Page 51 of Ride Forever
Chapter 19
Sloane
Chaser and I rode across the rocky deserts of Nevada, into California, past Death Valley, and down to the I-15.
We stopped for gas at a little shack in the middle of nowhere and called Gasket to let him know we were incoming. My gaze was constantly over my shoulder, but nothing appeared. Nothing ominous, anyway. We kept our heads down, stuck to the speed limit, and did our best to be inconspicuous as two Harley Davidson motorcycles would allow. It seemed we were in the clear…for now.
It was late afternoon by the time we rolled into the Fortitude compound. Gasket was waiting for us in the garage, and the roller door rose as we turned into the driveway. Driving into the safety of the shop, our engines fell into silence as he closed us inside.
Jumping off my bike, I smacked my ass, trying to get the feeling back into both cheeks. Luckily, I had taut thigh muscles from all that leg spreading with Chaser. Otherwise, I would have been sore for days after that marathon. Finally, I patted my windblown cheeks and hoped someone had left some moisturizer behind because something told me a bunch of burly bikers wasn’t that interested in skin care.
“I led them right to you,” Gasket said, looking pissed. “If I’d known, I would never have come out there.”
“Shit happens,” Chaser replied, shucking off his duffel bag. “You didn’t know. We got out, so there’s no use getting pissed about it.”
“Bested by Rocket.” Gasket scratched his beard, looking sheepish. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
I let my own bag fall to the floor and rolled my shoulders. “We’re not exactly on Spring Break. This whole thing has been one mess up after the next. I’m a wanted criminal, so a shootout is nothing.” Gasket opened his mouth, and I held up a hand. “Nuh-uh, don’t even say it. Believe me, I know.”
“I was going to say nice motorcycle, kid.”
“Nice save.” I winked.
“Let’s talk about this later,” Chaser stated. “We’ve gotta clean up, but we can’t hole up here forever.”
“The renegades are working with those Hollow Men fuckers,” Gasket drawled. “Your fight is our fight now. Those assholes made it personal.”
My stomach growled, breaking the rising anger in the garage, and I slapped a hand over my gut.
“You want something to eat, kid?” Gasket asked, glancing at Chaser. “We’ve got a new cook.”
Chaser’s expression contorted into annoyance, and he began walking toward the compound.
“Where are you going?” the old biker called out.
“I owe Monroe a punch in the face,” Chaser replied, not breaking stride.
Gasket raised his eyebrows, looking at me expectantly.
“He gave us useless information in exchange for all this,” I explained. “A black eye is the least of that guy’s worries.”
“Well, he better not hit him too hard because the old fucker makes a mean gumbo.”
“Is that all you can think of?” I retorted as we followed Chaser inside.
Gasket took the duffel bags and threw them over his shoulder. “As I see it, Monroe is a washed-up old man, whose life was one step away from bankruptcy. Can’t blame him for wanting to cash in rather than end up sleeping under a bridge someplace. Maybe he really did believe his information was good, or maybe he played Chaser from the beginning. Either way, he’s going to fit right in around here.”
The compound was rather empty as we made our way to the kitchens. With half the club gone and the women and kids off in San Francisco, it was deathly quiet. Not the greatest choice of words, but the closer we go to our destination, the noisier it became.
“I swear, I thought it was good!” an unknown voice shouted.
I glanced at Gasket as we stepped into the kitchen, but the old biker was grinning at the scene before us.
Chaser had a pudgy African-American man up against the wall, his hands fisted into a greasy apron that covered a sizeable potbelly. I assumed this was the mysterious Monroe. I sniffed the air and let out ahumph. Something was cooking, and it smelled really good.
“Nothing like a little tussle to grease the wheels,” Gasket said in amusement.
“I don’t appreciate being played,” Chaser said, snarling. “Especially when the life of the women I fucking love is at stake.”
