Shotgun swung over the sports bike and glowered before starting the engine. Thatch pulled out in front of him, making Shotgun growl. But Shotgun rode out after him.
???
Shotgun did his best to ignore the looks he was getting from his club. Even though it was an embarrassment, Shotgun had to admit, when he opened the throttle, the bike fuckin’ flew. It outpaced his Hog for speed.
“Dude, you can turn in your bro card,” Levi muttered, and Shotgun glared. Shee snorted as he kept looking at the damn thing.
“Anything?” Shotgun demanded of Chance as he watched his phone. Shotgun was watching his own, but the tracker hadn’t activated yet.
“No. Rain’s not hit it,” Chance replied.
Shotgun’s nerves were becoming frayed. “Rain left here half an hour ago. The longer it takes, the further we have to go. That cuts into—”
Shotgun’s cell beeped, followed by Chance’s. The club gathered around.
“Vale, that’s a half-hour ride,” Shotgun snapped out as he jogged back to the Aston Martin. “Meet you there.”
“Shotgun!” Big Al bellowed, but he rode off with Thatch behind him. Knowing the Harleys couldn’t keep up, and two people he loved were in danger, Shotgun opened up the Aston Martin and flew.
Rain
I parked Shotgun’s Hog and looked around. The house was isolated, and you could see for miles. Fuck, that wouldn’t make it easy for Shotgun to ride in.
I waited until two guys exited and glowered.
“Check him,” the first said, and the second stepped forward and ran a piece of equipment over me. Damn, they were checking me for trackers.
“Asshole’s clean,” he announced. He lowered the tracking device monitor. “Get off slowly.”
I did as ordered and hit the tracking beacon on Shotgun’s bike. I held my breath for a few seconds, waiting to see if the alarm sounded, but it didn’t.
“Move, asshole,” the first said, waving a gun.
Shit, how lazy were these assholes? I walked inside and was shoved into a room. There were boards across the window, and the entire thing was a collapsing shithole. Dried-up carcasses of dead animals were scattered in a corner, and there was paperand trash everywhere. A strong stench of urine nearly made me gag. But Allegra wasn’t here.
“Where’s Allegra? You get nothing until I see her.”
“Think you’re calling the shots, faggot?” a voice sneered, and I stiffened—three years had passed, but I recognised it.
“Matthews? You’re behind this?”
My old boss shuffled into the room with a malevolent expression.
“Surprise, asshole,” Matthews snarled.
“Where’s my woman?” I demanded. “You don’t get shit until Allegra’s here.”
“Not going to ask why?” Matthews retorted.
“Already know. Because your racist, homophobic, nasty, bullying ass got canned. After I left, that caused consternation; they couldn’t afford to lose me. But when my team followed up, and everyone filed complaints about you, the institute had to fire you. This is revenge, pure and simple. You need a way to return to the industry, as rumours spread about why you were fired. Nobody wanted a lawsuit on their hands, and you became tarnished goods. Doesn’t matter how clever you were; you were a powder keg.”
“Because of you!” Matthews screamed.
“No. Because of your own attitude. Fuck me, Matthews, you thought you were God’s gift to science, and you were so wrong. Believed you were untouchable until I brought you down. Honestly, you believe stealing my work will get you in the door? You’ve got no chance. Matthews, your name is toxic,” I said calmly.
“Oh, they’ll want me. What you’re working on is worth billions. The institute will take me back,” Matthews hissed.
“For someone with such a brilliant mind, you’re poisonous.”
