Page 15 of Kingpin (Blackjacks MC #1)

I sighed. Big G emerged from the kitchen and placed a steaming cup of black coffee in front of me. I grunted a wordless noise of appreciation. He flicked a glance in Crash’s direction before he spoke.

“The package was delivered to the police station, as requested, boss,” Big G said.

“Good,” I grumbled into my coffee.

It wouldn’t take long before word began to spread. Rudy Welch would hear about his partner in crime—tortured, bloodied, and very dead. Anderson Barber would find out that he was flying solo now, with some very pissed off people hunting him down to do the same thing to him.

I wasn’t concerned about losing Barber. Credence was a damn good bounty hunter. He’d find Barber eventually, and we’d finish the job. If Welch walked free for any reason—found not guilty at the trial, or got out on bail—we would extend the same treatment to him.

Big G tossed a wad of cash onto the bar in front of Crash.

“Hey, kid,” he said. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and fetch breakfast for everyone? Hit up the Riverstone Cafe. Order the whole menu.”

Crash’s eyes widened. Before I could protest, he snatched the money and bolted out the door. I shot Big G a look.

“He’s not our Prospect. Why are you assigning him errands?”

“Because the kid hasn’t said no yet,” Big G replied. “As long as he’s willing to be a pushover, I’ll happily keep him busy. I don’t turn down free labor.”

My phone buzzed with a text. I pulled it from my pocket and glanced at the screen to see Hot Shot’s name.

You left blood on my garage floor. Again.

I typed back a response.

At least I didn’t stash a body at your place this time.

Hot Shot simply sent an annoyed emoji.

“Any word from Tex or Vlad?” Big G asked.

I shook my head.

“Not a peep. I figure it will take a while before Barber notices Cooley has gone radio silent and makes his move. Time is on our side.”

“Was Hattie okay last night?” he prompted.

I scrubbed a hand over my mouth, hesitating. No, Hattie wasn’t okay. She was scared. And I couldn’t be there, which was eating me alive. Thank God she had her sister so at least she wasn’t alone.

“She’s rattled, but holding strong,” I replied.

“Yeah, well, she had to have an iron will to tolerate your bullshit for all those years. So, I’d say she’ll be fine.”

“What about you?” I countered. “When will you tie the knot?”

Big G snorted.

“Not anytime soon, I can guarantee that. There’s a reason I’ve never married after all these years. I like my freedom.”

“Chicken shit,” I mumbled, glancing at him over the rim of my mug.

Big G raised his eyebrows.

“Someone’s feisty this morning. A sleepless night with a dash of violence and bloodshed perks you right up and puts you in a good mood. That’s disturbing.”

“You’re not getting any younger,” I pointed out, determined to stay on track despite his attempt to derail me.

Big G sighed and braced his hands on the bar.

“This life is rough, Prez. I don’t have to tell you that."

I nodded, letting him continue when he was ready.

Some brothers flaunted their love lives, like Spike did.

Others kept it quiet and private, playing things close to the vest, which was more Big G’s style.

I knew he had one or two serious relationships in his early days with the Blackjacks, but they fell through because of the club.

Ever since then, he seemed to stick with bunnies, and nothing more than that.

“Can’t say that I’m eager to bring someone into the line of fire with me,” Big G continued.

I made a noise of agreement.

“And I don’t blame you, brother.”

Sometimes, I wish I’d never brought Hattie into this life alongside me. She would have been happier with someone else who could have given her the life she wanted in the first place, without the heartbreak of divorce.

An hour later, Crash returned with breakfast, and the bar was loaded with a spread of food.

Like a hungry vulture, Spike emerged from a back room, shirtless except for his cut, but at least he was wearing pants, so that was better than nothing.

Credence moved one of his laptops to the bar, never pausing his search for Barber as he grabbed a breakfast sandwich.

Blackbeard and Gatling shuffled into the clubhouse, stifling yawns after being awake all night. Big G pressed coffee into their hands.

When I heard the door open, I turned, expecting to see Baby Doll. Instead, Hattie stepped in.

