Page 2 of Blackbeard
“Usually costs a few bodies, too,” Big G put in.
I flicked a glance in Kingpin’s direction. Even though he was sitting there, calm and controlled, one look in his stormy gray eyes and I could practically see his mind whirling through scenarios. As the President, his club looked to him for leadership and stability amid uncertainty. He couldn’t afford to let anyone see if he was worried or anxious.
But his wife, Hattie, was seven months pregnant at home. A full scale, all-out turf war was the last thing he needed right now.
As his Vice President, I had to be ready at a moment’s notice if he asked me to step in for him.
Since I was the only member with bona fide medical training, I was usually on-call around the clock already, stitching up these dumbasses when they got themselves hurt.
Handling the club amid a violent territorial battle was a different beast though…
Kingpin’s phone rang. He dug it out of his cut pocket and checked the screen.
“It’s Hattie,” he said, pushing away from the table to answer the call. “Hey, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”
A moment of silence settled over us as we listened. After celebrating her forty-seventh birthday a few weeks ago, Hattie was probably facing more medical complications during her pregnancy than Kingpin was letting on. He didn’t mention it to his club though, and I didn’t pry. What little medical training I’d completed didn’t cover childbirth.
Besides, Kingpin was a relatively private person. It didn’t surprise me that he wouldn’t blab about his personal life. On the other hand, the topic of having kids had been a sticky subject between Kingpin and his wife for a long time. Now that a little one was finally on the way, he probably didn’t want to jinx it.
“You need to take it easy, baby,” he said in a placating tone. “No, you’re not coming anywhere near the clubhouse—”
Big G shuffled the cards and began to deal another hand.
“Twenty bucks says Hattie will be walking through that door in about ten minutes. Any takers?”
I huffed a dry laugh.
“Not a chance. That woman does whatever she damn well pleases, and we all know it. Prez practically has her under house arrest because of this bullshit with the Forsaken. It’s driving her crazy. Besides, you don’t even have twenty bucks,” I protested. “The only thing in your pockets right now is fucking lint.”
Big G grunted and took a peek at his cards.
“I’m still not fully convinced you’re playing it clean.”
After knowing each other for ten years, Big G and I rarely argued. This banter between us was nothing more thanlighthearted teasing. I pretended to cup my hand to my ear with a smirk.
“What was that, old man? Almost sounded like you were calling me a cheater.”
“No fighting, you two,” Credence cut in. “Or you’ll have to kiss and make up. And I don’t want to see that.”
I took a breath to speak when my phone vibrated with a text. Pulling it from my back pocket, I glanced at the screen to see a message from Hot Shot.
Forsaken at garage. Send backup.
“Shit.” I slid my chair back as I stood. “Time to move. Hot Shot has uninvited guests at his garage.”
Big G and Credence abandoned the card game, rising to their feet to join me. I caught Kingpin’s eye and jerked my thumb toward the door. After hanging up, he waved me off.
“I’ll get Spike. He’s probably balls-deep in a club bunny right now. Go. We’ll catch up.”
Thirty seconds later, Big G and Credence flanked me on either side of the road, buzzing through town. The chilly April afternoon turned into a biting cold wind as my speedometer climbed to 60mph, stinging my face and hands. When I turned the corner and Full Throttle Auto Repair came into view, I gestured at Big G and Credence to slow down.
Blocking the road were five members of the Forsaken MC, seated on their bikes with helmets that concealed their faces. A woman stood in front of them, somewhere in her mid-to-late twenties. Her padded riding jacket was unzipped halfway, revealing a tight red tank top that matched her lipstick, plump tits straining at the fabric.
Unlike the men who accompanied her, she wore no helmet.
And she was fucking stunning.
Alabaster smooth skin, shoulder length auburn curls, and legs for days.
