Page 7 of Cage's Ruin

Business at the club was sorted. Our rebirthing business had taken off. Opening our own garage and car yard, which we sold the rebirthed vehicles from.

Our drug business was a float. The growth houses were another big investment. Which brought me to the reason we had called this meeting.

“So does anyone know who it is that is setting up in town?” I said, lighting up a cigarette. Scanning the table of men shrugging their shoulders.

“Just heard it has to do with Meth.” Lit said. “But rumors are they aren’t dealing on the streets.”

“So it shouldn’t affect our business?” I moved in the chair. “Meth has never been our earner but if territory is crossed we have to deal with the blow back. Can’t have them earning on our territory.”

The boys all grunted and nodded their heads.

I brought the meeting to a close, with the hammer and got up. I wanted to track Autumn down and have an actual conversation with her. Lately it was hard to think we were in a relationship, when all she did was ghost me.

I walked out into the clubhouse, scanning the empty room. I pulled my phone out, calling her.

AUTUMN

My eyes ran over the abandoned factory. It was out of the way in the industry suburb. It was the last place you would expect a Meth Lab. But always the first because it had all the requirements.

My pseudo supplier had arrived. It was Lydia’s brother. He was the other half of her operation and was going to be my first contact. He was the man I called the other night, to get the ball rolling.

He had agreed to work with me. Tracked down this factory, on top of that he had organized the pseudo needed.

Ash got out of the car. Crisp suit, cufflinks, sunglasses, looked like he had just stepped off the cover of a magazine.He looked like the man who ran an operation for the Cartel.

“Autumn?” He went to shake my hand.

“You must be Ash.” I shook his hand.

“Lydia has spoken a lot about you,” Ash said, and looked me up and down. “Here I was accepting to deal with a butch woman. Not a—how old are you?”

“Old enough to know what I’m getting in to.” I kept my voice in control. I knew I didn’t look intimidating. I was built small, had the looks that would make you think I was goldie locks, and everyone always said my eyes could capture souls. I wasn’t your stereotypical leader.

“Lydia, said you know your shit. But you’ve never cooked before?”

I nodded my head.

“Which is where I’m at risk.” He added and I knew he was going to go for percentages. “I think it only fair that because it’s my reputation we are risking, we talk percentages.”

“How about instead, we pause that conversation and have it after I do my first batch. You sample it. If it’s good, then we talk about percentages.” I wasn’t stupid. I was brought up around the club I knew exactly what he was after, and I was going to stand tall.

He smirked in response. “Fair enough. How long till you can do your first batch?”

“Give me a few days.” I gave him a time frame and then went on to make sure that this factory had correct ventilation. Also checking where the drugs were beingstored. I wanted this operation to run as smoothly and as professional as possible.

7

Autumn

Ihad never felt so much pressure as I stood and waited, watching Ash test the first batch of Meth. Ash looked at me with this puzzled expression, like he was seeing me for the first time.

“Fuck that’s good stuff, how did you do it?” He looked at me amazed.

To be honest with myself, I didn’t think I was going to be able to pull it off, now I had—I was just thankful that it had worked. All the pressure Lydia had put on me, had turned out okay.

“So about those percentages,” Ash said, “I’ll go fifty, fifty with you if this is the sort of product I’ll be moving. Can’t even say that Lydia product was this strong and good.”

“Thank you.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. Lydia was my mentor.

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