30. Rogue
ROGUE
Ipull my rider into the parking lot of a bar not far from Vegas, a little outskirt of town type bar.
I hope they’ll have a cold bottle of beer on hand after a dusty and sunbaked ride.
The bartender gives me a nod as I sit down on one of the stools.
“Name’s Rogue, I’m supposed to ask for a bartender named Bruiser and meet Capone and Ryker. You see them?”
He shakes his head. “Names don’t sound familiar. What can I get you to drink?”
“Cold bottle of beer, that’ll work. You sure you haven’t seen them? Carver sent me out this way and told me I was supposed to meet them.”
He laughs, popping a top off a domestic beer that’s slightly frosty. The cold brew goes down really good as I try to figure out what’s got him so friendly all of a sudden.
The barkeep wipes his hand on his apron and extends it to me. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Name’s Bruiser, Carver and I go back a long way. That boy’s been running through this neck of the woods for a long-ass time. Any friend of his is a friend of ours.”
I look up and see two bikers walk in from the back, and those colors sure as shit aren’t the Royal Bastards’.
I stand and extend a hand because I know exactly who these two are.
Presidents of the Rivals. The only club in the desert who has such a large territory they run with two presidents to cover the Rivals’ territory instead of splitting into chapters. “Capone and Ryker?” I ask.
Capone nods while Ryker just assesses me and gestures for me to take a seat again.
One sits on either side of me. I can’t help feeling they’ve made this intimidation play before, but I’ll bide my time.
As long as they can help me, I’ll deal with them feeling me out.
Hell, I’m sure it’s a requirement working for the Larussio crime family and all.
Bruiser hands the two bikers a beer. “I’ve got some stuff that needs taken care of in back. Call if you need anything.” He doesn’t wait for an answer, just turns to go into the back leaving me alone with the two presidents.
Ryker turns to me. “So this fuck who paid the Scorpions for your girl, we sent the information Carver gave us to our boss. He and his family don’t like traffickers, especially being run through their territory.
Let’s just say he saw the Scorpions deal with this fuck as an insult.
He and his people did some looking around, and they’re pretty sure they know exactly who the man is.
It's being handled and you and your girl, and her sister, don’t need to worry anymore. ”
Capone laughs. “I don’t think anyone’s going to have to worry anymore once we cut the head off of that snake sitting pretty over in Columbia waiting for these fuckers to bring him virgin after virgin to feed his breeding kink.”
I nod, relief flooding my veins. Not that I can’t protect her if he comes knocking on the door, but I want her to know she’s really safe now with no need to look over her shoulder every time she turns around.
“I can’t thank you all enough. Please extend my gratitude to your boss.
If there’s ever a time you need the help of the Royal Bastards, we’re a phone call away. I mean it. We are in your debt.”
Ryker and Capone nod. “We’re just happy we can help. It’s good to have allies in the desert. The Scorpions and Desert Riders cause enough trouble to keep us all on our toes.”
I take a swig of my beer. “That’s a damn fact. But after last night, I don’t think they’ll be showing their faces for a while, at least not around here. It’s going to take them time to rebuild, get others from different chapters to come in again.”
Capone looks out the window as the dust swirls in the distance. “The fuckers had that coming. You did a good thing last night. Fucking lowlife sons a bitches. Always running girls every chance they get. Hopefully it will be a long time before they get a crew back together.”
I nod. “We can only hope. It’s a ways to Tucson, and I’m anxious to get back.” I point toward the dirty window. “Especially in this wind that’s popped up, but I appreciate all you’ve done for us.”
They stand and walk with me to the door and watch as I get on my bike and rev it up.
I’m satisfied the man who caused Angel’s heartache will see justice at the hands of the Rivals.
Hell, he’s probably an enemy of theirs or competitor one.
Looks like he won’t be paying for the trafficking of girls anymore.
The dust kicks up something fierce and keeps visibility hard all the way back to the main rood, but it seems to have died down by the time I’m out on the highway with the powerful engine gliding over the roads, getting closer and closer to the place I plan to pay my next visit.
Angel’s father, stepfather, whatever she wants to call him, that man, he’s going to come face to face with me and get served some Royal Bastard justice before I make it home tonight.