No one else noticed for several seconds except me. Spike snatched a sausage off Crash’s plate. Crash jabbed his fork at him.

Then Big G glanced up and saw Hattie standing on the threshold.

“Mama Bear is in the house,” he announced.

He grabbed Crash by the scruff of his neck and yanked him off the stool next to mine, despite Crash’s squawk of protest. “Hattie, come take a seat. Behave yourselves, boys. Sit up straight and no dirty jokes. Spike, keep it in your pants.”

Spike spread his hands with a lump of the stolen sausage in his cheek, mid-chew.

“Hey, I can be a perfect gentleman around the ladies. Ask anyone.”

Gatling aimed a kick at him.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full. Didn’t your mother ever teach you that?”

“Says the antisocial hermit raised by wolves in the backcountry,” Spike retorted.

“I wouldn’t say every lady is enthralled with you,” Blackbeard said. “That little slip of a thing at Hot Shot’s garage would walk through the fires of hell barefoot if it meant she didn’t have to deal with your bullshit.”

Spike huffed and swallowed his food, waving his fork in the air.

“Look. That was a misunderstanding. After I explain everything to Morgan, we’ll be best friends again.”

“She can’t stand you,” Blackbeard said in a flat voice.

Spike grinned.

“I’ll change that one day. Mark my words.”

I sighed and rose to my feet, crossing the room to Hattie’s side. Cupping her elbow, I took her aside, away from my bickering brothers.

“Is everything okay? If I had known you were stopping by, I would have cleaned up a bit…”

I trailed off, scrubbing my unshaven jaw. Tex should have reached out to let me know that Hattie was on the move. Had she given him the slip?

“I figured your clubhouse was the safest place to be right now,” Hattie replied. “As soon as I left Connie and the kids, Vlad started following me after two blocks. I assumed you have at least one man—probably more—still watching the house. So, you can stop fretting.”

“Is that why you came over at seven-thirty in the morning to scold me?” I replied.

“Do you want me to scold you?” she countered, arching an eyebrow.

I lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug.

“I always thought it was hot when you ripped me a new one.”

She huffed a laugh and shook her head, but I noticed the pleased pink color rising to her cheeks.

“Which is exactly why our marriage wasn’t normal. Why couldn’t you get turned on by something sweet, like a candle light dinner? Or a romantic weekend in the Bahamas?”

“If I recall correctly, it wasn’t a candle light dinner that made you do this.”

I lifted the sleeve of my T-shirt to reveal my bicep where Hattie sank her teeth into me during sex, the first week after we met. The next morning, I had those vicious red marks tattooed, wearing it like a badge of pride.

Hattie hissed and swatted my shoulder.

"Neil! I told you to have that removed ages ago.”

I smoothed my sleeve back down into place.

“And I told you, that’s never gonna happen. I earned that bite mark. I should have had those welts you left on my back tattooed as well.”

Hattie grumbled with frustration, pressing her lips into that characteristic thin line of disapproval.

“I didn’t come here to talk about sex.”

“Plans change sometimes, sweetheart,” I replied. “Learn to roll with the punches and enjoy it.”

She crossed her arms, fixing me with a stern look.

“A body showed up at the police station this morning. Turns out, he’s related to the case I’ll be testifying in next week.”

I kept my expression neutral, giving nothing away. The less she knew, the better. Lying to Hattie was usually a necessary evil to ensure she stayed safe. But she rarely let me get away with it.

“What a coincidence,” I replied.

“I couldn’t pry any more details out of the officer I spoke to, but something tells me this might have to do with the intruder who broke into Connie’s house. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

I shook my head.

“Not really.”

Hattie gave a skeptical hum and gestured at the breakfast layout.

“For the record, I don’t believe you. But I’d hate to think I made the trip here for nothing. Why don’t you invite me to stay for a bite to eat?”

She didn't have to tell me twice. I'd jump at the chance to spend more time with my wife.

“Big G,” I said. “Get my woman whatever she wants.”