Page 11 of Bully's Darkness
“Smiler, ask around the locals. Find me something.” He nods. “I’ll call Mouth from the Liverpool chapter.” I look around. “The rest of you, keep your ears to the ground. This place ain’t big enough for all of us.”
Poison catches me as we leave church. “I made up your new room,” she says.
I frown. “New room?”
“President always gets the top floor.”
I groan. I hadn’t even thought about that. It’s huge up there, with a living space and bedroom. “I don’t need all that room,” I say.
She shrugs. “I don’t make the rules, you do.” And she struts off.
“You seem more relaxed,” says Ragnar, throwing his arm around my neck. “Did you catch up with Liv?”
“You watched her, right?” I ask. “Did she ever meet anyone, a man?”
“No, Pres. I would’ve told you.” I nod, but the feeling in the pit of my stomach is lingering. “Do you need me to keep watching her?”
“Nah, I can take over.”
“You’re the President now,” he says, looking amused. “You have men to do the boring shit.”
I arch a brow. “You’re saying watching my old lady is boring?”
He backs away. “No offence meant, Pres.”
I head for the office and notice the new chair sitting behind the desk. I smile as I lower into it, glancing at the worn chair in the corner. “I feel like you’re still lingering, Hawk,” I say out loud. “I’ve got it from here, Pres.”
I pick up the phone and reach into the drawer for my dad’s old notebook. It contains the telephone numbers for every single club member in the Royal Bastards. I used to laugh at him, telling him that mobile phones were much simpler. But using it, and holding his old office phone, makes me feel like I’m doing something right, so I find Mouth and dial the number.
“What?” he answers.
“Who pissed on your cornflakes?” I ask, laughing.
“Bully?” he guesses. “Shit, brother, I forgot about your release. I’m so sorry.”
I laugh again. “Don’t worry. That’s not why I’m calling.”
“I was gutted to hear about Hawk too.”
“He left us without filling me in on a few things,” I explain. “Seems the Bloody Scorpions have moved into my area.”
“Those fuckers,” he spits. “They’re like poison seeping into the cracks.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. I know fuck all about them, brother, or why they’re suddenly here on our patch.”
“I haven’t heard shit, but if there’s one thing I know about them, they like to pop up where they see opportunity. With Hawk going suddenly, that could be why.”
“That’s a good point. Cheers, Mouth.”
“Yah know, you and that old lady of yours should come and stay. Genevieve would love to see Olivia again.”
“I’ll speak to her about it, and we’ll sort a date. Thanks, Mouth.”
“Anytime. Let me know if you need us, brother. We’re always up for any opportunity to piss all over those fuckers.”
I laugh before disconnecting.Hopefully, it won’t come to that.
Taz enters the office holding up a memory stick. “Whizz got the CCTV from Tudor’s, Pres.”
