Once outside, he tossed the beer bottle in the trash, then straddled his bike donning his helmet and face covering. Holding up his finger, he twirled it around signaling to the others it was time to go. As they pulled away from the curb, he watched a girl sauntering down the street. Taking his time rolling past, he lost sight of her when she stepped inside a small bistro.
Easing by the restaurant he got caught by the redlight. Glancing to the side, he watched the same girl getting seated at a table perched by the window. As she slid into the chair and took her glasses off, Razor smiled from behind his face covering. It was Lottie. The woman definitely had a presence about her. Even at work in scrubs she rocked her look. The sound of an engine sliding into gear had him turning back and shifting into first.
It didn’t take long for them to make their way across town.The rumble of the bikes slowly faded as they pulled into the clubhouse parking lot, the air still thick with the sounds of engines and the shared energy of a solid day on the road.
The guys killed their engines, the roar dying down to a satisfying hum of idle chatter. Their day of riding had been one of those perfect runs, miles of open road, a few beers with other clubs at the designated stops on the poker run, some good-natured talk, and rivalry. But more importantly, it had given them the chance to size up a few prospects for hang-arounds.
When his phone rang, Razor knew something was up. Checking it, he missed multiple calls from the clinic. Knowing the tension and the headache that was growing would only get worse the longer he put off checking in.
Calling the clinic he listened to his colleague explain he wasn’t feeling well and needed Razor to come in and take over for him.
Every time he had a day off the older man called, having one excuse or another why he couldn’t stay. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear there was something else going on that was causing the man to leave work.
With no one else to cover the other doctor, he had no choice but to go in.“Boys, I have to work.”
“Let me guess, Primo can’t stay,” Hemlock said, shaking his head as he pulled open the clubhouse door. “Razor, you should let me buy the old man out of his share and take me on as a partner.” Staring at Razor, Hemlock wondered when the brother would take him seriously.
Razor looked at Hemlock. “Don’t tease me.”
Hemlock continued staring at Razor with an equally serious look. He’d been wanting in on the clinic for years. “Do you see me laughing?”
“We’ll sit down and talk.” Razor pointed a finger at Hemlock as he headed for his private room to change.
Hemlock decided to take the opportunity and force the brother’s hand on the matter. “How about I come with you to the clinic, and we can talk there.”
Staring at Hemlock, Razor realized the man was serious. If he was right, and Hemlock took over for the other doctor, the clinic could get a fresh start. A much-needed re-vamp. “Get your ass changed. We leave in ten.”
“I’ll be ready in five,” Hemlock said, rushing to change clothes. He’d been filling in for over a year, so maybe it was time to make his move. To become a partner in the clinic.
Twenty minutes later they pulled into the corner lot. Parking the car in the back of the building Razor looked around the empty lot and at the dark aging building as it stood like a soldier against the coming of the night.
The entire corner and the building were all the clinic’s property. The first floor was the clinic and offices. The second floor held apartments that weren’t in use any longer due to them needing repairs. If they could buy out the other doctor, the club could make a play to purchase the building. If they bought the building and created business suites on the other floors, it would be another legitimate business.
Razor would even consider living on the property once the repairs were made. It would be easier and closer to theclubhouse. Just like he planned, he would suggest the idea at church once he and Hemlock talked.
Chapter Two
The next night Razor rolled through the parking lot of The Continental Inn and Suites. He’d come there to check on Lottie. Something was weighing on the pretty nurse, and he couldn’t stop worrying about her. At work she was still the same Lottie with the sassy comebacks and the teasing nature. She still sauntered down the halls of the clinic like she owned the place.Yet, he could see the smiles and sass didn’t reach her pretty eyes. He’d even gone so far as to ask Vicious if Sway knew of anything that was bothering her. All he’d gotten was some off-handed response about it being Lottie. Whatever that fucking meant.
If his brothers knew how far he was going to make sure the girl was okay, they’d probably lose their shit. Or have his head checked.
Maybe putting the tracker on her car was going a bit too far.Maybe.The camera’s he’d installed around Roussin’s garage and the upstairs apartment he blamed on needing better surveillance. But that wasn’t the entire truth. He had definitely crossed the line having Sherlock put a tracker on her phone.She hadn’t noticed it. Why would she? Sherlock had designed it himself. It ran in the background unnoticed. The brother was scary smart and should have been more than a hacker.
Searching the parking lot he spotted Lottie’s car and parked. He climbed off his bike, and walked over to feel the hood. He found it was barely warm. That told him she’d been there for a little while.
“Who are you here with Lottie? And why?”
Heading for the hotel entrance he spotted an ambulance parked out front. The lights were off, which told him it wasn’t a life-or-death situation. Still, being a doctor made him want to check on what was going on. As he neared the truck, he saw a pretty female talking to the cops. She appeared quite upset and very animated.
Razor stepped up and was able to see inside the ambulance. Inside he saw Hemlock laying on a gurney. He was able to access by the conversation between the EMT and Hemlock that the brother had suffered an allergic reaction to something. He could also see he’d had a reaction by the way his lips were swollen and the appearance of his face, which was splotchy.
“How’s the patient doing?” Razor asked the EMT as he gave Hemlock a smirk. All it took to know something had gone terribly wrong was seeing the girl speaking to the cops and Hemlock inside the ambulance.
“What the hell are you doing here, Razor?” Hemlock glared at Razor and demanded.
“He’s hostile,” the EMT snapped, interrupting Razor and Hemlock.
Chuckling at the situation, Razor commented to the EMT while he ignored Hemlock. “Nurse Durand doesn’t have the best bedside manner. Is he good to go?”
