Page 39 of Magnetic Temptations

Knowing that they’ll all be tired when they get back, I start a pot of coffee and dig underneath the cabinet until I find the thermoses that’ll keep them nice and warm while starting a second container. I keep that routine going until they’re all full and there’s one on the warmer.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

MASON

TWO HOURS EARLIER

Luckily for us, the farm truck was parked in the pasture to the left of us, and since the keys are always left in the ignition, Maverick and I hopped into it so that when we find Myles he doesn’t have to ride bitch on the back of my motorcycle. Mamba stated he was going to take my bike and put it back in storage so I didn’t have to worry about putting it away before going after my brother.

A memory of the past flashes through my mind as I drive behind the brigade of brothers. I had just restored the frame of my bike and had gotten it out of the shop I’d used to paint her. I was so damn proud of myself as I drove it to where my brothers were throwing a party at one of the fire pits. It was the furthest one from my parents’ house. I remember to this day how high the flames were and the fear that one of the trees nearby was going to catch fire. Not wanting my newly restored bike anywhere in the vicinity of the roaring blaze, I parked yards away and walked over to the keg and grabbed a solo cup, filling it to the brim.

Swiping the foam off the top with my finger, I flung it onto Myles who took it like a champ. The night flew by and we became stumbling, slurring drunks and I forgot I’d rode over. When we were this fucked up, we’d always walk home. At that time, we were staying in the bunkhouse with the ranch hands, and thankfully, it wasn’t a far walk or we would’ve ended up planted on the ground face down for the night.

The next morning, Myles and I took our hungover asses to ride my bike back only to discover that the animals had chewed the leather off my saddle and gnawed on the wiring, splintering it. Needless to say, I was so damn pissed that I had to walk my baby back to the shed so I could start over with the revamp process that I’d mentioned taking them all to the slaughter house and hitting up the auction to replace them, all of them. I wanted them gone for what they’d done to my first true love.

Myles helped me on that second round and fell in love with riding and restoring, but his love went deeper and he started working on old muscle and classic cars—which is why he now has a side gig and has earned himself a soaring reputation of being the most sought out restoration mechanic in the surrounding cities and townships.

I continue to think about how proud I am of Myles and his accomplishments as I park the truck, hop out, and follow the brothers into the warehouse.

Hydro, issuing a command finally breaks through my inner musings. “Fan out, I want every damn shelf moved from the walls and checked. We’re looking for a red button that’ll slide open a floor panel so watch your step.”

Maverick, Gunner, and I end up on a team together. I have a feeling it’s because the man wants to keep his eyes on us. My family is tight, but our dad never hovered over us the way Gunner does so this has taken some getting used to. Instinct has me veering to the very back of the warehouse where row after row of shelving is stacked. Not only are they hugging the wall, but they're also piled in front of each other, five columns deep.

“Drag marks,” I say, pointing to the ground to show my brother and Gunner.

“Y’all start moving them and I’ll check the floor and see if I can spot the hidden door. Laura said it was on the deck, right?” Gunner asks.

Sometimes I have to read between the lines and interpret their verbiage. Deck to Gunner means the ground so I nod my head as Mav and I start working on removing the first row of metal shelves from the cement block walls. They’re heavier than they look and it has me considering the fact that we may be in the wrong area. If it takes the two of us to drag them, I don’t see how Benji managed to do this on his own.

As we get the first one far enough back so we can work on the next set, a horn beeps and we turn around to see Kruger driving a forklift and Tex standing on the side, a beaming smile on his face as he shakes his hips.

“That man,” Mav says, “is one crazy motherfucker.”

“They both are,” I confirm. “But they're smart as hell. Benji must’ve used that side loader to move them back and forth.”

Maverick snorts, shaking his head. “I bet he did the same as us the first time he tried this, which explains the drag marks you found.”

“I’m thinking the same thing, little brother,” I state.

“Need a hand?” Tex asks as he leaps off the machine.

“Fuck yeah,” I tell him, taking a step back so Kruger has enough room to drive the forks under the shelves. He manages to grab two of them at a time, which means we’ll be able to get to the wall that much quicker.

When the last two are grabbed and moved, Gunner announces, “Got it! Call the others over.”

A trickster look crosses Texas’ face as he jogs over to a room off to the side and when the loud speakers kick on, an ear-splitting sound reverberates through the warehouse. Its screeching is loud enough that I have to cup both of my ears. “Evening, my badass brothers. Thank you for shopping at Rescuing Myles R’ Us. If you will kindly make your way to the south wing of the factory, you’ll find the red button we’ve uncovered. As always, thank you for being a valued member.” When he hangs up the mic, the piercing sound is just as jarring.

“Remind me to smack him in the back of his head so his ears ring!” Kruger broadcasts, wiggling his fingers in his ears to pop them which explains why his words are shouted.

We all come together, everyone, including me, sending Tex a murderous look as we stand shoulder to shoulder while Gunner hits the control switch and the floor opens up to a set of stairs leading downward.

Rock pushes Gunner and Hydro to the back as he and Master take the lead. Malice would be the one who’s normally at Rock’s side, but since he stayed behind to watch over Kings and the clubhouse, Master has temporarily taken over the enforcer job. Neither one of the presidents looked impressed by being shuffled to the middle, but the men were voted into their positions for a distinct reason—primarily, to protect the presidents and vice presidents of the club.

“Found the switch,” Master announces, and once he flips it, the entire lower level floods with a bright, fluorescent light.

“Myles?” Rock calls out his name.

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