Devil’s Vengeance (Devil’s Disciples MC #6)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

CHASE

The club wasn’t the last place I ran into Trick. He started showing his face around town, taunting me because whenever he showed up, he was either surrounded by his crew or had a woman under his arm. He was too chicken shit to face me alone. It was when he showed up at Lacey’s club that someone in the crew took notice.

We never wore our cuts at Lacey’s club, since we didn’t want the place tied with the crew. It was in our territory, but close enough to the edge that people from all over showed up. It was supposed to be a spot to gather information, and I was pretty sure Croy had money going through the place, too. Bear was playing bouncer that night, as he did most nights. He stayed near the stage, protecting the girls. I blocked the way toward the back, where Lacey’s office was. When Bear was leading one of the girls off stage, he leaned to murmur to me under his breath.

“Two o’clock. That guy look familiar to you?”

I scanned where he pointed out, and my lips twitched against a scowl. Fucking Trick.

“Let me handle it.”

The look Bear shot me said he didn’t like that idea, but I didn’t answer to him. We were crew brothers, but not in the hierarchy. The only people we could push around were the prospects.

“Don’t you think we should– ”

“I said I’ll handle it,” I hissed.

He huffed, shaking his head. “Whatever. Good luck.”

He marched away, back to his work, while I abandoned my post to go confront Trick. He sat at a table, a stripper in his lap and a smug smirk on his face that disappeared when I gestured for the girl to go with a jerk of my head. She frowned, but didn’t argue. The girls knew better than to complain. We were there to protect them, so what we said goes.

Trick scowled at me, arms crossed over his chest. “I paid for that lap dance. You gonna get me my money back?”

“Consider it payment for her having to get anywhere near you. What the fuck are you doing here?”

He opened his arms to gesture around him, eyebrows high on his forehead. “Why else would I be here? To enjoy a good show. I heard this place is popular. Your crew has been doing well for itself, hasn’t it?”

I wasn't about to answer that. I didn’t share details about my crew with anyone.

“You’re in our territory, Trick. Move on before I make you.”

That brought his grin back. Slow and smug, with that hint of mischievousness I remembered from when we were kids. He always loved doing the exact opposite of what he was told to do.

“Oh, baby boy. I’d love to see you try. But aren’t you working right now? I thought I saw you playing bodyguard back there. Should you have abandoned your post?”

My hackles went up, and I spun around just in time to watch Lacey come out from the back, a gun pointed at a giant dude with his hands up in surrender. He was wearing an Iron Horsemen cut, a grin on his face. I abandoned my conversation with Trick, heading straight for Lacey instead.

“Hey, now… I was just askin’,” the retreating man said, eyeing Lacey like she was a fucking piece of meat. “Surely someone as sexy as you belongs on stage instead of hiding away in the back, right? Unless you’re coming on later?”

“Can it, asshole. Chase, get him out of here. And the rest of his friends, too. I don’t want any of them thinking they can get away with harassing my girls,” Lacey hissed.

The dude’s eyebrows jumped, legitimately surprised for a second. “ Hold on. Your girls? You own the joint? I thought it was owned by the Devil’s Disciples.”

Lacey scoffed, her usual disdain all over her face. She and Brewer had come up with this story themselves. They didn’t want her or the strip club tied to us, so she’d be protected. She knew exactly what to say to get people off their tracks.

“They wish. Are you so stupid that you think assholes like them would willingly put a woman in charge? They’re all misogynists. Like you.”

It made him hesitate, like it always did when some criminal or another tried to say we had something to do with the club. Proving that Trick was sharing secrets, the guy shot me a pointed look. “He’s part of the Devil’s Disciples. You’re saying you hire them but don’t work with them?”

Again, she rolled her eyes. “I don’t ask if my employees are part of a stupid ass crew. But if he ever brings his business here, I’ll put a bullet in his head. He knows that. Now get the hell out of my club. And don’t come back.”

Trick sauntered up, a charming grin on his face. “Now, come on. Don’t be like that. We’re just looking for a good time. We could bring in good business. My crew has a lot of members. They’re all looking for a fun night.”

Lacey was unimpressed and the hand still holding the gun pointed at his crew member didn’t waiver. “We don’t offer the kind of entertainment you’re looking for. My girls are entertainers, not prostitutes. And I’m not letting some asshole with a dick complex sneak into the back to hurt someone.”

I’d snort if I wasn’t so fucking worried about her right now. With more members of the Iron Horsemen in the club, Bear couldn’t move from where he was watching over the rest of the girls. The other bouncers were both civilians and busy watching the door. I’d be able to fight off the two men, maybe give Lacey a chance to get away, but if they all decided to come for us, it’d be dangerous for her.

