Page 51 of Blackout-

“Twenty minutes,” I repeat, sobering to the best of my ability.

“Yeah, I don’t want to give this motherfucker a chance to change his mind. I’ll brief everyone once you’re all here.”

Swallowing, I step away from the bike and drop my hand from my aching jaw. I tear my eyes away from Riggs and turn to face the street. Jack doesn’t have to brief me on shit. I know all too well how this plays out and how it fucking ends.

“Black?” Jack calls into the phone.

“I’ll see you in twenty,” I say hoarsely before disconnecting the call. Sliding the phone into my pocket, I turn to Riggs. “Get your ass on your bike—”

“You’ve been drinking,” he sneers, cutting me off.

“That ain’t none of your business.”

“It’s my fucking business when your wife calls me and asks me to look for you. What the fuck are you doing?”

Ignoring him, I stride towards my bike and throw my leg over the seat. Straddling the machine, I turn my beady eyes onto him.

“We’re all going to Hell motherfucker, I’m going drunk.”

“Drunk and miserable,” he volleys.

“That’s my call, not yours. Now, get the fuck on your bike and a word to the wise,brother, the first shot was free, but if you ever think about taking a second, well, be prepared to pay the cost,” I warn before throttling my engine.

Leaving him in front of the cemetery, I peel away from the curb. Visions of Lacey’s face dance before me and regret seeps into my soul.

There is no time to make it right.

No time to apologize.

No time to tell her I love her.

No time to assure her we’ll get through this.

The devil don’t sleepand he sure as fuck don’t wait for no one.

Times up, motherfucker.

Chapter Nineteen

Blackie

By the timeI arrived at Jack’s the alcohol was starting to wear and the paranoia began to settle in. I was sure if anyone looked at me, they’d be able to tell I was fucked up, so I made a pit stop at the bodega around the corner from Jack’s house. I snatched a pair of cheap sunglasses from the rack in front of the register and fitted them to my face. Even with the fucking armor, I felt transparent. Before the clerk rang me up, I made my way to the back of the store and grabbed an energy drink. I placed that and the Tic Tac’s on the counter and pointed to the sunglasses on my face. As the man tallied my total, I spotted a package of Stacker 2’s. There were two capsules in the package, and I knew if I crushed and snorted them, I’d reverse the sluggish effects of the alcohol.

I paid the man and made my way back to my bike. There, I reached behind me and took out my gun. Using the heel of the clip, I crushed the capsules on the seat and dropped to my knees. It was broad fucking daylight and I was snorting amphetamines off the leather seat of my Harley. If that didn’t scream junkie, nothing did.

Sniffling, I brushed my hand over the leather, wiping away any excess. I rose to my full height and threw my leg over the bike. Flicking open the can, I downed the energy drink, dropping the empty can into my saddlebag. The shit started to hit me as I rounded the corner. Jack’s house came into view and I pulled my bike behind the others that lined his driveway. There was no sign of Riggs yet and that gave me a chance to pull my shit together before I faced Jack and the rest of my brothers.

Or at least it would’ve if Jack hadn’t jumped right into business. He didn’t give a fuck a few guys were missing. Time was of the essence and we’d catch the others up to speed once they arrived. In the meantime, Jack filled us in on his plan. He didn’t pause to hear anyone’s opinion. There was no vote. There was just our president and his manic quest to keep the people he considered his, safe. Too bad the only people he was keeping safe was Mac and Ryder. The rest of us would ride to our deaths, giving Jack Parrish one final hoorah.

If we survived, the fate of our club would be changed. We all knew it, Jack included. Yet, no one objected. Riggs and the others arrived and like the loyal soldiers we were, we followed him to an old paper factory in downtown Brooklyn.

Javier and his men arrived while we waited in the back lot of the building and as they filed out of their overpriced SUV’s, we dismounted. In another time and place, we would not be bowing to a man like Javier. The man was half my size and even in my fucking state, with sweat dripping from my brow and my heart racing, I knew I could snap the little fuckers neck right in half.

Pipe steps in front of Jack and I, blocking my view of Javier and his men as he fixes his eyes on Jack.

“Stryker and Cobra hid the guns inside the machines,” he tells him. Instantly I narrow my eyes, wondering when the fuck they had the opportunity to do that. “Thirty pieces for a meeting with Sergio. If he wants more, that can be negotiated but for a price and at a later date. No funny business Parrish,” he warns. “I got a kid on the way I wanna see be born and three others I still got to help raise.”

His words sucker punch me in the gut and I think about my own child. Wishing I would’ve taken the sonogram photo off the counter before I left, I lift my hand to my chest and rub at the ache. What I wouldn’t give to look at that grainy black and white photo one more time.

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