“Samantha is planning on selling on your turf and Snake is behind it,” she gasped out. “He’s out for your blood.” She seemed out of breath.
Instinctively, I walked around the bar and handed her a water bottle. “Here. You look like you need it. Take it,” I said unceremoniously.
“I am a little thirsty. Thanks.” She snatched the water and guzzled it down. Some of it missed her mouth and she swiped it quickly from her small face. “I had to get that out. It’s happening soon. I don’t know where she is now, but she’s going to set up her corner near the casino. She told me.”
Bones and I looked at one another again.
This time, Bones’ face twisted up with the same anger I had pent up inside. “Thanks for the information. What’s your name?” he asked.
“Ella. My name’s Ella. I wanted you guys to know. Snake is a bastard and he’s cut me off. Know where I can get some weed from at least? I don’t have any pills left,” she whispered in clear desperation.
“No, we don’t, but we appreciate the information. We’re not involved in the drug game anymore. Might be time for you to make an exit now.”
She saw the intimidating look on Bones’ eyes and scampered away.
The women and other patrons stepped back as she ran out.
I shook my head hard at Bones. “What do you make of it? Think she’s telling the truth?” I felt more and more livid as memories of Samantha Adler flashed through my brain.
Bones looked sympathetic as he squeezed my bicep in support.
I ran my hand through my jet black hair, feeling around for the scar at the back—a painful reminder of a moment in time I would rather forget.
Bones sighed. “I do, for some reason. She’s hot under the collar because her supplier isn’t giving her the goods. I think we need to find out where Samantha is and have a chat with her. We just got everyone off our turf and now, we have to deal with this situation again? I know you don’t like it either.” Bones put his hands behind his head as he blew out a breath.
We both walked back to the others.
“What was that about?” Harper, Bones’ wife, asked.
“Her name’s Ella,” Bones replied. “She was warning us about Samantha dealing on our turf. Seems Snake is trying to use her against us. We’re going to have to look for her.”
Naomi had her own bad memories of Samantha as well. She closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her temples. She groaned.
“Are you serious?” Naomi exploded angrily. “She has her studies for engineering, doesn’t she have something better to do? I need a drink. Ink, are you all right?”
I tried to divert the attention away from myself. “Don’t worry about me. We need to find her and put her out of commission. I say we go out on the hunt tomorrow and see what’s up. Ask around.” I wasn’t going to let this one rest. I knew how lethal she could be.
“I’m in.” Bones nodded. “We can start around the casino if that’s where she’s trying to set up.” He then set out a plan.
Mia, Numbers and Coyote listened in.
Coyote chimed in, “I’ll come with you. I’m off tomorrow, I got some time.” Coyote was a patch like me, and he was my best friend at Rebel Saints. We both came in at around the same time, which strengthened our bond.
“Thanks, man.” I clapped him on the shoulder.
“I swear, we just keep getting hit, don’t we?” Bones complained. He picked up his beer and drank it down.
“Shit’s gotta end. Snake can’t keep it up,” I told him. Everything comes to an end at some point.
We rode three deep, the low throaty rumbles of our bikes echoing into the parking lot of Red Stone Casino. It felt good to ride alongside my brothers with the wind cutting over my face. Too bad we weren’t riding for leisure.
The parking lot of Red Stone stayed full…. a hot spot for both those passing through and locals. The parking lot included staff, patron and member parking as well. Most deals went down here in the underground level of the lot, so it could be hard to catch dealers in the act.
The Mississippi sun was going to work on us. I felt sweat dripping down the back of my neck. I slid my helmet off and wiped off the excess with the bandana around my neck. “See anything?” I squinted around the lot looking for anything unusual, but couldn’t see anything.
Coyote gazed around as well. “Nope. Prolly hard to see if anybody would be doing anything right now, let me search underground on foot and see.” He slicked back his dirty blonde hair with his hand and slid off his bike.
I got off and scanned the length of the area.