His eyes narrowed. “Pres?”
I pushed past him and headed for the doors. The metal creaked as I shoved them open, revealing the low-lit chaos inside. The clubhouse reeked of smoke and cheap perfume. Tattoo guns buzzed in the corner as our new girl and tattooist, Raven, was inking Link. A couple of club girls were laughing tooloud near the bar. Everyone wore a version of the same lie, that they’re tough and invincible, but I could feel the shift.
Two deaths, too close together. First, Diesel got taken down whilst receiving a shipment, then Caleb’s death, mere weeks after he’d asked me if he could come back. They had left a crack in the place, something that made me feel hollow inside.
Riot sat at the bar, hands resting lightly on the weathered wood, shades on despite the dim lighting. My VP was a stone-faced bastard, always three steps ahead of everyone and paranoid enough to stay alive that long. His fingers tapped once, twice, then went still, which was Riot’s version of a warning bell.
He clocked me the second I stepped in. “Pres,” he greeted.
“Riot.”
He didn’t move. “You were supposed to be at the clubhouse.”
“I needed air.”
“You find what you were looking for?”
A tense silence stretched between us.
I shrugged. “Didn’t know I was looking.”
He snorted like he didn’t believe a damn word but didn’t push either. That’s how Riot worked. He let the rope hang just long enough to see who’d use it to climb or hang themselves.
My jaw clenched until it ached.
Riot followed my eyes. “You think we’re not doing enough?”
“I don’t think he overdosed.”
He didn’t flinch. “You think someone made it look that way?”
“I think Caleb tried to come back. Then he ended up dead in a motel with enough Oxy in his system to drop a bull elephant.” I stepped forward. “He was scared, Riot. Said someone was watching him.”
“We’re always being watched.”
“Not like this.”
He studied me for a long beat then leaned in, voice lower now. “You think it was one of us?”
I didn’t answer because I didn’t want to say it out loud. Didn’t want to believe it could be true, but Riot saw it in my eyes anyway.
“You’re not the only one asking questions,” he said. “But if you start stirring the pot too fast, you’re gonna end up on someone’s list too.”
“Maybe I already am.”
He nodded once. “Then don’t be stupid.”
I turned away before he could say more, walking towards the hallway that led to the back rooms.
“Hey, Pres, want some company?” Gabby came out the ladies’ bathroom, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. I tried to step aside, not in the mood for her shit, but she stood in the way.
“Not tonight.”
She trailed a finger up my chest. “C’mon, Reaper. You look like you need it, and I know how you like it.”
“I said no.”
Her grin turned teasing. “Or maybe you’re scared you’ll like it too much.”
