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I think back to what I just said: It’s nothing we can’t handle.

“Uh, huh.” Don’t make eye contact. Wait! If you do that, he’ll know you’re lying.

Damn it. It’s like having a devil on one shoulder, and an angel on the other.

“Has Lanzetti shown up for the sit-down yet?”

Good news travels fast. Lanzetti never showed for the first one. He was supposed to come and reassure everyone in town that he wasn’t going to take their livelihoods from under their noses. Then we found out about his lies. First, it was a non-existent wind farm—the cotton farm long abandoned. Now, a resort. The wind farm we could’ve handled, but a resort in Saddle would be the beginning of the end for all of us. And fuck that shit being right next to Rustic Grove. It’s peaceful there, and we’d like to keep it that way.

“How did you hear about that?”

“I guess you could say I keep abreast of most situations in town. Just an old man bein’ nosy.”

Something about that statement tells me he’s more invested than he lets on. Phoebe told me he was a fucking Marine in his younger days. Could’ve done with his help a mile back when we were shoving Fury into the van.

But club business is club business. We don’t discuss anything with anyone not within the MC.

“Timothy Lanzetti is a coward, and a piece of shit at that.” I nod to the coffee pot I’m holding. “Would you like a refill?”

His eyes crinkle when he smiles. “I’d love one, thank you.”

I fill his cup, and I feel him gazing at me.

“As long as you’re okay,” he starts, then shakes his head. “Of course you’re okay, I just… I heard they’re bad news, that’s all. And when guys like that are tryin’ to scare people, it can be confronting. Intimidation can be very frightening.”

“Well, Lanzetti better make sure he has a bodyguard when he gets here this weekend.” That news also came from Drifter. “Because he might get mobbed.”

Decker chuckles. “You women hold your own, I’ll give you that. I admire the cause. Phoebe’s told me about the cartel takedown—that’s pretty impressive. Criminals like that aren’t to be messed with, but you made headlines.”

“Well, we won’t have any of that going on anywhere near Saddle,” I tell him, not wanting to elaborate. There are families and little kids around.

“That’s a guarantee.”

“Respect.”

I smile. “If you need anything else, let me know.”

He gives me a chin lift. “Will do.”

I refill a couple of other cups on my way back to the counter. Every Wednesday, we have a Happy Humpday special. Today it’s a BLT bagel with cream cheese and coffee. Jade, a fellow Stiletto, helps me during the week and fills in at the club’s bar, the Rusty Spur, when needed. “I’m just gonna put the sign out front,” I say as she looks up from the coffee machine.

“No problems.” Then quietly, she adds, “I see Mr. Silver Fox is back at his usual table.”

I inadvertently flick my eyes to his table. He’s reading the newspaper spread out in front of him while eating. He’s the only person in here who isn’t on his mobile phone. I kinda dig that.

“He likes the food.” I shrug.

She gives me a bemused look. “Uh, huh.”

I also lower my voice. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just… Well, he only has eyes for you when he’s here.”

“That isn’t true.”

“Oh, yes, it is,” she sings, teasingly. “You just don’t want to admit you have a little crush because he’s your best friend’s dad.”

“I do not have a crush,” I whisper-shout. “Decker is a nice guy, and polite, and… and… Well, he’s good with his hands⁠—”