Page 5 of The Biker's Brother

“In a nutshell.”

“What aren’t you telling me? Why isn’t it safer to shelter in place wherever she is?”

“He’s scared. Really scared. Thinks this guy can get through any defense he can mount.”

Brandon nodded thoughtfully. “When did you tell him we’d get her?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

“Day after tomorrow? Forty-eight hours to come up with a plan and make arrangements to be away from the office?”

“Security will work with you on a plan. Taking time off work? Come on. You’re the boss, aren’t you? You want the job or not? If you do, I’ll call a meeting and get a vote on patching you.”

Brandon hadn’t realized how badly he wanted that until it was offered. He’d thought it was something that would never be within his grasp, but suddenly there it was. He didn’t really have a choice. Once in a lifetime offer to get the only thing he wanted that he didn’t already have?

Hell, yes.

“Hell, yes.”

Brant smiled as they stood up. He slapped Brandon on the shoulder and it made Brand’s heart ache for the years he’d missed not having his father in his life.

“I’ll call you later with the verdict,” Brant said.

They mounted their rides and ignited the engines. The noise made all the patrons of Chuy’s turn and look. The men wished they were on those bikes. The women wished they were sitting behind the men on those bikes.

Brant turned west on Bee Caves. Brandon saluted as he turned east.

Brandon got a text at ten o’clock. He sat on the side of the bed and read it.

Brant:You’re in. Be here tomorrow at eleven to go over the plan.

Brand:Okay. I want to talk to the old man. Find out everything he knows.

Brant:It’s your call. Do not tell your mother about this.

Brand laughed and set the phone down on the bedside table. He looked behind him at the woman sprawled on his bed wearing nothing but red thigh-highs. He slapped her derriere hard enough to make her jerk awake.

“What?” she said.

“Time to go,” Brand answered.

“Go?” she said sleepily. “You’re kicking me out?”

He stopped and stared at her. “Let me guess. You thought I picked you up at the Congress Club and it was true love.”

“Well, no, but…”

He threw her clothes at her. “Get dressed. I’ll call you a taxi.”

“Asshole.”

He looked at her like he was offended. “I’m going topayfor it.”

Once he got Siri or Sherry or something like that out of his top floor condo, he turned on the TV, made himself a nightcap, and watched the stock market report. When he went to bed, he couldn’t sleep. He felt a little like a kid who thought he was going to get the bike he wanted for Christmas.

At eleven sharp Brandon rode through the compound gates and strode into the clubhouse.

“They’re waiting for you in there.”