Page 84 of Graveyards & Greed

“Where are we going?” Milo asked carefully.

“The OutKast MC compound.”

“For the love of all that is holy,” Milo groaned, “Why do you want to go there?”

“When Terrance and his goons took me, he had a lot to say, probably thinking I wouldn’t be alive much longer to tell anyone.” That time in the back of his SUV was going to haunt my dreams for a while. “He bragged about taking out the MC president in the next few days and then taking over the Club. I want to avoid that for obvious reasons.”

“Have you told Grolier?”

“Not yet. I want to do it in person.”

Xander studied me. “Why don’t you have Drakos or a few of your cousins go with you?”

“Because he’s sarcastic, cynical, and won’t be able to help himself when Grolier starts being a dick to me. And Fenn’s head would explode before we even started talking. They’d also probably try and stop me, or worse, piss everyone off and start a war. Diego is meeting us there, and he’s the one who called the meeting and is getting us in. Grolier doesn’t know I’m coming.”

Xander nodded and palmed his knees. “You’ve thought this out thoroughly. Okay, let’s go.” Milo muttered under his breath, but Xander and I sat in comfortable silence until we pulled up to the compound.

Diego Rodriguez stood outside on the sidewalk next to his motorcycle. When he saw me, he flashed a wide grin that stood out in his beautiful latte complexion, and I remembered why I’d secretly crushed on him when I was in high school.

He wore a vintage leather jacket, and his matte black motorcycle probably cost more than my yearly salary. Diego gave Milo a chin lift and walked over to my side of the car. “What’s your plan, Morty?”

Andthatwas why my crush died. The fucker had nicknamed me “Morty” when he found out I was going into mortuary science. I hated the nickname, and when Declan and Callum heard him, they started calling me Morty too. Until I slashed their tires.

I stared up at Diego. “Hey,Pendejo. I need to speak with Grolier without Terrance LeBaron around. My source tells me he typically doesn’t show his face until late afternoon.” My source was Alexa hacking into Ivan’s feeds.

Diego glanced at Xander and Milo. “Where’s Drakos?”

“At his office. We decided this would be a better combination.”

He put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “In other words,youdecided.” I shrugged and he sighed. “Fine. There are a hundred ways this could go from sugar to shit fast, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a law enforcement mole in his ranks. Watch what you say, and keep your temper.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Captain Obvious, because I fell off the turnip truck yesterday.”

After a heated argument, I convinced Milo to stay outside, and we walked into the compound parking lot. Motorcycles and vehicles in varying states of repair littered the lot, and the large, faded metal prefab building sitting in the center sported a rusted OutKast sign above the door. When we walked inside, a few men in cuts milled around, and an older, hard-looking woman with thick blue eyeshadow manned the bar. The crusted windows needed a good scrubbing, and the faint stench of Chinese food and beer wafted through the space.

Billy Grolier and his younger brother, Axel, sat at the head of the long, mismatched tables where they usually held “church.” Billy absently stroked his gray beard as they talked. Axel Grolier was at least fifteen years younger, had a well-groomed beard, and full-sleeve tattoos over his muscular arms. Billy was also big, but he’d gone gray and soft.

The MC president glanced up, then did a double-take when he saw Xander and me walking in with Diego. He scowled, and Axel glanced over then leaned back in his chair. The clubhouse went silent, and I noticed a man at the bar pull out his phone.

“Why the fuck would you bringherhere, Rodriguez?” Billy asked. “I guess you’re not really here about the Dyna Glide you have for sale.”

Diego grinned. “I’m here for that too.” He flicked his gaze between them, then settled on Axel. “But you’ll want to hear what she has to say—in private. Let’s take a walk.”

Billy Grolier looked me up and down, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. He flicked his wrist to the woman behind the bar, who hurried to bring him a beer. While she walked over, Billy took a deep drag and blew smoke my way, looking me up and down. “What the hell happened to you? Did someone use their fists to shut that fuckin’ mouth of yours?”

My temper flared and I leaned over to him, murmuring low. “Terrance LeBaron did this, but I think you already know that. What you may not know is what else he’s planning. Find us somewhere private to talk or I’m walking.”

Axel studied my face, then pushed his chair back. “There’s a spot out back, let’s go there.” Billy stayed seated for a few seconds, then grudgingly got up and followed us. In the back of the compound, a surprisingly lush little patio area sat with a small gazebo and a picnic table. A few oleander bushes offered some privacy.

Diego and I sat on one side of the picnic table, and Axel and the president sat on the other. Xander leaned against a post and watched us impassively.

“Why the fuck are you here, girl? You tryin’ to cause problems again?” Billy asked.

I set my elbows on the table. “I’m trying to stop them. Did you know Terrance and a few of his pals kidnapped me yesterday?”

Grolier watched me impassively. “If they kidnapped you, how come you’re here? I heard someone stole his new SUV and wrecked it.”

Anger boiled in my stomach. This asshole knew exactly what happened, butI hoped he hadn’t sanctioned it. “Something like that. I also took out his garage door, ran over Ducky, and set Earl’s head on fire.”

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