Page 46

My eyes widened, but suddenly, I wanted to have that talk. I knew from therapy with Lisa that what I had with Snake was wrong mainly because it was never really consensual, but also because I didn’t have feelings for Snake. I had no idea what to expect if I had sex with a man that I wanted and had feelings for.
I nodded once. “Maybe we should.”
I giggled when she wiggled her eyebrows and realized this was what friends did. They talked. They listened. They helped each other. I had no idea how much I missed having a friend before Becs.
After all, how could I have missed something I never had?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
GUNNER
“Son.” His voice slid over my skin and made my stomach turn. “Been a long time.”
“Not long enough.” I fired back. The hate in both of our voices was evident. Needing time to get my emotions in check, I’d waited to call him but only until the next morning. After Maggie left the office, we hashed out a new plan. I would call my father and feel him out even though I was more than certain he was either hiding Snake or knew where he was and then offer up a trade. More than anything, we needed more information to get Snake and the club right where we wanted them.
He chuckled. “I figured I might hear from you.”
“Yeah, why’s that?” I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting him to admit it, wanting him to be the bastard I knew him to be.
“I have something you want, and you have something I want.” He paused before continuing. “Way I figure, it’s time for a trade.”
“Snake know you set him up?”
“Boy, you know me better than that.” He grunted. “Besides, he’d do it if he did know. He understands loyalty to his club and his brothers.”
Direct hit; I expected no less. “He’s either stupid or doesn’t know who he’s being loyal to.”
“Can’t be all that stupid now, can he? He’s got you chasing him.”
“How is his shit any of your business?” I asked snidely.
“Everything that happens in this club is my business. Something you must’ve forgotten since you fucked over your brothers and family.”
I snorted. “How’s what I did any different than what you’re doing right now? You just set up Snake to get what you want. I set you up to get what I wanted.”
“Guess we’re more alike than you ever wanted.” Another direct hit. “The only difference is what I’m doing protects the club. You’re doing this shit because of some bitch.”
I clenched my jaw hard and held my tongue, knowing he wanted a rise out of me and refusing to give it to him. Maggie. I fucking knew it. “This has nothing to do with a woman.”
He chuckled. “Ahh, son, you underestimate me. I know you want that bitch; I’ve known you’ve wanted her for a long time. Problem is, she don’t belong to you. She’s Snake’s property. I also know you’ve been hiding her sweet ass in that joke of a clubhouse. A clubhouse filled with nothing but pussies and wannabes.”
I should’ve never doubted how closely he was watching me, should’ve never underestimated his hate for me, but at least now I was sure he had Snake. That information would eliminate the search Luke was planning in order to find him. We had a location, and if I played my cards right, I might get him back to North Carolina so I could have a little time with him before I handed him over to Luke. His sins against Maggie needed to be handled by me, and I had every intention of making that happen. “My club is none of your business.” I couldn’t talk about Maggie with him, knowing there was no way I’d stay rational if I did.
“Your club isn’t a real club, boy.” He grunted. “It’s a shame you got your bitch of a mother in you; otherwise, you’d have made one hell of a Widow. You and Bear together running a real club would’ve been a real asset. Never thought I was raising a pussy, especially after seeing you shoot a gun for the first time. Christ, you were only eight years old and shooting better than most of the men in the goddamn club. What a waste to throw that away.”
I was done listening to him talk about the same shit he had been my whole life. “I have a deal for you.”
He snorted. “You better make it good, boy. Way I see it, I’m holding all the damn cards, and you know I don’t like having my time wasted.”
I clenched my jaw hard, hating the words that I had to say, knowing I was giving him the only thing I had to keep me alive. “You get the last recording; I get Snake.”
He whistled. “Willing to part with the only ace you’re holding? For some bitch? Guess you aren’t as smart as I thought.”
“We have a deal?” I asked impatiently.
“What is it about this bitch that has you and Snake running after her?” He chuckled. “I mean, does she have a magic fucking pussy or something?”
“Maggie has nothing to do with this,” I said through clenched teeth.