The remainder of Amateur Night quickly fell into a routine.
While the DJ didn’t tell the crowd whether the dancer was an amateur or not, it was painfully obvious to the audience. Some of the girls were too scared to do any actual stripping, and they just danced on stage without removing any clothing. A few actually did strip, but their bodies didn’t inspire much tipping from the crowd. Most received polite applause and a little encouragement, but few dollar bills. It was clear that most of them just wanted a story to tell.
None of them got the crowd response that Crystal received.
Tim was getting worried because Crystal hadn’t reappeared after taking her turn on stage. He kept looking around the club, trying to locate her, but without any success.
Despite himself, he kept glancing toward the row of chairs where most guys were getting their lap dances. He sincerely hoped he wouldn’t find her over in that area…he wasn’t sure if he was ready to see his wife give another man a lap dance.
He’d just finished his drink when a strong hand descended on his shoulder. “Is your name Tim?” the man asked.
Since his t-shirt said ‘Staff,’ Tim replied, “Yes,” a bit too loudly.
The man nodded. “Will you follow me?”
It wasn’t a request, and he left the table without checking to see if Tim followed or not. He obediently scrambled to his feet, and followed the security guard through a set of doors, past the kitchen, and into a large office.
“Wait here,” the man said, and moved over to stand near the doorway.
Tim obediently slid into a chair, and covertly surveyed him. He was large, at least 6’4”, heavily muscled, and looked Hispanic. Tattoos adorned his arms, and ran up beneath his t-shirt sleeves. His expression held a careful, serious look, and his eyes never stopped scanning his environment. The dark, well-trimmed goatee gave him a menacing look; combined with his muscles, Tim resolved to stay on his good side.
A few seconds later, he heard Crystal’s voice, and stood up expectantly. She entered, laughing, on an older man’s arm. She’d changed back into her street clothes, and he felt a cool surge of relief. Thank God! No more dancing tonight.
When she saw Tim, she rushed over and hugged him. “Oh, baby!” she exclaimed. “How’d I do?”
“Great,” he croaked. “You were amazing, honey.”
She hugged him again, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she gushed. “I had so much fun, and the crowd seemed to like me.”
Tim laughed. “Like you?”
“They didn’t just like you, Crystal,” the older man interjected as he moved behind his desk. “They loved you. You were an instant hit.”
Crystal beamed. “Thank you, Joe.” She kissed Tim’s cheek again.
When he flashed her a questioning glance, her smile wavered into embarrassment. “Sorry. Joe, this is my husband, Tim,” she explained, and motioned at Joe. “Tim, this is the club manager, Joe.”
The two men shook hands; then Joe motioned for them to sit. He was tall, at least 6’3”, but heavyset and balding. His blue eyes were watery, and they were framed with deep wrinkles. He nodded to the club’s bodyguard, and Tim heard the door shut quietly.
“Well, Crystal, tonight was surprising,” he started with a big smile. “As I mentioned before, most amateur nights are boring. But not tonight. You really rocked the crowd.”
“Thank you, Joe,” she exclaimed, barely containing her excitement. “It was fun, and Raven gave me a lot of tips before I went out on stage.”
“She did, huh?” he asked, and she nodded. “Well, Raven is one of our best dancers, and she’s also a good person to learn from, if you’re serious about becoming a dancer.” He studied Crystal carefully.
“I’m completely serious, Joe,” she quickly replied. “Tim and I have discussed it, and I want to give this a try.”
Joe looked over at Tim. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, Tim? You seem kind of tense to me.”
Tim was slow to respond. Finally he replied, “Honestly, I’m uncomfortable with Crystal stripping. But it’s something that she really wants, and this club seems like a good, safe place for her to dance.”
Joe considered him for a moment, then nodded. “Good.” He dug in his desk, and pulled out some paperwork. “Crystal, I need you to complete these forms before you can start dancing. It’s all self-explanatory, but the bottom line is that you’re not an employee. You’re an independent contractor, so you won’t receive any benefits, or be eligible for Worker’s Compensation. It’s important you understand that before you start.”
He handed her a pen. She signed the papers so quickly that Tim doubted if she even read them. “I understand, Joe,” she agreed, and slid the papers back to him.
“Excellent.” He set them aside, then leaned forward. “Now, let me tell you what’s not in the paperwork,” he said seriously. “Just listen for now, and I’ll answer your questions at the end.
“No drugs in the club, or even in the parking lot. I don’t care if you have cancer and you smoke weed for the pain. No fucking drugs in the club or in the parking lot.
