Raging Barons MC – Book Two – Axel
Axel: Chapter 16

Target has gone over to talk to Gunner and Zara, hoping to replace information regarding Cara and any surviving relatives she may have. Mia didn’t know of any, so it leaves it up in the air after the information we found.

Walking around the apartment I’m sharing with Target, I sigh as I notice dirty cups and plates sitting around. I spend the next hour cleaning up, washing dishes, sorting laundry and as I grab a bottle of beer, I hear my cellphone ringing.

‘Yo!’ I say as I answer.

‘How you doing? I thought I’d catch up before I make a start back.’ Target states and I can hear vehicles in the background as he’s speaking.

‘I’m okay. Nothing new to report. Nothing happened at the club last night.’

‘I’ll be back in time, I hope, to go with you tonight. We need to stake out the one called Alan. He’ll be the way to replace the mole and we need to know who’s paying him.’

‘If that’s the case, then I’m going to the club early. Watch Jewel, see if I can replace out anything new.’

‘Okay, I’ll catch up later today.’

I hang up and place the cellphone in my jacket pocket. I’m going to see if I can replace anything new before Target gets back.

Heading towards the apartment where Jewel lives, I park the SUV a block away and walk to the alley across from her building. I keep to the shadows and see three men go inside.

Hunkering down, I watch and wait. The three come out an hour later and although they’re talking, I’m not close enough to hear all they are saying, but I hear the name Alan being quoted.

Jewel emerges, followed by two men. As they walk near to the alley, I hear one say, ‘Get to work. We’ll catch up with you later. Find out where we can grab the bitch and replace out soon.’

‘You know I will Alan. Your sister isn’t replaceing out much, either. They’ve all closed ranks, got tightlipped and are on alert. It’s hard, but we’ll replace out.’ Jewel replies and then plasters herself all over him, making me want to gag in the process.

‘Did you lock the place up?’ The second guy asks as they open the door to the beat up piece of shit Jewel owns.

‘Yeah, don’t worry, no one would want to steal anything from that shithole.’ the one called Alan responds.

After they drive away, I wait probably fifteen minutes and then make my way over to the apartment. Picking the lock, I go in quietly in case someone else is inside.

The place smells disgusting. How the hell anyone would want to live like this is beyond me. It is gross, empty bottles, pizza boxes and anything else you can think of. The place looks as bad as it smells.

Picking my way through the rooms, I look for anything that may give me a clue to what the fuck is going on, why they are trying to grab Mia, which is what it looks like.

Noticing a scrap of paper on the coffee table, I pick it up and see the name Sydney Bloom and a phone number. Shoving it into my pocket, I head outside and back to my vehicle.

Checking the time, I drive to the nearest drive-thru and get a burger and fries. I need something as I’m heading to the club, and I’ll need something to absorb the alcohol that I’ll need to consume while I’m watching Jewel.

The club is quiet as it’s still early afternoon, and sitting at the bar, I notice Jewel is strutting around trying to look important, but knowing how she lives has a nasty smirk on my face.

Fox leans on the bar. ‘How you doing Chaos?’

‘Good Fox, and how are you?’ I slowly slide my hand over the bar and nudge his elbow, which has him looking down, and carefully he takes the note from my hand, giving me a questioning look.

‘I’ve been downtown this morning,’ I look over at Jewel, then back at Fox. He’s frowning at me, so I look at Jewel again, then he gets it and nods, showing me he understands.

‘I’ll be seeing Pres later. I’ll make sure he knows,’ Fox murmurs, making sure no one around can hear him.

Picking up my drink, I walk over to the side booth and sit, making sure I’m comfortable and take out my cellphone, checking for messages and then pretend to play a game while I watch everything Jewel does.

Three hours later, Mia walks in with a woman I’m not familiar with. Mia goes behind the bar but the woman sits on a bar stool and leans on the bar counter, talking animatedly, not sure what she’s saying, but Mia has a big smile on her face.

