Page 35 of High Velocity

“He explained what the Club was about.As you said, brotherhood, loyalty, and family.Dad, as you may know, came from a broken home.But he found a family with Owen.With the Sons of Sin.He never told me any other history.”

“The Sons of Sin was founded by four guys.But a rift occurred when cartels started moving in, wanting to use the Club to move product.Two wanted the money and power that came with working with the cartels.But there is no workingwith, it would be workingfor.The other two wanted nothing to do with that, with being owned by drug cartels.There was a split, and the original men who wouldn’t kneel to the cartel, Nero and Dominic, kept the Sons of Sin alive.They head chapters in Detroit and Vegas.From there, chapters began forming around the country.”

“And are all the chapters above board.On the up-and-up?”

“Not all.Some choose to engage in activities that walk the edge of legality.”

Charli sputtered.“Oh, what a nice way to put it.And what activities are we talking about?”

“Charli, I’m not here to give you a rundown of other Club’s activities.Doesn’t matter anyway because it doesn’t involve us directly.Now, if any SoS brothers happen to come to us asking for help with something, Griff and the board will decide whether or not to offer that help and in what capacity.We aren’t going to do anything to jeopardize our people.Our own are our number one priority.”

She nodded.“I had no doubt.”

Dinner and drink refills came, and Roark and Charli enjoyed their meal and conversation at a leisurely pace.Even with half the deck filled with patrons, there was still a quiet intimacy to the atmosphere.And as dusk settled over the canyon, muted pinks and oranges painted the evening sky, making a beautiful backdrop.

A slow song came over the speakers, urging Roark to stand and pull Charli into his arms for a dance.Didn’t matter there technically wasn’t a dance floor on the upper level.There was still plenty of space between tables to hold her close and sway to the music.

“Thank you,” Charli said as she rested her cheek against his chest.

“For?”

She looked up at Roark.“For everything.For accepting me back.For loving me.For a relaxing evening without any cares.”

He caressed her cheek.“Been too long, hasn’t it?”She nodded.“Then prepare to be spoiled.”Roark leaned down and kissed her softly.He started to deepen the kiss when a shout from below had his head snapping up.Both looked in the direction of the main floor when more shouts came followed by the sound of breaking glass.

“Well, shit,” Roark mumbled.

“Spoke too soon, I guess.”

“Stay here.Please.I’ll see what’s happening.”

Roark headed down the stairs, leaving Charli safely behind.More shouts and commotion greeted him as he made it to the main dining area with the bar.Patrons were corralled along two walls, well away from two men facing each other.An overturned table and chair along with broken glasses and liquid littered the area right in front of the bar.

“Fucking bitch spilled that drink on purpose,” spewed a hefty man who stood nearly as tall as Roark.He wore all black, including a black cowboy hat with sunglasses perched on the brim.

“Sir, it was an accident,” said Brantley, one of the bartenders, and a beefy guy himself.“She offered an apology along with a free drink and appetizer.You made it worse by upending her entire tray.Now you get to leave.”

“I ain’t leaving until that bitch apologizes, and I get money for new clothes.”

Roark saw Twila, the waitress in question, glaring at the back of the jackass, probably ready to tell him to fuck off.

“She already apologized,” said Brantley, “and your clothes will clean up just fine with a wash.Now leave.”

“You gonna make me?”The man sucked in air through his teeth.

“I will,” Roark said.The man turned his gaze to Roark.“I’m the owner, and my fine employees have been more than patient with you, yet you still want to be a dickhead.Therefore, you can leave my establishment.”

He continued to stare at Roark, remaining silent.Then his gaze shifted as he looked up and behind Roark.Roark followed his line of sight to see Charli standing at the railing, looking down at them.When Roark turned to face the dickhead, a smirk formed on his mouth, and Roark didn’t like that one fucking bit.

“Get.Out.”Roark emphasized each word.He watched the man eye him once more before pulling his shades off his hat and slipping them on his face.He then slowly sauntered toward the exit with everyone giving him a wide berth.Roark followed from a distance, ensuring he left without further incident.As soon as the door closed and the guy walked out of sight, Roark turned to see Charli running toward him.

“Roark!That’s the man in the black SUV.The one who was at Harvey’s shop.”

“Son of a bitch,” he mumbled before storming out the door.He hurried along the walkway to the parking lot but only saw the SUV speeding away.

Charli was suddenly at his side.“Who the hell is that guy?”

“No clue, but I don’t like the fact he antagonized you at the shop and now he shows up at my brewery causing problems.”