The next few days things kinda were normal. There wasn't a whole lot going on with the club, Nicky was taking some quality time with Elly, both were enjoying the company. They'd go off on his bike together and be gone for hours at a time, and both Jason and Lolly saw Elly coming out of her shell more. She was still a church mouse compared to Mireya, but she wasn't the quiet little girl in the corner anymore, even though she still did spend a fair bit of time reading.
Now that Nicky was out, it was time to move to the next phase of the plan. So far only Lolly and Jason and his parents knew about the agreement with the FBI, that's how Jason wanted to keep it. They had their weekly church meeting, Jason had his presentation for re-locating to Oregon all worked out and he figured the move would pass. Guys like Merc, Samson, Gunner and Nicky he knew would back him no matter what, he figured Remmy probably would too which was 5 guaranteed votes already. And he also knew the balance of power, if guys saw Nicky, Remmy, Merc, and Jason vote one way, unless there was a damn good reason, most guys would probably back them.
"Okay, so I've been thinking about this since I've gotten back...about Texas. Texas is busy, we got the Cartels from Mexico doing business around here, the street gangs in Dallas and San Antonio...and we know the Heathens or Rebels are probably going to try and get back into Texas at some point too. We moved from LA cause the heat was getting too much, the feds were all over our asses. Now in Texas, we don't got as much heat, but we got like 30 ways to die if you get my drift. We're mixed up with the drugs, and by extension the Cartels, so that's FBI and DEA jurisdiction. We've got our old suppliers interested in starting up business, meaning once the guns start moving again ATF will be looking at us...and there's rumors that even the fucking CIA is getting interested in the Mexican drug war, meaning our involvement with the Cartels could bring us into their cross-hairs too. Then the street gangs and other MC's...my point is there's a shit load of stuff going on and we've managed to put ourselves in the middle of all of it. My suggestion to the club is another re-location...north...to Portland, Oregon is a lot quieter, way less traffic, pretty much we got the pool to ourselves up there" Jason said. "When are you thinking of making this happen...if we vote it in?" Remmy asked. "We could start right away...slowly. Secure a clubhouse, make some scouting trips, stuff like that. Within a month or two we could be fully re-located and good to go. The other major factor to this...Oregon's got no Three Strike law, so we don't gotta worry about guys going away for 25 years if they get picked up" Jason said.
There were some murmurs as the members thought about it, it seemed like a lot of valid reasons, and Jason had his reputation backing him as well, guys tended to take Jason's plans as gold, even if they didn't understand it fully. Jason was about to call a vote when Nicky threw everything upside down. "I dunno how much research you've done bro...but Oregon's the last place we want to be moving. When I was inside, I met a guy from the Sons of Hell, during a conversation one time he mentioned Oregon. They may not have a Three Strikes law, but two years ago they brought in something they referred to as their Ride Free legislation. Any motorcycle club operating within Oregon has to apply for a state license, and to get approved for a state license every member of ther charter applying has to have a criminal record check done. If more than 25% of the members have had any felony charges within a two year span...the license is denied. And, if you're a charter with ties to a national or internation motorcycle club, if that club has felony charges, in 2 or more states...the license is denied". Jason listened to Nicky going on...essentially what he was doing was describing a grave yard for an Outlaw MC. "Now...if you are caught running a motorcycle club without a state license, the state has the legal right to seize ALL assets of the club, the club's leadership, President, VP, etc., all get arrested. Also, wearing the colors of a non licensed club is arrestable offense, with a sentence ranging from 30 days to 2 years. And this is all backed by the FBI's Organized Crime Taskforce. Sorry bro...but if my vote counts for anything...I vote no." Nicky said.
Jason didn't know what to think. He trusted Nicky's word, and if he was right, Oregon was suicide for any Outlaw MC. It also made him question Sears, was this all just a trick to get the club to Oregon, and if it was why did he sign off on Nicky getting released. He hated it, but the idea that Sears talked him into going back to the club and then bringing them to a death-trap for MC's was making more sense than the original story. But what did this do to the plan he had, the promises he had made to Lolly. "Alright...this is all news to me...so, sorry guys, I should have come up on this myself. We'll delay voting on this till we can get some more details and get something down pat. Until then...we're dismissed" Jason said as he brought the gavel down.
As they left Church Jason tapped Nicky on the shoulder "hey...let's do a beer run" he said, Nicky nodded. Ever since they could ride, they'd done "beer runs" together, essentially it was their code for hopping on their bikes, going for a long ride, finding a place to drink and talk about stuff...or nothing at all. Jason texted Lolly....
"To: Lolly
From: Jason
Going on a Beer Run with Nicky. Gotta sort shit out...Sears may be setting us up. Tell you everything when I get home"
With that, Jason and Nicky hopped on their bikes and took off. They rode for at least two hours, stopping once for gas, sometime later they passed by a small road-side bar, the exact types of places they looked for on these runs. They pulled in and walked inside, there was practically nobody inside, two guys who looked like construction workers, some fat Mexican guy who looked like he was passed out, and some older woman looked like she was dressed to entice some clients...although Jason had no clue how drunk somebody would have to be for that. Jason and Nicky ordered two beers and walked to a booth in the back.
