Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Let Us Pray
“ W e’ve got a problem,” Linc said as he made two big fists and placed them on the table.
“We always have problems,” Cyrus said. “Why do you think I’m aging so fast?”
“Too much pussy,” Monte said.
“No such thing,” Custer said.
“Amen to that,” Priest added.
Linc wasn’t in the mood for joking around. The normal table banter had its place. Not right now. For good measure and purpose, Linc tossed the baggie of yellow bunny onto the table. Everyone shut up at the same time. Slade looked at Linc with an inquisitive glance.
“You have something you want to tell us?” Darrow asked.
“We running that shit now?” Fitz asked.
“The fuck we are,” Darrow said. “I’m not voting on that shit. I’ll walk the fuck out.”
“We’re not running it,” Linc called out. “It was in town. Our town. In an abandoned car that crashed.”
“Fuck,” Cyrus growled.
Priest stroked his massive jaw. “Dick tell you that?”
“That’s why you got arrested,” Slade said. “Makes sense now.”
“Arrested?” Custer asked.
“Just playing the part,” Linc said. “Dick moved the car into Bradmen County. So they’re dealing with whatever else was in the car.”
“That lazy fucking prick,” Monte said, shaking his head. “I hate being in the same thing as him.”
“He didn’t check the car for more?” Fitz asked. “Didn’t get any info? Just passed it along? And you think Bradmen County isn’t going to come calling here?”
“Look, I’m not Dick and I don’t make his fucking decisions,” Linc called out. “I’m telling you what I know. He also gave me the address to where the plate is registered.”
“I’ll do the honors,” Priest said, cracking his knuckles.
“No,” Linc said.
“What the fuck do you think we’re going to do here, VP?” Cyrus asked.
“We’re going to make this right,” Linc said. “No doubt in my mind. Let’s be real for a second. Someone having this shit in town is one thing. But is this some junkie like Carl…”
“Speaking of,” Monte said.
“What?” Linc asked. “Someone tell you I tuned him up a little outside the diner? Guy can’t keep his veins clean for a day. Stumbling around town. Not on my watch.”
“And you’re worried about bringing heat to the club?” Priest asked.
“Got something you want to say me?” Linc asked.
Priest placed his hands flat on the table.
“That’s enough,” Cyrus said, putting his arms out. “Christ. Last thing we need is anyone at this table throwing punches. Now we’ve got guys out there in the clubhouse wearing cuts who can be sitting here listening to this too. Or do we make the command from within?”
“Linc?” Slade called out. “Dick went after you.”
“Darrow,” Linc said. “Recon.”
“On it,” Darrow said.
“We don’t know if this guy is just buying or if he’s selling in town,” Linc said. “Big difference. Big deal. We need to be smart. If he’s some junkie, then we use him to get to whoever is dealing in town. If he’s dealing in town…”
Linc smirked and nodded to Priest. Priest nodded back, his eyes lit up with enjoyment. He cracked his knuckles.
“I’ll cut him into pieces with my bare hands,” Priest said. “And we’ll distribute him to his guys.”
“Darrow, lock in on that,” Cyrus said.
“On it right now, Prez ,” Darrow said.
“Anything else happening with our honest chief?” Cyrus asked.
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Linc said. “One of these times he cuffs me I’m going to wreck him. This arrangement…”
“How about that beautiful woman you’ve got here, Linc?” Priest asked. “I had it all mapped out in my mind for her. Sit her right on the bar and munch away for hours.”
Linc jumped up and almost launched himself across the table. Cyrus did the same and caught Linc, then threw him back to his chair.
“What the fuck?” Cyrus yelled.
Linc pointed at Priest. “Stay the fuck away from Nova. She’s mine. Everyone got that? She’s mine. My claim.”
“She’s got your ink?” Monte asked.
“What is she doing here?” Cyrus asked.
“She’s needs our help,” Linc said.
Custer let out a low rumbling chuckle. “The power of a tight cunt.”
“Old man I will rip your jaw off and stuff it up your wrinkly, old ass,” Linc warned.
“Come on,” Cyrus growled. “Rules are rules. We know how it works. If she’s claimed, she’s claimed.”
“Her brother is missing,” Linc said. “Not our problem. Not our priority. Nova and I go way back. To when we were teenagers. I’m going to help her find her brother.”
“She’s giving up her entire world for that?” Fitz asked. “She does know what she’s into, right?”
Linc ignored Fitz and looked at Cyrus. Cyrus smacked the gavel off the table. Prayer over.
The outlaws cleared out of the room, Linc going last. They all gathered at the bar for drinks. Linc spotted Maggie, who looked guilty and worried. She reached back and showed Linc the neon-green thong she’d used to jerk him off into just last night.
Under his breath, Linc growled. If Nova was going to get worked up over a hand job…
… this life was going to eat her soul faster than Linc could have predicted.
“You were shot?” Nova asked Linc the moment he stepped into his room.
Linc looked around the room and knew one neon-green thong was far from all the evidence of wild outlaw fun. It wasn’t his fucking job nor care to keep his room spotless or guilt free of cheap sex.
“We have to figure this out right now, darling,” Linc said.
He shut the door and locked it. He had two beer bottles by their necks in his right hand. A quick twist of one cap and he handed the bottle to Nova. The second bottle was for himself.
“You were shot,” she repeated. “Tell me what happened. Right now.”
Linc curled his lip and stepped closer to Nova.
“Let’s review something right now, Nova,” Linc said. “You don’t get to talk to me like that. My life and my business is not yours. Who shoots me. Who doesn’t. Who I fuck. If I come into some deecee ’s panties. If I shoot my load down her throat. Or in her ass. None of it is your concern. Got that?”
With one more step, Linc closed so far in on Nova that she bumped into the bed and sat down. She stared up at him, looking ready to burst into tears.
“You want me to find your brother, I will,” Linc said. “It’s going to cost you everything. Your freedom. Your life. I told them you were mine. I stated my claim. There’s purpose behind it. And rules. You back out now and leave this room, you’re at the mercy of any of them out there.”
“What the hell is this, Linc?” Nova whispered. “Who are you?”
Linc leaned down. “I’m the fucking VP of Sins of Fire Real Anarchy West . And that’s not some game. Nothing is free in this life or any life. You know that already. Are you ready to pay, darling?”
“What does that look like, Linc?” Nova asked. “Want me to suck your dick right now?”
Linc gritted his teeth and stood up tall. Nobody was ever allowed to talk like that to Linc. Ever.
What do I do with her right now? Linc asked himself.
“You want to suck my dick, darling, go for it. You know where it is. I’m sure it’ll be very familiar to you. It’s bigger now.”
Nova’s cheeks turned bright red. She actually began to reach for Linc’s jeans.
He gritted his teeth and grabbed her wrist. “Stand up and look at me, darling.”
Nova stood up. She was shaking a little. Linc wasn’t sure if she was turned on or terrified of him. The later stung his heart. The first time in a while he had a reminder that a heart existed in his hollowed-out outlaw chest.
Linc touched Nova’s cheek. “You’re going to do everything my way, darling. No questions asked. No talking back. Anything seems off to those guys out there and you’re out of here. And it won’t be a pleasant exit. And when it comes to you, Nova, I get crazy enough that I would probably turn my back on this club and put my life on the line to keep you safe. Got that?”
“Linc…”
That was more than any honest man or any outlaw could possibly handle. Linc finally planted his lips firmly against Nova’s.
It felt like their first kiss all over again.