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Which has Rory snorting, Spencer chuckles, and the loudest fart in human history rips through the room. “Obviously, Bono doesn’t believe a word of what you are saying either, Daisy,” Rory laughs.

I continue to drink my beer, mind my own business, and not get myself into any hot water with Miri. I’m not a fool, I know how these things play out, and that’s probably what Daisy was aiming for.

“Thanks, Rory.” I give her a wink, and she gives me a huge smile.

“My pleasure, any time at all, Joker,” Rory giggles as she replies, and I know she means it, she really did enjoy that confrontation.

Spencer chuckles again, then leans over to speak to me quietly, “Rory did you a solid there, Joker. I reckon that was all about causing a problem between you and Miri. So far I hadn’t seen Miri get annoyed, but if she’d seen the way Daisy was heading for you, she just may have shown us her temper.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna have to watch them. I don’t want shit going down with Miri because they are playing games.”

We don’t have the opportunity to say more because Miri walks into the common room and heads straight for me. Giving me a kiss before she stands between my legs with her arms around my waist and rests her chin on my chest. I kiss her forehead and feel contentment for the first time in a long time.

Chapter 22

TRACKER

Taking my seat in church, I quickly call the meeting to order. “We have a lot to cover today brothers, so let’s get down to it. The first business I want to cover is the report Demon has given me. The suites are completed. If a brother’s suite is not completed correctly let Books know since he is working alongside Demon and Jeremy.”

Demon sits straighter in his seat. “The suite conversions are finished. I haven’t had a brother say they have an issue with their suite. Jeremy will start the gym next week. He’s placing it where you suggested Pres, far enough from the club the noise will not mess with anyone sleeping, and the sauna, Jeremy suggested having it attached to the gym, so there will be showers and the sauna all handy if needed after using the gym.”

“Perfect. Does anyone have anything to say on this matter?” I ask as I look around the room. “Nope, okay, let’s move on to Keys. What is your report?”

Keys looks up from the laptop in front of him. “The impound lot sale has been completed, as you all know. Darius is emptying the bungalow, and it’s a mess. Judge, if you keep the dumpsters rolling in and out so Darius and the brothers can keep the outside of the bungalow clear that would be a massive help. I’m going over during the week to assess where cameras will be best placed, then I can get the order in for how many we’ll need. Malik is going to live with Darius at the bungalow, so it’ll have cover in the evenings even if Darius is called out by the recovery business, and we all know during the night is when these types of places are broken into.”

Tread taps his knuckles on the table, gaining everyone’s attention, “Do Darius and Malik need help? Because I’m up for helping if I’m not on a recovery run.”

“I’ll tell Darius to give you a shout if he needs help. I’ll be speaking to the working prospects as I intend to hold a meeting with them,” I respond.

Keys speaks again. “I’ve spoken to Darius and told him he can call any brother if he needs help, and if they can give him assistance, they will. But if you want specific brothers to help, then let me know, Pres.”

“The impound lot operation will benefit all of us, so it’s up to all of us to help if it’s needed,” I reply, but stop speaking when I notice my pen moving on the table, by itself no less. The brothers have noticed what I’m looking at, and I do what comes naturally, “Order, order, we’re in church, stop fuckin’ about.” Funnily enough the pen stops moving. The brothers are smirking but have the sense not to laugh and encourage Bono or Tank. It’s not gonna be Pyro or the fuckin’ thing would have been in flames.

“What’s going on with you, Hot Rod? Where’s your woman?” Finger asks.

“Faith has gone to visit her family in Canada, she may not come back. I don’t want to talk about it,” Hot Rod snarls at Finger. My eyebrows raise in surprise, but I remain quiet because obviously Finger had hit one of Hot Rod’s nerves.

“Okay, moving along.” I take control once more and remove the onus from Hot Rod. “Miri is officially the administrator or manager, or whatever you want to call her position of the rental projects. Four of the veterans are on their way here to work under Miri. She has already found two properties that we can keep or flip. She has also found a bed-and-breakfast place that is good for brothers to use, or when we have guests. To my mind it’ll be a better place for guests to stay than at the clubhouse.”

“Yeah, I agree, Pres. We don’t have many guests, but when we do, it is better they stay off compound where we know they can’t wander around and see, hear, or touch anything they shouldn’t,” Cap adds to the conversation.

I can see the brothers mumbling and nodding in agreement. We all think similarly when it comes to keeping the clubhouse and compound secure.

Joker speaks and gains everyone's attention. “The house Rory sold, is it still vacant?”

Books looks at Joker, “Yeah, why?”

“I would like to rent it until my house is built on the compound. I want to get some privacy for Miri and cement our relationship. We always have someone around here, and it would be more intimate to get to know each other in a place of our own,” Joker looks at me and I agree with him. I give him a nod that I understand and look at Books.

“I have no issue with that. Move in whenever you have it organized with Books. He is the one keeping count of all housing and eventually rental properties. The bed-and-breakfast place Miri suggested we put the veterans in. They can live as a band of brothers by working together on the rentals too. It is something we need to encourage, the bonding, bringing together, and eventually pulling them into the club.” I look at my brothers, and they understand what I’m trying to create with the club, and the brotherhood we all saw at the Satan’s Guardians MC.

Joker raises a question, “Is Miri restricted with what she purchases? Or is she free to place offers on houses as she sees them?”

Books, replies, while I sit back waiting for him to fill Joker and the brothers in on what we have decided. I’m keeping an eye on the fuckin’ pen too because it keeps twitching.

“Pres, Miri, Coin and I held a meeting regarding what Miri could do without having to call for permission. Let’s be honest here, with the fact that she couldn’t do the job efficiently if she always had to wait for approval. She has an upper limit on what she can spend on a property she tags to flip, and a higher limit on ones she thinks we can rent out. It will be something we monitor between us over the next six months and see what develops. None of this considers the salary we pay the four veterans. That is separate from the outgoing finances. We will take their salary into account once the money from flipping comes into play. It all depends on the profit margin those houses give us,” Books looks at me to see if I think he needs to expand on his explanation, but I’m good with what he has told the room.

“Does that answer your question, Joker?” I get a head nod in reply, so I continue speaking. “I’ve had contact from Trace and two of the veterans, Bastian and Colter. They have eyes on the Iron Fallen MC. They have headed back into Nebraska, but they are not settling down anywhere, they are arming up and recruiting. The information has also come back from Vanessa who is keeping Miri informed. All our informants, if that is how you all want to view them, are sending us the same information.