Bash (Diablo Disciples MC #6)

EIGHTEEN

Bash

With Tomb by his side, Bash observed the meeting, confirming that the frontman of the Riot Brothers was a narcissistic prick.

Harvey and his younger brother, Kurtis, had arrived an hour ago.

The brothers were in their mid-fifties, while the girls they brought seemed to be in their late teens at most. As Harvey instructed the women to play, Bash glanced at Tomb, who responded with a silent expression of disgust by raising his eyebrow. Scarlett stepped out of Axel’s arm and took them over to the buffet table.

Last night’s bonfire went fine, with the out-of-townies arriving to settle in. The cookout was set to start right after the meeting.

Harvey did most of the talking, Bash noted. Bragging like an idiot. And even when Kurtis tried to interject, Harvey cut him off. Was there a dispute amongst the ranks?

“We are all entrepreneurs, Axel.” Harvey simpered, puffing on a thick Cuban cigar, a scotch in his other hand. They’d come dressed in three-piece suits and dripping in gold, like they wanted to give the impression of respectability. “It’s only out of respect for you we’re here today. I think our organizations could run very well side-by-side. You help me, we help you.”

Axel took a slow sip of coffee.

Some men would have gone toe-to-toe by drinking liquor, regardless of the time of day. But as Bash knew about Axel, the prez didn’t need to live up to anyone’s expectations, and he had enough ego not to give a shit about other’s opinions about his choices.

It was like watching a salmon being reeled in on a fishing line as Axel scrutinized him.

“What do you think I need help with, Harvey?”

Another puff of the cigar. The man smirked and gestured around him. “You tell me. I have many resources at my disposal. I could be good for this place with the right cash injection.” The way Harvey said it was an obvious diss, and Bash saw Axel’s lips curl as he sat silently, regarding the enemy in their midst.

Anyone Axel invited to the club for a meeting would have instantly realized his statement was bait. Harvey answered in the wrong fucking way, letting his ego speak. Only a stupid man would come with a pocketful of insults.

“Here’s how it’s going to go,” Stated Axel. “If your organization doesn’t stop trying to take what’s ours, including every business in town and beyond, and those you’ve tried to extort for protection money; we’re going to end you. You personally at first, and then each one under your ruling,” announced Axel in a tone so stark, Bash was glad he was on the right side.

“I’ve offered you plenty of opportunities to make the correct decision here. And at each turn, Harvey, you’ve chosen the wrong fucking way. That ends today. No exceptions. Your investor had a nasty end, if you recall. You don’t want the same outcome.”

“We had no idea he was involved in that protection racket.” Butted in Kurtis, red-faced. “That isn’t how we operate.”

Harvey was seething across the table, staring down Axel. Chains remained stoic, but Bash knew their VP would be ready to flip some fucker over a table at any time.

Around them, people kept their distance from the meeting.

“Let me remind you that the Diablos, compared to your mere fifty members, are much larger,” Axel confirmed. “We’re much more aggressive and have influence beyond this country. We know each of you and have no qualms interrupting our day to finish you.”

That had been one of Drifter’s tasks, and he’d come through big time. Right now, that history database of the Riot Brothers sat in Bash’s safe.

“You never intended to take this seriously, did you?” spat Harvey. “We came here in good faith.”

“You came because you thought the Diablos were an easy take. Do I need to remind you that one of your hotheads stabbed one of mine?”

Arrogant as ever and still so sure of himself, Harvey snapped. “That’s been sorted. Albie acted on his own; it wasn’t on my command. Why the fuck would we want to stab a Diablo when we’re trying to form a business connection?”

With a glance at his silver wristwatch, Bash felt a surge of anticipation, knowing his girl would join him at the club soon. He was dying to have her sit on his lap, feeding her all her favorite treats.

“I get it, Harvey. I know you’re trying to make a good impression on your minions by begging for my approval. All the others kicked you out of their doors, right? Yeah, we heard the stories. But you see, measuring whose balls are bigger has never tickled my fancy, you get me? You’re not even close to being influential enough to worry us. And I don’t do deals with people who have attempted, on more than one fucking occasion, to disrespect us and step on my big balls.”

Chains and Diamond chuckled.

“Find somewhere else to make your patch because it won’t be here. And as a final nail in the coffin, in case you still have grandiose ideas to ignore my word, you should be aware I’m in close contact with your Alabama foes. They don’t know where you and your brother are. Yet. It can stay that way, but it’s up to you.”

Because Harvey jumped to his feet, Kurtis followed suit. The men and their women had been searched before they’d been allowed in, and so had their vehicle, but Bash braced anyway for the hint either of them was carrying a weapon.

“You fucking cunts just wasted my goddamn time.” Harvey hissed.

“Looks like.” Axel rose and smiled and then called over to his wife. “Scarlett.” She knew the signal to bring their women over. They appeared more relaxed than egotistical Harvey did, Bash noticed, as they smiled at Scarlett.

“Thanks for the advice, Scarlett.” One told her.

“Put down the fucking plate,” Harvey told his woman, “we’re leaving.” And then to Axel, he said. “You’ll regret this, Tucker. I came here in good faith. You just fucked that out of the water.”

Axel only stared and directed his following words to Diamond. “See them off the property.”

“Got it, Prez.”

A minute later, their Mercedes screeched out of the forecourt. Chains chuckled. “You enjoyed that far too much.”

“I wanted to put a bullet in his fucking brains, but I promised Scarlett no guns today.”

“Thank you, honey.” She beamed at her husband.

Reno, Kylie, and their kid came through the entryway right then. Kylie was carrying a large food Tupperware.

“I hope that’s your gorgeous spinach dip.” An excited Scarlett squealed.

“It might be.” Smiled Kylie, under Reno’s arm.

Reno gave a chin lift, holding Michele in his arms. His stepdaughter was a cute pill. “Better put your strong panties on, guys. I got word from Ruin that he and Rory are coming in. You know he turns into a Doberman watching over her when we’re all around.”

Ruin’s old lady had agoraphobia and didn’t attend many club occasions, but when she did, he hovered like a papa bear hunting for rabbits. Most of the time, Rory assured her old man she was fine, but Ruin was still vigilant for the sign someone might say the wrong thing to upset her. Only the famous popstar could control Ruin, and seeing their enforcer totally soft for his woman was always a sight. Bash couldn’t blame Ruin for being fanatical about her protection and wellbeing. He treated his old lady like a queen. If given the chance, Bash would do the same for Charlotte.

“Hey, you could bring out your guitar, Bash,” Chains said with a smirk. “That would wind Ruin up if you asked Rory to sing with you.”

“I’m not trying to die tonight, VP.” He pushed off the bar and grabbed his jacket, swinging it on. “I’m off to pick up Charlotte. If you ass-clowns could behave tonight…” he left the rest hanging as everyone burst out laughing, and Bash grumbled as he strode out the door.

The Diablos didn’t have behaving in their vocabulary.