Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Ah fuck, let me pack up the rest of the day’s inventory then. At least, it won’t go to waste at the clubhouse.”
“Good girl,” I tell her and press a kiss to the side of her neck before I release her. “I’ll finish up in here, and Willow will go with Joaquin to move her car.”
“I’ll ride back with Joaquin,” Willow says with a grin.
“No can do, babe,” he tells her. “You gotta ride in the truck with Wilder.” He flings an arm around her shoulder and uses his free hand to push open the front door. “Maybe when shit settles down, though, yeah?”
Willow pouts, but the newest patched member uses his considerable charm to keep her manageable.
Ten minutes later, with Maven at my side and Willow in the back seat, we make the short trip back to the clubhouse. Joaquin is leading the way, with Stone pulling up the rear to make sure we have complete coverage. Thank fuck, we make it home safely.
As we turn into the long drive just past Angel Harbor Choppers, there are trucks and cars and bikes in front and back of us, all of us with jobs to do to keep everyone who matters to us safe.
“Looks like a party,” Willow squeals excitedly.
Maven rolls her eyes. “Looks like some shit is about to go down,” she grumbles softly because that’s who Maven is, pragmatic to her bones but unwilling to dampen her friend’s excitement even when she should. She turns to Willow with a small smile. “You can stay with me.”
I put a hand on Maven’s thigh. “I’ll find a place for her to sleep,” I say at the same time Willow gives her opinion.
“I’ll find my own place to sleep.”
This might be a long lockdown.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Maven
Lockdown. It sounds like a prison movie where all the prisoners are forced into their cells or solitary confinement just after a riot. It sounds scary as hell, as if I’m going to spend the rest of my life in that damn room waiting for the other shoe to drop or another bomb, as the case may be.
It takes about fifteen minutes just to get into a parking spot because there are so many damn bikes. Cars, trucks, like all of Angel Harbor has arrived. “Are all of these guys club members?”
Wilder smiles and gives my thigh a supportive squeeze. “Yes. Just like any organization, we have brothers whose skills are better suited to things outside our zip code. They watch over certain businesses, but when it comes to lockdown, it’s all hands on deck.”
Some of these guys don’t even look like bikers, and if not for their leather vests, which they call kuttes for some reason, I would never peg them as bikers, never mind members of a biker gang. My bad, a biker club.
“All hands on deck?”
“Yep.” He nods toward a white box truck, and I see Letty jump from the driver’s side. One of the club girls jumps out of the passenger seat to unlock the back of the truck.
Four more women wearing shades of black and gray with lots of skin on display work like a well-oiled machine to unload boxes of food and booze, soap, and other necessities.
“All hands.” Wilder gives me a nudge toward the door. “Take your goodies and see where to put them.”
I turn to stare into his eyes. I see how tired he is, how the weight of all this is wearing on him. I wonder if it’s also the effort of protecting me that’s weighing on him.
“Oka-a-a-ay. I’ll see you later?”
He nods and presses a gentle kiss to my mouth.
I take the cakes and motion for Willow to follow me inside, but she’s already at Letty’s side, helping the women unload the truck. Inside, I find Gia at the bar. “Hey, girl, what the hell is going on?”
She shrugs and pours two shots of tequila. “I’m not totally sure yet, but,” gesturing to the endless parade of members entering the clubhouse, “it’s like I’m watching every biker movie and show ever made in English.”
I stare at her, wondering if everyone has gone crazy or if it’s just me.
Gia laughs. “What? I’ve always had a thing for bikers, and I always wanted one of my own.” She shrugs again and pushes one of the shot glasses in my direction. “You want to know or what?”
“I do.” I snatch the shot and knock it back, hoping it will dull the fear as Gia gives her expert explanation.
“Usually, lockdown means that something serious has happened that puts the club, the club interests, and the women and families in danger. They don’t do this shit lightly. Something happened—I don’t know what—and they need to respond. So, we’re on lockdown until whatever shitstorm blows over.”
She pauses to sigh and pours another drink with a shaky smile. “That means we’re all stuck here like a big happy family for now.”