“Settle down.” I slam the gavel against the table and everyone shuts up. I’m guessing Sway bangs this thing a lot around here.

Not to be a dick, but Sway’s club is into a lot of things Rock, Wrath, and I decided our charter wouldn’t touch a long time ago. Petty bullshit that causes a lot of stress, risks arrest, and doesn’t bring in enough cash to be worth the trouble.

Sparky set Sway up with a small pot farm for personal use a while back. I haven’t floated the idea of expanding into a business yet for three reasons. One, I don’t want to introduce too much change into this club too soon. Two, I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying to turn their club into a copycat of upstate. Three, while lucrative, growing marijuana for sale and profit isn’t easy. Sparky is a one-of-a-kind individual. I haven’t decided if anyone here is smart or dedicated enough to make it work.

So, for now, I listen to a report from Suds on the coin-operated laundry the club runs. It’s the perfect cash business to launder the money they make from running guns out to Stump’s club and beyond. Can’t say I’m thrilled to now be overseeing this since gun-running’s another thing my charter extracted itself from years ago. Call me a pussy, but doing hard time isn’t how this biker wants to spend his days.

Honestly, there are plenty of enterprises I’d rather not dirty my hands with. I enjoy my freedom way too much.

Next up, the pawn shop downtown. It’s really a front to move stolen goods. More petty bullshit and scrutiny from law enforcement. No wonder this charter has been struggling lately.

To say I’m unimpressed now that I’ve gotten a peek behind downstate’s curtain is an understatement. I’ve had my suspicions—we all have. But for the most part, each club is allowed to operate the way the members choose. As long as it doesn’t reflect badly on the whole organization. Human trafficking is the only way to earn that’s completely off the table for all charters. As it should be. Anyone earning that way deserves a bullet to the head.

Where Sway’s been hoping to turn a legitimate profit is his porn production company. My ex, Stella, is a big part of that plan, obviously. Turns out with Sway in the hospital, no one has a lot of information to share.

“He keeps details about her to himself,” Shadow explains with a dirty eyebrow wiggle.

Hustler raises his hand. “I have some monthly membership figures.”

Well, at least the treasurer has something useful.

“Good. What are we looking at?”