Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ansel
Ansel stepped out of the clubhouse with Johnny, neither of them saying a word as they walked to the outbuilding where their bikes were parked.
He’d suggested they go for a ride because, despite the chilly weather, the sun was shining.
It was a beautiful day to ride before the weather turned, and besides, he needed Johnny for something important.
They rode their bikes out to the cabin, and Ansel stopped thinking for a moment, simply enjoying the wind on his face and the roar of his engine.
Even though he’d loathed his dad, the one thing the son of a bitch did was instill a love of motorcycles in his preteen son, before he’d headed to Folsom Prison for a life sentence.
He’d never visited him, and as far as Ansel knew, he was still alive, but he had no plans on joining his father in prison.
He’d rather go out in a blaze than be locked in a cage.
They stopped midway up the driveway to the cabin and pulled off the road to talk. Neither of them had brought their phones because Ansel couldn’t be sure who was listening. He put his helmet on the back of his bike and sat on the seat, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I need you to leave now and get Kaylee.”
Johnny frowned. “I thought we were worried about the feds and the heat leaving the clubhouse could bring.”
“If they knew where she was and she’d told them anything, they would have already brought her in. I think she ran, and if she ran, that gives us a chance to make her see reason.”
“Or I can just put a bullet in her head and be done with it.”
Ansel launched himself to his feet, grabbing Johnny by the neck. The other man made a strangled sound as Ansel squeezed.
“Who makes the decisions around here?”
“You, boss,” Johnny rasped, his hands coming up to grip Ansel’s wrists.
“Then why are you making any suggestions on what we should do?”
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper and his skin turning an unhealthy shade of purple. Ansel released him after one more squeeze of warning, now rolling his shoulders back as Johnny fell to his knees, trying to suck in air.
“Back to the matter at hand; I want Kaylee brought to me. I wanna have a conversation with her before we do anything permanent.”
“When do you want me to leave?”
“Now.”