happen, wouldn ’ t
be a great loss. ”
“ Agreed.
But I ’ m wondering why your
MC can ’ t protect Winter.
And better yet, what is she being protected for? ”
“ How
about common courtesy? ” Stoney asked.
“ You
don ’ t look the part for
courtesy. ”
“ And
you don ’ t look the part of
a fighter. ”
“ Want
to try me? ” I offered.
Stoney laughed. “ Offering to take on the
President of a MC is a dangerous proclamation. I ’ ll
pretend I didn ’ t hear that. ”
“ Then
I ’ ll say it louder. ”
Stoney gritted his teeth. “ Let me put it this way, Tripp.
If my guys are poking around Winter, you stay the fuck back. There should have
been better communication with Harlan, I ’ ll
give you that. But that cannot and will not ever happen again. ”
“ I
can ’ t promise anything. ”
“ So
you like to fight that much? ”
“ Never
said that. But if I need to fight to survive …”
Stoney slapped his hand to the
table. “ Tell you what. Why
not join the MC in a little entertainment? Maybe you and Harlan can square
things up the right way. You know? ”
“ You
want me to fight Harlan? ”
“ I ’ m offering you a chance to get a
little closer to the MC, ” Stoney said. “ After all, we ’ re all in this together, right?
Someone is going to have to take care of Winter short term and long term. It ’ s only a matter of time before
you ’ re gone, right Tripp? ”
His words were cool but intensely
threatening. I knew how to play cool though. I once had my best friend die in
my fucking hands. Trust me, I knew how to play cool.
“ That ’ s fine by me, ” I said. “ I ’ d
like to know everything you know so far. And what I can do to help. If someone
is coming for Winter, I want to be ready. ”
Stoney waved a hand. “ Nothing to worry about. Anyone
steps foot in this town, we ’ ll
have them. My guys are everywhere. ”
“ Drunk
at the bar? ”
“ That ’ s only some. We work in shifts. ” Stoney stood up. “ I ’ ll
organize a little gathering. The MC could use some cash. Now, can I trust you
to knock Harlan out again? ”
Stoney smiled and winked.
“ You ’ re going to bet against your own
member to win cash? ” I asked.
“ Hey, ” Stoney said. “ I go where the business is. ” He then grabbed my wrist and
lifted my right hand. “ Then
again, this is too fresh on your knuckles. This isn ’ t from skin and bones, Tripp. ” Stoney ’ s eyes locked with mine. “ This is from punching a wall. Stone wall, right?
What happened? Winter shake that little ass of hers too close? You fucking see
those tits yet, Tripp? My fucking God … they could make a blind man hard …”
I felt my left hand tightening up
into a ball. I wanted to attack. I wanted to rip this guy ’ s throat out.
But I held off. Showing restraint
was definitely not my strong suit, but I managed.
“ I ’ m here to protect her, ” I said. “ Nothing else. ”
I walked to the door and Stoney
whistled for me.
I paused, looking back at him.
“ Watch
yourself, Tripp. Aldo and I go back a long time. The Red Aces have ties you can ’ t imagine. I know why you ’ re here. I know what happened. I
know how fragile your life actually is. You get too close. You poke around. ” Stoney nodded to Rocky ’ s empty chair.
A silent warning.
I left the room and felt a chill
run through my body.
If I was a detective or a betting
man, my suspicion was really fucked.
I started to believe the MC took
out their own guy.
~ ~ ~
I thought about holding Winter ’ s hand. Then I thought about driving
the car off the road. There was no way in hell I could hold her damn hand. Even
if she was shaking. Even if she kept turning her head to hide the fact that
there were tears in her eyes.
It didn ’ t matter.
The lines were pretty clear now.
Something about the Red Aces MC
stuck with me. Maybe not the entire club, but the President was a piece of
shit.
Then again, I knew nothing of
Winter