"Got some informants on the Louisiana-Texas border. Word out of Texas is the Death Heads were thinking about sending in their Nomads to Jacksonville. Lookin' to clean house. Seems their meeting with him in Sturgis opened some eyes to how fucking crazy the guy's becoming."

Butcher's eyes connected with Undertaker's, and he nodded. "Good news. Seems we'll be savin' 'em a trip."

Undertaker nodded.

"You gonna join us for this little party?" Butcher asked.

Undertaker grinned. "Wouldn't miss it, old man."

Butcher grunted out a laugh. "Look who's talking."

It took them another hour to work out the details.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

Tink pulled her beat up old Rambler down the alley, stopping behind the clubhouse gates. Jessie yanked the door handle, looking over at her.

"Thanks for the ride. And for letting me stay with you."

Tink peered out through the windshield. "I'd go in with you, but I've got to get to work."

"I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

Jessie nodded.

Yammer approached the car, leaning into the doorframe and peering in at Tink. "Hey, doll. Ain't you stayin'?"

The prospect was a shameless flirt when it came to Tink. A factor that Jessie had already learned was a stupid move. Especially when Hammer seemed to have already staked a claim to her. One Tink was quick to deny, a little too vehemently it seemed to Jessie. Someday maybe she'd get the full story on those two.

Tink gave the man a sugary sweet smile. "Sorry, wish I could, but I've got to work, Yammer. But Jessie here can stay. Let her in, will ya?"

"Sure thing, Tink. Maybe I'll see you later tonight, after you get off work?" he asked hopefully.

"Maybe," she replied, waving her fingers as Jessie climbed out and shut the car door. Then she pulled away.

Yammer looked over at Jessie. "She sure is somethin', huh?"

Jessie smiled. "She sure is."

Then he unlatched the gate and let her in.

She glanced around the yard. It seemed very quiet. There were only three bikes parked, and none of them were Ghost's. She moved to the back door and let herself in. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. When they did, she spotted Boo behind the bar, and one man sitting on the other side, hunched over a drink. He was one of the older members. A man named, Boot.

He turned to look over his shoulder as she approached.

"He's not here, darlin'."

She took the stool next to him. "Do you know where he is?"

Boot blew a stream of smoke at the ceiling, and eyed her. "Maybe."

Boo walked over; his palms on the bar, he asked her, "Can I get you a drink, Jessie?"

Before she had a chance to answer, Boot told him, "Set her up with a whiskey."

Boo connected eyes with her, then moved off to do as he was told.

"Maybe I don't like whiskey," she said.

"Maybe you'll drink it anyway." He downed his own drink.

"O-kay," she replied softly.

"Thought you ran off?" Boot asked her.

"I'm back."

"I see that. Question is, for how long?" He swiveled on his bar stool to face her, leaning his elbow on the bar.

"As long as Ghost will have me, I guess."

"What makes you think Ghost wants you back?"

"What makes you think he doesn't?" she countered right back.

Boot chuckled. "Heard you were a feisty thing."

"Maybe that's what he needs."

"What he needs is a woman that's not gonna lie to him. A woman that's not gonna run at the first sign of trouble." He arched a brow at her.

"He lied to me, too."

"Yeah, heard he did. Also heard he forgave you. Way I heard it, you didn't give him the same courtesy."

Her chin came up. "Maybe I deserve that. Maybe I've made some mistakes-"

He laughed. "Maybe?"

"Okay, I have. We both have. I forgive him now. It just took me some time to come to terms with what he did. Can't a person realize they fucked up and change?"

"Sometimes." He eyed her. "You grow up all of a sudden?"

"I guess you could say that."

"And what'd you learn?"

"I guess I realized that there are consequences. That my actions hurt people, hurt Ghost."

"Well, good for you."

"Where is he, Boot?" She searched his eyes.

"You in love with him, honey?"

She took in a breath, not wanting to tell him. That was between her and Ghost. Not anyone else's business, especially not one of his brothers. But the man seemed determine to put her to the test. Maybe this was all part of seeing if she was good enough for one of his brothers.

"If you must know, yes, I am."

He studied her, apparently waiting for more.

She huffed out a breath and gave him more.

"He makes me feel secure. I may never completely stop being bratty, but I won't ever lie to him again. I'm not afraid to let him in anymore, to see all my flaws, mistakes and all. I can't lose him now."

Boot reached for his glass.

She frowned.

Was he totally unaffected by her words?

"Please, Boot, tell me where he is so I can tell him that."

"You're too late."

She felt herself literally deflate inside. "What?"

No, she couldn't be too late.

"They pulled out an hour ago."

"Pulled out where?"

"Club business."

"Boot, tell me. Please. If anything happens to him because of me..."

"He went to kill Florida...because Florida is trying to kill you."

"Oh, dear God, no." She stared unseeing over his shoulder.

Boot took another drag off his smoke, his eyes forward. "So, maybe his feelings for you are mutual. Nothing says love like a head on a spike."

She knew he was joking. He had to be, right? He wouldn't literally... Eww. She grabbed his arm. "He's not alone, is he?"

Boot turned to look at her then. "Fuck no, darlin'. Got three chapters from two different states with him. And that's just our guys. Your friends in the DKs are joining in the fun, too."

She frowned. "Why are you telling me all that?"

He stubbed out his cigarette and turned to look at her. "Maybe I got a feelin' you're gonna be an Evil Dead ol' lady one day. Time to see if you can keep your mouth shut."

Her mouth dropped open.

"That is, if your man comes back alive." He grinned and slid her drink towards her. "Here, bottoms up, darlin'. Looks like you could use this.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

The men squatted down and observed the house. It was a small ranch style home buried back in the poor section just north of Commonwealth, on the northwest side of Jacksonville. The neighborhood was wooded, and Ghost was sure Florida liked it that way. Kept the noisy neighbors from seeing anything.

"The house is a ratty shithole." Hammer observed.

"Probably let it go to hell after his ol' lady died," Shades ventured a guess.

"How the hell do you know that? This may be the best it's ever been," Griz joked.

His brothers chuckled.

"There's nothing behind it, just more woods and a sludge pond. The DKs got all streets in and out covered. Gulf Coast Chapter has the back covered," Shades advised them.

"Nearest neighbor is that house half a block down. JJ just went in dressed like a gas company guy. Told 'em there's a gas leak in the neighborhood, and that they needed to evacuate. Might be an explosion," Ghost informed Shades.

"Oh, there's definitely gonna be an explosion," Hammer replied with a grin.

"Make sure he ain't got no dogs. I hate killin' animals," Griz grumbled.

"He got any dogs back there?" Shades said into his two-way.

"Nope," came the crackly reply.

He looked over at Griz. "Happy?"

"What, I like dogs, shoot me."

"Maybe later."