Page 28 of Gene

“What’s that?” Gene asked.

He had brought up something like this before, a talk when he first had come to him. The last time, it was about one of his men and a gambling problem. Gene had talked to him and set the guy straight.

“One of your men owes me money,” Deccan stated.

“Shit,” he muttered to himself. “Burt again?”

Burt was the man Gene talked to and set him straight. Or so he thought.

“Yes, more than last time,” Xavier chimed in.

Gene sighed and nodded. Last time, Gene paid off the debt of Burt and told him never to do it again or there would be consequences.

“Going to pay it off again?” Deccan asked.

“That’s none of your fucking business… but no. Do what you normally do.” Gene looked him in the eyes. “I told Burt there would be consequences if he did it again.”

“Even if it results in death?” Deccan tilted his head ever so slightly.

“Even if it results in death.” Gene clenched his jaw.

Did he like it? Absolutely not, but that was the way these things went. He had talked to Burt about it, let everyone know on the farm if it happened, he wouldn’t bail anyone out again.

Gene had to set an example, and it was going to be Burt.

Deccan grunted. “Interesting.”

“How?” Gene asked.

He wasn’t sure he really wanted to know.

“Thought you were going soft, but you aren’t.”

The only person he was going soft for was Sammi. She had him wrapped tightly around her pinky, and she didn’t even know it. He would do absolutely anything for her... within reason. He had a feeling deep down that she had a little rebellious side to her, and he couldn’t wait to see it.

“Like you’ve gone soft with Echo?” Gene asked.

He had been shocked when Deccan and Echo had got together, but even more shocked when apparently they had known each other for almost their whole lives. Echo was someone everybody looked out for and still did, but ever since Deccan laid his claim, he had been taking real good care of her.

Deccan growled, and Xavier chuckled.

“Don’t you even talk.” Deccan glared at Xavier. “Somebody’s got you wrapped around their finger.”

“Ooooo, do tell. Do tell. Do I know them?” Gene moved his body so he could look at both Deccan and Xavier.

“He won’t tell anybody. She is a secret.” Deccan shook his head.

“Not a secret,” Xavier mumbled. “She’s innocent, and she doesn’t know that I’m part of an MC. Doesn’t knowyet. But nobody’s going to work out who it is.”

Gene knew how he felt. He didn’t know if he was ever going to tell his life partner that he manufactured drugs on the side. How did you tell somebody that? Who would be okay with that? That was the real question. But if Deccan could find somebody, then there had to be somebody out there for Gene.

Sammi.

Sammi was the person for Gene. He could feel the connection with her, and he had no doubt that she was the one. Now, it was a case of getting her to trust him, telling her about the drugs, and hoping for the best.

“Well, I’ve got to get going. I’ll let you know what my guys say later today.”

Gene stood, shook Deccan’s hand, and nodded to Xavier.

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