“I bet your parents are thrilled you came back to your father’s roots.”
“Dad is, in a sense. Don’t know how Mom would feel.”
“Hmm?”
“She was killed on the job. Trusted a fugitive who was looking for an out, and she was shot. She was left for dead in a field, died by her damn self and . . . fuck, just . . .” I’m now the one squeezing Mouser’s hand, trying to offer him some comfort.
“I apologize. If I had known I wouldn’t have asked about something so heart wrenching.”
“Nah, don’t do that. It’s alright. You have to learn shit about me anyway, right? In six weeks we’ll be getting married and—”
“What?!”
Mouser bursts into laughter.
“I don’t like it when you try to joke with me like that. It’s not funny.”
“On my end it is. You looked like you were having a stroke, Dove.” He barely gets the words out before he cracks up again.
I’m left here shaking my head at his shenanigans while a waitress brings our food up to our table. I’ve never been so thankful to see food in my life. Maybe it’ll distract Mouser for a bit and he’ll give me a break on the teasing.
Chapter Eleven
It’s your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you
~ Rumi
Mouser
“Mouser, I need you to go on a run with Cobra.” Damon tells me while he approaches where I’m sitting on the couch in the clubhouse. I peek behind him and see Sakura is over in the far corner chatting with Ivy and even his wife, Kat. For some reason I didn’t think Sakura and Kat got along, but obviously I’m mistaken.
“Aren’t I supposed to be watching Sakura?” I ask Damon, making sure he knows I’m not keen on leaving Sakura.
“Yeah, well, you seem to be watching her ass. Figured you could take a break and someone else can take over.”
“Excuse me?” I growl. No brother in here better think he can stare at her ass. If they do, I’ll do the same to them as I will to Lucian if he dares to fuck with her.
Damon raises his eyebrows, “You will take your ass wherever the fuck I tell you to. Hell, maybe I’m rethinking this assignment with Sakura. Who’d you suggest I put with her instead, Chaz or Dixon?” Chaz or Dixon? Is he serious? They’ll work their way into her pussy and use her like a whore.
“I’m sorry. I . . .” I go quiet for a moment while I divert my eyes over to the woman, “I have a thing for her, Prez, and all due respect. I don’t want anyone touching her. If they do, I might be liable to rip their hand off.”
“You claiming her, Mouser?” He asks lowly, planting his arms on the arm of the couch.
“Officially, not yet? Unofficially, anyone who touches her will have to deal with me. You catch me?”
“I got you. I’ll make sure the brothers know not to fuck with her. It’s not often a man claims a woman before he’s patched in.”
“I’m not an average man,” I gently remind him.
“True. Get your ass out on this run with Cobra. He saw something that was concerning and we need eyes out on the road.”
“You got it,” I say, rising from the couch. Cobra’s leaning directly next to the clubhouse door so I head over his way. “Heard we need to take a ride,”
“Damn straight. You need any ammo?”
“We gonna need it?” I ask Cobra.
He snickers and shrugs, “Depends how I’m feelin’.”
Shit. He’s the craziest fucker in this club, that’s for damn sure. The two of us walk out and get on our bikes. I assumed Cobra was gonna tell me where we were going, or what we were doing but his ass decided to speed off ahead of me. What a bastard.
Cobra and I head up the interstate until we’re just north of Coyote Springs and we hit a long stretch of desert. He makes a sharp left and I follow him down a gravel road until he stops and turns off his bike. I follow his lead, shut my ignition off and prop my kickstand, following him while he walks down the slight slope. However, I notice he’s crouching and almost ask until I see a group of motorcycles heading this way.
We’re elevated up a bit, so I look below us and see there’s a fire burning with a man standing a few feet away from it. He looks familiar and I swear I’ve seen him before. Fuck, I can’t remember where. I’m sure something will jog my memory soon.
“Wanna tell me what we’re doing?” I whisper to Cobra, kneeling down close to the ground so we’re not spotted.
“We’re just observing these fucks and seeing what my old man is up to.” He replies, pulling something from his pocket. It looks like a satellite dish hooked up to some earbuds and Cobra slides one into his ear and offers me the other. I take it, place it in my ear and listen.
Boots crunching on the stone below us can be heard like it’s happening right in front of our eyes. The reality is it’s a good hundred or so feet away, but the greetings between the men are heard clearly as well. Shit, where has Cobra been hiding a device like this.
“Wait. Did you say old man? Your father’s in a club?” I question, finally putting the pieces together.
Cobra gives a curt nod, “More like sperm donor, but yes. The big sack of shit is my father.” I shift my eyes from the smaller guys and see someone who reminds me of the Mountain from Game of Thrones. Holy fuck.
“What are they doing in our territory?” I question, obviously able to tell these guys are trouble. They give me some serious vibes that they’re up to no good.
“Not sure, but if you shut up maybe we can find out.” Cobra snaps.
“Heard you have information for us, fella.” Cobra’s father chuckles in a sadistic way.
The man standing in front of the fire takes a step forward. “You’re right, Titan. I have some good shit for you.”
“This better be good. I drove a fuck of a long way to hear this face-to-face like you wanted. Now spit it out and give me what I’ll be takin’ back to my Prez.” Titan sneers.
“One of my boys gets hired to track people down. You know that club in Vegas, the one who’s claimed the territory since the Demons of Hell were eradicated? They have someone. Someone important.”
“I don’t know why the fuck you’re shuttin’ your trap. Keep talkin’.”
“I would Titan but money is what talks to me. My guy hasn’t taken the job yet or alerted the family we found what precious thing has been lost to them. They’re offering to pay a heavy fee to anyone who brings her back alive. I’m simply letting you know because you’re a businessman, aren’t you Titan? I figured you’d appreciate the opportunity to take this job before my guy does. Imagine what the money could do for your club.”
“Hmm. What do you want for the information?”
“As I said, money talks. You give me a finder’s fee and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.” The guy tells Titan.
Titan raises his hand and one of the guys behind him comes walking up with a duffel bag. He takes it from who I’m going to assume is a prospect and looks back to the guy selling him information. “Will this suffice?”