Page 57 of Red's Peril: Part 1

Hammer grimaces and nods as he adds, “Used to be a cover for a prostitution ring, but Drummer wanted us out of that shit.”

Rainman’s face brightens. “And we’ve started a security business. That’s Keys’ baby. Looks like that could be a money spinner if we play our cards right.”

“Don’t forget the pawn business,” Twister pipes up. “That’s where we do any money laundering.”

“Offering a service or washing our own?” I ask, interested.

“Bit of both,” Twister replies.

Brick clears his throat. “Fresh eyes on things never hurt. Before we assign Red to Titch’s tender mercies at the auto-shop, I suggest he checks out all our businesses. Might find some opening or shit that we’ve missed. You up for that, Brother?”

I’m up for it. But will my new brothers resent me for poking my nose in? Most have worn the patch far longer.

“Couldn’t fuckin’ hurt,” Fox states. “Fuck knows we’re going round in circles.”

“’Specially since the tattoo parlour closed.”

Cobra’s words initiate a period of dead silence. It’s only broken by Indian’s rasp, “Fuckin’ Tide and his shit.” His jaw is tight.

Tide?Creasing my brow, I realise I hadn’t heard the name, and wonder if he’s one of the incarcerated members. Which reminds me, no one’s addressed the elephant in the room, and by not doing so, there’s a big fucking gap in my education.

I decide to man up. Pointing to the three empty spaces, letting my hand dwell on each one for a second, I frame my question carefully. “Who’s gone, and what hole have they left? Will they be coming back around the table?”

If the silence moments earlier was deafening, it’s even more so now. I watch the reactions. Some look up to the ceiling as if trying to divorce themselves from the discussion. Crash and Twister share grim expressions with each other. Rainman raises his eyebrows and sends an amused look toward Brick. Fox’s face is tight, and Cobra lowers his head into his hands.

Brick just stares at me. After more than a minute has passed, he wipes his hands down his face. “’Bout time we faced up to this, Brothers.” He adds in a chin lift my way.

Titch glares at me. “Who’s he to fuckin’ walk in and dictate how we run our business?”

I raise my hands up as if surrendering. “Hey, no offence meant, but I’m coming in as a fuckin’ outsider and I’d like to know what I’m stepping into.”

Titch opens his mouth as if to respond, but Brick is faster. “He’s right, Titch. He needs to know, and we need to come to some decisions.” He stares at his oldest member, his expression not having quite the same impact as one of the cold looks of Drummer’s, but effective enough, as Titch sits back.

“Fine.” He folds his arms over his chest.

I wait, but no one starts speaking, so I decide to prompt the discussion myself. “As I heard it, three members got into debt gambling.”

“We’re in fuckin’ Vegas,” Titch blasts at me. “What would you expect?”

My redheaded temper rises. “I’d expect brothers to know their limits, and at the fuckin’ least not do anything to bring attention down on the club.”

“He’s right, Titch.” Fox nods at me. “We all know the risks.”

Rainman sighs heavily. “We knew Tide, he was our road captain, well, we knew he had a gambling addiction. Thought he had it under control. What we hadn’t realised was the extent of his losses, nor that Townie and Bass were likewise afflicted. They’d all been at the same casino, one of the smaller joints off the strip. Tide convinced them the house was stacked against them—”

“As normal,” Cobra butts in.

“Sure, but Tide couldn’t understand how he was losing so much.”

“What, they decided to rob the place to get their money back?” I breathe out air.Fuckin’ morons.

Brick’s face grows hard. “It wasn’t planned. Tide was drunk off his ass, lost his last dollars so pulled out his gun. Bass and Townie were with him and thought they should back him up. Things got out of hand.”

My eyes widen. “Anyone fuckin’ shot?”

“Tide winged one of the dealers.” Keys meets my eyes. “The other pair didn’t go down without a fight, so the place was busted up.”

“What did they get?” I ask, looking at Brick.

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