Page 27 of Cannon

“That’s a great idea, but how long will Whisky keep him full? He might not need to feed again for a month. Do we want Percy slithering around the place for that long, unaccounted for? I know I don’t.” The thought of Percy lying somewhere watching me, measuring me up as a potential meal, makes my skin crawl. “Maybe we need to get a snake expert in. One of those that sits with a flute and a basket.”

“He’s a freaking python, not a cobra. He ain’t gonna dance in or out of a basket for no one. Can you imagine the basket you’d need? It would have to be a commercial-size laundry basket or something. We need one of those purty Florida gals with them nice muscles. You know what I mean?” Prophet smiles an evil smile.

“I know what you mean, and they don’t call them muscles, neither. One of those women would wrangle your little-biddy grass snake clean out of them jeans and probably rip it clean off.” I smirk as he grimaces at the thought. “What have Zion and Winger come up with? Anything?”

“Winger thinks we should find Percy’s original owner and stake him out as bait. I reminded him if he’d got his details like he was supposed to have done, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Oh, and Zion turned up with a piece of roadkill, but it was so flat and dried out it was more like a raccoon frisbee. Damn lunatic. We need to get something found soon so we can do Whisky’s cremation.” Prophet finishes his second beer and wipes his mouth.

“Any news on my truck yet?” I ask hopefully, but not expecting much of a response.

“Pres told us we can’t discuss it with you,” Prophet smirks. “He’s afraid you’ll escape and infect the town with your nasty, spotty disease. Personally, I think he’s hoping to have all the fun of getting it back and exacting retribution without you.” Taking up his two empty bottles, my one empty bottle and my tray, he gives me a chin lift and walks out laughing.

Fucking Pres! I knew he’d try that!

Chapter 16

*~* Fury *~*

Ican’t believe Cannon has chickenpox. Where do you even go to catch them these days? I’m not mentioning kids around him, I value my life too much to ask that sort of question. I haven’t heard of anyone having those things in years. Maybe I’ll delve into it with Jamie later. Or maybe I’ll just delve into Jamie and forget all about Cannon and his pox.

Turning to the doors when I hear a cough, I see three guys walking in. They are dressed neatly enough, but my hairs stand up with a warning that I don’t feel I should ignore.

“Sorry, guys. We’re not open for at least another week. There are some nice bars in town, though. There’s a very nice one near the sheriff’s department that’s open till late every night.” I see the look that passes between the two of them who are flanking the one I assumed was the boss, and I think my barb hit home. They don’t like to be around law enforcement.

“We like your bar. In fact, we like it so much that we want to supply you with beer, liquor and girls.” The boss gives me what I think is supposed to be a friendly smile, but he looks more like an alligator viewing the lunchtime special. I give him a grin back that should tell him what answer he is about to get, but I think he misses the point.

“We already have our suppliers in place for beer and liquor. As for girls, we’re not that sort of bar. Thanks for stopping by, but I don’t think you’ll like it here. We obviously have different ideas of what a good time entails.” The two flankers take a step apart, and I smirk as I step back and to one side, putting a table between me and the three of them. They no longer have direct access to me, and I can see that has thrown them.

“You shouldn’t be so quick to turn us down, my friend. You haven’t heard our terms of business yet.” Boss’s eyes narrow, and I see cogs turning in his head. He’s not used to such a quick refusal, that’s for sure.

“I don’t think your terms of business will fit in with how the Bitter Slayers MC want to run their legitimate enterprises. Let’s just agree to disagree and then you can take your two mongrels and walk out of here. Either that, or they can carry you out. No matter what happens here, you will be the first one to go down.” I move my right hand slowly behind my back, and I can see this has the desired effect. They think I’m armed.

“Perhaps we’ll come back another time and speak to the man in charge. He may have a little more business sense than just a bartender.” Boss man starts to turn away until I reply.

“You just spoke to the man in charge and my decision won’t change. If you should decide to come back again, I suggest you come ready for anything but talking. There is nothing left to say in the matter.” He gives me a last look that tells me he doesn’t like how this has played out, turns, and walks out.

Once they’re outside, I stand near the door to see where they have gone. They are not in sight, so rather than try to follow them I go back through the bar and head to the back door. If I can at least see what they are driving and maybe get a license plate, I’ll have something to give Bull to check out.

Taking care not to step outside without knowing where they are, I see an old Jeep Cherokee at the back of the lot. It may be old, but it looks as though it just rolled off the production line. There is no one inside it or near it. Where the hell have they gone?

Calling out to Mateo, Hellion, Bear, and Rage, I take a careful step out of the door. I don’t want to step out and into the waiting arms of those three goons. Hearing footsteps, I turn and see Hellion, Rage, and Bear approaching.

“Where’s Mateo?” I ask and can feel my blood start to run cold before Hellion answers.

“He took some crap out to the dumpster. Why? What’s up?”

“Fuck. We have intruders, and they may have Mateo.” Rushing out onto the parking lot, I look to where the dumpster sits and see nothing at first. As I rush around the side of it, I see Mateo being held by the two mongrels while their boss punches him. It looks like Mateo is in a bad way, from the way he’s being held up.

“Hey, motherfuckers!” I yell and run straight at them. I feel the others follow me around the dumpster and the two mongrels’ eyes open in panic. I guess they don’t like the odds anymore.

Boss turns to me and starts to speak, but my fist slams into his mouth before he forms any words. I don’t hold back and slam my fist into him until he’s unconscious. I only stop hitting him so I can hit someone else.

Bear has one mongrel, arms pinned, and Rage has the other. Hellion is battering first one and then the other. I take over punching one of them, but I don’t even get to hit him as he’s already out cold. Hellion stops when Bear lets go of his mongrel who just slumps to the ground.

“Call for Jamie. Mateo looks badly hurt.” I check for a pulse and am relieved when I feel one, but it doesn’t feel as strong as I’d like. Hellion hands his phone to me.

“Fury? If he looks as bad as Hellion says he does, get Mateo to the hospital or call 911. Whichever will get him medical aid the fastest. Do it now.” The call ends, and I scoop Mateo into my arms and head for the club's SUV.

“Hellion, with me. You two, get those three to the clubhouse. I’ll want to talk to them myself as soon as I know Mateo is in good hands.” I sit in the back of the SUV, supporting Mateo as best I can while telling Hellion to get us to the hospital as fast as he can.