Page 44 of Ride Long
“It’s your fault,” Rick said. “I’m just the messenger. The newbieshitkicker.”
“My fault?” I grabbed the front of his shirt and jerked himclose.
“Marini said it would be all-out war unless he gave them Betty. Who do you think he’s gonna choose? The bitch who ran away orus?”
“Has the deal been made?” Gasket asked, pushing in between Rick andme.
I loosened my grip and stood back, wanting nothing more than to go back to Marini’s rooms and put a bullet in his head. He was going to sell off his own daughter…again. Sloane, the woman I…Hell.
“Not yet. He’s still considering terms. Waiting for the heat from the train to dieoff.”
Gasket shoved Rick back against the wall, and before he could move another inch, the biker brought his fist down on his temple. The kid’s eyes rolled, and he crumpled to the ground in aheap.
“Fuck!” I roared, fisting my hands into myhair.
“You didn’t know,” Gasket said, watching my meltdown with a raised eyebrow. “You were only following orders. Hell, even I didn’tknow.”
“Something’s gotta be done. Sloane’s timeline… There isn’t going to be enough time to pull itoff.”
“He’s becoming more and more erratic. I don’t know what you’ve got going on, but you’re right. This isn’t the time to play the long game. Marini…” Gasket shook hishead.
“It’s not about the club,” I said. “It’s about saving his ownass.”
Gasket nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly withme.
“Do you think you’d have the support?” I knew Sloane wanted to take Fortitude, but with our shortened timeline, Gasket could have the following we needed to outMarini.
“Don’t know,” the biker replied. “I’m well liked, but that doesn’t alwaystranslate.”
I grunted. We had to work fast,then.
“What are we going to do about him?” I nodded at Rick’s comatose body. It was the second KO in as many hours. “He’s going to rat us out. No questions. We can’t afford anyleaks.”
“I’ll take him for a ride,” the biker replied. “A longone.”
I nodded, glad I wasn’t the one taking another body out to the desert for achange.
“Marini will ask questions,” Iquipped.
“And I’ll have a story forhim.”
“You’ve done this before, haven’t you?” I narrowed myeyes.
“More times than I care to remember.” That was something we had incommon.
What a mess. Harley attacking Sloane had done us one favor at least. His dumb ass had bought us some time while Marini thought over his fate. The boss would make Harley squirm, then make a spectacle out of his punishment, forcing Sloane and the entire club to watch the torture, andthendo the deal with the HollowMen.
I was so done with this whole night. Turning, I took a step toward the stairs, but Gasket grabbed my arm and wrenched me towardhim.
“Don’t tell her,” he commanded. “Don’t tell her about Marini’splan.”
I narrowed my eyes and wrenched my arm away. Gasket couldn’t commandme.
“She’s not ready, Chaser. She’s not supposed to be in thisworld.”
“I think you’re underestimating her capabilities,” I drawled. “You’ve seen her break Harley’s nose and change a few tires. That’s not everything she is. Sloane is…” I didn’t know the right word to describe the power in her. Holding it together was one thing, but sacrificing her freedom, knowing what fate might’ve awaited her, to fight back? It was something special. Even I hadn’t been able to dothat.
“She’s not ready,” Gasket repeated moreforcibly.
“It’s not about being ready,” I said, walking away from him. “No one is ever ready to fight for theirlives.”
