Page 32 of Bear Hunt

Watching Bash and Psycho talk about Ninja like he’s two little rat paws away from chewing Bash’s face off is the greatest thing that’s ever happened at Church. Not counting the day I got patched in, of course.

“Hardy fucking har har. It’s like I’m still a prospect sometimes.” Reaching across the table, Bash grabs Psycho’s plastic baggie full of goodies for the little rats before he flashes his surfer-slash-rockstar smile at my best friend. Bold, but he’s a brother now. He can talk shit without getting shit duty.

“In our hearts, Bashy-Poo, you’ll always be our little bitch,” Grinder chimes in, and I swear it’s like watching, in real time, the effects of crack cocaine washed down with a couple dozen energy drinks.

“Christ, I can hear you crazy motherfuckers from down the hall. Let’s get our heads in the game.” Hoops walks in, slams the door, and takes his seat at the head of the table, the gavel echoing in the small room to get the meeting started.

“Yikes, Daddy’s angry.” Fucking Grinder, I swear.

“Call me Daddy again and I’ll make you choke on your own dick.” Silence falls like a fucking two-ton hammer. Hoops is usually amused by their shenanigans, everyone is because it’s just who they are, so this comment with zero humor behind it gets all of my fucking hackles up.

“You all right, Prez?” Just as I ask the question, Sledge comes in with a look on his face that tells us all shit’s about to hit the fan. Hoops doesn’t answer me, and to be fair, I get the feeling from just looking at them that I don’t really want to know anything. None of us do.

“Fuck, sorry I’m late.” All eyes are on Sledge as he rounds the table to his VP seat.

Hoops’s gaze pauses on every one of the brothers before it lands on me and stays there for a second too long. Nope, I don’t fucking like that at all.

“The guy you and Psycho knocked out? I had Grinder bring him back. Something about this whole story was nagging at me so we put him in the basement and Sledge has been working him.”

Psycho and I share a look that says we’re about to fuck shit up. Also, this explains why we haven’t seen Sledge around in a while. Ever since he’s taken on his duties as vice president, he’s been working hard making this club earn well. Not only that, but the fact they tortured a guy for me really warms my heart. Outside the club, that probably sounds fucked up, but not here. We protect each other, and anyone who fucks with one, fucks with all. That said, I’m bummed I didn’t get to punch him once or ten times.

“Why weren’t we included in the little retribution party?” Psycho voices the exact question that’s running through my mind.

“Executive decision based on you having a new baby and that being a big deal around here. And Bear needed to be protecting Athena.” They have a point. Psycho shrugs like he, too, has accepted the reasoning. “Plus, we didn’t know if the guy was just a regular asshole roaming the streets, some guy suffering from mental health, or a legit threat to the club or your women.”

My back straightens at the sound of “your women” because, fuck yeah, I’m down with that.

“Fair enough, brother.” Psycho nods as he swipes the veggie baggie from Bash, giving him a look that could make grown men cry, before feeding his little Ninja. Dude is getting slower in his ripe old age but he never misses an opportunity to eat.

I’m watching Ninja grab onto the strawberry with his tiny paws as he sits on his butt with his long tail wrapped around his hind legs when Sledge gets my attention.

“The bloke didn’t say much, took all of my hits and threats like a champ but what he did say set off a hundred warning bells.” I don’t dare look at my VP because I get a feeling I’m not gonna like what he’s about to say. “Apparently, Athena belongs to The Firm.”

“Motherfucker.” My jaw is so tight I have no idea how that word even got out.

“I second that shit.” Psycho’s scowl is probably an echo of mine, and if I know my best friend the way I think I do, he’s thirstin’ for blood. Usually, I try to cool him down, but this time, I’m ready to maim.

“So, what’s the plan?” My question is more out of respect than anything else since I’m already envisioning my own methods of protecting Athena. One thing is for sure: I’m not going to make the same mistakes Psycho did with Mac. I will protect but I won’tfucking lock up and throw away the key in the name of keeping her safe. That method obviously doesn’t work if the past is any indication.

Last year, when Mac found herself in the crosshairs of our rival club and then of The Firm, Psycho’s bright idea was to lock her up in his suite and have Bash guard the door. Result? She ran away and yup… shit went downhill from there. I’m going to be smarter about this.

“To be taken with a grain of salt, but the guy—he didn’t give us his name—said he didn’t have time to give up her location, so nothing says Athena is in immediate danger but I think we can spare a couple of prospects or members to keep an eye on her when you’re doing club business, Bear.” I nod. Yeah, that makes sense. But I am concerned about her staying at Maribel’s. It’s not that I don’t trust her to keep Athena safe, it’s more that I won’t be able to be here while she’s there, and sleeping in the truck every night just isn’t viable.

“Yeah, that sounds like a plan.” We’ll figure it out. If The Firm thinks she’s being watched then they won’t send more people out here.

“I took the guy’s phone from Sledge and called Glitch to help me hack it. It’s password protected. As soon as I get in there, we’ll know what kind of communication he’s had with them. I could even continue the contact so they think he’s all good,” Bash chimes in, showing us the phone he’s put in a baggie.

“Good idea.” Hoops leans back on his chair and nods, looking the opposite of reassured.

“I got one of his teeth if anyone’s interested.” Fucking hell. Grinder and his memorabilia. Such a weird fucker.

“Nope.”

“Nah, man.”

“Fucking gross.”

Everyone responds at the same time and I just shake my head because we’ll never change him so we may as well accept him as he is.

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