What the fuck? What did Blue have to do with this? What was up with the cryptic communication? Romeo and Dozer seemed to have taken notice as well.
Bullet leaned against the wall and smoked a cigarette. “Where’s your cut?” he asked Cruz.
“At the MC. I rode out to Kane’s, but I didn’t know if he’d give up what I needed. He’s in tight with Kings.” Cruz released a heavy exhale. “I’d hoped to keep the Hellers out of this.”
“Too late for that,” Dozer said. “Kings have been rolling up and down the street. Our bikes are out front.” He indicated the phone on the table. “I took that off the one sleeping in the corner.”
Sleeping as in dead.
“Texts are coming in,” he continued. “They think Hellers want Ryatt, too.”
“Kings don’t want trouble with Bullet,” Vic mumbled. “But they ain’t going to forgive this.” He stared at the dead guy on the floor.
Romeo stood behind me and Cruz and quietly spoke. “No one fucks with Bullet. The guy has balls the size of boulders.”
“Do you think you can come to an understanding with the Kings?” Rogue asked Bullet. “Impress upon them that Ryatt is ours.”
Two streams of smoke escaped from Bullet’s nose. “Get Ryatt out of here.”
I held my ribs. “Even if I had my bike, I don’t think I can ride.”
“Where’s your bike?” Cruz asked me.
“If it’s not at the halfway house, then the Kings have it.” If they had it, I’d just lost my only source of income and mode of transportation. Plus, I loved that bike.
“Take the hearse.” Bullet tossed the truck keys to Romeo. “I’ll take your bike.”
“I’m riding with Ryatt,” Cruz said.
“Good.” Rogue held out his hand with his palm up. “I’ll take your bike. You three take off. Don’t say shit about what happened here, not until we talk to Blade in case the Kings decide to retaliate against the MC. Get Willow out to the MC.”
“She’s on the road with Bear.” Romeo held his phone. “Levi can patch him up.” He paused texting, glanced up at me, and said, “Unless you think you need to go to the hospital.”
Dozer chuckled. “Levi has put stitches in me before. She doesn’t have a tender touch like her mom, but she knows what she’s doing.”
“No hospital, but I’m not leaving. This is my problem.”
“Nah,” Rogue said. “You’re done. Dozer can stay behind with me and Bullet.”
“If they take the hearse, how are we going to haul the bodies out?” Dozer asked.
I nearly choked on air.Haul the bodies?
“We’re leaving them here. Kings can deal with their dead friends,” Bullet said. “Take off. Get Ryatt patched up. I’ll have Vic text his friends and invite them to join us. Besides, they’re going to owe me.” A slow smile curved his lips. “Vic here is the narc they’ve been looking for.”
Since I was in no condition to fight, I followed Romeo and Cruz out to the flatbed truck. Romeo climbed behind the wheel, and Cruz helped me into the cab. I scooted into the middle of the bench seat positioning the gear shift between my legs, and Cruz sat next to me.
Romeo reached over, put the truck into first, and barely gave it any gas. As the truck rolled across the lawn and off the curb, the jarring bumps sent fire through my ribs. Because I could feel exactly which rib was fucked, I cradled my palm around my side.
The headlights cut through the night as we drove away from the trap house. “Feels like we should be in there, too,” I said. I was pawning my problems off on someone else. Not cool.
“No, we shouldn’t,” Romeo said. “I’m not usually in on the fights.” He checked his mirrors, keeping his eyes both in front of us and what could be coming from behind. “Not that I haven’t gotten my hands bloody. You have to know your limitations. You’ve just taken a beat down, Ryatt. Leave this fight to Rogue and Bullet. They’re built different, and I’m not just talking about their size.”
Rogue was the biggest biker in the MC, and Bullet was nearly the same size.Haul the bodies?
“Dozer is just like them,” Cruz said. “I’ve seen him fight both Bullet and Rogue in the basement. They don’t pull their punches. Pain just makes Dozer fight harder.”
Romeo continued to put distance between us and the battle. “Bullet was enforcer for the club before Dozer took over. This is what they do. They protect the MC. They take down our enemies.”
