Page 102 of Hell & Back

“Tink.” Race’s growl was his warning.

“Okay. Can’t talk about the past. Can’t talk about anyone’s preference in whores. Can I ask what the Sons do for money these days? We still into guns and drugs?”

“No. We got out of drugs and guns. Most of us wanted to stay alive and out of prison.” He gave Tink a pointed stare. “We now own a business called Weed Eaters. We have two stores. Marijuana is legal in Colorado and we sell a variety of flavors in a variety of forms.”

“No shit?”

Everyone at the table noted how Race deliberately left out the other businesses, Bottom’s Up and Ink Envy. That right there was telling.

“Who was that pretty blonde woman I saw in the kitchen earlier? She had green eyes and a cute little mole at the corner of her upper lip? She was tall and built like a stripper.”

“That would be Sadie and she’s off limits,” Dagger jumped in. “She’s under the Sons’ protection, so don’t go there.”

Jed tensed and a muscle jumped in his jaw when Tinker brought up Sadie. Tinker tried to hide his reaction to the way Dagger spoke to him, but Darren hadn’t missed it. The man was good at hiding things and deflecting, but that one slipped through. He’d also noticed the angry way he stared at Jed when he thought no one was looking.

“Okay, just so I have this straight. No fucking Sadie and no fucking old ladies.”

“That’s it.” Jackson shot to his feet. “I don’t care who you used to be, you will not disrespect our old ladies. And if you come anywhere near mine, I won’t be responsible for what happens.” Maverick, Dagger and Jed had all followed Jackson to their feet.

Race slowly stood. If he could gut the man with just his glare, Tinker would be dead. “Maybe you should go find a bed now and sleep off some of that booze? It’s been a while since you’ve had adrink, so you might not be able to hold your liquor like you used to.”

Darren wasn’t sure how much Tinker had had to drink, but his semi-glassy eyes indicated he’d had more than a few before coming into church.

It was probably a good thing that Race cut off Tinker’s rant when he did. Jackson was about five seconds away from flying across the table and ripping the old guy a new one. It was bad enough when he’d brought up Maverick’s past in front of Jackson, but this was going too far. He was aware that his dad had a fondness for whores a long time ago and had cheated on his mom. It had been a sore spot between the two of them for years. It had only been since the birth of his son, Ryker, that things had started really getting better between them. That and Jane having kicked his ass out until he got his shit straight.

“Sure. Maybe you’re right. I could use a shower. If you could point me in the direction of a room, I think I’ll go lie down for a bit.” He stood from the table. “Maybe when I wake up, the whores will be back.”

“One thing you should know before you go. Sweet butts only fuck who they want to fuck. It’s not mandatory for protection from the club.” Race made sure Tinker was aware of how things were done around here now.

A muscle ticked in Tinker’s jaw. It was minute, but again, Darren had been watching him closely. He dipped his head and forced a smile. “Sure, prez.”

“Dagger, can you set Tink up with a room?”

“Sure.” Dagger waved for Tinker to follow him and left the room.

After the door closed, Jackson, Maverick and Jed all took their seats. Race waited for everyone to get settled before he said, “Tink’s not known to be a team player. He’s always been out for himself and he lives for stirring up shit. Everyone needsto be on their toes. I don’t want him knowing about any other business for now. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. Make sure you let Cutter and Miles know not to talk about them in front of him, either.”

“How long do we have to put up with his shit before we can ban him from the club?” Jackson wanted to know.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that he was one of the founding members, I’d have run him off as soon as he walked through the door. Technically, he said he didn’t want anything to do with the club once he went to prison. Said none of us were his brothers because a true brother wouldn’t have left his ass to get caught. Truth of the matter was Jed was a newly patched brother and was left with a difficult decision. Both Dagger and Tinker had been shot and he could only get to one before the police got there. Dagger had the more severe injury and he also happened to be closer.” He turned to Jed. “That’s an ax he’s been grinding for a long time. He’s going to come at you because he wants payback. So watch your back.

“I can almost guarantee he’s going to come at the rest of you by trying to divide you and make you doubt each other. Don’t let him get in your heads. You’ve seen exactly how he works by the way he tried to pit Jackson against Maverick just now. It won’t work.” He made eye contact with each of them. “Hear me?”

“Yeah. I hear you.” Jackson realized Race was making it known that of the two, he was the weaker link.

“As for how long he’ll be here? I’m going to give him three strikes. He fucks up or goes against the rules three times, he’s out. And I highly doubt it will take all that long.” He paused then asked if there were any questions. When none were put forth, he turned everyone loose.

As far as Darren was concerned, he wasn’t going to give Tinker another thought for the rest of the night. Right now, he and Tuck were going to load Kylie up and take her home. Theyhad a promise to keep and it started with their bed, getting naked and working on making her pass out again.

And if Tinker got anywhere near their woman, he’d live to regret it.

DARREN

Things were getting into somewhat of a routine again now that the Phantom Furies MC had been dealt with and thanks to Preacher, the cartel was no longer trying to move into Redemption. The only hitch in the otherwise smooth running of things came in the form of Tinker. The man was still spreading his brand of discord and Race was almost to the point he was ready to kick him out. He’d had one strike and they were all waiting for the next two so they could celebrate as the door hit him in the ass as he left.

The next few weeks with Kylie went by in a blur. The drug remained in his system for several more days after their return, although it seemed to be lessening. For those days after they’d come back from dealing with the PFMC, he would find himself reaching for Kylie or seeking her out when the urge hit him. It drove him nuts. It wasn’t an all consuming, continuous ache that ruled his life anymore. He would be going about his life, thinking he was finished with the side effects and then out of nowhere, with no rhyme or reason, the need to fuck would hit him like a sledgehammer.

He honestly didn’t know how Kylie handled it. No matter how many times he needed her, added with the times Tuck needed her, she never told them no. He and Tuck thought maybebecause of the pregnancy hormones, she was able to keep up with the two of them.

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