Page 33 of Tangled Threats on the Nomad Highway
“Gunny’s gonna be there.” The warning lookBane leveled at Horse spoke to his memory of the near altercationat the fire last night, too.
“Already talked to him this morning. Clearedthe air.” Horse scoffed. “Man’s got a hero complex, big as abarn.”
“He’s my SAA, brother.” The tone of Bane’svoice had changed subtly, dropping an octave as it became anadmonition. “Don’t need no shit.” He stood, and Einstein matchedhis movement, shuffling a half step towards Marian. If Bane wasexpecting to throw down with his patch brother, Einstein wouldn’tbe in the middle of it, but he’d make sure the woman was wellclear.
“What’s SAA?” Luke’s question broke thesilence, and when Einstein looked at the boys, he found Thadstanding in front of his brother. The similarity to his positioningwith Marian was striking.
No surprise there.
“Means he stands at my back. Helps keep meand our brothers safe.” Bane’s explanation didn’t encompass thefull duties of a SAA but was close enough. The implication thatGunny might have to protect Bane against Horse was interesting, butmaybe Einstein was the only one who took the words that way.
“Against threats outside the club, or frominside if needed.”Maybe not.Horse’s response said he’dunderstood Bane the same as Einstein. The rigidness of hisshoulders spoke to how the warning had been received. “Which won’thappen, because brothers have each other’s backs, too.”
“How about you, Einstein? Where do you standon the topic of brothers having other brothers’ backs? Hmm?” Bane’sgaze didn’t budge from where he had Horse pinned, and Einsteinwasn’t certain what motivation was behind trying to drag him intotheir argument.
Not playing your games.“My take onit is narrowed to the reality within the Bama Bastards. I try notto think about other examples I might have experienced. With theBBMC, hell yeah, we have each other’s backs, come hell or highwater. Other clubs?” He shrugged, and Bane turned to look at him,eyes wide and brows lifted. “Some, not so much. In my experience,it is entirely dependent on the leadership. Knowing Blackie as I dofrom the stories about the man, I’d expect him to cultivate asupportive atmosphere. Good men do that.”Can’t forget who hisfamily is.Lifting his chin, he stared at Bane, shifting into amore aggressive stance. “Bad men, not so much.”
They remained like that, silent shoutsrocketing between them as Einstein tried not to shove it intoBane’s face that he knew where the man had come from. That wouldn’tdo any good, nor would fixating on what that history had done toEinstein.And my girls.
“I’m going to go and get Myrt settled inupstairs. Crackers and clear soda will help her past this morning’stummy issues.” Marian’s quiet voice broke the oppressive silence,and her arm brushed Einstein as she moved past him, her fingerstrailing across the back of his hand in a supportive move. Baneturned his back on the room to look out the kitchen window. Marianreminded him, “I’ll be back down in a minute, Bane. I still want tohelp.”
“You got it.” Bane’s response was flat andquiet.
Unfazed, the boys moved around him, then thetreads creaked as their footsteps thudded upstairs.
“Well that was fun.” Bane shuffled to facethe room as he spoke, and the man’s gaze moved over Einstein beforeit landed and stuck on Horse. “Won’t stand for shit bein’ shoveledagainst people who haven’t deserved it, brother. Gunny hadn’t donea damn thing except take a chance on me, same as Blackie, and I’mbustin’ at the seams to live up to their trust. Won’t start thiswhole thing by having someone I’ve been brothers with notexhibiting that same amount of trust in me, or in them.” Bane’sfeatures tightened, his voice turning rough as it lowered, sterntones matching the tension in his face. “You not down with me beingthe new charter’s president? Take it up with Blackie. Not down withthe men I’ve patched over intomychapter? Then you and Iwill have words, and I’ll see your back as you ride away.”
“Jesus, brother. Wasn’t my intent. He’staken Marian on as his little sister, finger in my chest and juttedjaw as he extolled her virtues while threatening me if thosevirtues don’t remain intact. His old lady was standing behind him,grinnin’ and shakin’ her head, and when he was done, told me abouthim adopting anyone in need. She made me promise not to take itpersonal.” Horse shook out his arms and hands, then forcefullyshoved curled fists into the front pockets of his jeans. “I cameover to offer my help, but if you don’t want or need me, then I’llbe on my way home. But, just sayin’, man—anything that happensbetween me and Gunny don’t necessarily have a damn thing to do withyou. I’ll keep my fuckin’ mouth shut from here on out, let you makeyour own observations without me contaminating anything with mywords.”
“Shit.” Bane strode around the island andstraight to Horse, and wrapped his arms in a hug, returned as soonas Horse had struggled free from his own makeshift hobbling. “Shit,man. I’m fuckin’ on edge, brother. This is big, so fuckin’big.”
“Yeah, but you got it in you to deal.” Horselifted him with a groan as Bane shouted laughter. “Knew it earlyon. You’re a tenacious fucker, and I’m proud to call youbrother.”
“They sort themselves out?” Marian had snuckup alongside Einstein, and he glanced over at her whisper, offeringa quick dip of his chin. “Good. Myrtle doesn’t know many of the menlike she does Gunny. Proximity and opportunity will fix that forthem, I’m sure. My understanding from Gunny is that Horse is asclose to a brother as Bane will claim.”
“Bane already had a bad hand dealt him onthat front. I’m glad he’s picking better family than the universesaw fit to give him.” He shook himself. “Forget I said that.” Hetook a step and glanced over his shoulder. “See you at theclubhouse in town.”
“Can I ride with you?”
He didn’t lose a beat as he clipped out,“No,” continuing to stalk towards the door on suddenly numb legs.“I’m on a bike.”
He’d never had a woman ride second seat.
Never.
Lauren had been totally uninterested in thelifestyle, outside of where it benefited them as a family byproviding a large circle of support. She’d never snuggled upagainst him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Never leaned herhead against his spine and trusted that he’d keep her safe.
He’d wanted.
Lord God, how I’d wanted, once upon atime.
Had coaxed and cajoled, then Makayla hadrounded out their family, and it’d seemed like testing fate to haveboth parents riding, so he’d stopped asking.
Slamming through the door, he rattled downthe steps and into the dusty grass of the front yard. His bike wasstill parked at Truck’s house, and he made his way there withoutpausing. Along the trek, he passed Gunny’s oldest girl runningafter a donkey, her yells of, “Randy,” shrill and loud, but lacedthrough with amused laughter that said she might not mind chasingthe beast. Shaking his head, he got to his bike and stopped short.He’d left his bag at Bane’s house.I can get it afterwards, seeif Truck’s got room for me tonight.
“Einstein.” Retro was seated on the porchswing, socked feet up on the porch railing as he pushed himselfback and forth. “Heard you’re going to help with the clubhousecleanup.”
“How the hell did you…know what? It doesn’tmatter. Yeah, I was planning on it, unless you’ve got somethingelse in mind?” Propping a heel on a stair tread, he leaned an elbowagainst his knee, stretching out muscles suddenly tense andcomplaining.Back wasn’t hurting when I woke up on thecouch.“I can be swayed.”
