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Nathan laughed. “Fair enough. I’ll call next time.”

The doors opened and Colton shoved his helmet on his head and straddled his Zero motorcycle. He took off without another word to his brother, who’d told him earlier that he was giving him an hour’s head start. He drove fast when he could and slower not to attract the police. It took less than thirty minutes for him to make it to the clubhouse and this time, he pulled up in front. Two bikers wearing Lords of Chaos cuts were standing out front watching him as he removed his helmet, smirks on their faces.

“Hey, Mr. Eco-Friendly-Fancy-Ass-Pansy-Bike, you’ve got the wrong clubhouse,” one of the men said.

“Damn, Bruiser, that was a mouthful,” the other guy said.

Bruiser shrugged and chuckled. “Just calling it like I see it.”

Colton ignored the ignorant insult as he climbed off. “Is Zaire here?”

“Who wants to know?” said the other man standing there, a cigarette in his hand.

“The guy who fucked him in Memphis,” Colton said, hoping by saying that, they’d forego any more stupid questions and just get Zaire for him or let him in.

“Damn, you just outed him like that? What if we were one of those clubs that didn’t allow gays in?” the one called Bruiser asked.

“Then he could certainly do better than your club if you are,” Colton shot back. “So, is he here?” The men looked tough, the part of a biker as far as he could tell, but he wasn’t intimidated, not by anyone.

The two men gave him a scrutinizing look, one then nudged the other. “He’s in the club, follow me,” Bruiser said.

I hope you know what you’re doing, Colton told himself as he took one step in front of the other.

7

ZE

“So,you mean to tell me some bum off the street gave you that shiner and those cuts and bruises?” Jimmy asked Ze as he took in his enforcer’s appearance.

“Must have been one skilled homeless man,” Wolf said with a chuckle.

“I never said he was homeless, just caught me off guard,” Ze said. “Anyway, I took care of him and my mission. So, did they pay up?”

Jimmy sighed and nodded. “Yeah, they came by yesterday as soon as they heard about his assassination on the news. Even gave you a five-thousand-dollar bonus for your quick and professional work.” He reached into his drawer and pulled out a stack of money bound by a rubber band and handed it to Ze, who took it. “Good work. So, was it difficult to pull off?”

Ze shook his head. “Not with the prep I had and with the convention being out in the open, it minimized the risk factor.”

Jimmy snorted then laughed. “Listen to him. ‘Minimized the risk factor.’”

Wolf laughed, then rose and patted Ze on the shoulder. “Badass, kid.”

Ze smiled. “Thanks, Wolf.” He looked at the money in his hand. “I guess I’ll spring for takeout tonight. Zin is tired of my fried chicken.” He put the money in his pocket.

The men laughed and Ze thanked his president again and left the office. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Colton standing by the bar talking with Bruiser. “What the fuck!” Ze snapped as he walked over to them. If the assassin was planning on harming any of his club brothers, he’d take him out right here and now. Colton turned to face him and Wolf was right on his heels seeing as Ze looked to be on guard.

“Who the fuck is this?” Wolf asked, his hand going to his gun.

Colton looked at the extremely tall, muscular man standing beside Zaire and then at the gun in the man’s holster. His gaze panned to Zaire. “We need to talk, privately.”

“Bruiser, did you let him in?” Wolf asked the other man.

Bruiser nodded. “Yeah, he said he knew Ze. That they’d fucked while in Memphis.”

Wolf turned to Ze. “Is that true?”

Ze’s face was still a mask of shock at the fact that Colton had told his club brother the truth… well, part of the truth. He turned to Wolf. “Um, it’s complicated.”

“We need to talknow,” Colton said, then walked off toward the exit.