Lake’s Legacy (Demon Dawgs MC: New Orleans #3)

Chapter Twenty-Five Lake

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: LAKE

The elders met in a small conference room beside the high school gymnasium. I’d attended a few of these meetings when Coyote was grooming me to take over. Most of those meetings were short and unmemorable. But I clearly remember one ending with me driving into New Orleans and enlisting in the Louisiana Army National Guard. That meeting had been about me and my future. They had everything mapped out and laid their expectations before me. They told me which college I’d attend and the classes I needed to take. The elders outlined my class schedule and defined how I’d spend my free time. They even presented me with a list of women, informing me to select a wife from the list. Now, here I was, a decade later, sitting in the last place I wanted to be, discussing a life I never planned on living.

“With Coyote in the hospital, I’m offering to fill in as chief until he’s well again,” I tell the four men and three women who comprise the council of elders. Each is the respective head of their families. These families have been leaders in our tribe for centuries.

“Why?” Asks Baptiste, the oldest of the group. His once-black hair is now all gray. His face is a map of wrinkles from working on shrimping boats his entire life. He had been on the council when Coyote brought me to the meetings. “You never seemed interested in leading our tribe before. So why now? Why not Toff? He’d make a better chief.”

I almost smirk at that. For years, I’ve tried and failed to convince my father that Toff is the better choice. Now that I’m willing to step up and assume the role, the people who can stop me recognize what I’ve known all along. But I need them to agree to this plan to protect their future chief.

“You’re right; Toff is a better choice, but not right now. Not after what happened to Coyote. I’ll explain.” I take the time to lock eyes with each council member. I need them to see that I’m not bullshitting them and that what I have to say is not only accurate but unpleasant. “Whoever attacked Coyote wasn’t an outsider. He was someone Coyote knew. This person entered Coyote’s home under the guise of friendship before stabbing him in the back and leaving him to die.”

Baptiste narrows his eyes at me. “You’re lying. No one would want to hurt the chief.”

“Someone does, and I have a pretty good idea about why they did it.” Then, I tell them everything we know and what we suspect about the attack. As I speak, I watch each council member for their reaction. Their reaction about how close Coyote is to gaining recognition for the tribe from the government and the possibility of oil on our land. I end with the smuggling theory Zip came up with that morning.

“Although, we think those interested in using our land to smuggle goods in and out of the country may be the same men who ransacked the clinic and kidnapped Olivia and Annette.”

“Maybe these men are the ones who attacked Coyote,” Martine suggests. Anyone looking at her would think she was a kindly grandmother who knitted and canned vegetables. Maybe she does. I don’t know. But I know she owns a fleet of fishing boats and offers tourists fishing excursions. She’s one of our more wealthier members.

“They aren’t. At the time of Coyote’s attack, the men who kidnapped Annette and Olivia were on their way back to New Orleans.”

“Besides, Coyote wouldn’t have turned his back on them,” Baptiste adds with a sage nod. “No, Lake is right. Coyote trusted his attacker. The only people he trusts are us, the members of his tribe.”

“But why would anyone want to hurt Coyote?” Katherine, the youngest member of the council, asks.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Baptiste asks, his eyes on me. “It’s what Lake said about the possibility of oil in our bayou and under our homes. Once our land becomes tribal territory, no one can get that oil without going through us. Someone wants the rights to the oil and is willing to kill to get them.”

“What do you suggest we do?” Martine asks me.

“Announce that we’re close to achieving tribal status. We want everyone to know the progress Coyote has made. Then, explain how I’ll take over as interim chief. Lastly, we’ll tell them I have contacts to help us get our status sooner.”

“You mean lie to them?” Baptiste asks.

“No, not lie. I do have contacts that might be able to help us,” I tell them, thinking about Dante’s mother, Angela Westbrook, and Cleo—women with money, power, and influence. We can solicit Puma’s help, too. He’d met influential people when he was playing ball. “The important step in our plan is to ensure that whoever attacked Coyote sees me as the next target.”

