GGS: Good Gaelic Souls A Biker Saga (G.G.S) (29 page)

"Did you know that there are three stripper poles in the Ballroom?" Lee asked Samson. "I knew we were gonna have them," he answered, "But I didn't know that they were already installed." Serenity winked at Samson, "They're up alright, we couldn't see them when we first got here because of all the mattresses, but just so you know, at least two of them are in good working order." Playfully getting up from her chair, she did a sexy little dance on her way to the bar for a refill. "Good grief," said Samson, "She's gonna lose her goddam mind when we get the poles installed down here." He looked over at Lee and explained, "There's supposed to be eight of them in this bar." Lee rolled her eyes and flashed her dimples, "Have mercy! We're gonna have to put her down when that happens."

Light and amusing conversations were going on throughout the Castle, and Strangler was want to let it continue through the night. However, new information was available and it was his displeasure to be the one to share it. He had Samson send out a mass text, '
Cruinniú in 30
', and went to refill his drink. Motioning to the Officer's to follow him, they headed back to the office. While everyone were taking their seats, he went to the safe and pulled out several bags of party favors. Dropping the lot of them in the center of the table, he said, "Drop, Chop and Roll," and took his own seat. "We are going to keep this short and sweet, this could very well be our last night of peace. We may have more time and we may not, but either way, tonight we will party and celebrate our freedom together." Adding, "If they so choose, of course."

Samson spoke up, "Sounds like a plan, just one question. What about the provisions still in the trucks? If everyone wakes up tomorrow feeling like shit, they'll be slow and sluggish all day." Having already given this point some thought, Strangler answered, "True, but if they have a party waiting for them tonight, they will be happy to jump up after the meeting and get it done in double time. They are already tired, so they probably won't feel like playing all night. If the sun comes up on another quiet morning, they can sleep in. Right now, it's still early and we can get the work done and the party started early. As far as the threat, I'm thinking that after losing their Wave Leaders last night, it might take them at least a couple of days to regroup. We will continue to keep watch for activity overhead that would alert us to the fact that they have found us. But as long as it's quiet, we should allow them to relax and unwind. Agreed?"

"Aye." The Officers replied. Turning his attention to the Trio, his face stern and his voice strong, it was his turn now. He had allowed them their say today, and they had made it quiet clear what they wanted him to do. He was willing to give them the answer that they had been hoping for, but it wasn't going to come cheap. These old fucks liked having the upper hand, and they took great pleasure in keeping their little secrets, blindsiding you with their revealations. It was both a power play and a source of amusement for them. He respected that, but fun time was about to be over, and he was not going to wait until they decided to share, he was going to demand it.

"I want the blueprints to the Castle," he said bluntly. "Not the ones that you've shown everyone else, I want
your
blueprints." His voice became firm and authoritative as he continued, "Blueprints to both to the Castle and the grounds.
All of the grounds
mind you, including anything and everything which might be
underground
.  I know that the original four has secrets, and secret places all over this property, like the chopper clearings you spoke of today. I also know that Slider has installed another elevator somewhere and some hidden passageways. I have a suspicion that even the workers might not have been aware, or maybe you hired laborers from out of state that didn't know what or for what purpose they were building. The four of you are a pack of sly foxes, and I respect that, but I am certain that there is much here that is not what it seems."

By the looks on their faces, he knew that he had hit a home run, and he continued on,  "If you expect me to lead in the fashion that you so eloquently requested this morning, I must be aware of
every
tool at my disposal. How tragic would it be, if the three of you were lost to us early on, and because I wasn't privy to
your
knowledge, our people died when I could have saved them? Tomorrow, we will sit here and you will share the secrets of this property and your emergency plans, until I have them seared into my brain. Once that is done, you have my word that Stax and I, will remain inside these walls and out of harms way. But that is the
only
way that I will honor your request." He glanced over at Stax and back at the Trio, he knew better than to say this, but it was his turn to drive home his point and nothing less would work, "And before you make your decision, you need to be aware that your precious lass over there has already informed me that she doesn't give a shit
what you want her to do
, she has every intention to join in the physical fight to protect Slider's legacy, to her own death if necessary. So if the three of you want that I should
control
this woman, and keep her out of harms way, you need to show me where the hidden chamber is that I am going to need to cage her in. Agreed?"

The Trio sat quietly, eyeing this man that Slider had insisted on as his V.P., his successor. Each one silently thinking the same basic thoughts as the others. They had to admit that although they had agreed that he would be a good President, they weren't as convinced as Slider was that come hard times like this, he would be completely up to the task. Their issue was that he lacked a military background. Apparently, ol' Slider could see a little further inside the man than the three of them combined. Maybe that was because they were so protective of Stax. They truely felt that no man that walked this earth would ever be able to earn the right to stand by her side, long term anyway. They had not expected this, not so early in the game, and certainly not as an ultimatum. In all fairness, they had planned to share their knowledge, as situations arose that demanded a reveal, if and when that time came at all.

They looked over at Stax, each one searching her face, trying to read her thoughts. She was looking at Strangler through dark eyes, the rest of her face held no expression, but her body language told them that she was tense, rigid and pissed the fuck off. Did he just sell her out to get what he wanted? Was she pissed because he told of her intentions to make a physical stand despite their wishes?  Or was she simply angry for the the way he used words like 'control' and 'cage this woman'?  That could set her off like a roman candle any day of the week, so maybe that was it. Either way, it couldn't be a bluff, using Stax as his 'ace in the hole' wouldn't work if it wasn't true. She would have called him out and showed her arse like a good little Gael. Nay, she hadn't said a word, so it couldn't be a bluff.

