Bones #2
“No, I’m quite serious... I believe we could make a great deal of money together.”
“Oh, yeah?” Cotton scoffed. “And how would we do that?”
“You’re aware of my connections, are you not?”
“I am very aware, but I don’t see what they have to do with us.”
“I’ve recently lost one of my best hackers, and as a result, there’s been a disruption in my line of distribution. I would like you boys to help me settle that disruption.”
“So, what is it that you want from us?” Cotton crossed his arms and cocked his brow. “Our guns?”
“That’s exactly what I want.” I was stunned.
I’d come to Bruton’s thinking that he intended to go to war with the club, only to learn that he wanted to go into business with us.
The whole thing seemed surreal. Cotton seemed equally as flabbergasted when he asked, “And why in the hell would we ever tie up with you?”
“Because I don’t play favorites. I don’t take sides.
I deal with the highest bidder, and I learned a long time ago it’s typically not a neighbor.
” Cotton sat back in his chair as he listened to Bruton say, “My shipments go abroad where they can afford to pay, and trust me when I say, they pay, and they pay well.”
“We have our own distributor.”
The club had worked with Nitro for as long as I could remember. We got him the goods, and he got them in the hands of our buyers—whoever they might be.
We never knew where the guns went. There was a peace in not knowing.
We didn’t have to think about the kid down the street or gangs in the city using our goods to kill one another.
We simply got our cash and went about our way.
If we worked with Bruton, we would know our weapons were going overseas to the highest bidder, and they would be used on their land—not ours.
Bruton seemed unfazed by Cotton’s declaration when he replied, “Maybe so, but I can more than triple your profits. But let me be clear, it’s not just your weapons that I’m interested in. I want Bones.”
“Come again?”
“I want Bones on my team. I need his expertise to ensure that things with the venture continue to run smoothly.”
And just like that, it all made sense. I’d spent hours wondering why he’d singled me out, but never once had I imagined that he wanted me to work for him. I glanced over at Cotton, and he looked positively livid as he barked, “No fucking way.”
“I’m not asking for him to leave your club. He will still be at your full disposal. I simply need to know that I can call on him if things don’t go as planned or if I need him to complete a particular job.”
“You can’t think that we would actually go for this. That I would go for this.”
“Money talks, Cotton, and I am offering you and your boys a great deal of it.... Trust me when I say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Cotton still sounded skeptical when he asked, “And if we take a pass on this opportunity of yours?”
“Then, you take a pass.” Bruton leaned forward, and he actually seemed genuine as he told us, “I’m not going to force you to go into this venture with me. You can leave here today, and we can both continue on with our lives as if this never happened.”
“You really expect me to believe that?”
“Absolutely. I have nothing to gain by going to war with you boys. I simply want to continue building the business, and I know I can do that with you.” The tension in the room started to lift as Bruton said, “And who knows. Maybe one day, the whole thing will be yours. You just have to be willing to take a chance.”
Cotton took a moment to consider everything, then said, “This isn’t a decision I can make here and now. I’ll have to talk it over with the brothers.”
“Of course. That’s completely understandable.”
Cotton stood as he asked, “When do you need an answer?”
“I’ll give you until the end of the month.” Bruton stood and stepped over to Cotton. He extended his hand as he said, “I do hope that you boys will consider my offer.”
“We’ll talk it over.” Cotton shook his hand. “But I make no promises.”
Bruton nodded, then turned his attention to me. “I do hope we get the opportunity to work together. The way your brain works is intriguing. I have no doubt that we could do great things together.”
I didn’t respond.
I simply gave him a quick nod, then followed Cotton out of the house.
We went straight to the truck, and Cotton wasted no time starting the engine and getting the hell out of there.
Once I was certain we were out of harm’s way, I leaned my head back on the headrest and sighed, “That is not at all how I thought today would go.”
“Not exactly what I expected either.”
“So, are we really gonna consider this?”
“It’s an interesting offer.”
“Yeah, but he firebombed the clubhouse.”
“Yes, he did, but I would’ve done the same to him if he had one of you.”
"I get that.”
But, like I told Bruton, this isn’t just up to me.
It will be up to the club to decide what we do, and if we do happen to go through with this thing, it’ll be on our terms. Not Bruton’s.
” Knowing I’d be concerned, Cotton was quick to add, “But whatever we do, it will be the best thing for everyone involved, including you.”
“I understand.”
“I hope you do, because that patch on your back means something. You’re part of the Fury family, and no one in this family stands alone.” Cotton looked at me as he said, “We’ll decide together if we’re gonna partner with this guy or go to war with him. Either way, we will stand together.”
I had no idea what the future held for me or for the club, but I found solace in knowing that no matter what lay ahead, I would have my brothers there with me. And with them at my side, I could face anything—including David Bruton.
And babies.
And ponies.
And goats.
And whatever the good Lord threw my way.