“No sex of any kind,” he continued firmly. “This is a strip club, not a brothel. If I, or one of the staff, catches you performing any kind of sex act on a customer, you’ll be fired on the spot. No questions, no explanations, and no fucking excuses.”
Crystal and Tim soberly nodded.
“No fighting. At all,” he added, shaking his head. “I don’t care if it’s that time of the month. I don’t care if another dancer stole your best customer. I don’t care if another dancer is sleeping with your husband. There is no fucking fighting in this club or in the parking lot.
“No weapons. Ever. For any reason,” he continued firmly. “I don’t care if you have a concealed carry license. If I find a gun, a knife, or a fucking letter-opener, you’ll be fired immediately.
“Don’t come to work if you’re fucked up.” He motioned toward the door. “I know the girls will drink while they sit with customers, and that’s fine. But no one gets drunk unless they change into street clothes first, and then they become a customer. I don’t care what you take outside this club, but when you step foot in my door, you’d better be able to work.”
Then he relaxed, and leaned back in his chair with a smile. “The last few items are simple…have fun, be safe, and make us all some money.”
Tim and Crystal exchanged glances. She was beaming with excitement. Tim managed to force a wan smile. She squeezed his hand, then turned back to Joe. “Okay, so what’s next?”
“What’s next is, you get with Jolene and she’ll set up a schedule for you,” he replied. “We need you to stick to that schedule as much as possible. If we’re short-handed, Jolene will call to see if you can work on other nights, but that will be up to you.”
She took a deep breath. “Great. Where is Jolene located?”
“She’s at the front desk,” he replied, and extended his hand. “Welcome aboard.”
They both shook his hand, and headed for the door. But his last sentence stopped them before they reached it.
“Sorry…one last thing. Tim, I realize you’re Crystal’s husband, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t come to watch her dance.”
His eyebrows rose. “What?”
“Sorry, but we’ve had problems with boyfriends and husbands in the past, and I’ve fired more than a few dancers because their ‘significant other’ wouldn’t behave,” Joe lied smoothly. “You’re obviously uncomfortable with Crystal dancing. I want you to take several weeks and get used to the idea before you visit the club.”
“I don’t know…”
Joe held out both hands in a placating gesture. “Listen, I’m not saying you can never come around,” he promised. “I’m simply saying that I’d like you to give it a few weeks. Then if you want to stop by when Crystal is dancing, that’s fine. Just don’t plan on staying, okay?
“Besides,” he continued smoothly when Tim didn’t respond, “Raven is here, and she’ll look out for Crystal. So will I.”
Tim hesitated for another long moment. He wanted to protest again—but Crystal was smiling encouragingly at him, and anything he said would make him look like a jealous fool. Finally he lifted both shoulders in a defeated shrug. “Just a few weeks, and then I can come back?”
“Absolutely,” Joe nodded. “The first round’s on me…in a few weeks.”
He’d lost, and he knew it. “Okay,” he sighed.
Crystal leapt into his arms, and hugged him. “Thank you, baby,” she whispered, and kissed his cheek. “Let’s go find Jolene. Everything will be fine. I promise.”
Joe watched the young couple leave his office, then sat back down behind his desk. An expensive bottle of perfectly aged Scotch was in his lower desk drawer; the wholesaler who supplied the club with liquor had given it to him as a gift. Of course, the free lap dances—and sometimes a whole lot more, whenever he stopped in—enhanced his generosity.
Joe poured himself two fingers, and sipped the amber liquor in a warm glow of satisfaction. Part of the business, he mused…and it does have its perks.
A sudden sharp knock on the door startled him, and the Scotch sloshed onto his pants. He muttered a curse as he carefully set the glass down, licked the beads of liquor off his hands, and rose to wipe his slacks dry. “Come in!” he snapped.
His nerves jumped even more when Rowdy and Shane filled the doorway. Fuck me, he thought, they’re both here?
“What happened, Joe?” Rowdy mocked, walking over to his desk. “Wasn’t she able to swallow it all?”
Shane moved to one side, and leaned against the wall. That was typical of them, he knew; it allowed them to keep the whole room in view.
Shane didn’t smile at Rowdy’s joke; his face was totally expressionless. Joe’s nerves tightened even more. “No, damn it,” he snapped, and dropped the cloth. “You fucking startled me, you asshole.”
“Why so jumpy, Joe?” The suppressed violence in Rowdy’s eyes belied his light tone.
