Iron & Bone (Lock & Key #3) by Cat Porter Read Free Book Online Page B

slowly released it. “Have you now? Well, you know I’ve never been interested in that sort of connection.”
    “This way—”
    “You mean, your way?” spit out Jump.
    “I’m talking about an MC network with the Flames of Hell. And no, the Jacks won’t be the underdog satellite to a bigger national club or the lackey to some big-city mobsters or a Mexican cartel. We have the opportunity to create a pipeline from the East Coast through the Midwest and the Great Plains with other clubs who share our philosophy.”
    “The Flames are big, man. They’ve got plenty of mob ties,” said Dready.
    “They do, but not to all their businesses or all their territories. It wouldn’t have to touch us, not directly. We do our thing out here, keep the trade flowing. They get access to our product, high-quality tried-and-true product, and we get greater and easier distribution.”
    “Percentages?” asked Kicker.
    “Negotiable.”
    “And what do they want from us in our territory?” I asked.
    “Money-laundering to start and slowly introducing their product through our channels out West.”
    Jump’s face tightened.
    “It’s a form of stability, Jump. An opportunity to form something new. I know about the Blades cutting off your route to Texas. The Colorado Jacks are barely holding on.”
    “I’m handling it!”
    “Are you?”
    “You challenging me?”
    “No. Stating facts. The Jacks need an ally right now, and the Flames of Hell would be a formidable one. I’m telling you, the Blades’ predicament is attracting attention from other MCs that we have historically not gotten along with. If one of them gets a foothold in our neck of the woods, it aint’ gonna be good. The time has come to pick and choose, and we need to do so early and choose right.”
    “Listen to you,” Jump let out a dark laugh. “If it hadn’t been for your amazing leadership skills, our North Dakota chapter would be solid now. Luckily, Judge has a brain and has worked damn hard to clean up the mess you left behind.”
    “You think I don’t know that? I know that better than you, and it’s eating me up inside. I’ve been out there, Jump. I’ve visited a lot of clubs. Years ago, you had a chance to work with the Flames of Hell, but you didn’t want to. Dig was for it, creating something new and strong in our region, but you blasted that idea out of the water. Then, that opportunity died along with him. Since then, the Flames’ reach has gotten even stronger.”
    “You Finger’s number one fan now?”
    “I respect the man.”
    “We’ve been doing good all these years,” Jump said. “If it ain’t broke, I don’t fix it.”
    Butler’s blue eyes lightened in the sunlight filtering through the one large window that stretched across the side wall. “What do you fix, Jump? Over the years, it’s been noticed that you don’t fix much.”
    Heavy silence met that loaded statement. Obviously, the National Jacks weren’t happy with Jump.
    “And your idea of good only lasts so long,” Butler continued. “We need great now.”
    “Is this why you dragged that bitch out here?” Jump sneered.
    Butler pushed his coffee mug to the side. “My old lady happens to be the sister-in-law of the national VP of the Flames of Hell. You’d better watch how you talk and tread.”
    “And Led is her guard dog, huh? You fuck.”
    “South Dakota is far away from Ohio. They want to make sure their girl is being taken care of.”
    “That’s up to you, brother, not me.” Jump leaned back against his chair. “Unless your cock ain’t up for the job. I seem to remember hearing something like that. Is that what Led’s here for?”
    “Fuck you,” Butler spit out.
    “Jump, come on, man!” I mashed what was left of my smoke into the ashtray in front of me.
    Butler’s icy-blue eyes drilled holes into Jump. “My cock gets the job done. Question is, will yours?”
    “I don’t owe you shit, Butler. You think you can stroll back in here, and I’ll hand