Page 62 of The Biker's Brother

Edge caught the look that passed between Brash and Brant. “Give me a beer,” he said.

Rita opened a long neck wordlessly and pushed it over.

Edge took the brew and walked down the hall to his room. He closed and locked the door before opening his third dresser drawer to look for a designated phone under socks and boxers.

A simple text message was waiting.

Call.

Cannon Johns, Brandon, Cami, and Axel sat around Axel’s kitchen table while his wife rushed around whipping up some tacos.

“Your pop says you were planning on getting back tonight.” Brandon nodded. “Could be that’s still gonna happen. Here’s the plan.”

“That may be the best food I’ve ever eaten,” Cami told Axel’s wife, Marguerite, who flushed with pleasure. “I mean,ever.”

“Glad you liked it,” she said, as she took the rest of the plates away.

Axel pulled his phone out of his pants and said, “Yeah?”

He listened and made a couple of ‘hmm’ responses, then said, “Okay,” and shut his phone. He looked around the table. “Just make yourself at home and relax. Watch TV. Help yourself to the refrigerator. If you want to nap, or whatever, Marguerite will show you to the guest room. I’ll be back to get you when it gets dark.”

When Brandon turned on the TV and sprawled out on the couch, Cami nestled in beside him like she needed the comfort of his nearness. And nothing could have pleased him more. He was becoming addicted to having the woman close by.

Knowing they were safe and that he could relax fully, Brandon was asleep within fifteen minutes. He slept all afternoon in that position, half sitting, half lying back.

Axel came through the kitchen door and stomped his boots. When he appeared in the living room, Cami nudged Brandon awake.

“He’s back,” she said so quietly it was almost a whisper.

Brandon sat up, scrubbed a palm down his face and looked over at Axel.

“You ready?”

“I don’t know,” Brand said. “We haven’t heard the plan.”

“Come on. I’ll tell you while we walk over to the warehouse.” He gave Marguerite a kiss that was borderline embarrassing.

“Hey,” Johns said. “Let’s get this done then you two can get a room.”

Axel slapped her on the fanny and walked away chuckling. “That’s exactly what I had in mind.”

On the way over to the warehouse, Axel shared the details. “My boys have been out renting some vans while your pop was making the other travel arrangements. Here’s what we’re going to do.”

Ten minutes later Brand, Cami, and luggage were in a black van being driven by Cannon Johns. There were three other identical black vans being driven by other club members that left at the same time. At the first major crossroads, the four vans went four different directions.

Brandon was in the front passenger seat. He asked Johns, “Have you been to this place before?”

“I’ve been nearby. Don’t think we’ll have any trouble finding it.”

“So. What does the NOMAD patch mean?”

“Means I’ve got one more job to do and then I’m comin’ home. To stay.”

“Home is?”

“Austin. God’s country. At least it used to be before the roads turned into parking lots that look like L.A. at rush hour.” He sighed and shrugged. “Can’t change where you’re from.”

Brand thought about where he was from. New York. The “get a rope” TV commercial came to mind.