Chapter 46

Austin
"How is she?" I ask Miles through the phone.
"Nervous. Just dropped her off a few minutes ago and she is barely knocking on the door now. She started giving herself a damn pep talk."
I chuckle at my girls' crazy behavior and tell Miles to keep me updated. As I hang up the phone, I think back to last night at Candice's mood as soon as Jesse left. Even when we go home last night she seemed off. I tried to get her to talk to me, but she just kept telling me she was nervous about speaking with her mom today. I don't want to push her too far, I know her mom and grandmother are her only family, but I wish she'd be open and honest with me. I know that wasn't the only thing bothering her.
I've had women in the past, a lot of women. Went through them like nothing when my father first passed. It wasn't until my mother sat me down and told me she didn't want to be a grandmother yet, that I realized I needed to cool my shit down.I got tested and was thankfully clean. I wasn't always careful. I want to be different for Candice, she deserves someone who will show her that not all men run away from her. I hang up with Miles just as I hear my door opening.
"You ready? Max asks when he walks in my house.
The door almost slams behind him, but Chance catches it before it can.
"Asshole, I told you I was right behind you."Chance says softly closing the door.
"Yeah I know." Max says with a devilish grin.
I roll my eyes at Max and answer his question by jiggling my keys to my truck in my hand. I had asked Max and Chance to go with me to meet up with Snake. We decided to take the truck just in case they noticed out bikes. It was too coincidental that Snake's house was shot at as soon as we had our meeting last time. Shane is at Lyla's house and I know he needs his time with her after hearing there were some fuckers looking around for Candice yesterday.
We hop in the truck and in no time at all arrive at the Road Kings clubhouse. Snake is once again standing outside with Drift. When I get out of my truck I walk up to Snake and shake his hand, then walk over to Drift to do the same.
"Thanks for meeting me Austin. We need to have a chat." I nod my head in his direction and he nods his at some old benches in the middle of their driveway. I get ready to head over to one when I hear Snake address Max.
"Been a long-time boy."
"Yeah, sure has. You been by to see him?" Max asks with an accusing tone.
"You already know the answer to that Maximus. Ain't your business, so stay out of it."
"He made it my business old man. He'd be rolling around in his grave if he knew you weren't coming by to visit him."
Snake looks like he is going to attack, so I take the opportunity to step in between them.
"Got more important shit to go over right now Snake. Didn't brig Max over here so you two could fight." I say.
"Let's go talk over here Austin. Privately." Snake says.
"You want to tell me what the fuck is going on?" I ask after we take our seats on the old lunch bench.
"Think you got a traitor amongst your crew, my friend." He accuses.
I'm out of my chair and waiting for him to get out of his so I can fucking hit him. I see in the corner of my eye Max and Chance getting ready for a fight as well. Drift just stands there leaning against a goddamn pole, his arms crossed, and eyes closed. Fuck, I can't read that guy.
"The fuck you talking about Snake. I ain't got a fucking traitor."
"You look just like your daddy right now boy. Calm down, I didn't mean to get you all riled up. I know you have a mole and I know who it is."
I think I know where is going with this. When he called yesterday and asked for us to meet up today, he specifically asked that Psych does not show up with me this time. I wanted to believe that it was because Psych showed disrespect for showing up with me uninvited before, but a part of me knew better.
"You want to tell me how the hell you know if I have a traitor and who that would be?"
"Shit boy, you look like your father, but you don't act like him. He would have never let someone come into his clubhouse that he didn't know much about. Do you really know Psych? Know what his name is? Know his background?"
Shit, asshole has me there. Psych came in right after my father died. He was one of the very first prospects I patched in. I didn't know what hell I was doing but knew I wanted more people my age and people I could trust. He's been with us for years and besides the last few days he is normally pretty fucking loyal, but Snake is right, I don't know much about him. Not like I know about Shane and Chance.
Snake hands me a stack of papers and I take a second and look to Max and Chance. If what I see is going to confirm that I brought a fucking rat into my club, then everything that's happened is my fault. Jazz and Irma being attacked, me being run off the road, my club being shot at, and everything that Candice went through.
I sit back down with a huff and shove the documents to the side as soon as my eyes see the logo of the man that has started all this shit. The Cole Industries logo is on the ground staring up at me in a mocking way. Psych was a fucking employee of his.
