Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Maggie—
“It’s down this street,” I say, and Keno makes the turn.
The entire ride home tonight, I’ve been flying high on qualifying in the top five at the trials today, but Keno wants me to take him to Derek and Remy’s garage, and he’s been very clear that he didn’t want me to warn them we’re coming.
So, here I sit in the passenger seat of his truck, my stomach in knots and my bike on the trailer behind us, about to confront them.
So many things could blow up in my face, not the least of which is their anger that I went up to the trials today.
There’s another round tomorrow, and I saw their names posted in two of the slots.
I’ve had my fingers crossed that we’ve missed them and they’ve already left for Denver, but as we make the turn, I see them loading their bikes onto a trailer right now.
Glancing at Keno, I see him dip his head to take in the garage. It’s a white-painted brick building with two bays. It looks like it was built back in the 1930s. There’s a glass office off to the right with a covered roof extension that must have once housed the gas pumps, but they’re long gone.
Keno swings the truck in, parking under the overhang.
My brothers pause what they’re doing and look over.
“You ready?” Keno asks, but he’s shouldering his door open.
“Yes,” I say, and exit my side.
We meet in front of the hood, and he reaches for my hand. “Keep your chin up, Six.”
I drag in a breath, press close to his side, and do as he says. It’s hard not to dip my head, which is my natural inclination around them.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Remy says, spitting on the concrete.
Derek walks toward us, but glances back. “Remy, shut up.” Then he turns and smiles at Keno and gives him a backslapping hug. “Long time no see, Sully.”
“Thought it was time I came by.”
Derek’s eyes shift to me. “Maggie told us you were in town. We weren’t aware.”
Keno shrugs. “No reason you should.”
I notice his careful choice of words.
Keno’s eyes shift to the bikes on the trailer. “Headed to Rock Creek?”
“Yeah,” Derek replies, his eyes shifting to me and back to Keno. “How’d you know?”
Keno nods to my bike on the trailer behind us. “We just came from there. Six qualified in the top five today. She’s got a real shot.”
Remy flings the tie-down strap he’s holding and stalks toward us. “What the hell do you mean we just came from there?”
“Me and Six. Did I stutter?”
Remy’s jaw works and he glares at me. “What the hell are you doing with him? Thought I told you to keep your distance.”
Keno takes a step toward Remy. “You and me gonna have a problem, Remy? We can fucking settle that right now.”
Remy shoves Keno. “Yeah, asshole.”
Derek jumps between them, trying to push Remy back, but he’s not quick enough to stop the swift right hook Keno delivers, laying Remy out on the blacktop.
“What the hell, Sully?” Derek says. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
Keno towers over Remy. “If you’re fucking smart, you’ll stay down, asshole. You ever lay a hand on me or on your sister, I’ll fucking put you in the ground.”
“Come on, bro,” Derek says, his palms raised. “Chill out.”
Keno takes a step toward him, and Derek backs up.
“I’m not your fucking bro, Derek. I never was.”
“My father treated you like his own son. You were part of our family,” Derek says.
“Until I wasn’t. Besides, the price of being part of that family turned out to be way too high.”
I dash into the garage and move to the utility sink to get some paper towels for Remy’s bloody lip and nose, grabbing some from the dispenser and wet them. While I’m wringing them out, my gaze falls on a wadded-up piece of fabric on the counter laying behind some oil cans like it was tossed there.
Blue and white floral.
The blood drains from my face.
Flashing before my eyes is the memory of a man in a ski-mask jumping over my bar with a blue and white floral pillowcase in his gloved hands, collecting patrons’ wallets.
The garage around me spins, and when I stare at my brothers, all my illusions shatter.
Walking in a dream state, I return to the three men.
“Yeah, she will see me, and you won’t do a damn thing about it. If I find out you do anything to her, you’ll deal with me. Understand?” Keno growls in a deadly voice I’ve never heard him use before.
Derek is still playing peacemaker, standing between Keno and Remy, who is now leaning over the trailer, blood dripping from his face.
I pass him the paper towels without a word, then move to Keno. “Let’s go. It’s not worth your time.”
Keno nods and takes my hand, and we head to the truck. He opens my door and then goes around to the driver’s side.
I glance through the rear window.
Derek puts a hand on Remy’s shoulder, but he shoves Derek off.
Keno slides behind the wheel, and we pull out without a word. He glances in the rearview mirror, then meets my eyes.
“Don’t expect me to apologize.”
“I don’t,” I say.
The entire ride across town to my place, I turn the implications over in my head. If Remy and Derek are part of that ring, they have at least one other man. The new guy who’s been working for them? Probably.
If they’re the ones who’ve been robbing places, then they robbed the Gaslight knowing I worked there. They shot off two rounds, knowing I was standing right there, and maybe worst of all, one of them shot the VP of the Royal Bastards months ago, and Rock wants them dead.
They’ve been trying to find them, and if Keno puts it together, the club will kill my brothers.
I’ve already lost my mother and father. Could I bear to lose my brothers, too?
My heart is pounding in my chest, and I roll my window down.
Keno glances over. “You okay, babe?”
“I need some air.”
He turns in the alley behind the bar, and we unload my bike. I chain it up under the fire escape, and Keno steps to me, his hands landing on my hips.
“If they give you trouble, call me. I’ll deal with them. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“You okay?”
“Fine.” I manage a smile.
“I’ve got to get back.”
“Sure. Thanks for taking me to Denver.”
He gives me a kiss.
We can hear the bar sounds, and a prospect comes out the door to throw a bin of trash away.
“Oh, hey. Didn’t know you were back.”
“Who’s here?” Keno asks.
“Baja and me and the other prospect.”
“Got it covered?” Keno asks.
“Yeah. We’re fine.”
“Good. Maggie needs her rest, so don’t bother her with work, understand?”
“Yes, sir.” The prospect holds the door for me, and Keno drops my hand.
“I’ll call you later,” he says and watches until the door closes behind me.
When I get upstairs, I pull out my phone. I’ve got four text messages. All from Derek.
DEREK: WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING, MAGGIE?
DEREK: REMY IS LOSING HIS SHIT OVER THIS.
DEREK: WE’RE LEAVING.
DEREK: SULLY BETTER STAY THE HELL AWAY IF HE KNOWS WHAT’S GOOD FOR HIM.
Derek has no clue just who he’s dealing with. That my brothers would dream they could threaten Keno is a joke. And for the first time, I realize the part of my life where I have to obey them or give a damn what they think is over.
Keno will make sure of it. He said as much.
It’s a weight off my shoulders, but at the same time, I fear for their safety. If my suspicions are right and they had anything to do with shooting a Royal Bastard, they’re dead men walking.
The dangerous world Keno is a part of weighs heavily on me. Its darker side is one hundred percent real.
These guys don’t play.
I can’t help wondering if I can truly handle being involved in Keno’s world, but I can’t deny I’ve fallen for him.
I have to know if my brothers are really involved.
And there’s only one way to find out.
I need to get inside that garage.