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Max’s grin makes my heart hurt. Kids should be protected by everyone around them. I know that’s not the reality of life, but it kills me that this little guy had to suffer. I’m glad we could help him.

We pull into Billings a few minutes before ten p.m. and meet the guys at a dive bar owned by a retired member of the club. Cleaver rode with Winchester for decades. His grizzled face and bald head are a stark contrast to who he is inside. He’s a damn teddy bear, especially when it comes to helping the kids. He even looks like one, with a furry white beard long enough to touch his chest and that paunch old guys get after too many beers. He meets us in the parking lot outside the bar.

“Scar, good to see you, brother.” He gives me a bear hug, then claps me on the back.

“Good to see you, too. Thanks for meeting up with us on such short notice. How’s your old lady?”

“You mean the dragon lady?” His belly laugh rumbles through the air. “She’s on me about taking all this bullshit medication the doc wants me on. Beta-blocker this and cholesterol that. Fuck all that. When it’s my time, it’s my time.”

“Just don’t let her cut your balls off and turn them into soup.” I chuckle before turning to Max. “This is Max.”

“Hey, bud.” Cleaver squats down. “How was the ride?”

“Super fun, but I still want pizza.” Max looks at me, then back to Cleaver.

“I’ll get the cook on it.” He grabs his phone out of his cut and types a message. “Should be ready in twenty minutes. You need anything else? Bathroom? A soda?”

“Coke?” Max asks.

“Yeah, let’s go inside. We can hang out in the office.”

Cleaver leads the way. His office is surprisingly tidy, with a couple of well-worn wooden chairs facing his desk. I sit in one while Cleaver grabs a Coke from a small fridge. He hands it to Max, then sits in a high-back chair behind the desk.

“Have you heard from Joker yet?” I ask.

“He got caught in construction traffic, but he’s almost here. Max, are you excited to meet your big brother?” Cleaver asks.

“I’ve never had a brother before,” Max says.

“We’re all your brothers now. Everyone who’s a part of Underground Vengeance is your family. If you ever get into trouble or need any help, you can always call us. Scar, did you get the phone set up with our numbers?”

“Matrix put it together.” I pull the phone from my cut and hand it to Max. “You can call any number on this phone at any time if you need anything. Even if it’s just to talk. And I hope you’ll keep in touch with me. I want to know how you’re doing.”

“Are you sure about keeping in contact?” Cleaver asks me softly.

“I know it’s not protocol, but this is a special case.”

“Got it, pres.” The door opens, and a waitress walks in carrying two pizzas. “Put it on the desk, babe.”

“Sure thing.” She winks at Cleaver before leaving.

“Sidepiece?” I ask.

“Nah. But fun to flirt with. Dragon lady would have my nuts in a vise if I ever even thought about cheating. And I don’t. I love that woman, and damn, does she keep me satisfied.” Cleaver grins.

“As any old lady should.” I smirk.

“What about you? I heard your nurse friend is in a coma. How’s she doing?”

Max digs into the pizza, but I know he’s listening intently.

“She’s still resting, but I’m hoping we’ll get another update today.”

“Keep me posted.”

Someone knocks at the door.

“Come in,” Cleaver calls.