Trick shook his head like he was disappointed. “Damn it, Ratchet. I told you no fucking around. This is a classy place, after all.” He shot Lacey another charming smile. “What if I send him home? The rest of my guys will only look. No touching. Deal? ”

Something calculative crossed her face and my stomach clenched uncomfortably. I couldn’t tell her they couldn’t stay without explaining why. And since it was her job to gather information, she would let a rival club stick around just to see if she could get more from them.

“Lola–”

“Shut it,” she snapped. “It’s my club. I don’t give a shit what rivalries your little boy band has. If they’re respectful and don’t put my girls in danger, I’m not turning away business. Go cry to your leader or whatever if you’ve got a problem with it.” She looked at Trick again, jerking her chin at the other guy. “That one goes. But if I catch any one of you acting shady, the rest of you go as well. I’m not bringing whatever motorcycle territory bullshit you’ve got going on into my club, and I won’t let anyone put my girls in danger. We clear?”

The triumph on Trick’s face was only a flash before the slimy charm came back. “Absolutely. You’re the boss. Ratchet, fuck off. You aren’t ruining the night for the rest of us.”

Lacey gave me a pointed look, the demand clear. Escort him out like a regular bouncer would or she’ll toss me on my ass and replace me with a brother who followed orders better. Now that Trick had his eyes on the club, I wasn’t going anywhere. He’d target her just to fuck with me. I had to play the game.

“Let’s go,” I demanded, shoving the guy toward the door. He didn’t look happy about it, which probably meant it wasn’t his original plan to be kicked out. I guess we were all having a bad night then.

By the time the night was over and the club was closed, my jaw hurt from grinding my teeth all night. Trick kept his promise, keeping his hands to himself and his guys on their best behavior. From the way they deferred to him, I had to wonder if he was an officer. Or maybe he was making a play for a position. Using me to screw with the Devil’s Disciples would be a hell of a way to get some clout. Either way, his guys listened to him and gave me no reason to kick them out .

After he left and Bear locked up the front, I heard Lacey’s voice snap from her office. “Chase! Get your ass in here!”

Putting on a mask to hide my anger, I turned on my heel, heading for her office. It wasn’t much, mostly file cabinets and her desk, but there was a pull out couch in there in case one of her girls needed a place to crash for the night. She’d nearly been on the streets with Diego before she came to us looking for help, so she knew what it was like and always prepared for the worst. Lacey was protective of her girls and wanted what was best for them.

“Shut the door,” she demanded when I stepped inside. I did as asked, dropping into the chair on the opposite side of her desk when she raised an eyebrow at me.

“So who are they, and do I need to worry?”

“No one. I’ll take care of it.”

She flashed me a look that said she didn’t believe that for a second. Lacey was perceptive, and she didn’t let people weasel out of difficult conversations. I had to skate around the truth to get her to let it go.

“It’s not about the crew. The guy who sweet-talked you is looking to cause trouble. It’s just one guy.”

She crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. “Looking to cause trouble for who? You?”

I shrugged. “Could be. I insulted him at a rally and he took exception. He’s being a bitch about it. I’ll take care of it, though. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Taking a deep breath, she let it out in a huff. “Alright. I’m choosing to believe you because I trust you, but if this is a personal problem that causes issues in my club, I’m going to trade you out. I like having you here, but my girls’ safety comes first. I don’t want your personal problems putting them in danger.”

I nodded in full agreement. “I’m okay with that. If you want, I can send someone else tomorrow, just until I get this shit handled. I don't want them in danger either.”

Her expression softened a little, her lips tipping up in a smile. “I’m willing to wait if you are, but if you aren’t, I’m okay with that, too. You’re a good guy, Chase. I don’t want you gone for long. ”

Patting the desk, I pushed to my feet, ready to get out of there before she asked any more questions, like why Trick was causing trouble for me. I paused at the door, though, looking over my shoulder.

“I’m sorry. For not watching the hall earlier. I was trying to get him to leave before he did anything stupid. I didn’t think his friends would start sneaking around behind my back.”

She pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing on me. “Well, lucky for you, I know how to handle myself. If he got in the changing room, I wouldn’t be so forgiving. Since I don’t want you to die tonight, I’m not mentioning this to Brewer or Croy, but get your shit handled, Chase. I don’t want you ending up in a ditch somewhere.”

I hadn’t even thought to ask, but now that she mentioned it, the relief lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. The longer my crew went without knowing about Trick and his crew hanging around, the better it was for me. I needed more time to actually deal with him. And I didn't need my crew getting in the way. As soon as I figured out how to get Trick alone, he was a dead man.