“You’re setting yourself up as bait? Rather than Toff?” Katherine asks, catching on.

“Yes.”

“What do we tell the tribe?”

“Everything. Let the tribe know what’s at stake. I know Coyote wanted to keep his progress a secret, but he told someone he shouldn’t have—someone who wants to stop him from succeeding. Since we don’t know who that person is, we must tell everyone. We need the person who attacked Coyote to come after me, not Toff.”

“Is Toff okay with you setting yourself up as bait?” Baptiste asks, watching me.

“I haven’t told him that part, no, and he hasn’t worked it out yet,” I admit. “But Toff has an important part to play. He needs to focus on a critical piece. He’ll be working with the lawyer representing our tribe. I have contacts who will help, but Toff will do most of the work.”

“You consider this temporary because you expect Coyote to regain his health? What if he doesn’t? Are you willing to step down and give the position to Toff?” Baptiste asks.

“Gladly. Toff’s always been the better choice.”

“He has,” Martine says with a nod.

“Let’s go, then,” Baptiste says, standing and leading us to the packed gymnasium. While Baptiste explains the situation, I study their reactions. Baptiste doesn’t come out and say we suspect one of them attacked Coyote, but I watch their faces when he tells them Coyote was stabbed in the back. I see and hear the realization spread through the auditorium. Gasps of surprise and angry mutterings tell me the message got through. They know we have an enemy within.

“You’re saying someone attacked Coyote? One of us?” Pieter asks from his position in the center of the auditorium.

“That’s what I believe,” I answer. “I think someone wants to stop Coyote from turning our land into tribal land. That someone knows oil companies are interested in drilling on our land and bayou.”

“How do we protect ourselves?” Joseph asks.

“I’m taking over for Coyote. I have access to influential people who can help push this through. My goal is to achieve Coyote’s dream. Nothing will stop me.” I send that out as a dare. “However, we aren’t only protecting our land from oil companies. I’ve been looking into the men who trashed our clinic and who have harassed our people. We believe these men have a different goal. You all know I belong to an MC. Our Road Captain, Zip, has come up with a possible reason these men are interested in driving some of you out of your homes. Smuggling. My club is looking into this other MC. Until Coyote leaves the hospital, I’ll be your chief.”

While the crowd cheers, I watch. I don’t see anyone acting out of character or angry at my proclamation. However, I know not everyone is here. Toff, who stood behind me while I spoke, comes forward and clasps me on the back.

“Good speech. You’d make a good leader,” he says.

“No, thanks. Once this is over, you can have it. This is your job, not mine.”

“And the only reason you’re doing it now is to protect me. Don’t think I’m not aware of what you’re doing. You think whoever attacked Coyote will come after you instead of me. That’s why you’re shipping me to New Orleans to meet with the lawyer.”

I corrected him, “I’m shipping you off to New Orleans because you’re the only one who can understand the lawyer. "

“Who are these connections you have? I hope you weren’t just blowing smoke. We need all the help I can get.”

“Let me contact them first to see if they will support us. If they do, I’ll send them your way.”

I see Crow pushing through the departing crowd. He doesn’t stop until he reaches us. He’s livid.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I stopped by to see Coyote, and your friends wouldn’t let me in. What’s going on?”

“That’s my fault. I told them to keep everyone out but Toff and myself.”

“Why?”

“For his protection.”

“You think I’m a danger to Coyote? My brother?”

“No, but we don’t know who attacked him right now. Coyote knew his attacker. He turned his back on him. That means someone from the tribe. I told my brothers to keep everyone out.”

“That’s bullshit! He’s my brother!”

“Toff and I are headed to New Orleans. We’ll let you know when we leave, and you can meet us at the hospital. I can take you in to see Coyote.”

“Don’t do me any favors,” Crow snaps before leaving.