“I’m not jumpy, Rowdy. I was just lost in thought.”
Rowdy maintained eye contact with him for a full minute before responding, “Good. It’s bad for business when the club manager is jumpy.” He dropped carelessly into the chair Tim had vacated, and picked up the snow globe Joe used as a paperweight. “So, everything okay with our girl?” He watched as white flecks swirled through the shaken liquid.
Joe settled back down in his own chair, and cautiously smiled. “Yes. She signed the paperwork, and she’s talking with Jolene right now about a schedule. We’re all set.”
“Excellent,” Rowdy drew the word out slowly. “And her husband?”
“I told him he needed to give it several weeks before he came back and watched her dance. He wasn’t happy about it, but he agreed,” Joe replied. “I offered to buy him a drink when he finally does come back.” He glanced between the two bikers. “Why was it important that he stay away for the first few weeks?”
Rowdy looked back at Shane, who nodded and locked Joe’s office door. Then he sat down in the adjoining chair.
Joe cocked an eyebrow, and watched them carefully. He’d known them for years, and had just recently heard that Shane was back with the club. He only knew what the rumor mill had to say about the club, but he suspected he was going to learn a lot more tonight.
Shane took the lead. “Joe, the club needs your help.”
“What can I do for you, Shane?” he answered promptly.
“We need to make sure Crystal stays happy with stripping. She’s important to the club right now,” Shane explained. “Her husband may be an obstacle, and we want him to stay away.” When he saw the dubious look on Joe’s face, he added, “At least for now, anyway. Obviously he’ll want to come see her dance, but in the beginning we want Raven to be her primary influence.”
“Ahh. I see. Is she someone’s old lady? Or about to be?” he amended, remembering that she was already married.
“No.” Shane shook his head. “But she’s still important. I want you, and everyone else connected to this club, to treat her as if she was someone’s old lady. Understood?”
“Sure, Shane,” Joe agreed. “I’ll put the word out.”
“Thanks, Joey-boy. We appreciate it.”
Joe looked down at the glass of Scotch still sitting on his desk. He debated for a moment, then decided he needed more information. His position at the club required it, especially if he was going to keep the cops away from his place.
“Shane,” he began slowly. “I can’t have any problems here.”
Shane understood what he was implying, and it was one of the reasons he liked dealing with him. “You won’t, Joe. Crystal is not going to cause any trouble, and neither are the Blades.” Rowdy mirrored his solemn nod. “We’ll make sure she isn’t a problem, and Raven will also keep an eye on her.”
Joe exhaled slowly, quietly. “Thank you, Shane,” he said before lifting his glass and taking a sip.
“Joe,” Shane added after he’d set the glass back down, “it’s important to the club that Crystal be a successful stripper here. Anything you can do to support us will be appreciated, and it won’t be forgotten.” He took an envelope from inside his jacket, and slid it across the desk.
“You’ll get one of those each month as long as everything goes smoothly, and you keep us informed about Crystal,” Rowdy explained. “If there are any issues, you call Shane or me immediately.”
Joe didn’t like the idea of ‘issues’ with Crystal, but he liked the look in Rowdy’s eyes even less. Since the envelope looked pleasantly thick, he decided to trust the club. He also trusted Shane to keep a lid on things. Rowdy, he felt, was less reliable, as he enjoyed spontaneous violence a little too much. “Sure, guys,” he agreed, and casually smiled. “Between Raven and me, we’ll keep an eye on Crystal, and I’ll stay in touch with you.”
“Good,” Shane said with a tight smile. He exchanged a wordless glance with Rowdy; then they both stood up and shook hands with Joe. A few seconds later they were gone, and Joe sat back down behind his desk.
He let out a long sigh, and reached for the envelope. “Damn,” he muttered to himself as he counted the bills. “One of these each month?”
Crystal is going to be extremely happy here, he thought to himself as he slowly flipped through the $100 bills. So happy she’ll never want to leave!
Tim drove carefully through the night, switching on his high beams as often as possible. This stretch of road was lightly populated, so it was extremely dark, and deer seemed to love eating alongside the roadway at night. Their Honda was likely to sustain more damage than the deer if there was an accident.
“Honey, thank you so much for tonight. I married the best guy in the world!” Crystal exclaimed for the tenth time.
“You’re welcome, Crystal,” he said for the eleventh time. “I’m happy that you’re happy, baby.”
That earned him another kiss on the cheek, and she clapped her hands excitedly.