"His real name is Aaron Shields. He is thirty-seven and worked there years ago but was let go because of his use of drugs. He split from his girlfriend, lost custody of his kids, and joined your club under the name Psych, which he got on the streets."
I look from the bench's rotted wood up to Snake's piercing green eyes. Fuck he looks just like his son right now. Sam always had a ticking jaw and now I see he obtained the annoying habit from his father.
"I believe he essentially did wanted to be a part of your brotherhood, but life took its toll on him. Among the papers you ran your tantrum on, there are pictures of him on the streets that we took a few months back. He is using again Austin. I don't exactly know what his role is in Cole's pocket, but I know he's in there."
"What made you start looking into him anyways?" I ask, my face still looking down at the bench.
"Got that call from you yesterday about being rushed to meet up, soon right? Said some of those guys were looking around the hospital?" I nod my head.
I had called Snake yesterday as soon as I found out that those assholes that are out to get us went looking around for Candice at her work. I told him that we needed another meet because Psych had caught some guys snooping around her job. He immediately told me to come here this afternoon.
"Know for a fact there were no guys there."
"How the fuck would you know that?"
"Had one of my men follow him these last few days. He stays mostly at the clubhouse but yesterday he went out and went down to the city. Scored some more drugs. Ran some errands, but he never went to that hospital Austin."
"The fuck you doin' having one my men watched Snake?"
"Boy, If I wasn't watching one of you, I never would have found the big ass rat you didn't know you had." Snakes eyes are deadly staring at me right now. As much as I fuckin hate that he had Psych followed, we owe him a lot right now.
"Also found this." He says calmly placing a small little device on the wooden bench.
"The fuck is this?"
"Had Drift take a look. Turns out the thing is a fucking tracer. Cole Tech makes them. Psych had one placed on my fucking bike. My guess is, that's how they found out where I lived."
I take a much-needed deep breath and grab all the pieces of paper my temper got the best of. I run through each piece of evidence against the man I once called my brother. Everything checks out. Snake wasn't fucking around, although a part of me knew it. I just don't understand why Psych would do this. Psych gets money from the garage, the club, and all the other places we got our hands in. What the hell else does he need? Why turn two clubs against each other? Why team up with Nicholas fucking Cole?
"Thank Snake. I'll keep in touch with what we do."
"You have a good heart Austin. I knew this would destroy you, but I had to bring that shit to light. My old lady could have been home when those fuckers shot up my home. I don't let that kind of thing go without revenge. I'm bringing you this out of respect to you and your daddy, but I'm telling you now boy, you don't end him? I will." With that he gets up and walks over to Drift.
I stare at the papers in my shaking hand once more then roll them up and put them in my back pocket. I walk over to Max and Chance who both give me a confused stare, but when I nod my head towards the truck they take the hint and head over as well.
I give Snake one more glance, letting him know I understand him and hop in the truck and take off. There is a shit storm brewing and I need to get to the club to let everyone know what's going on. One thing is for certain though. I'm fucking done playing defense.



When we get to the clubhouse Max and Chance saunter in and I follow behind them. I announce church to everyone and give them one hour to get the rest of the brothers back at the clubhouse immediately. I walk straight into the kitchen and see Abby.
"Hey babe, where is your dad?" I ask.
"Oh, hey Aus. Don't know actually. He left a couple hours ago but I don't know if he went home or not. I was just about to head to work but stopped by to fill the fridge. Irma asked me to."
"Thanks darlin. Hey, before you head out, you mind telling me what happened the other night with Jesse?"
Candice wasn't the same after Jesse left the other day, and I for one want to know if Abby knows anything. I know they talk. Candice has taken her call a few times in front of me, they've become close.
"Oh that, Chance and I were talking about mom, he was just checking on me, what with the anniversary of her death coming up and all, and Jesse saw that as me trying to get something from him. Stated spouting stuff about me being a whore and how I am sauntering my innocence around to get to Chance. It just hurt a little because that's not what I was doing at all." A couple tears come down her cheeks, but she quickly wipes them with a sad smile.
