“This round’s on me,” Johnnie said. Turning, he headed over to the bar while Del sat down at the table.
“I heard you ran into a little trouble when you left here last time,” Del said to Linc.
“Carly ran into some trouble. I was in the right place at the right time. I’m glad I was able to help.”
Del leaned back in his chair, his weight making it creak. “I heard it was a little more serious than that. Heard it was some of El Jefe’s boys.”
Johnnie returned to the table, Rowena beside him. She unloaded the tray she balanced on the flat of her hand, setting a bottle of beer down in front of each of them.
“Enjoy,” Row said with a smile. As she walked back to the bar, hips swaying, Carly had a flash of brilliance. She tucked the idea away and returned her attention to the men.
Johnnie spun a chair around and sat down facing the table, zeroing in on the conversation as if he hadn’t missed a word. “El Jefe. That guy’s a bad dude, Linc.”
“Yeah, I figured that out when the bullets started flying.”
Del grunted. “Word is El Jefe’s on the march, trying to expand his empire. You need to stay as far away from that hombre as you can get.”
“I wish it was that easy,” Linc said. He took a swallow of beer. “What can you tell me about him? I was under the impression the guy stays way off the grid.”
“He does,” Del said. “But some of his boys like to throw their weight around, brag about their exploits. Your name came up. One of the Demons got wind of it. He came to me, thought you might want to know.”
Linc just nodded. He’d been a fringe member of the club since he was a kid.
Johnnie tipped up his beer and took a swallow, set it back downon the table. “The guys said to tell you, you need some help, just let them know.”
“Appreciate that,” Linc said. Steering the conversation in a lighter direction, he and Carly finished their beers. They said good-bye to Del, Johnnie, and Row and left the roadhouse, Frank following the truck in Carly’s pickup.
“Row mentioned you used to ride with the Demons,” Carly said as the headlights lit the strip of pavement in front of them.
“I was never an official member of the club, but when I was younger, I rode with some of them.”
“Del, Johnnie, and Rick.”
“That’s right. And some of the other guys in the group. The Demons aren’t one-percenters, not like the Bandidos or Hell’s Angels, MCs involved in drugs and other criminal activities. But the guys can be plenty tough when push comes to shove.”
* * *
As the truck rolled along, Carly’s mind went over the evening. Del, Johnnie, and Rick were former members of the Asphalt Demons. She knew their reputation, knew the members of the club were tough. Though on the surface Linc’s friends seemed jovial and easygoing, they had an underlying aura of strength.
In the faint light inside the cab, she studied Linc’s profile. As handsome as he was, there was a hard edge to his features that said his life hadn’t always been easy. The beard shadow along his jaw hinted at the toughness inside him, the obstacles he had conquered to make him the man he had become.
Her gaze dipped to the powerful arm gripping the steering wheel. “Was that when you got the tattoo? When you were riding with the Demons?”
He glanced down at the single strand of barbed wire wrapped around his bicep. “I got that after I got out of prison. To remind myself what it feels like to be fenced in.”
Carly fell silent. Linc had committed a crime, but he had served his sentence and turned his life around. It was a shame more people weren’t willing or able to do that.
“I need to replace Donna,” she said. “I’m going to ask Rowena to take the job.”
Linc’s gaze swung to hers. “I know Row works part-time as a bookkeeper. You really think she can manage your office?”
“Row’s good at just about everything. I think she’ll be a tremendous asset.”
“It’s not always good business to work with your friends.”
“And yet you and Beau seem to be doing just fine.”
“Good point,” Linc said. “Beau and I make a great team. I’ll introduce you at the benefit.”