They’d left the club shortly after Crystal had gotten her schedule straight with Jolene, and she’d been assigned the locker next to Raven’s. Joe had come out of his office to congratulate her again, and remind Tim that he needed to wait at least three weeks before returning to watch his wife. He was fine with Tim dropping her off or picking her up, but he didn’t want him to set foot inside the club.
Raven, Crystal’s new best friend, had also been there. Between Joe and her, they’d assured him, they’d take care of Crystal.
Joe had even given Tim his card. “Call me anytime you get nervous, buddy.”
Buddy? Like we’re best friends now or something.
He looked over at Crystal. “So your schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights?”
“Yep,” she said brightly. “But they may ask me to work on other nights, if someone doesn’t show up.”
“What are you going to do about your job at the restaurant?”
Crystal shrugged. “I’m going to request a schedule change to Sunday through Wednesday.”
“Think they’ll be okay with that?”
She nodded confidently. “I think so. I’ve worked there since high school, and they’ve always been flexible.”
“Cool.” But though he was outwardly pleased, Tim felt uneasy. She was right…the restaurant owners loved her, and they’d probably accommodate any schedule she wanted. They were an older couple, and considered Crystal the daughter they’d never had, so she always received special treatment.
“Well, I can drive you to the club, and pick you up after you’re done,” he said. “I need to spend more time at the University, anyway, and they’re open late.”
Crystal sighed, and frustration colored her voice. “Tim, I have my own car. You can relax anytime now. Besides, I’m not done at the club until 2:00 am, and I’m sure the university isn’t open that late…” She turned in her seat, and narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not a child.”
“I know you’re not, Crystal,” he said gently. “But I worry about you. I know you’ll be safe leaving the club, but you’ll be driving home alone. Late at night.”
That mollified her, and she ran her fingers through his hair. “I’ll be okay, I promise,” she said softly. “Besides, Raven said there’s a hotel close to the club, and Joe’s worked out a discount for the dancers. There’s also a hotel right on the highway, on my way home. So if I’m too tired to drive home, I’ll just grab a room for the night.”
“Okay,” Tim said, defeated. “Just please make sure you call or text me.”
“Of course,” she replied. “I love that you care about me so much, Tim, but please relax. Everything’s going to be fine. I’ll do this for a while, and then it will be over. It’ll help us pay your tuition…and once you graduate and get your CPA license, I’ll be a good little stay-at-home wife. I’ll pop out some babies for us, and support my husband’s career.”
Tim laughed weakly. “Okay, Crystal.”
They drove in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts, content to listen to the radio as the highway slid underneath them. But a casual observer would have been confused at the difference in their expressions. Tim was wearing a slight frown, and kept gripping the steering wheel tightly as he drove. Crystal, on the other hand, wore a satisfied smile, and her expression was relaxed and happy.
Tim sensed the difference in their moods, but didn’t know what to do about it. He acknowledged that Crystal was a good dancer, and she obviously enjoyed it. She’d also received a huge amount of applause tonight, and a surprising amount of money. He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but it definitely indicated she’d be a popular stripper.
Grudgingly he accepted that the club manager and an experienced dancer would look after her. Shane and Rowdy had also agreed to check in on her before they left…and since they knew the manager, he gradually felt more and more comfortable that she’d be fine.
As the Honda sped through the night, he resolved to study even harder, and increase his class schedule so he’d graduate early. Then Crystal would stop stripping, and hopefully starting a family would be the next order of business.
He finally smiled as he imagined them in their own home, with kids laughing and running through the house. It was a great future, and he was determined to make it happen for both of them.
Crystal won’t be a stripper for very long. It’ll be over soon.
The Lone Star Blades’ clubhouse was loud and hopping. Friday night had finally arrived, and most of the club members had come out to blow off some steam. The jukebox was turned up full blast, and classic rock was fighting it out with modern rock for the most playing time. Loud whoops and ‘yee haa’s’ punctuated the loud music, as the club members consumed large amounts of alcohol, and got serious about the business of partying…hard.
Upstairs was completely different. All the doors were shut, and the music blaring downstairs was barely noticeable. Coke had resumed his position outside the conference room door. Even though the bar was full of club members, and they had folks watching the street, he was still heavily armed. The meeting taking place in the conference room was that important.
“So where are we?” the club president asked as he sat down and sipped his bourbon.
Shane downed a shot of whiskey, and smiled at Lobo. “On track, boss.”
