Bash (Diablo Disciples MC #6)

TEN

Bash

When Friday rolled around, Bash spent the entire day with his head in spreadsheets and on calls with the Irish Murphys, who were in town for their usual monthly drug drop.

Typically, Bash wasn’t part of the welcome committee at the docks. Tomb managed that side of the business when the Irish transported cheap prescription drugs from Canada.

It had been rinse and repeat with little hassles for a while. Until tonight, when Tomb called the clubhouse, saying that Harvey’s boys had been spotted by the docks, Bash had grabbed his jacket and followed Axel, Chains, Diamond, and Splice out the door.

“I’m just in the mood to punch a clown. I hope they start some shit.” Splice warned as he swung a leg down from his bike.

“What’s got you all riled up?” asked Chains before Bash could. Splice wasn’t usually the first to a fight, even if he could handle his own. “Flavor of the day didn’t put out last night?” he joked, but Splice didn’t grin back.

“Not everything is about my dick.”

“It usually is.” Added Diamond, the ring through his eyebrow glinted under the moon. They got no more out of Splice because he walked off toward Tomb and the three Murphys, who were already talking with Axel.

Bash wasn’t there to keep the minutes or to make a record. This meeting wasn’t legally happening, and if anyone ever got caught, the Murphys didn’t know the Diablos and vice versa. When he joined the others, he only half listened, ready to pitch in if it was needed. For a long time now, the docks and ports around Utah were monitored by Diablo sources. Paid and used well for import and export deals.

Axel talked to their cargo inspector on the payroll and got information about the Riot Brothers.

“He said they’ve been coming by every few days to talk with a guy called Hal. He handles the paperwork in the office. Bash, you and Diamond see what you can find out from Hal.”

“Got it,” he agreed.

It was about half a mile to the dock’s front office, not even a few steps, and his phone vibrated in his inside pocket.

Bash hummed, seeing Charlotte’s message.

She’d started texting him a few days ago. Silly, nothing things, and it was fast becoming the highlight of his day.

Charlotte : My neighbor took in a package for me. Did you send Prince lots of treats???

Charlotte : He’s in heaven, Bash!

She included a picture of the cat on top of the pet hamper he asked Scarlett to find online for him. Going to her for help was a mistake - the old ladies’ gang swarmed him, firing nosy questions like bullets.

Charlotte : You’ve spoiled him, Bash. Thank you. and Meow-Meow from Prince.

“Yikes, what is that thing?” probed Diamond, spying on Bash’s phone screen.

“It’s Charlotte’s cat.”

“Cat? Look at the size of its head! Are you sure it didn’t escape from the zoo? That monster is gigantic. I’d hate to see its litter tray.”

Bash : I’m glad he approves.

Charlotte : You’re the best. This honestly is so cute of you.

Now she thought he was cute. Bash’s teeth hurt as he ground the back molars to interrupt his groaning frustration. He was one step away from being her forever friend.

Approaching the office, he thumbed out a fast reply text.

Bash : Bikers are never cute, darling. I’ll show you why the next time I see you. Gotta go.

“How’s it going with the little nursey?” asked Diamond. “Haven’t seen her around the clubhouse…” he left it hanging like a veiled accusation.

“She’ll be at the cookout next week.” Even if he had to carry her over his shoulder, no more nice guy act. It was getting him nowhere other than cementing his role as her maid of fucking honor at her wedding to some schmuck one day.

That would happen over his rotting corpse. If a day ever came that Charlotte started dating elsewhere, he’d turn into a sabotaging mastermind. Killing men before they could reach her front door.

For all the time he spent with Charlotte, he wanted so much more. He wanted to knit her fucking soul to his, carry her around so he could look at her when he needed to.

“I wish you luck, my friend,” Diamond declared, clapping him on the shoulder with an amused glint. “Women are complicated as fuck. Not all chicks are made to be with bikers.”

Bash’s jaw ticked.

He knew that all too well. Many women who entered their world over the years quickly left after realizing the unconventional biker culture wasn’t for them. And because Bash knew the club bylaws back and front, he knew there was a law that stated if the patched brothers did not accept an old lady—for many reasons—but usually if she couldn’t fit in or was causing too much trouble between the brotherhood, they could veto that woman. She couldn’t come to any clubhouse gathering ever again.

The brothers hadn’t used that bylaw in a long time, but he’d heard talk about how Axel’s ex was vetoed after his daughter was born. He wasn’t around for that first spread of toxicity by the president’s ex, but he’d witnessed Selena’s malice many times when she rolled through the doors, hoping to cause chaos before she left again.

Charlotte was nothing like that.

She’d fit in.

He just had to get her to that comfortable place between them first.

At the office, Bash and Diamond stepped through the doorway and saw a middle-aged man raise his head from behind the desk.

“Something I can help you guys with?” he asked, a cigarette in his mouth.

“You sure can. Hal, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” He replied wearily.

“I need some information, Hal. There’s been some people coming by the docks recently, talking to you, and we want to know what they wanted.”

Hal squinted and puffed on the cigarette. “Customer details are private. You guys should know that.”

“So you know who we are.” Smiled a friendly Bash, as he leaned a hip against Hal’s desk and picked up a framed picture, showing Hal’s eight kids. Damn, Hal got busy. “Nice family, Hal.” He remarked and put the frame back, but now the manager was spooked as the color dripped out of his face.

It wasn’t as if Bash had threatened his family. But people read into words in the way they wanted to. If Hal thought Bash was threatening his family, who was he to tell him he wouldn’t do that?

“So, about this information, Hal.”

The pair left the office with the info they needed not long later, and they rejoined the others.

“They’ve been trying to get a freighter in from Mexico, but they’re pissed because the officials won’t bypass the paperwork. Hal was helpful. Do we pay him?”

Chains chuckled. “We do.”

“Twitchy fella.” Remarked Diamond. “Might want to give him a little bonus for a job well done for stopping the Riot Brothers in their nasty little tracks.”

“I’ll get on that right after I buy Ruin a brand new dolly.” Chains rolled his eyes.

Bash lit up a cigarette and toked slowly, inviting the nicotine down into his lungs. Once Axel finished with the Murphys, they climbed into their Hummer and left the docks. The prez then turned to them. “So, the Mexicans part two? I can’t get those motherfuckers off my ass.”

“Didn’t Veronica Ruiz take over when old Julio earned his concrete boots?”

“Yeah. And there was a provisional agreement she wouldn’t bring her shit to these shores again. We don’t know if it’s her they’re dealing with yet. Let’s head back to the clubhouse. I’ve gotta make some calls to the fucking Mexicans!” Griped Axel.

It was nights like this Bash was grateful he wasn’t the decision maker. He could work a spreadsheet like no one’s business and memorize all the crucial details in case they had to shred their paper trail one day. But he’d loathe being the one who had to wear the headaches like Axel did.

As a group, they headed for their bikes.

As always, when Bash had moments when he wasn’t knee deep in club fires, his thoughts turned to a stubborn nurse, all sweet and ripe for the plucking.

And as his actions showed, he went from being nice to being a total creep when he rode by her house and saw all the lights were off. She was most likely snuggled up in bed. Alone. Which was a pity. He’d like to test her bed out, see how strong it was, and see if it could cope with the vigorous games he had in store for them.

Hungry and tired, Bash rode home.

And he slept in his bed alone.