Curse's Claim

“We’ll talk more when I get back. I just needed to see you before I went to the clubhouse.”

Ashley gave them privacy walking back into the sitting room. Curse watched her leave before turning back to Mia.

“I’m fine. She’s keeping me company. I don’t want to go home. Too many questions and my mom knows when I’m lying.”

“When I get back from this meeting, we’ve got to talk. There’s stuff you need to know.”

She nodded. “I guessed as much.”

“Stay here. Don’t answer the door to anyone, and whoever keeps ringing the door, call us and we’ll be here as quickly as possible,” he said.

“I will.”

He dropped a kiss to her lips. “Take care.”

Leaving the house, he made sure the door was locked before heading back to his bike.

“Fuck me, you are in love,” Death said.

“Shut your f**king mouth. You don’t know shit.” Straddling his bike, Curse turned the key and headed toward the clubhouse. Death was right behind him. He kept a steady pace and climbed off the bike. Several of the women were standing outside of the building, smoking. He stared at them in their short skirts or shorts. None of them held any appeal to him, and it made him laugh at how much he’d loved f**king them.

“They’re all for me now,” Death said. “Everyone is falling in love. I tell you, The Skulls are f**king cursed. I’m staying well away from them whenever they’re in town.”

Laughing, Curse entered the clubhouse to find all of the club members waiting for them. They were not in the privacy of the office. Devil was talking to all of them, and Jerry was there also.

“Frederick has called. He’s going to be here by Friday,” Devil said. “He wants to see all of us, including you and Mia.”

“What does he want with Mia?” Curse asked.

“He wants to see the woman responsible for killing Dale and losing him a shitload of money. Frederick has a deal in place with a transport firm. They transport the coke, girls, and guns that Frederick sells as part of his business. Only, Dale had raped this man’s girl, and seeing as Frederick owned him, it was a gift from one business man to another. Now, Dale is dead, and Frederick doesn’t have anyone to do his transport for him. Curse f**ked up a deal as Frederick’s not going to make any money as he can’t get the product from one state to another.” Devil glared at him.

“Do we have any reason to believe that he poses a threat to all of us?” Ripper asked. “After everything that’s happened to Judi, I don’t want her hurt anymore.”

“No, she won’t be hurt. This is between the club and Frederick.”

“Then why does he want to meet Mia?” Curse asked, forcing the words out through gritted teeth.

“Judi’s not the one responsible for killing a wanted man,” Devil snapped, shouting out the words.

“Frederick is not the kind of man to cross. He’s the shark in a pond full of fish. In comparison, we’re all the fish,” Jerry said.

“Did you have any idea she was cleaning for that prick?” Curse asked. He was looking for anyone to blame other than himself. She shouldn’t have been alone in a strange man’s home.

“No, I didn’t have the first f**king clue. In case you didn’t notice I run a business and have a wife of my own.” Jerry folded his arms over his chest.

“Yeah, you’re so f**king busy that you suggest my woman become a call girl and happen to be a f**king lapdog for a man you consider a f**king danger to all of us.” Curse shouted, letting all of his aggression out into the words.

“I can do what the f**k I like, and if I want to work for Frederick, then I’ll work for him. I’ve been working for and with him the last fifteen years. You want to f**k with me then go ahead, Curse. You and the club will not last ten minutes alone with him. I’m doing you all a favor letting you know what you’re in for.” Jerry shook his head. “Fuck this. I got a wife to keep happy and shit to deal with. I’ll see you all on Friday. I advise you don’t start organizing a party anytime soon.”

Jerry left the clubhouse. The echo of the door slamming closed behind him filled the main room.

“Keep your shit together, Curse. I don’t know who the f**k this man is, but whoever he is has Jerry scared. We keep to ourselves, and you better stay the f**k out of trouble until Friday. I don’t give a f**k what you have to do, but stay out of the way.” Devil stood, looking around the clubhouse. “Clean this shit up. We settled down to live a good life. None of you are giving us a chance to have such a life.”

“What about The Skulls?” Death asked. “Should we call them?”

“No, we shouldn’t. They’ve got their own set of problems. We can handle this shit. I’m going home to my wife. Stay out of the f**king way of trouble.”

Curse watched his president leave. Regretting his words, he followed Devil outside.

“I’m sorry,” Curse said.

Devil turned to look at him. “The moment we agreed to settle down in Piston County, we all agreed to keep our heads locked firmly on. We’re vulnerable when we stay in one place, but we’re also stronger than ever before.”

“I know.”

“Shut your f**king mouth. I got no problem with you killing that man. He was hurting your woman, would have raped her if given the chance.” Devil ran a hand down his face. “No, what I hate is knowing what’s going to happen if this f**ker chooses, and you know what that could mean.”

Curse knew that they could end up as Frederick’s lap dogs if he chose.

“I know.”

“Good. Go to your woman, Curse. Let her know what’s going to happen and then be here Friday. If everything goes well, we’ll be lucky and can call it a day.” Devil waved his hand in the air as if pushing their troubles aside.

Curse watched as he climbed on the back of his bike and headed out of the compound.

“Devil’s worried,” Pussy said from behind him.

Turning toward his friend, Curse nodded. “Yeah, I know, and it’s all my fault.”

“No, it’s not. Mia needed you, and you lost it. There’s nothing we can do about it.” Pussy slapped him on the back. “You were right. Mia is something special. She’s got a lot of love inside her and a lot of pain as well.”

Nodding, he moved toward his bike. “I’ll be back on Friday. Take care of everything for me.”