"So this Oregon thing...it's legit?" Jason asked. "Yeah man, it's fucked up, but hey don't beat yourself up, it's not like they advertise this or anything. That's why the Sons of Hell left Oregon, and why...like you said...nobody's there. Where'd that come from anyway?" Nicky asked. Jason was quiet for a moment, "remember that fed, Sears?" Jason asked. "Ha, yeah, the fuck-head we left standing on the highway in LA...I remember that asshole...why?" Nicky said with a laugh. "About a month ago he found me in Malibu...he said he needed help, tracking down some international crime ring. He wanted me to get back into the club, as President, then they wanted to use us to get info on these guys. Offered us immunity...and...got you released early" Jason said. Nicky looked at him stunned. "I oughtta break this fucking bottle over your fucking head!" Nicky shouted. "Are you fucking kidding me? YOU of all people turned rat for the fucking feds??? Who the fuck are you?" Nicky said getting irate. "Call me a rat again and you better be ready to throw down" Jason snapped back. "Well you tell me what the fuck you are then?" Nicky countered, "LISTEN...I was going to turn him down till he mentioned you getting out..." Jason said, "Oh fuck that, don't make this about me..." Nicky cut him off, before being cut off himself. "Will you shut the fuck up for a second. Elly NEEDED you out of prison, I was working on a plan...just like last time...to fuck him over, I didn't have everything pinned down yet...but this shit you mentioned...he never mentioned any of that" Jason said. "That's cause he's FUCKING YOU OVER!" Nicky snapped. They were both quiet for a few moments, sipping their drinks. "I got lazy...I'd have seen this coming a mile away back in the day" Jason said quietly. "So if you don't play ball with him...I got back inside right?" Nicky said, "I'd imagine something like that" Jason replied. "They re-opened the investigation right?" Nicky said, as Jason nodded, "which means...now that I was able to get released...they'd have to charge me again, and there'd have to be another trial...or at least another hearing for that" Nicky said, Jason looked up "what are you getting at?" he asked. "What if their evidence disappears?" Nicky said throwing the question out into the air. Jason thought for a moment, neither one were lawyers, but they knew the law well enough. "They'd have to drop the charges...and you'd walk" Jason said, "now how the hell do you suggest we make that evidence disappear?" Jason asked, Nicky grinned "That's your job bro...you're the master mind" he said, "But you'd be able to cut ties with Sears" Nicky said. "Not yet though...Sears doesn't know I'm onto the Oregon thing...so he still has to play his end, meaning if we re-locate his deal still has to stand" Nicky nodded, but wasn't following, "He pretty much gave me a get out of jail free card, along with the FBI's credit card. What if we still re-locate...but we relocate BACK to LA?" Jason said. "As long as we were under the cover of this so-called mission...the FBI couldn't touch us" Nicky said with a grin, "Sears gets caught in his own game. He can't back out, cause if he does we could nail him for attempted entrapment, make it public he was channeling FBI funds to an Outlaw MC...and his career is over" Jason said grinning. "And as long as we keep up the facade of working with this crime ring, who may or may not exist...he's gotta keep us out of jail and keep signing the checks for us" Nicky said with a grin. "But...how do you bring this to the club without telling them the whole story?" Nicky asked. "I dunno yet...but we got time to figure that out." Jason said.
Jason and Nicky got back on their bikes, he sent another text to Lolly, telling her they'd be home in about 2 hours, still in time to say goodnight to the kids. As they rode Jason could only wonder how quickly he'd have to start dodging punches once he told Lolly the latest news.
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Jenni was hanging around the clubhouse, it was a pretty lazy night, just a couple guys around. Maddy came up to her, seemingly a lot more talkative to her than she usually was. Jenni was just a Mama, and so to Maddy that seemed to mean she was some sort of a lesser person...not to mention she was a porn actress on the side, something Maddy always seemed to look down on her for. But tonight she seemed a lot more friendly, so Jenni decided to just go with it. She asked her if she had a boyfriend or anyone she was seeing, "not really, been on some casual dates here or there, but ya know, nothing serious" she said. Maddy then started talking about Jason being back, and asking her what she thought of him looks wise. "I dunno, I mean...he's good looking I guess, but he's married and he's got like three kids" Jenni said, not sure what Maddy was up to. Maddy made a comment about how not everyone who was married was happily married, Jenni looked at her for a moment, she then clarified she didn't mean her and Remmy. "Look I don't mean to sound like a bitch...but what's all this talk about Jason?" Jenni asked. Maddy just shrugged it off, saying she was making conversation. She then made a comment about Lolly always mis-treating him, and how it wasn't fair that she was just using her for her own gain. "Well I'm sure Roach is a grown man and can take care of himself" Jenni commented, Maddy then made a comment saying something about maybe Jason was looking for a new woman to take care of him. She then said something about having to meet Remmy and left, leaving Jenni somewhat confused as to what their whole conversation was really about. Not realizing she was becoming the un-knowing bait in Maddy's newest scheme.