was known by everyone and she knew every family personally. If they could get her to front their store, even for a few months, then they would have a better chance of being accepted by the community. Already, she called the Torpedo Ink members her boys. Weirdly, they all liked it. Maybe Savage was an exception, but he didn’t count. No one could tell what he was thinking, and he didn’t say.
Blythe was good friends with Inez, and she’d had Frank and Inez to dinner when they’d first approached them concerning the business venture. Czar felt it would be too blatant using her friendship again, but if Steele brought Breezy and Zane with him and introduced them just before the meeting, it would seem more like family had just dropped in.
Steele could see that Inez was very taken with Zane, but then who wouldn’t be? After a few minutes of animated conversation, he signaled to Breezy to take the child out, so they could get down to business. Zane had worked his magic, as had his woman, showing Inez and Frank that they were a family like any other.
“What’s it going to take to get you to come in with us as a partner?” Czar asked, leaning across the table.
They conducted the meeting in the common room, where their visitors would be the most comfortable. After seeing Czar and Blythe at home, they wanted Inez and Frank to be inside the clubhouse, so they could see the club wasn’t hiding anything from them. As a rule, their clubhouse wasn’t open to the public, not even during the parties between clubs. This was different. It was a business venture, pure and simple.
“I don’t really have anything to bring to the table,” Inez said, regret in her voice. “I want to help you out, Czar, I really do. Our partner, Jackson Deveau, has the money in the store. I was up front about that. He’s law enforcement, you’re a biker club. With regret, he can’t come in on this deal.”
“You did point out that we’re not 1-percenters.” Steele indicated his cut. “There isn’t a patch anywhere on our jackets and we’ve never been in trouble.”
Inez nodded. “I understand. He’s just very careful all the time. It’s his way.”
Czar nodded. Steele and Czar had already discussed their response, since they were certain Deveau would pull out. That made sense. They’d put it to a vote and the club—Savage included—had voted to bring Inez and Frank on board. Czar had a plan, and his plans had never failed. Not once.
“We’ve got the money for the start-up,” Steele explained. “Money isn’t a problem. All of us saved everything so we could put down roots. I’ll be honest. We need your face. We need you to actually work the store, so the locals feel comfortable coming in. We’re aware that’s going to be a hardship on you.”
Inez glanced again at her husband. He remained silent while she spoke. “How long would you want us to work in Caspar?”
Czar tapped the table. “We thought three months, but you may have a better idea of the time it will take to get the locals comfortable with shopping here in Caspar.”
“The idea isn’t to take business from the store in Sea Haven,” Steele reminded. “Or you. That’s why we want you to have an interest in the one here. We need you more than you need us. We use the name of your store and your familiar face, you train one of our people to manage the store, and you oversee it. You’re providing the labor. We’re just providing money.”
Inez nodded, but Frank reached out and very gently took her hand. “We would have to pay someone to work our store for us.”
“We’ll pay them,” Czar assured. “If you’re interested at all, but don’t like the terms, Absinthe,” he indicated the third Torpedo Ink member sitting at the table, “is our attorney, and I’m certain everything is in order.”
Absinthe was their negotiator for obvious reasons. He could persuade anyone to do anything and he always could compel truth. Code had given him the necessary background and schooling to become a lawyer on paper as well as on the Internet. He had the credentials and it looked as if he’d passed the bar the first try. Like Transporter, he could read over twenty thousand words a minute and absorb the material.
“I drew up the papers for a partnership and suggest that you consult your own attorney. Have Deveau look at