“Hey.”
“Hey, gather all of your boys. Come downtown to my place. I’ll be waiting outside. Don’t wait.”
“You got it.”
He hung up right after. I stood from the couch, dusted off my jeans, and smiled.
“All right, boys,” I said. “I think it’s time to go get some good news. Let’s go. Everyone.”
“So no shot?”
“Let’s go!” I emphasized.
Despite Garrett’s ridiculous humor—although I couldn’t say for sure if he was kidding—he went out to the bike with enthusiasm and excitement. Zack looked a little nervous but came along. Mason and Connor came quietly.
I followed them out the door. The five of us…
No.
This wouldn’t work.
“Someone go get Steele,” I said.
“You go get Steele; he’s your mess,” Garrett said with a laugh.
“You really want to send two wolves after each other like that?” Mason said. “Fuck it, I’ll go. Give me five.”
Mason passed me by. I took the chance to light up a cigarette and get a smoke in before he came down.
“So, you and Tara—” Garrett began.
“Not a thing,” I said. “And I would suggest you not bring her name up while Steele is here.”
Even Garrett had the sense to stay quiet. I could see questions not just on his but on everyone’s tongue, but I was beginning to better understand where my influence could be used to my benefit. This was one such spot.
Much to my surprise, though, it didn’t take but a minute or two for Mason to emerge with Steele right behind him. Steele didn’t glance at me, but at least he was there.
“All right, let’s go.”
* * *
We parked in the lot of Reapers, which was easy enough since there were hardly any customers there on a Tuesday night. I pulled Mason aside while everyone else was driving forward.
“How the hell did you pull that off so easily?”
Mason snorted.
“I put it in terms of Tara,” he said. “And I know that might make shit hard for you, but you’ll figure it out.”
I understood. The more we invoked her name, the less Steele would like me and the more he’d try to win her back, her words be damned. But, on the flip side, we’d have one more person fighting to protect this town.
And what was more important, anyway? Having one person I could watch over and protect carefully, or having a club of men that could watch over and protect an entire town?
You tried the first with Rachel. We saw how that worked.
“You guys made it!” Cole shouted. “Truth be told, this is good. Bikers aren’t always prompt. Good start.”
Cole shook each one of our hands, starting with me and finishing with Zack. He led us into the lobby of his complex and onto the elevator. I could only imagine what the poor concierge, a woman that looked to be in her early fifties, must have thought at the sight of the richest owner in the complex leading six street rats, bikers, run-down boys through her pristine building.
