Jake’s Angel (King’s Of Fury MC #2)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

JAKE

We all grab our drinks and make our way into church. Settling myself into my seat at the table, I take in the black-and-white photos of past members and their families lining the back wall. One of my favorites is the one of Gabe and his family with my mom and Pop.It’s the last photo taken of all of them together before the car accident. It was taken at their little girl’s second birthday party here in the yard.

A few short months later, everything changed.

Don’t dwell on shit now. The picture’s always been there. You’re remembering because you’ve been having nightmares again. Get a grip!

The memories don’t seem to want to stop lately. Of course, the drive on the way to and from Ethan’s fight probably didn’t help. The road has been repaved. The guardrail is no longer a mangled mess. The skid marks have all been erased. If it weren’t for the wooden cross and flowers Liz leaves there every year, no one passing by would ever know there had been an accident.

The picture next to Gabe’s family is of Caleb and his brother, Jonah. The club’s President and VP at the time. Jonah was shot and killed in cold blood during what appeared to be a robbery. We later learned it was a setup.

Caleb stepped down as President weeks later pending jail time for manslaughter. He served a two-year jail sentence for fatally injuring a man in a bar fight. The club’s attorney got him the shortest time possible, using his grief over the loss of three family members in such a brief span of time as having clouded his judgment. Witnesses at the bar attested to the other man having started the fight, therefore placing Caleb in a position to defend himself. I heard Pop talk about it often, how he and the rest of the club thought it was a bullshit charge. They felt Caleb should’ve gotten off on self-defense, but the court felt he needed to serve the minimum sentence to prove a point. A warning for other Kings to stay on the right side of the law.

We do.

For the most part.

When Caleb went to jail, Thomas, Gabe’s older brother, was next in line to be Caleb’s successor as President. From what I overheard, because I was a nosy little shit and was often in places I should not have been, the other club members believed Thomas to be too unstable. He was heavy into drugs at the time and wanted to get the club involved in illegal shit. In the best interest of the club, and in keeping with the way Caleb wanted things to be run, the officers voted to make Gabe President instead. Everything spiraled out of control afterward.

After Jonah was laid to rest, his only son Jameson inherited half of Fury Firearms and was also voted to take his father’s place as VP. Gabe bought out Caleb’s half of the firearm business, giving Liz plenty of money to run the stables and farm, and to be taken care of herself should anything happen to Caleb while he was away. It was what Caleb wanted.

All transactions were completed weeks before Caleb went to jail. He was planning his revenge even before Maggie and the baby’s deaths. He set things in motion because he knew he might not make it back. Though no one will ever own up to that fact.

Pride wells up in me knowing Caleb made sure to get retribution for the deaths the Devil’s Order caused.It wouldn’t be the last Devil who died at the hands of a King.

Other pictures line the walls of members throughout the years, in front of their businesses on opening day. It’s one of the few things Caleb and Pres have always pushed us toward at a young age, to own our own business.

I still remember Caleb’s words of encouragement the day I told him I got the keys to my tattoo shop. He slung his arm over my shoulder, pulling me close and said, “You’ll make a fine tattoo artist. I have no doubt you’ll make a fine business owner too. But if you’re counting on the brothers here to be your bread and butter, you’re shit out of luck. These assholes are always looking to get shit for free.” He wasn’t wrong.

Declan closes the door with a slam as Gabe bangs the gavel, calling the meeting to order, pullingme out of my reminiscence.

The noise doesn’t settle right away, forcing Gabe to slam the gavel. Again, calling everyone’s attention to him, turning his stern glare to us.

“Gentlemen, we have a situation.” The room goes nearly silent at Gabe’s announcement. He has our full attention. “Technically, Garrison has a situation, but it has fallen to us to help get it figured out.”

“What’s up, Pres?” Jameson asks. The VP is casually rolling his blade over his knuckles. Gabe leans back in his seat, steepling his hands on his chin.

“Recently, West International Freight was under attack. Some drivers were car jacked and beaten. And of course, we lost one of our own, George Sinclair, in the mix.” Gabe looks at each one of us as he continues. “It seems the Devil’s Order aren’t the only ones who are interested in taking over the company. A man by the name of Marco Cusenza has been actively pursuing Russell West to sell his freight company for an exorbitant amount of money.”

“What’s his interest in it?” Declan asks. “What kind of business is Mr. Cusenza in?”

“That’s what Mack needs our help to find out. Hawk?”

Hawk’s fingers skillfully fly across his laptop. Within less than two minutes, the TV screen on the wall displays information about one, Marco Cusenza.

“He apparently has his hand in several things. His FBI file is a mile long. He is the head of an organized crime family known for dealing in drugs and skin. However, he’s never done time. He’s had several cases thrown out on the account of insufficient evidence or a witness mysteriously goes missing before the trial.”