Lobo returned his steady gaze. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Shane sighed softly, because he didn’t really like discussing details with anyone but Rowdy, but he didn’t have much of a choice in this case. Lobo deserved to know everything. “We’ve got the trucks and the supplies for the first batch of product,” he said. “I expect to have a finished product, ready to deliver, in about three to five days.”
Lobo nodded his approval. “Good. This batch is for our new clients, right?”
“Yes. Rowdy and I have made contact with several new buyers, and they’re interested in trying our product. After our first free shipment, I’m confident they’ll want to buy from us. Since we’re doing our own manufacturing and distribution, we can offer it to them at a reduced price, so they’re definitely interested.
“Raven has been making deliveries to our existing clients, and they’re extremely happy with our product, and our payment and delivery system. As you know, boss, we only have a few existing customers, so we’re focused on aggressively expanding our operations and customer base.”
Lobo looked unhappy. “Still thinking of giving the first batch away for free?”
Rowdy laughed aloud, and both Shane and Lobo glared at him. “Boss, you should have seen their faces when Shane told them the first shipment was free,” Rowdy crowed. “You’d have thought he was fucking Santa Claus.”
The club president glanced back at Shane, who rolled his eyes before explaining. “Don’t worry, chief, I explained that the first shipment was going to be smaller, and only intended to give them a chance to try our product. Based on how it’s gone so far…yes, I think giving the first shipment away for free is a sound investment. Only the first batch is free, boss.”
“Good,” Lobo said heatedly. “This is a fucking for-profit enterprise.”
Shane nodded, and replied, “I agree. But this part is important, and it will help us down the line. We’re already making more money than we expected with our existing clients.”
Lobo looked confused. “How’s it help us to give shit away for free?”
“Just hear me out,” Shane said, and held up his hands, motioning for patience. “Prison is a great place to learn new things.” He flashed both men a rueful grin. “The majority of drug operations are busted when the buyer and seller come together. As a matter of fact, law enforcement agencies frequently wait to see if they can get the buyer and the seller together before they make an arrest. It’s a great way to cripple both organizations.”
“Yeah, I got that, Shane,” Lobo said sourly. “That’s 101 shit.”
“Our plan all along has been to separate the cash and the product. Simply put, our clients will pay for the product first. There’s no law against delivering large amounts of cash, so that part of the operation is less risky for everyone.”
The club president nodded, and motioned for him to continue.
“Once we receive payment, we’ll make the delivery at random times, and we’ll mix up the delivery locations. Basically, we’ll control when and where the product is delivered. Now our customers aren’t going to like paying for something and then waiting for the product. That’s why I’m giving them the first shipment for free. I want to build up some goodwill, and show them our product is way better than what they’re buying now. I’ll explain our methodology, and I’m sure they’ll agree. Worst case, I’ll have one of our current clients give them a call and vouch for us.”
“Nice,” Lobo said approvingly.
“Boss,” Shane added quietly, “when I say ‘we,’ I mean Rowdy and me. No one else can be involved in this part of the operation. Not even you.”
Lobo’s eyes widened, and his voice rose in outraged fury. “What? You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me! I’m the mother-fuckin’ president of this outfit, and you want to cut me out of the most profitable operation we’ll have going?”
“Chief,” Rowdy said respectfully, “just listen to Shane.”
He shot Rowdy a glare that could have melted solid steel, then rapped out, “Okay, hotshot. Talk.”
“First,” Shane assured him, “I’m not going to cut you out of anything. I understand that you have to negotiate and deal with other organizations. Rowdy and I will still report to you regularly on how things are going. No one is going to hold anything back from you.”
“You’re damn right,” Lobo replied forcefully.
Shane nodded his agreement. “I’m just saying that the specific details of what’s delivered, where it’s delivered, and when it’s delivered is something only Rowdy and I can know.”
The club president sat back and studied him intently.
“Chief,” Rowdy said quietly, leaning forward, “it’s the right way to handle this part of our organization.”
“You’re sure of that, Rowdy?”
“What’s going on downstairs, boss?” he retorted.
“A party,” Lobo retorted, and then added, “The club deserves it.”
“I agree, but that doesn’t change the fact that we have over thirty guys down there getting drunk, or high, or both,” Rowdy pointed out. “We also have old ladies, biker groupies, girlfriends, and strippers down there with our guys. Any one of them might spill something about our operation if we don’t hold this close. You want to risk some biker groupie or stripper finding out about our Meth operation?”
The club president sighed loudly, and held his hands up in defeat. “Okay. You have a good point.”
“Thanks, boss.”
