Page 41 of Trip

19

Trip

EPILOGUE

That does it for the poker run, any news out of Arizona about the drugs coming in?”

At Granite’s question, the attention turned to Trip and Whiskey. “The drugs were definitely coming from the Sidewinders. But after shutting Petty and Rainbow Bob down, we haven’t seen any more in Vegas with their mark. So, either they didn’t know their dealers were peddling in our territory, which seems unlikely since Petty had a connection to them. Or, what strikes me as the case, they just haven’t found a new local distributor willing to cross us.”

Granite stroked his beard reflectively. “I agree, those bastards knew and didn’t care, but I refuse to hit them and risk anything or anyone if there is even the slimmest chance that it’s the former.”

“Agreed.” Everyone felt the same. There needed to be one-hundred percent certainty to go to war. They’d pretty much all been there, done that, and got the scars to show for it. Granite was a smart leader and an even better brother.

Trip had yet to properly thank him for forcing him to head out to Meri’s for Christmas. That turned out to be a smarter decision than even he could’ve known at the time.

A shudder racked his body at the thought of what could’ve been had he held his ground about Tahoe for Christmas. Not only would he not have the love of his life waiting for him just outside the door. His sister and his niece and nephew could be dead or trafficked or God only knows what and he wouldn’t have even known until she missed her monthly check-in, ie: Guilt Cris Call.

“Okay, so we observe and wait on the Sidewinders situation. However, the second we get plausible deniability or confirmation, we move. On to the next subject, Thunder.” The prez turned his gaze to the enforcer, but there was pain and sympathy in his eyes. “Got some bad news. Flash is in the wind. Sully said he took off in the night pissed off about something and hasn’t been back. He’s ditched the cell and car we could track.” Thunder’s knuckles whitened and he slammed a fist down on the table.

Granite cut off his protest. “Before you get pissed, hear me out. Sully did try to stop him. Got a bloody nose and split lip for his effort. Which is why when he called me, I told him not to go after him. If he wanted to get away enough to assault an old man who meant him no harm and only tried to help him, well, he wasn’t going to be stopped.”

Every man in the room felt the jagged truth of Granite’s words. They all had their demons and sometimes they lost themselves to them.

Trip rested a hand on Thunder’s shoulder. “I know the feeling, brother; it hurts like a bitch to watch. You can’t help someone who doesn’t want help, but when he does, we’ll all be there for him.”

“Hear, hear.” The pounding on the table was deafening. Everyone in the room understood.

“Thanks. I knew he was pretty far gone when he was here. I just never thought... I guess when he went with Sully, I thought it was a done deal.” Thunder’s voice cracked with emotion.

“It’s never a done deal. It’s a daily struggle, you know that. But we’ll get him back on solid ground as soon as he’s ready,” Prez promised. “Now, I think we need to discuss the trouble in Tahoe. Jake may not be a threat to your family any longer, Trip, but what of the mess he left behind? Those kinds of fuckers don’t just go away. Considering he basically used your sister and her kids as collateral, I think she needs to be here. At least until we’ve had time to assess and neutralize.”

Taps piped up before Trip could. “Shit, who’s gonna tell her? Meri doesn’t take orders.”

“That’s the truth.”

“You said it, brother.”

They all loved Meri but knew she was a cat five hurricane when she wanted to be.

“She can have my place.”

Pound was awfully quick to offer up his house. Not that he wasn’t grateful. The kids in the clubhouse would mean no fun for the single guys but why was he so concerned about Meri. It had been rubbing Trip the wrong way for a while, but he trusted his veep.

“Not that even I think I can convince Meri to pick up and move to Vegas, but what if Hex hooked them up with a trailer, that way club life wouldn’t need to be altered for the single brothers, considering there’d be kids around.”

“NO!” Pound practically shouted. He cleared his throat and spoke more calmly. “Red Rock is not secure enough. They need to be here. If they take my place, they’d hardly ever need to be in the clubhouse. They’d be secure and there would always be a brother around to escort them to school, work, shopping, or wherever else they needed to go.”

“I agree with my veep. Trip, make it happen. We can’t leave her exposed. Hell, she’s been out there long enough. I’m surprised someone hasn’t made a play already, but having a Traveler on her at all times may be a deterrent for now. But that won’t last forever.”

“And how exactly do you expect me to make Meri do anything she doesn’t want to. If you have any suggestions, prez, I’m all ears.”

Trip crossed his arms.

“Don’t get lippy with me, son, I can take you. Name the time and place for me to beat that disrespect out of you.”

While Granite spoke with a smile and made it sound casual, there was a warning there and Trip heeded it. “Sorry, prez. Just antsy, but also scared shitless of my own damn sister.”

They shared a laugh. “Aren’t we all,” Whiskey agreed with him. “She is a force to be reckoned with, she is also fine as hell. She’d make a good ol’ lady.”

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