Page 33 of Bear Hunt

“The other thing we need to talk about is the reappearance of Beaufort’s wife.” Hoops leans over the table and taps his index finger on the well-worn wood. “I don’t fucking like the coincidence is all I’m saying. The two things are linked, obviously, but I can’t figure out why she’d come back after all this time, knowing we’re watching her every move.” We all fall silent for a minute trying to put the pieces back together.

“Maybe she doesn’t have any other place to go? I mean, Beaufort owned her, right? Does she even know anyone outside of this town?” We look at Diablo in unison and all nod as his reasoning makes total sense.

“Yeah, I guess. So, what do we do? Maybe we should make her one of the Khunts? What was her name again?” This time we all shake our heads at Boner’s suggestion because no fucking way we’re inviting the fox into the hen house.

“Emily, and no. She may be a victim in all of this but we can’t just trust her into our home.” My words are even, calm. I’m well aware of how fucked up that woman’s life was for so long but what if she made contact with The Firm? What if she’s trying to get information on Athena? The coincidence is way too fucking alarming.

“Bear, I think we should bring your old lady back to the compound. Think you can convince her?” Hoops is aiming his question at me but very quickly turns his sights on Psycho and growls. “Convince, not lock up.” I freeze at the mention of “old lady” but then let a small smile grace my face. Yeah, I like the sound of that.

“Fucking hell. It wasonetiny misunderstanding.” By “one” I think Psycho means a dozen and by “misunderstanding” I think he means bulldozing decisions, but no one’s gonna correct himcause this motherfucker is volatile. “In the end, I was right so fuck y’all.”

Yeah, he got us there. He definitely had reason to worry.

Fuck, maybe I should too?

“Yeah, I’ll talk to her and see what she says.” I don’t know Athena as well as I’d like but I’m hoping she’s less hard headed than Mac. Bless her soul.

“All right. Bear, you get shit organized with Athena, see who wants to play babysitter when needed. Grinder, Boner, Crow. I want you three to go riding. Go talk to the good folks of Rockford Beach, see how they’re doin’, what’s goin’ on. I wanna know what the pharma company’s doing, if anything at all. Sledge, go see Celia. Try to get some information about Emily. Use that charm of yours and let that Brit accent work its magic.” I chuckle ‘cause… wrong team.

“Ah, Hoops. No offense but none of my charms will work. Maybe we should send in the prospect.”

Psycho and Grinder both start laughing as the rest of us just shake our heads. If we send Kincaid she’ll see right through us and, I’m sorry, but our prospect isn’t the type to play games.

“Christ, Sledge. Charms doesn’t equate getting in her panties. It means be nice and amiable.” Hoops chuckles too and it brings the necessary levity back to our group.

“All right, but you little cunts will see I was right, and when I am, I’ll be back collecting a tenner from each of ya.” No doubt, but then again…

“I refuse to underestimate the power of your British charms.” I lean back in my chair, the creaking of the wood telling me it’s feeling my weight and not liking it.

“Wankers.”

After church I headed straight for Lucy’s café with Mac in tow. As we pull up to the curb, I kick the stand with my heel and swivel off the bike. Earlier, Maribel had texted me letting me know that Lucy wanted to see Athena. My hope was that she was considering giving Athena the job but I still don’t know. Problem is, Mac just now got the IDs, so we hauled ass to bring them to her, just in case. The prospects, Jonesy and Kincaid, got the orders to bring her here and stay until I arrived.

“You know, I’m surprised Psycho hasn’t made a pouch for Gryff so he can take him on the bike.” That guy is capable of something like that. I don’t know how Mac convinced him to stay back at the compound.

“No, he won’t. He knows I’d castrate him.” Mac’s answer is so casual that it takes me a second to physically respond to it with a full body shiver.

“Duly noted.”

Before I even have time to raise my hand and pull the door open, the bell at the top goes off like a beacon and Paxton is standing there with a grin as wide as the Mississippi River.

“Whatcha doin’ here, little man?” I fucking love this kid.

“Mom’s lunch break, we’re eating. You brought your bike!” There’s no need to answer because Paxton is already sprinting across the sidewalk and crouching at the side of my bike as he looks around at all the parts. “It’s so big.” Standing back up, he walks over to Mac’s custom built one-of-a-kind and compares the sizes. “But I guess it makes sense since you’re so huge.”

Ruffling his hair and somehow not changing anything at all since the kid probably combs with his fingers, I crouch down byhis side and rest my elbows on my knees. Ain’t gonna lie… for someone my size, this position sucks balls.

“It’s a thirteen hundred, that’s cubic centimeters, which gives the bike its power and torque so it can handle my weight and accommodate my height when I want to accelerate. Or, ya know, for basic overall performance. I probably could have had a custom V-6 put on it to give me some extra power, but I’m already a lot of weight to put on the frame of a sport bike so I chose to stick with the lighter, standard four stroke, which means I need the higher CCs if I want to keep up with Mini Mac over there who’ll get the same results with her one thousand. Hell she’d probably get the job done with a seven-fifty but her husband doesn’t know the definition of moderation.”

“Will you take me for a ride someday?” When he asks the question, Paxton doesn’t look at me, he keeps his eyes on the bike. I know this tactic. He’s expecting a refusal but doesn’t want to actually see me say it. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say his father is a fucking asshole.

“You got a helmet?” Nudging him on the shoulder, very lightly to avoid him tumbling over, I add, “Ride, die, and bleed for speed, son, but safety first, always.”

This time Pax looks up at me with disappointment in his usually bright eyes. “No. I barely got enough clothes for school next month.” I have to control every fiber of my being to not growl at his words. Abusive parents make my skin crawl, but I’m the adult here so he needs me to be strong so he can take that strength and build on it.

“Tell ya what, I’ll look at the garage and see if they’ve got something hanging around there that’s your size, all right? Then I’ll come right over and take you on your first ride out.” Paxton whips his head back around so fast I’m afraid he’ll hurt his spine.

“You promise?”

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