“While we’re on the topic, there’s something else that’ll be an issue as he returns,” I explain with a deep sigh. “The club’s got money troubles. Bad ones.”
His brows draw closer. “How bad?”
“Bad enough we’ve had to try renegotiating our deal with the Peñas. It didn’t go so well.”
“Mace mentioned something about that.” Logan runs a hand through his hair, long on the top, short on the sides, looking more like his father than he’d probably want to know. “So I take it we’re no longer on good terms.”
“It was always a shaky arrangement. Even more than when we were dealing with the Barreras.”
“They won’t be letting any bad blood go. They hold grudges.”
“Yeah, I got that. Big Ed said the same.”
Chloe chooses this moment to shriek with joy, having discovered the remote makes the TV respond. The screen flickers on, volume blasting some kids’ show Jack must’ve been watching last time he was over before Teysha manages to wrestle the remote away.
“Sorry,” Teysha says, bouncing Chloe on her lap.
Logan turns back to me, determination in his eyes—Tom’s natural grit and refusal to quit. “We can figure out other ways to generate profit. We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again. Don’t need to go back to the dirty shit.”
“Figured the same at first. But I’ve crunched the numbers. The garage barely covers costs. The bar’s keeping us afloat but just barely.”
“So we get creative.”
“We’ll have to get more creative than ever before. We’ll hash it out next club meeting.”
“And if the Peñas got a problem with us? Fuck ’em!” Logan goes on. “We’ve survived the Hellrazors, the Road Rebels, the Barreras. We can handle the Peñas if it comes to it.”
I chuckle. “You know you and your younger brother are more alike than you realize.”
“Don’t tell him that. He swears we’re nothing alike. Anyway, catch you later, Silver. We stay any longer, Chloe’ll slobber down everything in your place.”
Teysha stands, hoisting the infant higher on her hip. She immediately grabs for Logan’s face, trying to get a hold on his facial hair.
“Argh, baby girl. That’s attached,” he laughs, carefully extracting her tiny fingers.
“Enjoy the catfish,” Teysha reminds as they head for the door.
“Believe me, I always do.”
Logan pauses at the threshold, his expression serious again for a moment. “Silver... when my father comes back… things are gonna change.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “They are.”
“You’ve held this club together. Don’t let him forget that. Don’t let yourself forget it either.”
The house feels too quiet once they’re gone.
I pop the tab on a beer and take a seat in the armchair in the living room, letting the news Logan delivered really sink in.
Tom, out in a week. My best friend, my brother in steel, the man I once worked alongside as president and vice.
The thing is, Tom and I haven’t been right for years now. Even before he went away, there was distance. Growing suspicion.
Those last few months before the Feds grabbed him, he kept looking at me different. Making comments. Suggesting that maybe he wouldn’t have taken the fall if somebody hadn’t set him up.
That maybe someone close to him had rolled.
The accusations never came direct—Tom’s too smart for that.
