“I don’t like it,” Brent said ten minutes later. “Do you think the shooter is a member of the Blackthorn Riders?”
He considered it, then rejected the idea. “I don’t think so. The connection would be too obvious. These guys aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer, but they aren’t stupid either. I believe Dutch told them to keep eyes on us. I don’t think that included trying to kill us.”
“So, how did the shooter know you’d be on that road?”
“Either Dutch has a leak, or he’s in on whatever is going on. My guess is the second option.”
“No fresh injuries?”
“Not for any of us, sir.”
“What’s next on your schedule?”
“Dinner with Dutch and his Old Lady and probably his vice president and enforcers, and possibly their Old Ladies.”
“Watch your backs. Report in six hours. Maddox out.”
Elias glanced at his watch. “We should join the others. It’s almost time to go.” They walked out of the room and downstairs, where their teammates gathered.
Violet looked Elias up and down. “When was the last time you took pain medication?”
Resentment surged to the forefront. He wasn’t an idiot. He could take care of himself. “Six hours.”
“It’s time to take two more capsules.”
Elias’ face burned, and his hands clenched. He was over two years old and capable of fending for himself, including taking meds when he needed them.
Noah stepped in front of his wife. In his eyes was a promise of retaliation if he made a move on Violet.
That would never happen. First, Elias respected the medic too much to shoot off his mouth, even if he felt justified in doing so. Second, Noah would wipe the floor with him. After that, Seth would kick him off of Echo unit. That couldn’t happen. These men were his family, his life. He might blow off steam now and then, but he’d never take his frustration out on the women of Artemis.
Elias held up his hands, palms out. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.”
“Stay between the lines or you’ll answer to me,” Noah murmured.
“Yes, sir.” Elias turned to Violet. “Do you have those pain pills handy? If not, I can go back upstairs and dig them out of my bag.”
“Would you get my mike bag, love?” Violet asked Noah.
He gave Elias a long and hard stare of warning before he grabbed his wife’s mike bag and set it on the couch.
She unzipped it, pulled out a packet of capsules, and shook two onto Elias’ palm. She also handed him a small bottle of water, which she pulled from the mike bag.
“Thanks.” Elias swallowed the capsules and guzzled the water to wash down the medication.
“Anything we should know about this dinner before we head out?” Seth asked.
“Be careful to show Dutch respect. His Old Lady, too. We’ll be under scrutiny every minute we’re in their company. Answer their questions, but don’t volunteer information.”
“Standard stuff,” Noah said.
“There’s more, but we don’t have time for MC politics school.”
“Watch you?” Andre said.
“Yep. Let’s hope these guys follow protocol this time.” Elias frowned. “They didn’t follow protocol during our trip to the grocery store or in the parking lot.”
“Do they have a different agenda?”
