Torch (Great Wolves MC) - Jayne Blue Page 0,23

a stake in the bar, lately, Kellan handled personnel.

“You sure she’s ready?”

Colt gestured toward Sydney. One of the other girls came up to her and started giving her the rundown of who she’d be serving tonight. They had her in the back of the bar. It was the least busy section, but she’d work her ass off like everybody else.

“It was Shannon’s call,” Kellan said. “I trust her judgment.”

“You sure about that?” Colt asked.

“She’s cool,” I answered. It earned me hard looks from just about everyone. I’d spoken up too damn soon. A knee-jerk reaction almost.

“I just mean Shannon knows what she’s doing. And Sydney catches on quick.”

“Anything you wanna tell me about that?” Colt asked.

“Like?”

“Like, am I gonna have an issue with my lawyer because you’re tapping his niece? Normally, I wouldn’t give a shit. But you know we’re on a razor’s edge right now. Things are calm enough with Chief Davis. But I don’t want George Bailey getting his balls in a twist over some family bullshit that could be avoided.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” I said. Colt hadn’t come out and said I couldn’t step on the gas with Sydney. But his meaning was clear. Don’t do anything to fuck shit up.

“There’s another thing,” Colt said. “Torch, this is gonna involve you maybe the most.”

“Oh?” I said. I had to tear my eyes away from the window and Sydney.

“There’s been some trouble up in Traverse City,” he said. “One of our delivery drivers got popped for having a suspended license. Then another truck came in short.”

“You think somebody’s been stealing?” I asked.

“Not sure,” Colt said. “It’s just the kind of thing that is going to take some hands-on fixing.”

“You got it,” I said. “When do you want me to leave?”

“Not you,” Colt said. “It’s a little tricky. We’re on friendly terms with the Red Brigands across the lake. But it’s time for me to have a sit-down with their prez. And I want a show of force. Just in case. Kellan, Brax, and I are making a road trip.”

Joker cleared his throat. “And I’m taking E.J. down to Cleveland next week to supervise a new gym opening.”

I knew what it meant, and a lump formed in my throat. My prez was calling on me to keep things under control here in Lincolnshire.

“I understand,” I said.

“I’m not expecting any trouble while we’re all gone,” he said. “Which is usually when it happens. I know it’s nothing you can’t handle, Torch. When we get back, there are more things we need to discuss. You’ve proven yourself worthy of that patch ten times over. Now I want to talk about setting you up permanently.”

My own revenue stream for the club. That’s what he meant. I’d worked for it since the second I started hanging around the club. Six years. I came from nothing. Less than nothing. Now Colt was talking about offering me the world.

I couldn’t answer. I had no words. Colt smiled. So did Brax and Kellan.

I didn’t even have a chance to say thank you properly. Colt’s phone buzzed with a text. He nodded.

“Cutler’s here. There’s already a crowd forming at the entrance to the parking lot.”

“Damn,” Brax said. “You know it had to be his people to tip them off.”

“Yeah,” Colt said. “Cutler’s still a good kid, but some of his buddies are assholes.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Brax said. “We’re covered.”

“All right,” Colt said. “Meeting adjourned. Let’s go down there and make some money.”

The rest of the guys filed out. I hung back for a second, waiting for Colt. It turns out I did know what to say. I just didn’t want an audience.

I went to him. “I can’t ... I mean ... thank you.”

Colt smiled and slapped me on the back. “Wherever we go from here, you earned it, man. The sky’s the limit. You really impressed me with the craft beer brand rollout. The numbers I’m getting back so far are big, Torch. I think you’re about to make me a very rich man. Yourself too.”

We stood shoulder to shoulder, looking out at the bar. The place was really starting to fill up. I couldn’t help it. My eyes went to the back corner, where Sydney was starting to take drink orders.

“She’s trouble,” he said. “You get that, right?”

“Not so far, man. I swear it.”

“Don’t,” he said. “I’m the last person who’s going to tell you where to dip your wick. I’m just gonna warn you ... if that’s all you’re planning to