"I'm sorry Abby. I had forgotten that the anniversary was coming up. So much shit going on, but I want you to keep us all focused on that when the time comes. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Abby's smile turns genuine and she reaches in to hug me. Abby's mother Beatrice died when she was nine years old. Back then my father was president and Bone was his road captain. Abby's mother was a little different than mine. She loved Abby at the clubhouse, wanted her to be around her father as much as possible. One day the clubhouse was attacked by a local gang trying to steal their guns and drugs, little did they know the warriors didn't keep that shit at the clubhouse. They came in, grabbed Abby and Beatrice and threatened them in front of Bone.
Bone tried over and over again to tell them the items they were searching for was not there, but they wouldn't believe them. They shot Beatrice right in front Abby and Bone, then ran away. My father was on a run at the time but when he came home he went after them with the whole club behind him and killed them all. Mom stopped letting Max and I come to the clubhouse for a while after that. Bone was a good father, but never one around all the time so Abby mostly raised herself.
Abby is a strong person, but I don't think she ever forgave her father for what transpired that day. She just loves her father too much to hurt him. She would rather bury the pain then let her father know it's caused her so much turmoil. I think that's why her and Candice have so much in common.
"Thanks Austin. I should get going. Can you have dad text me if he comes back here?" I nod my head to her and she leaves.
I grab a small sandwich and eat at the bar while trying to figure out my present predicament. Max walks over to me and slaps me on the back.
"So, you gonna tell me what the fuck that was about back there or you gonna make me wait for church?" I take a glance around the room and notice most of the brothers are walking inside the room designated for church. I made sure when I became president that the room was sound proof. I look back to Max and explain a small fraction of what I learned today.
"Snake told me Psych is a fucking rat man, thinks he is working for Cole. Had a fucking stack of papers that let me know who he really is. Psych a.k.a Aaron Shields, was a worker for Cole Industries. He got into same bad shit and started doing drugs. He's the one behind all this shit, I just don't know why."
Max gives me a shocked expression but manages to maintain his cool. He looks around the clubhouse then whispers quietly to me.
"You seen Psych?"
I shake my head at him then walk over to the inside of the bar to grab a bottle of Jack. I unscrew it and take a heaping gulp. Fuck that burn feels good. I explain to Max that I tried calling Psych while we were on our way here back to the clubhouse but no answer. I'm not sure if he is going to show up at church or not but if he doesn't, it's just confirming everything I learned today. I have noticed Psych has been acting strange lately, and showing up at the meeting with Snake the other day was the last straw.
I ask Max to look out for Bone because Abby is looking for him and he is the only one missing for church. As I head towards the doors that conceal the fate of a brother, a brother I was all too quick to add to our club, my phone rings. I check he collar ID and see that it's Candice calling. I quickly answer while opening the doors for the remaining brothers to walk into.
"Babe, you good?"
"Yeah, I was just missing you, which is weird right? I mean I've been spending so much time with you lately and here I am missing you, and we've only been a part for like five hours." She really is fucking cute when she rambles.
"Miss you too Candy." And I do. I didn't realize just how much I missed her until her voice came out on the other side of this phone call.
"So, there is another reason I'm calling." I wait for her to finish but hear her grandmother call out, asking her what she wants for dinner.
"Anything really." She responds, then gives her attention back to me. "So, my grandma and mom want me to stay the night. As much as I miss you, they missed me too. Is it okay if I stay the night? I wasn't sure if you needed to call you soldiers home." She giggles at her own joke.
"I'm good babe. You want to see you family I won't stand in the way of that. My guys will stay there, and I'll have Miles stay too." I don't want to tell her about Psych yet, she has enough shit to worry about as it is, plus I can get more done knowing she is somewhere safe.
"I don't think it's really necessary to have them all here Austin. We haven't had any trouble lately." I love how she says we.
"Keeping them there anyway babe. Need to know you're safe. I'll have them drive you and your mom to her appointment tomorrow too yeah?"
"Okay. Thanks Austin. So I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah babe, have fun with your family."
She hangs up the phone and I stare at the display as her name disappears and the home screen comes up. I wasn't lying when I said I missed her already. I'm glad she is getting some time with her family, but fuck if I don't want her at home warming my sheets.
Chance walks out of the meeting room to see if I'm coming or not. With one last confirmation on whether or not Psych has text anyone back, I walk into the room and reveal the horrifying news I learned from Snake.