich.”

“I’m fine. I had a bite with the captain,” Blade said.

“Okay.” Cel, with Jerrod in her arms, disappeared into the hallway.

Honoring their privacy, Barron had made himself as small as possible during the exchange between Blade and Cel. He was familiar with the Daddy/little girl dynamic and respected the interaction. Barron had witnessed Shark—the president of the Spawn’s Florida Key’s chapter—with his Little. He’d realized on the spot that a Daddy/little was his dream relationship.

Then he transferred to the mothership, Garden City’s Devils’ Spawn headquarters. On day one, Blade and Cel had been a revelation. The couple had found the perfect formula. Both were responsible and devoted parents who’d incorporated their Daddy/little girl dynamic into their relationship without a hitch. It never ceased to amaze Barron how the Spawn president transformed from a gruff, no-nonsense biker into a patient and loving husband and father. It was beautiful to watch, and Barron’s heart ached to have the same. His best friend, Cutter, had been lucky. An unforeseen arrest had reunited him with the woman he’d fallen for years before, and now they lived happily ever after in southern Florida.

As for himself, he once thought he’d found the Little of his dreams, but…

“How did it go?” Blade was back in direct mode.

“Maybe we should talk in your office,” Barron replied.

“Okay.”

Barron followed Blade into the dimly lit hallway. The MCpresident’s office was the first door on the right. Key in the lock, Blade opened it and quickly settled into his chair. A small pile of unopened envelopes was stacked on top of the desk before him. He moved it aside. Folding his hands on the desk, he said, “I’m all ears.”

“Before we get into the thick of it, earlier, I went by the construction site. The building is just about finished. They’re painting the facade, and our office is coming along nicely. My guess is the Johnston Agency can initiate operations in about two weeks, maybe less.”

“Excellent news.” Blade nodded. “Do we have enough guys to start?”

“Shifter’s all in. The guy’s a computer genius. I haven’t approached Tank and Chains. Both have military backgrounds. I think they’ll go for it. Johnny Gun is a given, and yours truly. So yes, we should have enough men.”

“Good. What else?”

“We have a couple of problems. Killer, the Wolves member Weaver had me follow, rode across the state line into Alabama as the captain suspected. But that takes the captain out of the loop. He has no jurisdiction in that state. Unless he brings a local police department into the investigation. And…there’s a cartel situation,” Barron said. “LaFayette is a great little town to establish a base of operations.”

Blade whistled. “The Oquendos again?”

“Not them. A rival faction. Los Emes.”

“What the fuck?”

“Literally, it means The Ms in Spanish. Shit, I had to write it down. The group’s full name is Los Miembros Olvidados. The Forgotten Members. Whatever the fuck that name means to them. From what I overheard, and believe me, the conversation was pretty heated, they’rethelatest Medellin crime group. Reconstituted by the surviving members of the old cartel.”

“Wait, what?” Blade’s eyes widened. “Medellin as in Escobar’s Colombian cartel?”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Rover, the Steel Wolves’ president, was pretty skeptical about Los Emes’s claims of unlimited cocaine-producing resources and their influence to push a northern expansion. For one thing, the cartel sent four clean-cut dudes who looked like young adults to the US to meet with the Wolves. You’d think they were just out of their teens, but look deeper and you see hardened criminal adults.”

“Christ, as if we didn’t have enough problems in this country, they keep bombarding us with drugs. But I’ll bet you anything those so-called young adults are ruthless killers. What else did you find out?”

“I took some photos.” He put his phone on the desk and slid it toward Blade. “I’ll text you a couple. Sorry I didn’t take more, but I had to be real careful. Johnny G gave me a heads-up. One of the Wolves kept checking me out. Kinda like he knew me. I can’t imagine from where.”

“Maybe he found you attractive.” Blade laughed. “You’re kind of cute. All clean-cut and pretty.”

“Fuck, you. I’m sick of that shit. This is how the military trained me to look, and I’m not going to apologize for taking showers and wearing clean clothes. It’s who I am, bro. Would it make the club happy if I grew a fucking beard to my navel and let my hair hit the middle of my back?”

“Come on, dude. I’m only yanking your chain.”

“I don’t get it. You have a buzz cut.” He pointed at Blade’s close-cropped hair.

Leaning back, Blade rocked in his chair. “It’s not the short hair or lack of a beard, man. The thing is, unlike the other guys, you’re never messy. Your sidekick, Johnny G, is a walking disaster. His jeans are usually ripped, and his shirts are ill-fitting, faded, and wrinkled. I doubt he’s ever met an iron he likes. But you, on the other hand…”

“Save it.” He lifted his hand. “I’ve heard it all before.”

“Hey, it’s an asset. Unless you’re wearing Spawn colors, you’re hard to read. That’s why Weaver likes sending you on missions. All kidding aside, most chicks like men who are neat and smell nice. I know for a fact.”

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