Twig keeps serving drinks and I’m damn glad I ate on the way in or I’d be half under the fucking table now.

Mia’s friend walks over to my booth, plants herself down and introduces herself as Shar, Mia’s friend, ‘We gotta look like I’m hitting on you.’ she whispers.

‘Why’s that?’ I murmur, keeping my eyes on anyone that could be watching.

‘Mia said to tell you that Target is at the clubhouse. He won’t make it here until much later. The one called Alan is brother to one of the club women at the clubhouse. They are not sure which one, but that’s the connection.’ Shar giggles and runs her hand down my arm.

Leaning in as though we are going to make out, I whisper in her ear, ‘Do I need to stay here and watch Jewel or go replace this Alan and drag him in?’

Laughing, Shar leans to my ear, ‘You’re to wait here for Target, then go replace the asshole together.’

I give her a slight nod to let her know I understand and she stands, puts her hands on her hips, scrunches up her face, then states loudly, ‘I’m not some cheap whore, so go stick your dick in someone else.’

Stopping myself from laughing at her acting is hard, as I want to belly laugh at the way she could swap from pretending to seduce to irate. It was truly outstanding.

Two hours later, Target walks into the club, grabs a drink, then heads my way. He throws down a brown bag, which, on opening it has two sandwiches inside. Now I need this. It’s a long time since I had the drive-thru.

While I’m eating, Target is checking the people that are now frequenting the club. It has steadily gotten busier as the night has worn on.

Nobody and nothing is standing out. We are both watching the waitresses and, as yet, Jewel has not taken a step out of place.

‘What did you replace out talking to Gunner and Zara?’ I eventually ask.

‘They didn’t know of any relative, but Gunner and Sharp are going to look into it, but they have heard of an Alan that is related to someone at the club, well, she was at the club, but she left, so could be one of the club women at our clubhouse.’ Target gives me that dark look he has when he is pretty pissed.

‘How was Zara? Is she happier to be around Gunner?’ I know the relationship between them had been troubled, but father and daughter shouldn’t be at loggerheads.

‘She is growing up far too quickly, but she has one hell of a good head on her. They are both trying to put things right and that is all they can do, but I hope it works because she needs her dad right now.’ Target grins, ‘You should see Crack, he watches closely and if Gunner does anything wrong, he’s on him before you can spit.’

Laughing at the things Target tells me he saw while seeing Zara, I notice Jewel is edging towards the back of the stage again.

‘Get around the back to the stage exit and I’ll go out the front and around the club, see if we can replace out who Jewel is sneaking off to speak to.’ I state, then leave the club, nodding at Mav who is on the door tonight.

Carefully peering around the corner of the building, I can see some of the parking area, but not enough to see who is talking outside the stage exit.

Shit, I think to myself; I have to know who it is. I just hope Target is in place.

I stagger around the corner, making out I’m drunk, weaving about and leaning on vehicles. Singing low in the back of my throat, I notice Jewel talking to a man. Yes, he’s one that has been in her apartment, but not Alan. Now that is a shame, I think to myself.

‘What the fuck are you doing around here?’ Asshole snarls, taking steps towards me.

‘Lo, dons ko you?’ I slur.

‘No, you don’t know me asshole,’ he shouts, spit shooting out of his mouth like a damn garden hose.

Accidentally on purpose, falling into him I make sure I check out his pockets and take the gun he has in his waistband, as I straighten up I see Target rounding the vehicle closest to us, so I stand and punch him right on the jaw and he goes down without a fight, lights out fucker.

Target grabs Jewel and I take my cell out, contact Axel and tell him we have two bodies to pick up at the nightclub if he can arrange it ASAP, well before this fucker wakes up.

Dragging them both into the back of the club, Fox brings two pairs of cuffs. I raise an eyebrow and he smirks while giving me a shoulder shrug.

Now we wait for our lift, take these two to the clubhouse and watch Axel or Buzz get answers. I cannot wait.