Page 19

“Diesel, Bear, Rooster, Celt, Chatter, Big Al, and you and me are in the clear. That leaves Tiny, Shee, Shotgun, Levi and Pyro. You wouldn’t be looking at five to whittle down but fourteen.

You might not like my methods or the fact I held back information, but we’re in a better spot for it.

Sailor is the one who’s almost ready to eliminate Pyro, thanks to his efforts.

Go ahead and shit on what we’ve done. But fuck you, Michaelson, without my planning, you’d be blind,” Sunny roared at him.

Chance snapped, and his punch caught Sunny on the jaw.

Sunny didn’t hesitate this time and came at Chance with pent-up emotions.

The fight was brutal, and they pummelled each other as they allowed their negative feelings to take over.

Finally, they were on the ground where Sunny had Chance in a headlock and was about to choke him unconscious.

Chance tapped out, and Sunny froze.

Sunny snorted and released the hold.

“You hit harder,” Chance muttered, collapsing on his back. Sunny fell backwards and stared at the blue sky.

“The army ain’t for pussies,” Sunny replied.

“Feel better?” Chance asked. He certainly did. All the pent-up emotion at Sunny’s death, lies, and hidden lots had leeched out of him. All the angst that had built up against Sunny since his return was gone, and Chance could think more clearly where his brother was concerned.

“Yeah. You used to tap out as a kid,” Sunny said.

“You watched too much wrestling. I should have remembered that was a favourite hold of yours,” Chance muttered, rubbing his neck.

They lay there is silence.

“I had a date with Callie tonight. Not sure what she’s gonna say about the bruises on my face. Can’t take her to a restaurant like this, and I told her to dress up,” Sunny complained.

Chance snorted and began laughing. After a few seconds, Sunny joined in.

“Clio’s going to freak the fuck out on me,” Chance said through his laughter.

“What you going to do about Sailor?” Sunny demanded.

“Leave him in place for now. You’re right. Without your suspicious nature, we’d be up the creek with no paddle. It’s hard to admit we’ve got a rat, but we have. It is even harder to consider it’s one of those,” Chance finally replied.

“Fuck me, a day of miracles. Chance Michaelson admits someone else is right other than him!”

“Get it right. It’s Chance Fuckin’ Michaelson,” Chance retorted, and Sunny began roaring with laughter again.

Chance joined in. The tension and bad feeling between them was fading rapidly, and Chance finally felt like he had his brother back.

He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but Sunny’s alleged passing had cut Chance deeper than he had realised.

They’d grown up as brothers, him, Drake, Bear, and Sunny.

Losing one had nearly destroyed Chance, and he was just realising it.

He’d bottled Sunny’s death up and never dealt with it.

“Yeah, we’re in the shit,” Sunny agreed and sat up.

“Keep your plans in place. But we don’t discuss them in the clubhouse or anywhere near it. I can’t see any of those four being a rat, which means there is possibly something else at play. But your plan is the only we’ve got. And what I said stands, only us two to know for now,” Chance explained.

“No comeback on Sailor?” Sunny pushed.

“Oh, he’ll face the ring with me, but other than that, no. Heck, if he genuinely wants in, I’ll vote for him to hit prospect. Let’s head back. I wanna be around when the cops come calling,” Chance stated.

“Doubt it will be today. They gotta ID him first.”

“Even so. I gotta be on Hellfire.”

“Come on, old man,” Sunny said, jumping to his feet and hauling Chance up. He winced as he took in Chance’s face.

“If I look like you, Clio’s going to freak out,” Chance muttered, taking in Sunny.

“Yeah, I need a back-up plan for Callie. Can’t take her out like this.” Sunny flinched as pain shot through his ribs. “Fuck, I think you broke a rib.”

“I’ll call Doc Paul,” Chance said and limped to his bike. “You kick like a mule.”

“I excelled in hand-to-hand fighting,” Sunny replied smugly.

“No shit,” Chance snapped with amusement.

Sunny

Bear gaped at them as they pulled into the clubhouse and parked. Sunny and Chance were ribbing each other as Chance groaned when he swung his leg over.

“Were you fuckin’ jumped?” Bear thundered, approaching at speed.

“Only by each other.” Sunny chuckled as Diesel and Tiny appeared and walked towards them with worry in their eyes.

“You did this to yourselves?” Diesel demanded, skidding to a stop.

“Yes. Fucker kicks like a mule. My leg is going to be a mass of bruises,” Chance complained.

Shotgun headed out of the clubhouse and blinked as he saw them.

“Asshole broke a rib,” Sunny whined.

“You were fighting with each other?” Shotgun asked as Diesel’s eyebrows rose.

“Yup. We finally cleared the air between us,” Sunny replied and winced as he touched his split lip.

“Painfully so,” Chance added and began chuckling as Sunny crossed his eyes, checking his nose. “Fuck, don’t make me laugh!” He held his ribs as Sunny continued to stare at his nose.

“Did Chance break it?” Sunny demanded.

“Nah, it’s just bent,” Tiny stated and reached up. With a snap, he straightened it as Sunny howled.

“Chance!” Clio screamed.

“I’m fine, baby, Sunny, and I worked a few issues out!” Chance called and winced at the dark look Clio offered as she ran towards him.

“You did this to each other?” Callie exclaimed, appearing.

“Ah shit,” Sunny muttered.

“Yeah. We had some problems to work out,” Chance said, grinning at her.

“Oh my God!” Clio and Callie shrieked together.

Clio, infuriated at them for fighting, kicked Chance in his leg. Chance howled and collapsed to the ground.

“You two are imbeciles!” Clio raged and stormed off.

Callie looked at Sunny and shook her head. “I guess our date is off tonight.”

“Hell no! I am picking you up at seven, and wear something nice,” Sunny exclaimed. He wasn’t losing his time with Callie, not for love or money.

“I’m not going out with you looking like that! You look like a reject from a boxing match,” Callie snapped.

“We’re going out. Trust me, please,” Sunny begged. If he had to wait for the bruises to heal, he might cry. He wanted this date with her and had planned everything perfectly. Okay, the restaurant was out, but he’d come up with a Plan B.

“Fine. But smarten yourself up. And clean those wounds. I’m not dating a thug,” Callie snapped and followed after Clio.

Sunny grinned and winced as that hurt his split lip.

“You’re dating Callie?” Bear demanded, looking angry.

“Don’t fuckin’ hit me!” Sunny roared, stepping back. “I’ve asked Chance’s permission and got it.”

“That is why you were bruised last week,” Diesel realised.

“You didn’t ask mine,” Bear growled out.

“I asked Pres. That’s what counts. He’s head of your family,” Sunny retorted and was amused when Bear paused at what he was going to say. Chance, getting to his feet with Shotgun’s help, began laughing.

“Never considered that. Ha!” Chance snorted as Bear shook his head.

“Why me?” Bear wondered out loud.

“Doc Paul’s here,” Jinx called, heading over to them.

“Back away, Jinxy!” Sunny roared, but too late. Chance, who’d been limping towards the clubhouse, went head over heels on thin air and smashed his face straight into the ground.

“Bow, by bose is boken,” Chance shouted.

“Aw shit, sorry, Pres,” Jinx replied and backed up slowly.

Chance glared balefully at him. Sunny looked skywards.

“What are you doing?” Shotgun demanded.

“Looking for falling toilets.”

Everybody began laughing, including Jinx, as they headed into the clubhouse. Sunny knew everyone felt it, the oppressive atmosphere between him and Chance had lessened. That boded well for the club, and he knew his brothers were relieved. For now. Until he and Chance discovered the rat.