“He owns several nightclubs, hotels, and restaurants all over the East Coast. His most recent purchases were made in Baron’s Edge and Devil’s Canyon. A fish market, seafood restaurant, an eighteen and over dance club, and a new five-star hotel are among his business ventures in Baron’s Edge. In Devil’s Canyon, he owns a gentlemen’s club and two casinos with hotels.

“What were the charges brought against him? Can you find how the evidence went missing? I’m sure they keep logs for that kind of shit, right?” Ethan asks from across the table.

“Let’s see. Bribery of an officer. Extortion. Possession with intent to sell. He’s got a laundry list.” Hawk continues to scroll down the screen. “Oh, and one murder charge.”

“And none of these charges have stuck?” I ask. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Well, according to the files, the officer he allegedly bribed was found dead of an overdose in his home. A hooker was the one who called it in. According to her statement, he picked her up and brought her back to his place for a night of coke and sex. She claims he supplied everything. She woke up naked in his bed the next morning and found him, dead in the bathroom.

“So, this Cusenza person snuffed out the person accusing him of bribery and extortion. He’s resourceful.” Jameson concludes, now cleaning his nails with the edge of his blade. Playing with sharp objects sometimes helps him concentrate.

Hawk clicks a few more keys, and another report pops up on the screen.

“The drug charges were dropped due to evidence having gone missing from the evidence room. It’s still unclear how the evidence left the building. The report claims issues with the power and security system during the evening shift the same day the drugs were brought in. Everything hadn’t even been logged in properly before shit went missing.”

“The officer in charge of the evidence room reportedly left his post when the power went out. His report says there was a female attorney who began to have some sort of chest pain just prior to the power outage. The office left to get her help.”

“Who was the attorney?” Gabe asks. “Maybe she staged the whole thing?”

“Felicity Harris.” Hawk answers. “It says they transported her via ambulance to the hospital, but I have no record of her being admitted.”

“So, she was a plant?” Ethan asks. “Who the fuck is this guy?”

“And why does he want West International Freight? Out of curiosity, what was his offer?” Declan chimes in from his seat along the wall.

“He offered five million the first time.”

“That doesn’t sound so aggressive to me. Not for a guy with money and apparently higher up resources.” Jameson scoffs. “That’s probably chump change for him.

“The second offer was for double the amount, but that’s not the aggressiveness Mack is concerned with.” Gabe leans back, folding his arms over his chest. After releasing a long, deep breath, he says, “When Russell West declined both offers, Cusenza began making threats to not only Russell and his family, but to some of his employees and theirs as well.”

“Is Pop one of those employees you’re referring to?” A pit has suddenly formed in my stomach. Something tells I’m not going to like his next words.

“Not personally, no.” Gabe says.

“But Pop is still worried about Sadie’s safety. Why?” Something in my gut tells me there’s more.

“Russell’s granddaughter and Sadie went to high school together. They were pretty close and have been seen hanging out together from time to time.” Gabe pauses, his eyes shifting to where Caleb sits with his elbows on his knees and his hands folded together in front of his mouth. “Marco Cusenza has made a threat toward Russell’s granddaughter.”

“And you think he might use Sadie to get to the girl?” Hawk’s head pops up from his computer screen, giving Pres his full attention as he awaits his answer.

“It’s possible. Not likely, but we still need to be careful. Diligent in keeping her safe. Everything is precautionary at this point on our end.”

“Who was the arresting officer?” Declan switches the subject. Probably a good thing, since the vein on Hawk’s forehead looks ready to burst.

“Captain James Swanson.” Hawk replies. His forehead crinkles as he taps his keyboard furiously. “He’s been the arresting officer every time. ”

“Maybe he’s looking to get promoted and this Cusenza guy is his big fish to help him get it,” Jameson suggests. “It would make sense for him to go after the head of an organized crime family. His popularity points would skyrocket if he could land the bastard in jail.”

Heads nod in agreement around the room.

“So, what help does Mack need from the club exactly?” Ethan rolls his neck. The cracking sound it makes when he quickly turns back to Pres sounds painful.

“For now, he wants Hawk to keep digging. Pass along anything you find on this guy. As for the rest of us, we need to keep an eye on Mack’s family. He wants all the women protected, which means Jake, you’ll need to step up and get them all in line with the club and keeping tabs on them.”

“Because Sadie doesn’t already have issues with Hawk’s stalking ass.” I chuckle, but inside I’m seething. Gabe telling me I need to step up leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. I’ve been the man of the house, watching over my mom and the girls since Pop took the special assignment for West Enterprises sixteen years ago. I’ve never let my family down, and I won’t now.

“Just get her to agree to accept it for the short term. Once we know everyone is safe, and Mack comes home for good, she’ll be free to do whatever she pleases.” Gabe snickers. “Well, whatever Mack decides is within reason. But then she’ll be his problem again. Fair enough?”

I nod, and Gabe slams the gavel, putting an end to church.