Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
“The truth. I got to give some attention to my woman, and she wants to go to Fallen Crest. We’ll take her, go from there, and meet the rest when they’re rested?”
His eyes narrowed. “No one’s going to want to be here without you.”
Yeah. I got that.
The shower cut off inside.
I had to make a decision.
I reached for my cut. “Tell them to suit up. We’ll head to The Bonfire and stay there. It’s not that far from Fallen Crest. That’s something.”
Boise gave a nod, then took off.
I finished getting my stuff together—not that I ever had much with me. A bag. That’s about it. Kali was still in the bathroom, so I went and put her stuff together too. Her phone was out. I left that alone, leaving her bag next to it. I took mine with me, heading out.
Stripes appeared once I had closed the door, which wasn’t surprising. The guy was everywhere. That’s why I’d put him on Crow.
He glanced around. “Boise said we’re heading out?”
“If you want. I’m going to Fallen Crest. The rest can head to The Bonfire.”
He nodded, his hands going into his pockets. He did this when he had something he wanted to say. “You got something to say?”
His head lifted, but went right back down. “I got history there.”
“I’m aware.”
“Boise said you’re taking Core and Road.”
“I’m aware of that too.”
We cut across the front driveway, going to my bike. Crow was waiting for me on the front porch of the main house. He had a whole bunch of his men with him, and his eyes were tracking us. I recognized the look on his face too. He had something to say as well.
“I’m thinking there might be a line of people waiting to converse with me,” I told Stripes. “Say your piece. What’s up?”
He took a breath, then expelled it. “I want to go with you.”
“No.”
“Ghost.”
“No.” I stopped, facing him. “We’re going in without our cuts. It’s not something I feel comfortable with, but I also don’t feel comfortable about some other things. You’re not coming. Cops will spot you, recognize you, and you know they’ll want payback. Or some of them will.”
He cursed, turning away.
“What else do you have to say before I go over there and Frisco’s VP finds something to talk to me about?”
Stripes shot me a grin, his hands still in his pockets. “I got nothing then. Wanted to put my pitch in to go with you. I know Fallen Crest, know where all the dirty assholes are.”
“I’m aware of your history, but my woman’s friends are putting roots down in a place called Manny’s.”
His head jerked back, his whole body stilling.
Yeah. That was the reaction I knew he’d have. He had serious history with a few people who were close to that place’s owners.
He cursed. “I didn’t think it would get that close.”
“It’s that close.”
He drew in a breath. “Yeah. Okay. Maybe I’ll stick it out here a bit, do more of what you asked me to do before heading back.”
“Ask a brother to go with you. One of ours.”
He nodded, already starting to walk away. “Will do.” His eyes went past my shoulder, and he gave me a small heads up. I didn’t need the warning. I heard the gravel and knew who was coming my way.
As I turned around, Crow was alone. His men were still on the front porch, all watching their VP approach me.
He gave me a chin-lift. “Heard a rumor you’re heading out.”
I grunted. “Boise’s fast.”
He laughed. “What are your plans concerning what I talked to you about?”
Right. All the brothers he didn’t trust, and he’d given me good reason not to trust them as well. I gave him a hard look. “What you said was serious. It’s not against the rules to have side jobs, side hustles. You know that, but Estrada’s moving southeast, right toward where our national prez is currently still laid up. Trust and believe that I’m going to take what you’re proposing into strong consideration, but I need to handle a couple things before making that move. You hear me?”
What we weren’t saying had to do with digging six feet down for a few guys, guys we called brothers, and finally doing what I came here to do. But before all that, I needed to tend to Kali.
Crow gave a small nod, easing up. “I hear you.” He scanned the front yard, seeing some of the other guys packing up their bikes, and some that weren’t. “Plans for your men?”
I relayed the plans I’d hashed out with Boise and Stripes just now.
As I spoke, Machete crossed the yard, coming from the barn. Claudia came behind him, her hands stuck in her back pockets. As he angled toward me, she shifted to the house, moving past the guys on the porch. She almost had a bounce to her step, but she wasn’t looking my way.