“You okay?” Iasked with afrown. “Look like you’re about to have aheart attack.”
Casa grinned. “That’swhat fucking ahundred miles an hour will do for you.” He threw back the shot while rearranging his junk.
“You’re kiddin’ me,” Beefcake said, looking round.
“Inever kid when it comes to fuckin’ my beautiful woman, brother,” Casa laughed. “Wanted to get one more time in her in case Igot shot up and killed.” He grabbed another shot, downed it, and slammed the glass down on the bar and began walking away. “If that didn’tput ababy in her, then I’mfiring blanks!”
Sketch and Crank came up and grabbed ashot, as did Cutter, Cueball, Hawk, and Snoopy. Pops came in with the three prospects tailing him, and he shoved them toward the bar.
“Told ‘em they need astiff drink before we set off,” he said, looking to me for approval, to which Inodded.
Max, Thomas, and Aden grabbed aglass each and clinked them against one another’sbefore drinking them and putting them back down on the bar. They smirked at one another and reached for another.
“This ain’tafuckin’ party. Get the fuck out there, now,” Igrowled at them, and they scattered quickly.
Shooter came out of his office looking weary. He dragged ahand down his face, took adeep breath, and nodded for me to join him as he headed outside.
“Come on,” Isaid, and the rest of the club headed out to our bikes.
As Iclimbed on my bike, Rider came over, and that time there was no denying the look of shame on his face.
“I’mgoing to sort myself out, Gauge,” he said as Igrabbed my helmet. “Charlie is booking me into aplace, so Iwon’tbe around for awhile.”
“Good,” Dom replied, his bike roaring to life. He slammed his helmet on and rode forward so he wouldn’thave to listen to anything else Rider had to say, and Icouldn’tblame him.
Shit was going down and Rider wasn’tapart of it, yet again.
Rider looked across at me, something hopeful in his expression, but Ihad no words for him. Nothing that might bring comfort to him anyway.
“I’ve gotta go,” Ireplied when he placed ahand on my handlebars.
He nodded and let go. “Iknow you told me not to, but Ispoke to my guy down at the marina. He works at alittle place called Desposito'sSeafood just off Macceo Drive.” He held up ahand when Igroaned in frustration. Six months ago Iwould have trusted Rider and his sources with my life, but now Icouldn’ttrust him with anything. His judgment was off, and if it was off here, he was going to get us all killed. “Hear me out, please. He said there’sayacht parked up, abig fancy thing that’sbeen coming and going for months. Comes at night and is gone by morning.”
Shooter had been parked over by the trailers, but he’dstarted his bike and rode over to us when he’dseen Rider talking to me.
“What’sgoing on?” he asked with adeep-set scowl.
“Got afriend who works down there, so Ispoke to him—”
“Jesus, ya fucking idiot!” Shooter snapped. “Itold you to stay out of it.”
“No, no, you can trust him. He said this big fancy yacht pulls up almost every night and then is gone by morning. Been happening for months. But when Ispoke to him earlier, he said that it’sbeen there all day today!” Rider rushed to get his words out before we could interrupt him again, and Iglanced at Shooter then. “Iknow I’mafuckup, and I’msorry for that. This shit, it came from nowhere. Charlie’sgot me booked into aplace and I’mgoing tonight…but I’dlike to come with the club first.”
“Hell no,” Isnapped. “You ain’tright, and no one in their right mind would trust you to have their back.”
Rider’sface fell but he nodded in acceptance. “Look, my contact is called Little Pete. If you need anything, he’ll help out. Head down Macceo Drive and onto Marye Street, the boardwalk is right at the end.” Rider stepped back, his hands in his pockets. “I’msorry, brothers. I’mgoing to fix this mess, Ipromise. Just…” He looked away. “Don’thate me or I’ve got nothin’, brothers. Ineed you all. Ineed this club. It’severything to me.”
“Take it easy, Rider,” Isaid, not wanting to go to Hades without saying what Ineeded to say. “Get yourself straight, brother, then we can party when we come back later.”
His features twitched with hope and he glanced over at Shooter. Iwilled our prez to say something, anything to put Rider at ease. If Shooter had been Hardy, he would have put abullet in Rider’sbrain without asecond thought. If it would have been Jon, Hardy’sfather, he would have kicked him out of the club. But this was Jesse James motherfucking Hardy. This was Shooter. He was both his father and his grandfather, and he ran things differently.
Shooter leaned over and grabbed the back of Rider’sneck, dragging him close enough to press their foreheads together, his eyes boring into Rider’s. “You sort out your shit, you hear me?”
“Okay,” Rider agreed instantly. “Iwill, Iswear Iwill.”
“Good, and then you and Iare going on along ride before Ibecome afather. Need someone to show me how to be agood dad before this kid is born.” Shooter pressed his lips to Rider’sforehead and then shoved him away. Rider looked choked up as he nodded.
“What about me?” Igrunted. “Ican give you fatherly advice.”
