Axel
Seated at a table with my back to the wall, I hunched over a beer, watching the door. It was early evening, and there weren’t many people in the bar. Just a couple guys on stools grumbling about the rain.
I didn’t give a shit about the weather. I wanted to know what the fuck Buzz and Hammer were doing in Washington.
Hammer’s text had been clear. Meet them at the Mountainside Tavern in Echo Creek. I’d replied to ask what the hell he was talking about, and he’d just told me to be there.
It almost ruined the high of terrorizing Summer.
My lips curled in a self-satisfied smile at the memory of the look on her face.
Taking my son from her was one thing. She didn’t want that.
But raising him to be like me? To join Mayhem?
That was her biggest fear. And it had been a fucking turn-on to make her realize it was coming true.
I still didn’t know where she was keeping my kid.
But I wasn’t worried about that. One thing prison had taught me was patience.
I was very good at waiting, especially when it mattered.
If it took me too long to find him, I risked missing a check-in with my parole officer back home, but I’d deal with that later.
The front door swung open, and Buzz and Hammer walked in. Instead of going to the bar to order a drink, they strode directly to my table. My back stiffened. That wasn’t a good sign.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as they dropped into the chairs across from me. “Because I know it ain’t to help me get my kid back.”
“We’re saving your ass,” Buzz said.
“From what?”
Hammer shook his head at me, as if he were bewildered. Or maybe disappointed. “You made a fucking mess.”
“What mess? What the fuck are you talking about?”
They shared a look.
“Stryker’s pissed,” Buzz said. “He knows about the diner you torched.”
Leaning back in my chair, I scoffed. “Why would he give a shit about some diner?”
“He doesn’t,” Hammer said. “But if they trace that back to you, it brings down heat on the club.”
“They won’t trace it to me.”
“Stryker found out. That means the cops could, too.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “All right, I should have left the fucking diner alone. This couldn’t have waited until I got back?”
“The diner isn’t why we’re here,” Hammer said.
“Then why are you here? And how did you know where to find me?”
“Stryker also knows you went to the cop,” Hammer said.
Buzz chuckled. “You have balls. I’ll give you that.”
“Did that fucker rat me out?” I asked.
“Rat you out?” Buzz furrowed his brow. “You don’t keep secrets from the club.”
“You used a club resource without permission,” Hammer said. “Stryker ain’t happy about it.”
“I had a beer with the guy,” I said. “And he happened to get me some information. So what?”
“I’d come up with something better than that before you see Stryker,” Hammer said. “He’s not going to like that answer.”
“Look, I’ll explain everything to him when I get back,” I said. “Did he seriously send you guys out here just to tell me he’s pissed about the cop?”
“We came to bring you in and make sure you don’t do anything stupid along the way,” Buzz said. “Like burn down another fucking diner.”
Hammer leveled me with a hard glare. “And we’re leaving. Now.”
Anger rippled through me and my upper lip curled. “I’m not finished here.”
“Yeah, you are,” Hammer said.
“I’m taking my son.”
Hammer shook his head. “Not according to Stryker. You’re coming with us, and we leave tonight.”
Grinding my teeth together, I hesitated while rage seared my veins. I was so fucking angry I wanted to fly across the table and pound both their faces into the floor. Burn down the bar and the rest of the town with it.
“It ain’t worth it,” Buzz said, as if he could read my mind. “Not over some kid. If you want one so bad, get yourself an old lady. Knock her up as many times as you want.”
“Remember where your loyalty lies,” Hammer said.
The haze of fury subsided. Loyalty. My loyalty was to Mayhem. I’d taken an oath.
Without a word, I stood. “Let’s go.”
Still seething, I followed Buzz and Hammer out of the bar. Summer was lucky. For now. I’d go. I couldn’t defy the club.
But I’d be back. And she wouldn’t see me coming.