She was her father's daughter inside and out, his hot tempered blood ran thick through her veins. They knew how she was raised, how she thought, and how she reacted to pretty much everything. She would need to be kept safe, and in the heat of battle they would have their hands full. They needed Strangler to work with them on this, nobody else would be as effective. Nay, this was a game changer for sure. Damn it to hell. As the threat level kept rising, it was her safety that was their utmost concern. In the many discussions amongst themselves of late, regarding exactly how to accomplish that, Strangler was the only solid possibility that they had. They all loved her like a father and they all had promised Slider when she was small, that no matter what life threw at them, in his abence, they would protect her at all cost. Any one of them would willingly light the match that would burn this entire compound to the ground, if it meant saving Slider's daughter. Strangler had them by the short-hairs and they knew it. If this was what they had to do to keep her safe, it must be done. One quick glance between the three of them and together they spoke, "
Aye
,
Agreed brother."

"I'll see you all back here in the morning then, but for now, let's go share the knowledge." Strangler stated, looking at his watch. Standing up, he pushed his chair in and walked out without looking at anyone. Stax said nothing as they all walked back into the Bar Room, she remained distant and cold. She didn't even go to the bar for a fresh drink, and this was never a good sign. Poor Strangler had so much on his mind
and
it was time to address the club, so there was no chance for him to speak with her and explain his actions. There would be hell to pay later and he knew it, the longer she stewed the worse the altercation. The Officers weren't the only ones that could see how pissed she was. But for now, like the rest of them, she took her place and focused on the business at hand. One couldn't help but notice that the whole time he was speaking, she was giving him the evil eye and tapping her foot under the table. Strangler could tell that he was in for a rough night. Samson and Twitch felt true sympathy for their over-burdened leader, and even the Trio felt a sense of pity for the man.

Once again, their Prez gave them a complete update, beginning with Slacker's condition. This was the good news, he informed them, before sharing the Sheriffs information. He ended this cruinniú by tossing the baggies on the table and letting the bikers decide if they wanted to rest this evening, or unload the trucks now and finish the night off in the Ballroom with a club party. Otherwise, they would need to be up and ready at sunrise to unload. Unanamously, they chose to kick ass on the trucks and get the party underway as quickly as possible. Strangler advised the guards to change over every two hours, so that everyone would be able to enjoy the evening. When it was over, Della went to prepare the evenings party platters with the help of Serenity, Lee, and Mavis and everybody else went to work. The Officer's table was the last to disperse. The Trio went off together for a chat, Samson and Twitch went to supervise the unloading and Strangler went to the security room. Hoping that she wouldn't have to wait too long, Stax headed straight back to the office to wait for his return. When he arrived, she had every intention of being ready.

She didn't have to wait too long. Strangler wanted to get this over with and he knew it would probably be the worst fight they'd ever had. He had not only insulted her in front of the men that raised her, but also in front of her brothers. Stax would accept nothing less than being treated as his equal in this life. She would not accept and did not deserve being spoken of like an irresponsible child or a possession to be kept in a safe. The more thought he gave it on the way to the security room, the more convinced he was that he had just ended the most precious part of his life. He didn't even expect her to be there, she would have left him and went upstairs to her own private sanctuary. It was against her nature to overlook such blatant disrespect for her as a person.

When he was finished in the security room, he stopped at the bar to slam down a drink and gather his thoughts. Hell, he had never really been completely sure if Slider hadn't chosen him
because
of his relationship with his daughter, at the very least he knew that it was a factor.  Slamming down another, he walked back to his office. He fought the urge to duck when he opened the door, but to his dismay, she wasn't there. He had prepared himself to be ready for anything, thinking that she would either throw something at him or be sitting at the table strumming her fingernails waiting to unleash her fury. The office was empty. "Maybe she's packing her shit or pacing the floor of the bedroom." He thought as he made his way to the adjoining door.

When he found her, he couldn't believe his eyes, what the fuck was she doing now? This was too surreal for words. Stax was sitting on the bed, cross-legged, smoking a joint, completely naked. "Hey mister, doyawanna?" She asked sweetly, as he stood there trying to understand why she wasn't bouncing off the walls, chewing his ass and throwing shit at him. She got up, placed the weed in the ashtray, and held out her hand, but he didn't move. He didn't get what was going on, couldn't trust his own thoughts right now. He felt disoriented, a little dizzy and very confused.

He had come in here to defend himself against the anger and indignation of his beautiful, independent, hot headed woman. Instead, he was being seduced by his sensuous, sexy and naked soul mate. What the fuck? He just stood there waiting, for what exactly, he didn't have a clue. This was new ground for him, normally he could read her pretty well, but this was damn near scarey.

"Relax baby, I get it." she purred, "I got it the moment you said it, no offense taken. What you did worked and I'm good with it. You know me well enough to know that I was
thinking
along those lines even though I hadn't actually said it yet. We need those blueprints. You need all of the information that you can get, and after that shit they pulled today, you used the most effective weapon in your arsenal to get them,
Me
. It's the same thing they did to you today. You put it out there, trusting me to trust you. You were hoping that you could make me understand later and that I wouldn't show my ass while you were tongue lashing the Trio. Understood." She could tell that he was still unsure of her ultimate intention, so she elaborated further. "Baby, I put on the  'Oh shit, she's really pissed now' show for the Trio, lest they started to think that you were trying to play them. What you said made them come to terms with the fact that you are more than capable of taking care of this club and keeping us safe. Plus, it boosted your strength and leadership abilities in the eyes of your other Officer's. It was a win-win baby, and it's all good."