“Sit down.”
Stoney took a seat at the head of the table and kicked out a chair. I sat down, feeling real damn uncomfortable in the room.
“Know who used to sit there?” Stoney asked me.
“No clue.”
“Rocky. My VP. Winter was his old lady.”
“The guy who was shot and killed,” I said.
“Exactly.” Stoney folded his hands and leaned forward. “He was taken out in a real shit way, Tripp. I fear for Winter’s life.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“You’re going to do battle with MCs at war?”
“It was another club that killed Rocky?”
“He always stuck his nose where it didn’t belong,” Stoney said. “I always knew it would catch him in the ass. I loved him like a brother though. It doesn’t make sense though. I mean, it does, because of Rocky’s personality, but the timing. None of it makes sense.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I was curious to meet you, Tripp. That’s why. I heard you’re a prized fighter fallen from grace.”
“Not sure I’d value myself all that much.”
“You’re serving a punishment by doing this,” Stoney said with a sly grin. “So your death, if it should happen, wouldn’t be a great loss.”
“Agreed. But I’m wondering why your MC can’t protect Winter. And better yet, what is she being protected for?”
“How about common courtesy?” Stoney asked.
“You don’t look the part for courtesy.”
“And you don’t look the part of a fighter.”
“Want to try me?” I offered.
Stoney laughed. “Offering to take on the President of a MC is a dangerous proclamation. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Then I’ll say it louder.”
Stoney gritted his teeth. “Let me put it this way, Tripp. If my guys are poking around Winter, you stay the fuck back. There should have been better communication with Harlan, I’ll give you that. But that cannot and will not ever happen again.”
“I can’t promise anything.”
“So you like to fight that much?”
“Never said that. But if I need to fight to survive…”
Stoney slapped his hand to the table. “Tell you what. Why not join the MC in a little entertainment? Maybe you and Harlan can square things up the right way. You know?”
“You want me to fight Harlan?”
“I’m offering you a chance to get a little closer to the MC,” Stoney said. “After all, we’re all in this together, right? Someone is going to have to take care of Winter short term and long term. It’s only a matter of time before you’re gone, right Tripp?”
His words were cool but intensely threatening. I knew how to play cool though. I once had my best friend die in my fucking hands. Trust me, I knew how to play cool.
“That’s fine by me,” I said. “I’d like to know everything you know so far. And what I can do to help. If someone is coming for Winter, I want to be ready.”
Stoney waved a hand. “Nothing to worry about. Anyone steps foot in this town, we’ll have them. My guys are everywhere.”
“Drunk at the bar?”
“That’s only some. We work in shifts.” Stoney stood up. “I’ll organize a little gathering. The MC could use some cash. Now, can I trust you to knock Harlan out again?”
Stoney smiled and winked.
“You’re going to bet against your own member to win cash?” I asked.
“Hey,” Stoney said. “I go where the business is.” He then grabbed my wrist and lifted my right hand. “Then again, this is too fresh on your knuckles. This isn’t from skin and bones, Tripp.” Stoney’s eyes locked with mine. “This is from punching a wall. Stone wall, right? What happened? Winter shake that little ass of hers too close? You fucking see those tits yet, Tripp? My fucking God… they could make a blind man hard…”
I felt my left hand tightening up into a ball. I wanted to attack. I wanted to rip this guy’s throat out.
But I held off. Showing restraint was definitely not my strong suit, but I managed.
“I’m here to protect her,” I said. “Nothing else.”
I walked to the door and Stoney whistled for me.
I paused, looking back at him.
“Watch yourself, Tripp. Aldo and I go back a long time. The Red Aces have ties you can’t imagine. I know why you’re here. I know what happened. I know how fragile your life actually is. You get too close. You poke around.” Stoney nodded to Rocky’s empty chair.
A silent warning.
I left the room and felt a chill run through my body.
If I was a detective or a betting man, my suspicion was really fucked.
I started to believe the MC took out their own guy.
~
I thought about holding Winter’s hand. Then I thought about driving the car off the road. There was no way in hell I could hold her damn hand. Even if she was shaking. Even if she kept turning her head to hide the fact that there were tears in her eyes.
It didn’t matter.
The lines were pretty clear now.