“How did that other guy get involved then?” Knox asked. “The one King murdered?”
Uncle Jakey shook his head. “We tried to stop that too. That night the bullets started to fly easily. But back on track for the story.” Uncle Jakey stood up. He ran a hand across his face. “I’m well connected all around. My push, pull, power is everywhere. The Reap wasn’t in a position to just start tagging people. So we called in a favor. The plan was to scare Tito. Make it well known we were all over him. Then we wanted to pull you out of that house, King. Show you everything. Christ, I still have information somewhere I can show you. Your brother was deep. He was using more than selling. What he sold he fucking used the money to buy more. He never made his payments. The goddamn connection wanted us to take out Tito. They were willing to pay. But we refused. Hammer said no. I said no. We weren’t in the business of that. The big players still wanted Tito dead. Our guy was going to rough up Tito. Then we were going to come and make sure the message was sent. Simple as that. Except the guy was on the payroll for someone else. The second he saw Tito, he pulled the trigger. He took off and it took us a while to figure out what to do next.”
I gritted my teeth and rubbed my jaw. I knew the truth of Tito. Fuck, I knew it. I knew my hero brother was a reckless junkie. Did that mean I should love him less? Fuck no. I wanted him in the Reap. I wanted to protect him.
“King,” Knox said. “Say something, brother.”
“Keep talking,” I whispered.
Uncle Jakey put his hands to the table. “The night you wanted to take down the guy that killed Tito… we got the same intel. That’s why there was so much traffic. So many bullets. You hurried and confessed, pushing yourself into prison. Wanting to prove your point and swing your big cock. All before we had a chance to talk to you. Next thing I knew, you were out, eyes were on the Reap, and shit started to crumble. It was a collapse like I never thought possible.”
Uncle Jakey punched the table and turned away.
The table was silent.
The truth was a real bitch sometimes.
“So what do we do now?” I asked.
“That’s up to you,” Uncle Jakey said. “I’m going to let you make this call, King. You wanted the truth, you got it. You wanted to get your revenge, you got it. You wanted to do time in prison, you did it. What else?”
Now it was my turn to stand up. Challenging the man who swung the gavel wasn’t smart, but he owed me one. Christ, he had been part of the reason my brother was dead.
“I didn’t want to spend my life in prison,” I said. “Or end up dead. I was doing what I was taught from this goddamn club. About loyalty and honor.”
“Okay,” Knox cut in. “Who the hell is Anderson?”
All eyes went back to Uncle Jakey. “I’ve got all I need on him.”
“Meaning what?” I asked.
Uncle Jakey stepped to the table. He reached back and took out a gun. He put it on the table.
“We’re going to make things right.”
31
(Lindsey) *THEN*
KING SLID out from under my car. He looked so deadly sexy with his t-shirt all messy with grease. He sat up and grabbed at his knees.
“You’re fine,” he said. “My guess? Just the a/c dripping water.”
“It does that?” I asked.
King grinned. “Yes, sweetie. When you’re running it for long periods, you’ll find a small puddle under the car. It’s not gas because the gas tank is way down there. And it’s not oil. Or anti-freeze. Or brake fluid. Trust me.”
“I do,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Come here,” King said.
I gingerly crouched down to face him. It had been months since I’d seen him. After his brother’s funeral we spent some time together but it came to an end, like it always did. I had to head back to college and King was buried deep in the Reap.
I came back to visit Aunt Jane and I noticed a puddle under my car. I freaked out and thought something was wrong. I had a two hour drive to college and the last thing I needed was to be broken down and stranded on the side of the road.
Aunt Jane suggested I call King.
Of course she would suggest that.
To my shock, the second I called King he told me come right to the garage.
So there I was, crouching down, facing King.
We both smiled.
No matter how much time went by, the second we got back together it was like seconds had passed by.
“How’s school?” he asked.
“It’s school,” I said. “How’s your career?”
“Busy,” he said. “I normally don’t get all greasy and messy. But a few guys called off this week so I’ve been in the garage during the day and an outlaw at night.”
“An outlaw,” I said. “I hope you’re staying safe.”
“Oh, I always wear a condom.”
“Ew,” I said and smacked his shoulder.
“What? You think I’m saving myself for you, sweetie?”
“I hope not. I know I’m not saving myself for you.”
King clutched his chest. “Oh. That was hard. Damn.”
I winked. “You started it.”