Chapter Three
C ompass grabbed his sunglasses, slipping them on his face, and headed out to his bike. He was anxious to have it out on the road. Jesse had tuned it up yesterday and told him to ride it around and tell her what he thought.
He walked out to Baron, Rascal, and Locks, who were waiting on their bikes. He got on his and started her up. The rumble was joined by the other bikes, and Compass relaxed at the sound that had signaled brotherhood since they’d come together in the military in nineteen seventy-seven, so many years ago.
When he went nomad, one of the things he missed was riding in a group of his friends, but going nomad had been best for him. He needed the time away from the compound after he lost his wife. For a while, he hadn’t been able to even say her name without a sharp pain in his chest. Watching her wither away from the damn chemo drugs and the cancer had broken something inside him.
Baron led them just like he had those years ago. Compass didn’t begrudge passing the club onto the younger ones because, although he hated to admit it, he wasn’t able to do what he could in his thirties and forties. He freaking creaked when he moved and things hurt.
His dick still worked, which was saying something. After losing Lucille, he hadn’t had any urges. Even some hot woman walking by didn’t get a response. Until her. Maureen. The first night they’d spent together was just him holding her. The comfort of a warm, female body next to him gave him the best sleep he’d had since he lost Lucille.
Besides being funny, gorgeous, and a generous woman, she made his cock steel hard. All the time. He’d had more showers since living with her than he’d had in the last year.
What he felt for her was different from the way he’d felt for Lucille, but it was no less intense. He worried about her when he was away from her, and his day didn’t seem complete unless they talked. He wasn’t sure if it was love, but he knew it was something.
Baron motioned they were turning. Compass wondered where they were going. Normally, if they went on a ride, they stayed on the paved roads. Baron had them heading down a road that Compass was positive transitioned to dirt. He could ride his bike on a dirt road, though he didn’t particularly like the rough ride or how it would bounce around the bike he just got worked on. Baron motioned for another turn, and Compass relaxed but still wasn’t sure where they were going.
Baron signaled he was pulling to the side, and they followed. Baron dropped his kickstand and got off his bike, walking back to them.
“What’s up?” Rascal asked.
“I got word that someone has moved into the abandoned barn on the next property. Strange lights and sounds at night. I think we need to check it out,” Baron said.
Locks chuckled. “And you didn’t tell us at the clubhouse because you’re worried your wife would hear somehow and stop you.”
Compass grinned at the sheepish look on Baron’s face.
“We may be older, but we can still accomplish shit,” Baron grumbled.
“Is that why you didn’t invite any of the younger guys?” Rascal asked.
“I figured Regina would notice if everyone came but us; old guys taking a ride wouldn’t even be a blip on her radar,” Baron said, shrugging. “I’ve never known you all to not be armed when riding, and we’re just checking something out.”
“I’ve got my Smith & Wesson .38 on my ankle and my nine in my cut holster,” Compass said.
“Same,” Rascal replied.
“I’ve got my Taurus revolver on my right ankle, my Rossi 272 on my left, and my nine in my cut holster,” Locks said.
“Overachiever,” Rascal muttered.
“I’ve got two on me, too. I’m not planning on us needing them but just in case. The barn is located about one hundred feet off the road, accessed by a small dirt lane. We’ll be completely exposed once we get past the bushes lining the turn-in lane. I vote we walk in and leave the bikes at the turn-in,” Baron suggested.
“You’re wanting them at the road just in case they start shooting at us and we need to haul ass,” Rascal suggested.
Baron grinned. “You know me well. Let’s do this.”
Compass started his bike back up and followed Baron to the lane. He backed his bike in, just like the others. If they needed a quick getaway, facing out and not having to turn might be the difference in making it out alive, though they were just checking out a barn in broad daylight. Compass figured they’d be fine. They parked to the side of the drive, so if someone tore out of there in a car, they’d have no reason to hit the bikes.
Compass followed behind Rascal, who was following Baron. Locks was bringing up the rear. His heart beat a little faster at what they might find. Compass waited on Rascal’s signal to go forward. It had been years since they’d served, but they seamlessly functioned as a team again.
Compass paused at the edge of the bushes when Rascal held his hand up, signaling they hold their position. Compass strained to hear anything. He could hear the wind rustling through the trees and bushes nearby. Beyond the barn was a field of wheat blowing in the wind. Between the bushes at the edge of the lane that they were currently hidden by and the edge of the two barns, there was about fifty feet without any cover.
Compass wasn’t too worried because, although he could see a car parked underneath the lean-to hooked to the barn, he didn’t think anyone was there. It was quiet without any sounds from the structure.
Baron motioned he was moving, and, staying low to the ground, made his way closer to the structure. When he was about halfway across and Rascal was getting ready to follow, Compass caught the glint of sunlight on metal from the hayloft.
“Gun!” he yelled at the same time a shot sounded. Baron hit the ground. Compass couldn’t tell if Baron had dove for the ground or been hit, but he returned fire so the shooter wouldn’t have a chance to sight his gun in again on Baron. Locks was shooting at the opening to the hayloft too while Rascal ran out to help Baron.
As the guys got back, Compass grabbed his handkerchief out of his pocket and quickly tied it around the blood on Baron’s bicep.
“Shit, Regina is going to kill me for this scratch.”
Compass hid a smile despite Baron just being shot. He must not be too hurt if he was more worried about his wife than the bullet wound.
“Let’s get out of here. Locks and I will cover until you all get to your bikes, and then you can cover us,” Compass said.
Rascal and Baron nodded and made their way to the bikes, then Compass and Locks made their way over, but the shooter was letting them leave without any more fire. They rode away from the area, and Baron pulled over at the next crossroads.
“How am I going to hide this, and which one of you can sew it up?” Baron asked.
Compass held up his hands in front of him, as did Locks.
“Not it,” they both said.
“I am not sewing you up. Clara quilts, so as long as blood doesn’t squig her out, she could probably do it, but there is no way you’re going to keep Regina from finding out. It would be easier to just go by Stella’s office, take your punishment like a man, and get it over with. I heard the rescue took in a couple of those pigs people keep as pets. You should definitely give them a call so you can buy your way back into your wife’s good graces,” Rascal said.
“You three are all pussies,” Baron groused.
“You’re just whiny because your arm hurts,” Locks said. “You know Rascal is right.”
Baron pulled out his phone and texted, then slid it back in his pocket.
“Let’s go. I texted Stella I need her at the office and texted my wife that I got a little scrape that I needed Stella to sew up. They’re both meeting me at the office.”
“Great. You guys want to go get coffee while he gets sewn up?” Rascal asked.
“I like that idea. No one knows we were with him when he got hurt, so why should we get in trouble,” Locks said.
Compass had to agree, but he didn’t think Baron would let them get away with it. Baron pulled out his phone and typed in something, then started his motorcycle.
“I told Regina y’all were with me when I got the scrape. We’re a brotherhood,” Baron said, smirking, then starting up his bike and taking off.
Well, it looked like today was going to be a little more interesting.