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CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
The Stanley Hotel came into view on Colin’s cell phone screen. Only a few more gridlocked blocks to go. “Almost there.”
“Yup,” Deacon rubbed his hands together. “Deal with this shit, and high tail back to the tropics. I didnotsign up for a road trip with you.”
“Buddy, I didn’t offer.” The tension had increased with every mile they’d driven until Colin considered runningoff the side of the road for no other reason than to get the hell away from Deacon. The guy had an opinion on everything.
Almost everything. He’d been surprisingly easy to put up with during the simple planning conversation on how they’d handle the hotel, Gloria, and Adelia.
The remaining time, Deacon opined on every job he knew of Delta’s while Colin spent time searching for subtle ways tosignal to Titan Group that he was in the mix of some major shit. Colin’s biggest worry had been triggering Deacon’s internal red alert. The man was a finely tuned operative, and even when he relaxed, Colin was certain that he could jump to full-fledged mercenary in a blink.
He slowed at a stoplight. The Stanley Hotel stood impressively ahead as they crept closer, and a few blocks down, AstorTowers reigned even higher. New York traffic honked and inched around them. Bikers raced down the lanes, weaving in and out of stalled traffic, and hordes of people crossed at the walks, a mix of tourist and business clothes mixed into a mosh pit of churning bodies.
“This is me.” Deacon reached for the door, unbuckling. “Buzz your burner in a bit.”
“Wait a minute.”Son of a bitch.“You’re anasshole.”
Deacon stepped into the street but ducked down. “Then again, what’s new?” With two pats on top of the roof, he signaled his goodbye and shut the door, jogging onto the sidewalk and melting into the crowd.
One in a city of millions.The man was gone with an untraceable burner phone. Colin never should’ve trusted the guy. He should call into Delta or Titan HQ, but what did it matternow.
He drummed on the steering wheel. “Damn it!” The light turned green, and Colin laid on his horn along with everyone else. Not even an inch. “Move over!” He waved people at the corner back. “Back up.” They didn’t move. “Sorry, people.” And he pulled out of his lane, creeping past the bike lane, and jacking the car onto the sidewalk, yelling, “Move!”
He jumped out and took the keys, notthat it would stop anyone from taking it, and hauled ass down the block, needing to make up time on Deacon. Colin rushed up The Stanley’s horseshoe driveway and through the automatic door—
“You look like you’re in a rush.” The gruff voice mixed with the burst of hair and the whoosh of the closing door.
His peripheral vision caught bikers before he twisted, his hand reached, ready for the guntucked into his pants. “Hawke?”
“Howdy, cowboy,” Hawke said, amused. “You don’t look like you’re from around here.”
Adrenaline surged. Colin was too late. Mayhem’s president leaned against a pillar, a picture of what they wanted to portray: leather coat, dark jeans, scruffy beard and a face that promised he’d seen everything the club was named after. Mayhem.
The man next to him was no different.Both wore leather coats, and Colin tried to read his patch without breaking their gaze—and couldn’t.
He strode forward, sweeping a searching look for what else he might’ve missed when he powered in, and let his eyes rake up the patches to read their names and positions before coming back to the conversation.
Hawke’s worn vest gave him as much power as one could have in Mayhem.President of thefounding chapter.
But Colin’s breaths stalled. Cullen Blackburn. That wasn’t just Seven’s father or a former president, but the man who founded what became the largest criminal motorcycle gang in the United States.
“Your friend looks surprised to see us?” Cullen’s laughter mixed with a downturned smile and mocking eyes. “How do you know this guy?”
Colin shook off the shock and ignored Cullen.“Where’s Adelia?”
“What’s it to you?” Cullen tilted his head.
Colin had heard second-hand stories about what happened when Seven and Jax first got together, about how Cullen came out of nowhere and disappeared again, but not before causing hell for Seven and anyone else that asshole came across.
“We haven’t been introduced.” Colin squared off against the founding biker.
“You’re Hawke’s buddy.”Cullen shrugged.
“Forget it.” Colin didn’t have time for this. “Where is she?”
Cullen laughed. “Who again?”
“Look, I know who you are, and maybe to some, that gives you a pass to act like an ass.”