CHAPTER 37
Maverick
Ace wasn’t too happy to see me standing by my bike this morning, but he just shook his head and didn’t say a word.
The team today is me, Ty, Dom, Gator, Leo, and the driver of the box truck, Carl.
Shade was supposed to be driving the truck, but apparently his dog Rascal getting bitten by a raccoon took precedence over club business.
As soon as we all get off Leo turns to Dom and I with a grin. “Did you see those two horses fucking when we went by that farm?”
Dom chuckles. “Yeah. Felt bad for the mare. She did not look like she was having a good time.”
“Have you seen a horse’s dick before? She probably wasn’t enjoying it at all.” Gator says.
Carl jumps down from the truck and joins us on the sidewalk in front of the door. “Guess we’re grabbing breakfast?”
“What was your first clue, Einstein?” Dom asks.
Carl points to the sign above the door. “Bagels.”
Ty and Leo laugh. Dom shakes his head while I stare at the idiot wondering how in the hell we’re trusting this guy to drive hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of guns over state lines.
“I am pretty hungry.” Carl says as he reaches for the door handle. “I really like everything bagels. What about you guys?”
None of us answer. We just follow him inside and go up to the counter. One by one we order our bagels and head over to a couple booths to sit down. Carl sits down across from me and quickly unwraps his bagel. He dives in, taking a monstrous bite like he hasn’t eaten in weeks.
“Jesus Christ, man.” Ty mutters, watching him.
“My wife doesn’t like when I eat a lot of carbs.” Carl mumbles while chewing, giving me a flash of mashed up dough and cream cheese.
“Close your fucking mouth. I don’t need to see all that.” I say while unwrapping my own bagel.
Carl grabs a napkin and wipes his mouth. “Sorry.”
The bell above the door dings. I glance up to see a twenty-something-year old guy walk in wearing jeans and a black t-shirt.
He’s wearing sunglasses and his brown hair is up in some kind of man bun thing.
He pegs us and heads our way. I sit up straight and slide my bagel wrapper aside.
He walks past us dropping a folded up note in front of me.
He doesn’t make eye contact, just continues on to the bathroom at the back of the dining area.
I slide the note off the table and pocket it without opening it.
This is how Brennan works. He doesn’t take chances which is why we trust him.
Our original time and place was set for noon at an abandoned warehouse in Pottstown.
He’s known for changing both when we ride into town.
It always works like this. We roll in hours before the scheduled meeting and then stop somewhere to eat.
He has eyes everywhere so a group of bikers riding in are easily spotted.
One of his men will then drop off the real time and location, keeping those that know to a minimum.
The man exits the bathroom and leaves without any other contact with us. We finish our food and head outside. I slide the note from my pocket with Dom standing next to me. I open it.
Coventry Woods Preserve – 10am
Parking lot will be empty
Dom gives me a nod. I take out my lighter and set the note ablaze. I drop it, letting it float to the ground as the flame consumes it. I stomp the ashes before climbing onto my bike. We pull out with Dom leading us out of the lot and down the road.
At 9:50 we pull into the lot at the preserve. As the note said, the lot is completely empty except for Brennan’s men’s van. We pull in and park along the side. Carl backs in leaving only about three feet between the back of the van and the back of our truck.
The exchange happens quickly. Dom hands over a thick envelope of cash to Henry, a black man wearing jeans and a blue button-down shirt. We shake hands and wait as Gator, Ty, and Carl quickly move the guns from the van to the truck. It’s done in less than ten minutes and without issue.
Carl returns to the driver’s seat of the box truck and rolls down the window, waiting for instructions.
“Head out now. Ty, Gator, and Leo are going to ride with you. Maverick and me will be a little behind.”
I cock a brow at our president’s oldest son, curious as to why the fuck we’re not rolling out with the guns. Ty, Leo, and Gator start their bikes and follow Carl out of the lot. I turn to Dom and cross my arms.
He meets my eyes. “You and I need to go meet with Brennan. Henry told me he’s waiting for us at another park about a half hour away.”
“Did he give a reason?”
Dom shrugs. “Just that he has information, but I have no idea what it’s about.”
I throw my leg over my bike. “Let’s go then.”
As we ride onto our next destination, I realize Kaya hasn’t texted me at all.
The thought makes me swallow hard. Shit.
I hope she’s ok. I hope she remembers that I was there last night, holding her.
Not that me holding her was enough to make up for abandoning her at the damn hospital, but hopefully it’s enough for her to know that I care.
I squeeze the grips on my handlebars as we cruise into a heavily wooded area.
Dom pulls down a gravel road that leads us to a state park.
When we arrive to the parking area there is a jeep and a shiny blue Mercedes parked nearby.
We get off our bikes and approach the Mercedes. Knowing Brennan’s taste for the lavish there is no doubt which car is his. An older blonde-haired man, probably in his fifties, dressed in black slacks and a black jacket exits the driver’s seat and opens the back door, revealing Brennan.
He steps out, giving his driver a nod. He’s tall, with brown skin, a bald head, and wearing what I’m guessing is a very expensive suit. His black shoes are shined to mirror quality. He gives us a wide grin and points to a picnic table. We follow him to it.
He brushes a few leaves off of the top of the table and sits down on top of it. He laces his hands together and places them in his lap.
“I got news this morning from my cousin Emmanuel. He’s a patched in member of the Raven’s Reapers MC down in Philly. You’re familiar with them?”
I go on alert. That’s where Bishop is supposedly hiding out.
“Yeah,” Dom says.
Brennan rests his elbows on his knees and steeples his fingers. “Emmanuel knows we do business so he wanted me to pass along the fact that your man Bishop was told to bounce and the guy that brought him in was stripped of his patch.”
“Oh shit. Really?” Dom asks.
Brennan nods. “He didn’t know where they went, but they left Philly.”
“Fuck.” I say. “They could be on their way back to Dogwood Creek.”
“Appreciate the information.” Dom says putting out his hand to Brennan.
Brennan eyes it for a second before taking it and giving it a shake. “Until next time.”
“Wait,” I say. “What do you know about the guy he’s with?”
“Went by Viper in the Ravens, but other than that.” He shakes his head. “I got nothing.”
Brennan gets down from the picnic table and saunters back to his car without looking back at us. His driver jumps out and opens the door for him, waiting for him to be securely inside before closing it.
“We need to go,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket. I shoot Kaya a text.
Me: Me and Dom are leaving now. Should be back in about an hour and a half.
I go to slide my phone back into my jeans when it buzzes. I swipe the screen open.
Kaya: Be safe.