“What do you think they were making them dig in Colombia?”Diesel asks.I’d told them everything Sutton had confided in me.If it happens in our town, the club needs to know all the details to keep us from getting any surprises that might pop up.The brothers know not to say anything that is said in church, so I know the guys will treat Sutton no different even though they are ready to knock some heads together once learning what she endured in South America.
“The only thing going on in Colombia is drugs,” Reaper voices.
“True, which means that they had those kids digging and building underground buildings or bunkers to hide either their drugs or something bigger,” Stone says.
“That’s cartel country and not any of our business,” Twitch pipes up.“But they’re trafficking those kids for slave labor, and that is a problem I can’t get behind.Who’s to say the cartel isn’t moving their product here in our town?”
“We might mule it, but we’ve done a good job keeping drugs out of this town for five years now,” Ledger speaks up and everyone nods.
“Hawk is heading over to speak with Sutton about a few more details to see if there is anything else she can tell us about this group.Hopefully she’ll help shed a little more light on what’s been going on under our noses,” Stone reveals, and I clench my fists.Hawk is a horn-ball around women and the last thing I want is him coming on to her while she’s healing and vulnerable.“Raegan is meeting him over there,” he says, looking over at me knowing what’s going on in my head.
After a few more grunts of agreement, we change topics to a run coming up and a meeting in Las Vegas with a few mafia bosses.Expanding our territory and providing protection is a good money maker for the club and a foot in the door for bigger income for us.We also have a charity run happening soon out at our Tucson Chapter that we support every year for kids with Down syndrome.Having Rocky here with us and being part of our brotherhood means the world to us, so we always support where we can.
Once Stone bangs the gavel, we head out of church.My mood hasn’t improved, and the fact that Sutton is not under my roof doesn’t help.At least she insists on staying at the house that butts up to mine.Zane and I go over there and spend hours with her, making sure she’s healing and doesn’t need anything.Martha makes her food and changes her bandages to check for infections then reports back to Melissa.
“You doing okay?”Riot comes over to me as I sit down on a picnic table near the clubhouse.“You look ready to explode.”
“Want to run my fist through a fucking wall,” I admit.
“Let’s go for a ride to clear our heads.Who knows, we might find some trouble,” he wags his eyebrows.
It’s probably why he and I are best friends.We love to cause trouble and aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty.I’ve been itching for a fight ever since I saw those marks on her.I can’t get them out of my head.
“Let’s ride.”
We both hop up from the bench and make our way to our bikes.
“Ahh, shit.This can’t be good.”I hear as I swing my leg over the seat.“Fuck, Havoc, don’t do anything crazy,” Reaper yells out as the rumble of the pipes fill the air.His shoulder is still recovering from a bullet he caught at the Vipers MC compound where we eliminated the entire bunch of pussies from this world.He hasn’t been cleared to ride yet, but has been anxious to get back on the saddle and out of the cage.
I nod at Reaper and watch as Brass comes over mounting his Harley.We tear out of the compound and head for the open road with no destination in mind.We ride for almost an hour before hooking a U and heading back towards town.On the way, we pass by Frankie’s bar outside of Colorado City, and the memories from the night I first saw Sutton come rushing back.The softness of her skin, the uncertain look when I asked what she wanted to drink, the way she let me have her body.I haven’t touched another woman since I found her again.
I’m only a few years older than her, and it irks me that I don’t remember her from school.The file that I had Hawk track of her for me showed her school photos, and I’d never have known from those pictures that she was the woman that would consume my every thought.Those pictures show a heavier Sutton who never looked straight at the camera.I’m sure years of being starved and forced to do manual labor are the cause of her weight loss.
As we drive through town, I look over and watch several men step out the front doors of thechurch.There is a team of men in black suits with an older man in cream colored suit with a matching fedora hat on.They speak for a bit before shaking hands as the older man’s team ushers him to a fleet of black SUVs before driving away.
I watch as a woman and little girl pass by.The man says something to the mom then bends down to speak to the little girl.He pulls something out of his pocket that looks like a sucker.Something in me snaps, and I rev up my bike and jerk forward.These people don’t deserve to be around children much less any innocent people after what they did to Sutton and the marks they left.I vaguely hear my brothers fall in behind me as I pull up to the curb and hop off my bike, turning my ballcap forward to cover my eyes.The closer my boots eat up the pavement, the clearer it is that this is Sutton’s father.They both share some of the same similar features.
“…you should come to service on Sunday.We have an excellent children’s program?—”
“She doesn’t want what you’re offering,” I say, stepping between the lady and the man.
“Excuse you,” the man who calls himself a preacher stands, narrowing his eyes as he takes in my cut and tattooed arms.
I turn slightly not giving this asshole my full back.“This isn’t the place for you or your child, Darlin’.Try the real church two streets over on the corner, they don’t beat and abuse their congregation.”
The lady’s eyes widen then she nods her head.She grabs the little girl’s hand and takes off the same direction she just came from, not looking back once.Most of the people here know the good we do for the town and are behind us.There are just a few who are shady as fuck that buck against us because they have their own personal agenda in mind, much like the mayor.
“What do you thugs think you’re doing telling her something like that?”Good ole Walter says, sounding appalled.He’s wearing a bright white button up shirt with a pair of slacks and unblemished black shoes.
“You can call us whatever it is you want, but at least we don’t beat and abuse women,” I growl, reiterating what I just told the lady.
He scrunches up his face.“I have no idea what you’re referring to but that is complete slander?—”
I step into his personal space, and out of the corner of my eye, I see the door to the church open.
“I saw the marks you left on Sutton,” I seethe.
“Everything okay out here, Shepherd Walter?”I hear from the church steps.
