Chapter 4
Over a decade later
Ryan
“Ax, a minute?”Buck walked up to me in the barn after my fifth shot of whiskey out of my coffee cup. He was adjusting his cut, dusting off his president patch from his ride down the long graveldrive.
“What’s up?” I poured him a shot in my mug and handed itover.
Buck slapped me on the back, right where my skull and bones were as he took his seat next to me. “You and this damn mug, I will never understand.” He fired it down and wiped his mouth with the back of hishand.
I shrugged. “No one knows if I’m drinking coffee or booze out ofit.”
“We all know, brother. It’s never coffee,” Buck badgered with a wink before explaining why he had sat down with me. “I have a job for you. It’s risky, but I think you’re the best man forit.”
I cracked my neck. “Whatever you need, I’m yourguy.”
“That’s what I needed to hear. Damn, I knew I made the right choice making you my numbertwo.”
Buck went on to explain that it was a delicate situation, but I was going to meet up with Bear, the president of our Atlanta charter, to help him find a member of a rival club and get some information out of him. It was all I needed to know. The details of why any of it was needed didn’t matter to me. I just cared about the fact that my president needed me to help anothercharter.
I rinsed out my coffee mug and had a prospect give me a ride home. I had a mission to get to first thing in the morning. It was time to put my game-faceon.
* * *
Igotto Bear’s house right before dusk. The thirteen-hour drive was longer than I really had the stamina for on my Harley, but time was of the essence and I could sleep when I wasdead.
I was greeted by a sweet smile as Bear’s old lady opened the door forme.
“You must be worn out,” she said as she ushered me inside. “I’m Scarlett. Follow me. Bear’s in thekitchen.”
“Nice to meet you, sweetheart.” I shadowed her tiny frame into the kitchen, where Bear was standing at the sink washing the dishes. They seemed like such an odd match—Bear was a good ten years older than Scarlett and about a foot taller, maybe more. She was an itty-bitty thing, and he was a beast of a man. He was gruff and rough around the edges while she radiated sweetness. But, when he turned and looked at her, it all made sense. All the physical shit, age—none of it matters when you can look at your partner the way Bear looked down at hisgirl.
“Ax, long time.” He gave me a quick hug before taking a seat at thetable.
Scarlett got us a few beers from therefrigerator.
“Thanks, darlin’.” Bear gave her a light snack on the ass. “We got some club shit to dealwith.”
“Say no more.” She kissed Bear on the cheek before turning to me. “It was a pleasure, Ax. Take care of my man, willya?”
“Sure thing, hon.” I gave her a quick wave before she started for the steps the led upstairs. “She seems great.” I pointed up to the ceiling where I could hear Scarlett’s light footsteps, walking around in theirroom.
“That’s an understatement. She’s a godsend.” Bear leaned back in his chair. “So, you ready to go catch a badguy?”
I nodded. “You tell me what needs to be done and I’m yourman.”
“I caught wind that a guy we’ve had a hit on for a while now just rolled into town a few days ago. He’s planning on leaving first thing in the mornin’ so we have to do this tonight. He has no idea we’re onto him so his guard will be down. I have a few of my guys tailin’ him right now and when he’s alone, I’ll be getting acall.”
“Sounds good. Buck said we have to get some information out ofhim?”
Bear pursed his lips. “We’re going to make him sing like a damncanary.”
* * *
It only tooka few hours for Bear to get the green light and for us to be outside the Sinners’ temporary safehouse.
I had my revolver at the ready, but Bear made me put it away. “There is one lookout in the front, and no one else is here but the target, Ralph. Use your knife on the guard and I’ll surprise little Ralphy by going in through theback.”
