Resurrection (The Lone Riders MC Series Book 3) by Michelle Betham Read Free Book Online

of that truck, and Christ knows how it didn’t cause more damage than it did...’ He downed his second shot, but the alcohol was having no effect. It wasn’t helping ease the pain dredging up those memories had caused. ‘It was Michael who helped me…’ His eyes met Coby’s, holding the stare. ‘Did you know Sheriff Bailey’s been in the pocket of my father for all this time?’
    Coby’s expression remained stoic.
      ‘I was well aware he was working under the instruction of my father,’ Ben continued, dropping his gaze. ‘You know, to this day I still have no idea why he didn’t just try and kill me once and for all back then…’ He swallowed a third whisky shot, dropping his head into his hands. ‘Michael he…’ Ben looked up, raking both hands back through his hair, his eyes meeting Coby’s. ‘He sorted me a place at law school. He organized my new name, new background, new papers…’ His laugh was dry; humorless. ‘I guess after all those years of breaking the law, I thought trying to fix it would be the least I could do.’
    Coby said nothing for a few beats. He’d had his suspicions that Michael Bailey’s loyalty may not be all it seemed, but now he had proof. And he had yet to work out how he felt about that. ‘You’re good at your job, Ben.’
    Ben’s eyes remained locked with Coby’s. ‘Which one?’ That was a question that needed no answer. ‘Anyway,’ Ben broke the stare, looking down into his empty glass, ‘… now my father wants to finish the job. Get rid of me for good this time. Before any of his lies are exposed.’
    ‘And what about you?’
    Ben frowned. ‘What about me?’
    ‘What do you want to do?’
    ‘I want my brother to know the truth. And I want to finish my own job.’
    Coby watched as Ben downed another shot of whisky. He was fast seeing off the bottle. ‘Then we’re gonna have to play this carefully.’
    Ben’s frown deepened. ‘I don’t understand…’
    ‘Look, I wouldn’t flinch if Hector Almeda was wiped off the face of this earth. But let’s work together here, Ben. Get him on side, get your brother on side, and I know that isn’t gonna be easy, but I need you to appease any fucker you can because if we can just try and lull them into a false sense of security…’
    ‘I don’t want anything to happen to my brother, Coby. He’s as much a victim of my father’s lies and betrayal as I am. As Marianna was. Let me tell him the truth…’
    Coby shook his head, clasping his hands together. ‘And what if he doesn’t believe you?’
    ‘You want me to throw myself at his mercy, too? Ask his forgiveness for something I didn’t fucking do?’
    ‘For now. Until we know what the hell’s going on.’
    Ben’s sigh was heavy with a weary resignation. And the whisky was starting to have an effect now.
    ‘I’m asking a lot of you here, Ben, I understand that. But we need you, brother. We fucking need you.’
    Ben leaned forward, his head dropping back into his hands. He had no choice. Once again, he had no choice…

Seven
     
     
    ‘I’m begging you to stop this, Hector. Please. Before something kicks off that this town can’t deal with.’
    ‘Scared you’ll be exposed, Sheriff?’
    ‘Of course I’m scared I’ll be fucking exposed. Jesus ! If Sol finds out I covered up every piece of shit you created I’m a fucking dead man! Not to mention the risk of Coby and the Lone Riders finding out just how close to your club I really am so, yeah, I’m scared. I’m fucking terrified.’
    ‘You think Coby Walker would have something to say about the fact you’ve kept your involvement with us hidden?’
    ‘Are you fucking kidding me? Yes, he’d have something to say. And he’s not a man known for taking the diplomatic route. I could lose more than my fucking job here, Hector.’
    ‘You disappearing is the least of my worries, Sheriff.’ Hector looked up, a slow, sinister smile creeping across his face. ‘In fact, should that be the case, then