Page 14 of DOG Part 2
6
Kane
Banner groanedas he pulled himself up higher in bed. “You can’t be serious. You’re really not going to tell me where my own daughter is?”
“I am serious. I told you I would protect her.”
Slowly, Banner cracked a smile. “Good. I knew I could count on you. About this agreement you’re setting up...”
“It’s the only way.”
He opened his mouth as if to argue, but then shut it, seeming to remember at the last moment that he was no longer the Rugged Angels’ president. I looked over my shoulder to see if Deuce had arrived yet. Banner was rehabilitating in one of the clubhouse’s spare bedrooms, and I’d gone to visit him while waiting for Deuce to assemble the team.
“By the way, Banner,” I said softly. “Kim still cares for you. It’s obvious.”
He exhaled heavily. “Thank you.”
I nodded and turned. Footsteps were coming down the hallway, and I was eager to climb on my bike and have the whole debacle over once and for all. We were riding out to a destitute place in the desert to meet with the Arroyos Bandidos to set terms to settle the war. At least that was my plan. Hopefully the other club’s president, a man who went by Chavez, had the same intentions.
“We’re ready,” Deuce said as he entered the doorway.
“Good,” I nodded.
We fell into step as we headed for the stairs. Deuce kept shooting me looks, checking out my face.
“What?” I finally asked right before we entered the garage.
He grinned. “I’ve just been wondering about you and the Banner girl.”
“What would you like to know? Where she is? How she’s doing?”
Deuce scoffed. “You’re going to play dumb now, huh?”
“I just don’t feel very lighthearted right now.”
“Damn, I’m sorry,” he said, his mood changing.
I looked him straight in the eye, in anything but a joking mood. “I’m falling for her.”
His face froze, the absolute picture of shock. “Jesus. Kane, I’m sorry. I didn’t know, or else I wouldn’t have...”
“It’s all right.”
He nodded. “Wow. So she’s the first girl since...” He faltered, trailing off once more.
My tongue was painfully heavy as I answered. “Yeah.”
“I’m happy for you,” he said softly.
“Thanks.” I paused. “I put her in the one place only you and I know about, so if anything happens to me...”
Deuce gazed at me evenly. “Got it.”
“Let’s go get this shit taken care of.”
“Sounds good to me.”
The ride was almost two hours, taking us down Interstate 10 through the dry heat of midday. It hadn’t even been a full day since I’d left Kim, and my thoughts were consumed by her. I had hope that things could be settled with the Arroyos Bandidos in one simple meeting, and I dreamed of riding to my parents’ house that very evening and sweeping Kim off her feet.
