Motorcycle clubs have always been a boys club. It makes sense: the violence, the hierarchy, the fact that they haven't exactly met the women's movement. Now, there's a new club in Northern Cali, looking to make a name for itself. It's already allied...
Happy sat staring across the parking lot, deep in his own thoughts. They were all waiting for Cacuzza to show up so they could get some info on Gino. Two days of playing the waiting game wasn't sitting well with the club enforcer, causing everyone to give him a wide berth. After finding the blood on that dirt road, the trail had gone cold and all that was left to do was bring Tiki's bike back to TM and wait. He felt someone sit down beside him on the picnic table and turned to see Tig looking at him with a serious expression.
"You need to stop this brooding shit, brother. We're gonna find her."
Happy shrugged as he lit a cigarette. "Two fucking days, Tig. Anything could have happened."
Tig nodded. "Yeah, I know, but Tiki's a tough bitch." He snorted and shook his head. "There's none tougher, including Gemma. She can handle herself and she's smart."
Happy nodded. "Yeah, but being smart doesn't help if someone shoots at you." Happy looked at the ground for a moment before looking back at Tig. "I know Tiki can handle herself. We've watched her do it, but... I feel like the one time she needed us, needed me, I wasn't there. I dropped the ball, man."
Tig shook his head. "Nah, man, you didn't. Shit, Hap, you couldn't have known about Gino and his bullshit, and that's because she didn't tell you about him. I'm not saying that she was hiding it, I just don't think she thought he mattered anymore."
They both watched as a black truck pulled onto the lot and parked. Happy sighed. "Nero."
Tig nodded as both men got up to walk over and meet the other man. "Maybe he has some news on T."
Nero met them with worried eyes and a tired expression. "I haven't heard from Tiki in days. Any idea why that is? She's not answering her phone either and she always answers."
Happy shook his head as he saw the others starting to walk out of the clubhouse. "Gino has her. Took her two days ago. We're waiting on Cacuzza."
Nero nodded slowly as he looked around the lot. "I tried to tell her when she started up with him that he was no good, that he'd end up hurting or killing her, but she wouldn't listen." He nodded to himself before looking Happy in the eye. "If he did anything to her, I'll kill him myself. Nobody hurts my family, man."
Happy nodded as he laid a hand on Nero's shoulder. "He won't live to regret it, man. I promise you that."
They turned at the sound of several vehicles entering the lot to find three black SUVs pulling in and parking. Jimmy Cacuzza got out of the middle car, walking over to embrace Tony and nod at Clay. Everyone was standing there waiting to hear what he had to say. Jimmy looked around the group once before turning to Clay and Tony. "I'm assuming that I'm not here to talk about our next shipment. What's so important that it brings me to Charming?"
Tony took a step forward. "Gino has Tiki. He nabbed her two days ago."
Jimmy cursed under his breath and nodded his head. "I wondered what was going on. He's been off our radar for a few days now. When you called, I assumed it had something to do with Theresa, so I brought the men that were last with Gino." He turned back and motioned with his hand, causing two of his men to open the doors on the third SUV. Two men emerged, looking appropriately scared as they were led over to the large group. Jimmy looked at the older of the two men and nodded. "Tommy, I need you to tell me where you left Gino."
Tommy looked at the ground, refusing to meet his boss's stare. "I don't know what you're talking about, Jimmy."
Jimmy smirked. "Really? Cause you two assholes were the last ones out with Gino. Did he take Theresa?" When the man shook his head, Jimmy held up a hand. "Tommy, how you answer determines if you live or not, and you know this. I don't abide abusers or rapists in my organization, and you know that we never, ever kidnap women." He leaned down until he was nose to nose with the other man, giving him a paternal smile. "Now, last time I'm asking. Did Gino take Theresa?"
Happy smirked as he watched Tommy wrestle with his options. On the one hand, Gino might get to him if he ratted him out, but Jimmy was an immediate threat to his health if he didn't. Tommy finally made his decision because he nodded slowly, still not looking Jimmy in the eye. "Yeah, he took her. Said that she was supposed to wait for him to get out of the joint, and when he found out that she was messing around with one of these guys, he went postal. Said if he couldn't have her, nobody would."
Happy cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the ball of rage that was sitting there choking him. "There was blood by her bike."
Tommy nodded, shifting his focus to Happy. "Yeah, she had stitches? He broke them open when he kicked her."
Happy gave a short nod, his blood boiling at the thought of Gino causing Tiki pain. Jimmy sighed and shook his head. "You knew what would happen, Tommy. I was clear that Theresa was to be left alone."
Tommy swallowed hard and shook his head. "It wasn't our fault, boss! This was all Gino!"
Jimmy tilted his head and looked at his two men, now cowering in front of him. "You helped him, both of you, knowing how I felt about the matter."
Happy shook his head, tired of hearing the Italians duke it out. "I need a location."
Tommy looked at Happy with fear in his eyes and nodded. "There's an old munitions plant on Rt. 42. Gino likes to use it because it's isolated."
Jimmy turned to Happy and grabbed his arm before he could go to his bike. "You find Theresa, take care of Gino." He tilted his head at the other two men. "These two won't be an issue."
