Page 125 of Colt

I shrugged. “She’s always wanted one. Thought she deserved a little treat.”

Cash barked another laugh.

Fucker.

“A little treat?” Bowie said, eyebrow cocked. “How much are they?”

A waved a nonchalant hand. “I can afford it. A couple’a hundred G’s won’t make a dent in what I’ve got.”

Prez’s lips tightened. “I don’t know what the fuck you boys are talkin’ about. If it ain’t a motorcycle, it’s not on my radar.”

“Speakin’ of which,” Atlas interjected. “We were out on the bikes today and I could feel the ice on the roads. First snow’s on its way. Maybe we should start picking the Sinners off sooner rather than later. It’ll be easier on bikes than in SUVs.”

“It’s Kennedy’s party tomorrow night,” Breaker said thoughtfully. “We can send patrols out starting Sunday. We’ll need Saturday to call a full member Church and fill the boys in.”

Atlas leaned forward. “We’ll have to formulate a plan. Bikes are more maneuverable but we’re gonna need vans for the bodies.”

“Patrols of three,” Prez ordered. “Two on bikes. One driving a van.”

“Or we could do three out on their bikes, then send vans in afterward to clean-up,” Cash suggested.

“What do you all think?” Dagger asked the room before turning to Abe. “Come on, voice of reason, out with it.”

“Prefer Cash’s idea,” Abe admitted. “Safety in numbers.”

“Me too,” Bowie added.

“Works for me,” Atlas chimed in.

Breaker sat forward, elbows to table. “I’ll be blowing shit up wherever I can, so you do you, boo.”

Dagger rolled his eyes. “Looks like I’m outvoted.”

“The son surpasses the father,” Abe crowed. “He’s been doin’ that a lot lately.”

Prez shrugged one shoulder. “Ain’t complainin’. Bandit always said, each President should be better than the last.”

“Didn’t take much to surpass Bandit, Dagger. You lucked out there.” Abe smirked.

Chuckles went around the room.

My thoughts raced as I considered the implications of our decision. It wasn’t just about pulling off another job; it was about protecting our family and our town. If we failed, everything we worked so hard to build would come crashing down.

Not for the first time, I wished I’d be around. I felt like a rat deserting a sinking ship, but on the other hand, I could help from behind the scenes too.

Atlas scratched his beard. “So back to the little piggy in the Cell. I bagsy first dibs.”

“Go for it,” Prez said indulgently. “But once you get what we need, get rid of him. Don’t want you playing with your food today. We gotta party to get ready for and a girl to return to her home.”

“Me and Iris will sort that,” Abe told Dagger. “You guys deal with the asshole. I’m getting’ too old for torture, and my Iris needs to put her feet up more, not stand over a sink scrubbin’ blood outta my clothes.”

“Gotta say,” Prez mused. “I’m startin’ to feel the same way. It all seems like a lotta effort to me these days. Love the club and love the businesses, but the tough stuff is losin’ its appeal more and more. Maybe it’s time we took that step back we were talkin’ about, Abe.”

My eyebrows snapped together. “Huh?”

Cash, Breaker, and Bowie exchanged looks.

Atlas folded his arms across his chest and cocked his head.

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