Page 23 of Jackal

My brow furrowed. “You don’t want her here with you and Cindy?”

“She’s not meant for this life. Pops would roll over in his graveif she ended up with one of you fuckers,” he said.

“I know what you mean,” I said as I took a long draw from my beer. Some folks aren’t cut out for this life, and some just don’t need to be part of it. Honestly, no woman deserves to be wrapped up in it, but sometimes you can’t choose who you love and who loves you. And some women choose this life knowing the risks. But some onlythinkthey know what they want, then end up crushed and lost.

Eagle leaned in close. “You still pretending you don’t want her, old man?”

My eyes cut in his direction. “You need to mind your business, little one.”

“Yeah, that’s not my thing and you’re stuck with me now. As your VP, I’m telling you to stop being a martyr and go after what you want.”

“You like Shiv?” Falcon asked. “Get after it man.”

“Geezus. I don’t need your input.”

Hawk ran his thumb over the rim of his tumbler. “She could be good for you, man.”

“What the fuck? You, too? I thought you’d be on my side.”

“I am. She’s not going anywhere, so you may as well accept it. Do you think she’d be better off alone here? She’s looking for a place to rent and a job. If this new club has been watching us, they probably already know who she is.”

She could be in danger. Barring strapping her to my Harley and driving her to Illinois, I couldn’t make her leave. Still, I could protect her without ruining her. “I’ll take that into consideration, Prez.”

Cindy walked over and filled Hawks glass. “What are you boys plotting?”

“Mama Hen, what do you think about Shiv?” Eagle asked as he leaned his elbows on the table.

“I love her. Why?” she asked. When none of us answered,she rolled her eyes. “Y’all need anything else? Dinner should be ready in a bit.”

“A few more beers,” Falcon said.

She nodded and walked away, leaning over the bar to tell the bunny what we needed.

After a few more beers and small talk, Cindy announced dinner was ready on the grills, so we headed outside to eat.

A couple of members manned the grills. With so many brothers living on site and even more dropping in on the weekend, grilling was easier to feed everyone. Looked like chicken and ribs.

The sun was out, but starting to go down. It wasn’t a party but there was still a good amount of bodies wandering around, though it was only DE and some bunnies.

I grabbed a plate and piled on some meat, potato salad, cole slaw, and bread, then plopped down at a picnic table. Hawk, Rooster, and Squatch sat with me and we talked about the mechanic shop for a while.

“Jackal won’t be back there for a bit. He’s got something important to do for me for now,” Hawk said before taking a generous bite of potato salad.

“No problem, Prez. But he sure is handy to have around,” Squatch said as he gnawed at a rib bone. He’d been part of the club for a while and was good people, but he was a big, hairy dude. “So anything we need to know about the little project from earlier?” he asked, licking his fingers.

Hawk was finished with his food and lit a cigarette. After blowing a plume of smoke away from the table he said, “Keys is doing some checks. Just keep your eyes peeled for any unfamiliar cuts.”

Squatch’s lips thinned within his thick beard. “New club in town? Since when?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out. This week, nobody butDE in or out of here. Not even pizza delivery,” Hawk said as he took another drag.

“You got it.”

They were still chatting but my focus turned to a table across the courtyard. Shivana was smiling and laughing, her hand lightly pressing against the chest of a member who was barely patched in.

“Jackal?”

“Huh?”

---