Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
He got it. Mac was pissed. The guy had been in love with Mary, and it stung when she picked the other guy. Her husband, Pike.
“So, the rumor mill is swirling,” Kid said.
“Is that all you do? Gossip?”
“It keeps things interesting for me. You should try it from time to time.”
“Nah, thanks. I’m happy being gossip-free.”
“No one is gossip-free,” Kid said. “Anyway, the gossip is about you.”
Matthew sighed and waited.
“About your girl being back in town.”
Luna wasn’t officially his girl. In his heart and in his head, she was his girl. She had been his girl from the start.
“Is that right?”
“Luna is back in town.”
“She’s not your girl?” Kid asked.
“She is.”
“Does she know that?”
“No, but she will.”
Kid burst out laughing. “Dude, what the fuck? Are you still hung up on her? We’ve got a lot of free pussy, and trust me, they are even willing to do us. The prospects.”
Matthew shook his head. “I don’t want to do any willing pussy.”
“But from what I hear, it’s not like you’re getting any from your girl.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It kind of does.”
“No, it doesn’t.” He finished his fries and got to his feet, turning toward Kid. “Luna and I have a history. It … it’s complicated. I screwed it up before, but I’m not going to screw it up again. Enjoy your food.”
He turned his back and made his way back into the clubhouse. He was about to head to the gym to blow off some steam when his father shouted for him. Turning toward the direction of his father, he walked back into his office to find Pike already seated there.
“Take a seat,” Duke said.
“Are you sure about this?” Pike asked.
“It’s time, and he’s ready.”
“I don’t think you should go alone.”
Matthew looked toward his father. Really looked at him, and he saw the troubled expression on his face. The stress lines. His dad had always been serious, but Matthew couldn’t recall seeing him like this since the trouble with Abelli.
“What’s going on?” Matthew asked.
Duke stared at him. “We have a drug problem running through Vale Valley.”
“I thought we helped to transport them out. That’s why we never did.”
“Yeah, but Maya, she, er, she made us very much aware of the fact that there is product getting through but also sticking around.” Duke ran a hand down his face. “I got a call from Sheriff. A sixteen-year-old girl was admitted last night. OD’d. Hard stuff. Stuff I’ve never even seen before. Someone is bringing in product.”
Matthew figured this should be a club thing. Sheriff Dawson and his father didn’t always see eye-to-eye.
“I’ve reached out to Lash, and he was a dead end.” Lash, the President of The Skulls, was a scary fucker. Matthew had seen him a few times. Rumor was that he had snapped a man’s neck with his bare hands, all in the name of love. “I’ve arranged a meeting with Ned Walker.”
Pike swore.
“I need to settle this, Pike.”
“No, what you’re going to end up doing is living six feet fucking under. What if it’s the Abelli?”
“Trust me. It’s not.”
“Because they’ve been so trustworthy in the past?”
“What about Diaz?” Matthew asked.
“I know Diaz’s product, and besides, even he is pissed as supply and demand are down on his end. Whoever is dealing, they’re doing it close to home.”
“Home being Vale Valley?” Pike asked.
“Possibly. I know the only guy that can find the means to move this stuff and to make it a problem is Ned Fucking Walker.”
“And if you kill this old bastard, Duke, that means war with The Skulls and with them, the Chaos Bleeds crew tagalong.”
“No, they won’t,” Duke said.
Pike snorted.
“I got Lash’s word.”
This shut Pike up.
Lash had always stuck by his word. It was why The Skulls were no longer on the drug or gun runs. They were out. They were clean.
Matthew knew their history. Most clubs did. It didn’t make The Skulls any less dangerous. If anything, it had made them more so. They stayed close to their towns, and anyone who dared to make waves, well, they often ended up on the dead list or disappeared.
He looked toward his father.
“You can’t go alone,” Pike said. “We’ll round up the club.”
“Ned Walker was specific in how he wanted to do this,” Duke said.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re actually considering this? Ned Walker will fucking kill you.”
“Just out of curiosity, why do you always call him Ned Walker? Why not just Ned, or you know, just Walker?” Matthew asked.
Duke glared at him.
Matthew held his hands up. It wasn’t a stupid question.
“Ned Walker is a force to be reckoned with. He earned his name, and trust me, he may be old, but he is still fucking scary,” Duke said.
“Which is why this should be a whole club matter!” Pike said.
“I’m taking Matthew with me.”
“And you think he won’t see that as a threat?” Pike asked.