Page 10 of Stone

My gut jerked as the brothers started filing back into the clubhouse, allowing the officers to precede them, bored now the big reveal was over. “Is that new club over in Mapletree still causin’ shit?”

“Yeah,” Mom stated. “Dad had a face-to-face with their President, Thrash. They want in on the Demon’s business. He offered Dad their backup if needed.”

My brow creased in thought. “I don’t trust ‘em.”

Mom’s amused stare slashed to meet mine, and she smiled knowingly. “That’s exactly what your dad said. Needless to say, he passed. Told Thrash to keep the Burning Sinners out of Hambleton or get shot in the head.”

I hummed, deep in thought. “Maybe Pop should’a shot him there and then. It may have saved us some hassle in the future.”

Mom shrugged. “It’s not for me to say, John. I don’t get involved in club business. Your dad knows what he’s doing.”

I rubbed at the stubble on my face thoughtfully. “Right.”

“You coming back in for coffee?” she asked. “We’re about to take some fresh biscuits out of the oven.”

“Sorry, Ma.” I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I gotta new bike to ride. I’ll grab somethin’ at the new coffee place in town.”

“New coffee place,” she grumbled. “Why are people gonna go out and pay exorbitant prices for something they can make at home? It’ll never take off.” She patted my cheek lovingly. “Ride steady, Son.”

After watching Mom and Iris disappear back into the clubhouse, I went to the garage to grab my helmet. Returning to my new bike, I threw my leg over the saddle and turned on the engine, a wide grin stealing across my features at the unmistakable pop-pop-popping only a Harley engine could make. Then, I raised a hand at the guys milling around the parking lot and cruised through the gates toward town.

It was the perfect day for riding, albeit a little hot. My bike felt good between my legs, something I hadn’t experienced for a while, seeing as I hadn’t had any other girl between my legs since the day I’d noticed Elise. She was still a month away from eighteen, and although we’d experimented, we hadn’t gone the whole way yet. I wanted to wait until she was legal for a couple of reasons.

First, Leesy’s dad wasn’t my biggest fan. He already had a low opinion of me because my dad was the prez of a one-percenter MC. That little diamond patch meant we were criminals, even though Pop made sure to donate money to the town and the local church. It seemed our ill-gotten proceeds were acceptable in some cases.

Second, I respected Elise. I knew she’d be mine the instant I saw her down the creek on her sixteenth birthday. It was the day I’d noticed she’d turned from a girl into a woman and the day my heart started beating only for her. She’d always been a pretty girl—the town’s sweetheart—but growing up in an MC, I was more jaded and didn’t buy into all the all-American prom queen and town bad boy shit. Then that day, down at the creek, the sun had come out from behind a cloud and hit her with its beams, and something exploded inside my chest.

It had taken a year, but eventually, her dad allowed me to take her out on a date, and she’d been my girl ever since.

I always enjoyed the ride to town. Hambleton was a small rural town in southern Wyoming, adjacent to the Utah border. Our climate was warm in summer and cold in winter, and picturesque countryside, mountains, and streams surrounded us.

Living here was idyllic. Leaving for the military would be a wrench, but it would only be for three years, and I knew I needed to escape if I wanted the independence that came with being a man. Although club life could be challenging, in a way, I was stillprotected. Joining the military would stop me from being reliant on the brothers and make me learn to stand on my own two feet.

Main Street was busy with people going about their business. Still, I managed to find a space to park close to the café—or coffee shop as the new owner called it. I dismounted and removed my helmet, then angled my bike onto its kickstand before going inside.

The smell of coffee beans hit me, along with the aroma of baking. I looked around to see a couple of my buds sitting at the back of the room. After being served, I grabbed my coffee cup and weaved around the chairs and tables to join them.

Steve Hardin was one of my best buddies. We went through school together and ran in the same circles. He sat with Robert Henderson, the mayor’s son and somebody I knew well through our dads.

“Hey!” Steve exclaimed, standing to clap me on the shoulder. “Happy birthday, Stone.”

“Thanks.” I waggled my eyebrows. “Remember that Sportster I was looking at last month? Well, Dad finally put his hand in his pocket and bought it for me.”

Steve’s head reared back slightly. “He won't stick you with the finance bill, will he?”

“Apparently not.” I took a sip of coffee, my stare sliding to Rob. “How’s life at the mayor’s office?”

He shrugged. “Okay. My dad’s passing the bill on the bar you guys want to open, so you can tell Bandit he can start work on the old Jenkins building next month.”

“Looks like that donation Pop made to the town council worked like a charm.” I smirked.

Steve raised a hand to cover his laugh.

Robert’s eyes narrowed. “My dad’s not crooked.”

Rolling my eyes, I shrugged. “Mine fuckin’ is. There's no need to cry about it, Rob. So your dad likes to accept little incentivesfor the town. As long as things in Hambleton tick along nicely and the residents are happy, who cares?”

“The town’s not hurting for it, either,” Steve interjected. “We’re overrun at the estate agency with inquiries. Everybody wants to move to Hambleton, but there’s no stock. It’s driving house prices up.”

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