Chapter 1
Rooster
“Cows?” Eagle, our VP, asked as he pushed his dark hair behind his ears.
“Bulls,” Hawk answered. We gathered in Church after a message from our prez. If we were in the sixties, Hawk could pass as a greaser, with his short, dark hair always perfectly coiffed and his clean-shaven face revealing his strong features.
“And what does Petrov have at stake here? He’s into livestock now?” Falcon asked as he rubbed his beard. His brown hair fell to his shoulders, and his hazel eyes looked over at Hawk beneath a furrowed brow.
Hawk sighed. “I don’t think so. He said it was a favor for an old friend, Sammy. Should be quick and easy.”
“And you agreed to this?” Eagle asked, his tone snarky.
Hawk’s blue eyes shot him an icy glance. “It’s a notch on our side. And it can be handled before the next pickup from him.”
“Is this for Senior or Junior?” Jackal asked. He’d been with DEMC for years, but just recently patched in with us and we were happy to welcome another Enforcer to the table. His age was more reflected in his wisdom than his looks, but he did have a little salt and pepper action happening at his temples and his short scruff. It stood out due to the extreme dark shade of his long straight hair that he kept pulled back.
“Junior,” Hawk replied. “But I’m sure Senior knows. And after the last few months, I’m surprised this is the first favor to be called in.” We’d had a series of shit happen to the club, and the Bratva had provided some assistance on top of our usual business dealings.
Falcon, our Road Captain, asked, “So we just ride with him during a haul? Do we know the route?”
Hawk shook his head. “Petrov said over state lines. The rancher will have a couple of his own guys but wanted some extra muscle. Details will come from him.” He looked down at his phone. “Sawyer DeWitt. Keys checked him out. Former military, big on surveillance. He just bought this place, Jersey Iron Ranch.”
“If it’s a side trek on top of a run, how many guys we talking? Who all you want to go, Prez?” Red asked. His copper hair was brighter under the lighting in Church, but it nearly could pass as brown at the bar where he and I usually worked, owned by the club of course. He was always worried about being gone too long. He thought everyone didn’t know about his attachment to Penny. Well, everyone except Hawk. Or maybeHawk knew, both our presidentandPenny’s older brother, and planned to spring it on him when the time was right. The rest of us knew, and would never say a word to Hawk, just like we never said a word to Raven, may he rest in peace.
“We still got a lot up in the air. We should have some officers here to be safe, but we can send some extra members.”
I usually went on the runs to Jersey for our gun pickup, so when he said that I’d accompany Falcon, Jackal, and some members, I wasn’t surprised.
It had been years of driving back and forth. To all the other guys it was part of the job, and all business minus the stops we made at some clubs and bars. After the fiasco with Daisy and Lacy, we’d laid off the strip clubs on runs and had been hitting up biker-friendly bars.
For some dumb reason, every time we headed that way, I wondered–would I see her?
The one that got away. Well, more like pushed away.
Sparrow.
It was dumb, though. Even if I did, what would I do? What would I say? Hell, ever since that last night, the last time I saw her, I probably hadn’t said a combination of twenty words except to patrons at the bar, and that was mostly the price of their drinks.
I’d never been overly chatty, but I loved talking to her. And listening to her. Inhaling that citrusy smell that always stuck with her. You’d think after eight years, her memory would have faded, but I could picture her silky hair– the color of pricy whiskey– and those hazel eyes that had more green when thesun hit just right.
“Rooster?”
Glancing over at Hawk, I nodded. He never expected an answer from me, which I appreciated.
“You’ll ride up tomorrow. But this won’t be a normal turnaround. Pack for a few days,” Hawk said as he stood and knocked on the table to adjourn us.
A shiver went up my spine, followed by a slight buzzing in my ears. But after years of hyping myself up the chance that I’d randomly run into her, there, of all places, was slim.
The only reason she was in Jersey all those years ago was college. She was from Michigan. Kalamazoo to be precise. She always spoke highly of her hometown but was accepted to Princeton. Her mother had attended there and she had family in Jersey and New York. We’d met at the Jersey Shore when she was on spring break. Even though I told her it was crazy, she decided to stay for the summer instead of going home.
I wasn’t an officer then. A punk kid, just under twenty-one. I only got into the bars because I was with the MC. I was barely patched in. But I drove the box truck up with Red. We took shifts on the runs. Back then, we didn’t make the run as fast because there weren’t as many routes. Before we picked up our loads, the other guys would take us out for some fun.
Sparrow and her cousin had been dancing on the porch of the club we showed up at. I never did figure out if she had snuck in because she wasn’t twenty-one, either. Her birthday was in the fall. And we hadn’t made it that far. All for the best.
She probably became a doctor like she planned and wenthome. And I was here. With my brothers. Which was where I belonged. They’re my family. And I was meant for this life.
She wasn’t. And that’s why I let her go.
