Page 44 of Ace

“Ace’s BACA kid needs our help,” Axel summarized what little Ace had already told him.

Ace nodded. “Angela. Her abuser got off scot-free last week, and now he’s driving by her house at all hours of the night and day trying to intimidate them. The little girl, Angela, is beside herself, and her mother’s not much better.”

“I’ll never understand how pricks like him get off in a court of law,” Bandit grumbled. “If I was the judge, I’d sentence him to a public castration.”

“Could just do it ourselves,” Axel said with a glint in his eye. Ace couldn’t even tell if he was joking. Axel wasn’t a violent man by nature, but he could be if he wanted to be. When it came to the Vipers, he usually wanted to be these days.

Ace didn’t blame him, but he also didn’t want any of the guys going off half-cocked, solving their problems in ways that potentially created more. At least… not yet.

“Wait, so her abuser is a Viper? And he got off scot-free?” Bear furrowed his brows as he squinted. “That doesn’t seem right. Judges around here usually have it in for bikers. Especially ones like the Vipers.”

“No, not a Viper. The abuser is that politician. The high-profile one who abused his employee’s daughter. But the last time he drove by their house tonight while I was still there, he’d obviously gotten spooked by my presence and called for reinforcements. The guy in the passenger seat was definitely a Viper. I just can’t remember which one.”

Axel shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Tell us how we can help,” King interjected. “You need us to find the guy and rough him up a bit?”

“No, I’ve already done that,” Ace admitted. “Apparently it didn’t help for long.”

“Okay, so what will help?”

“Get the police to pull their heads out of their asses and do their jobs?” Ace retorted sharply. “Sorry, I’m just frustrated and I feel so helpless. But there is something you could do. A couple things actually. I need someone who’s good with technology to go help the mom set up her new camera security system and make sure there are cameras pointed toward the street so we get proof that he’s basically stalking them. His bright yellow Maserati isn’t exactly nondescript and it’s definitely not his neighborhood, so if we can get it on camera repeatedly maybe someone will listen.”

“Done,” Bear answered. “I’m on it. Just text me the address.”

“That’s good,” Axel said with a nod. “What can the rest of us do?”

“Just take turns stopping by, park your bike in front of the house for a bit. Sit out front looking intimidating. Make it clear they are under our protection?”

“You think the Vipers will care?” Slim piped up. “They hate us, obviously. What if it does more harm than good?”

“Well, it’s not Vipers plural. As far as I can tell, it’s just the one and he’s a real pipsqueak of an asshole anyway. You know the type, tries to look and act tough but he’s really just a skinny emo kid living in his mother’s basement.”

“I know the type,” Slim confirmed. “So he won’t be a real problem is what you’re saying?”

“He could still be a problem. But one we can handle. And I’m not thrilled about this duo. Nasty biker and powerful pedophile. Seems like a dangerous combo.”

Axel nodded, and walked to a shelf where he picked up a pad of paper and pen. “Just give me the address and I’ll work out a schedule. We can take turns. Hopefully, the camera will catch what we need and we won’t have to do it for long.”

“Thanks, Prez,” Ace said, sighing with relief. He’d been really hoping he would be able to deliver on his promise. “I really appreciate it and I know Christine will too. The whole family could use a break and some peace of mind.”

“It’s no trouble. That’s what we are here for.” Axel glanced around the clubhouse with his president face on. “Everyone email me your work schedule so I can get this done as soon as possible. Bear, when will you be able to get over there and set up that camera?”

Bear looked longingly at the beer he’d opened but hadn’t drank, before handing it off to King beside him. “I can go right now. I’m off until tomorrow.” He grabbed his jacket off the back of the door and headed out the same door Lucky had come in.

Axel looked around the room at the rest of them. “Everyone else understand what they need to do?” His question was met with nods and grunts and a chorus of “Yeah, Prez,” and “We got it.”

When everyone had responded, he turned to Ace. “Well, you’re the one who called this meeting. Is there anything else?”

“Not at the moment.”

“All right. Then everyone has their orders and we are good to go. See you all later. Get back to work or whatever it was you were doing.”

Ace pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent a text to Christine alerting her that Bear was coming over. After hitting send, he pulled up Lizzie’s message screen. He had a naughty little girl to attend to.

Lizzie

Lizzie was sitting cross-legged on the bed with Bert and her other hard-won stuffies gathered around her as she tried to name them all when her phone went off with its special tone, letting her know she had a message from Ace.