“You’re welcome,” he grumbled, then leaned forward and pointed at them. “But I want you to report to me regularly on how things are going. Got it?”
“Absolutely,” Shane and Rowdy agreed in unison.
“I can’t afford to learn about things secondhand. It has the potential to put other parts of this organization at risk.”
Shane nodded again. “We get it, boss. I do have a question about the Mexicans, though.”
“Oh, yeah?” Lobo asked. “What’s your question?”
Shane met his eyes, and replied seriously, “When are they going to hit us?”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Shane?”
“Boss, the Blades are going to be taking over their territory, at least where Meth is concerned. It’s their most profitable fucking drug. I know damn well they’re not just going to sit back and do nothing.”
Lobo eyed Shane with growing respect. “You’re right. I’m handling that right now, and that’s why I need to be in the loop with the Meth operation. We’ll talk about the Mexicans later. You just focus on getting us up and running.”
“Sure thing.”
“Now you wanna tell me about your mules?” Lobo continued. “Or is that too sensitive?”
Shane smiled, and Rowdy laughed. “No. That’s fine, Chief, and we were going to tell you tonight, anyway,” Shane said, and winked at his partner. “Raven’s not a mule, but she’s been helping us out. We know her, she knows us, and we can trust her.”
The club president nodded. “You’re not using Raven long-term, though, are you?”
“No. We found the perfect mule. She’s married to a civilian, and she just started as a stripper down in San Antonio. Incidentally,” Shane added, “San Antonio is going to be our primary hub to south and central Texas. We can access Houston, Austin, El Paso, and most of the border cities from San Antonio.”
Lobo grunted. “She’s dancing at Joe’s place?”
Rowdy nodded, and took over the conversation. “Yeah. You should have seen her first dance, boss. Damn, she’s hot, and she drove the crowd crazy!”
“Business, Rowdy.”
“Sorry,” he said quickly. “Shane and I are going to give her some time to get settled in as a stripper, and then ask her to start making deliveries.”
“Wait, you’re going to just ask her?”
“Well, we have some leverage,” he said, and grinned. “Shane was fucking her on the side, and her husband liked to watch his wife get fucked. The little dude jacked off while Shane fucked the shit out of her.” He laughed again. “It’s hilarious. They’re both a couple of closet freaks. Well, her husband is, anyway. She’s a freak in and out of the closet!”
When the club president didn’t respond, or even smile, he got the message, and continued more seriously, “We’ll offer her some money for each delivery, too, boss.”
Lobo looked at Shane, who just shrugged. “What if she says no?”
“She won’t,” Shane answered confidently. “For a few reasons. First, she’ll do whatever I ask her to do. We’re not seeing each other anymore, but she still hangs on everything I say. Second, she needs the money. They both need the money. Third, I’m going to have Raven put the hook in her. The girl really likes to get high, so it won’t be long before she’ll do anything we ask. In terms of a timeframe, I’m thinking three months, maybe four, before we have her delivering full-time for us.”
The club president looked at Shane coolly for a few minutes, then shook his head. “I still don’t see how using mules who are hooked on the product is a sound strategy, Shane. Especially a married one.”
“Boss, using mules is a risk, no matter how you slice it,” he replied. “Actually, it’s the biggest risk in our operation. In this case, however, using a civilian who isn’t connected to the club helps add a layer of security.
“As far as her marriage is concerned, her husband works during the day, and goes to school at night, so it’s likely he won’t even realize what she’s doing. I’ll make sure she doesn’t say anything to him, too. She’s a stripper in San Antonio, so she has a reason for making regular trips to the city, and a Honda Civic is a lot less conspicuous than a Harley.”
“Yeah, but that drug shit takes over eventually, Shane,” Lobo argued, shaking his head. “You know that better than anyone.”
“True, but if we’re careful, we can use her for a long time. Raven will monitor her at the club, and I’ll be her source for product, so we should have plenty of warning if she becomes a problem,” he said, and glanced over at his partner before continuing. “We’re also going to start recruiting other mules so we’re not dependent on any single one. Soon we’ll have mules that can deliver directly to Austin, Houston, and Dallas. It’s a risk, but it’s the best and safest way to deliver our product. Rowdy and I will handle any problems with the mules, boss.”
“And her husband? What about him?”
Shane stared back at the club president for a long moment before answering, “Like I said, we’ll handle any problems with the mules.”
His resolute look reassured Lobo, and he nodded approvingly. “Protect the club, Shane.”
“Always, boss.”