He took a step forward and then hobbled a little because of his leg. He stood tall and looked really pissed off.
“I’m sorry for what I said,” he said. “You’re right, Maggie. I am a fucking asshole. That’s why this whole set up thing with us can’t happen. Nobody needs this in their life. And if whatever is happening with Duke and his club is going to hurt you, sis, I’ll take care of it. I’ll figure this out myself.”
“Jim, let Duke help and just tell the damn truth.”
“It’s not worth whatever is waiting,” Maggie said.
“You both say that,” Jim said. “You weren’t there. Sitting next to him as he was driving. We joked about me driving that day. If I had been… I’d be long gone, sis. And Bill would be with his wife and kids.”
I shook my head. “Don’t do this…”
“No,” Jim said. He pointed to Maggie. “You want to see it through my eyes for a second? You think I’m some kind of hero? That’s what I think about all the time. When the first explosion went off, I grabbed for him. He shouldered me away. I turned and threw the other two guys out. I turned to get Bill and the second explosion happened. If I was faster, stronger, if I just grabbed the keys from Bill…”
I saw Maggie cover her mouth.
Jim still stood there, almost stoic. I had never seen him do that before. Just stand there and blurt out parts of his story. Hell, it took a year for him just to talk to me about what happened over there.
“Duke dragged me out,” he said. “Left Bill. Bill was already gone, but I always wonder what would have happened if I got him out. Shit happens. But not that day. My best friend saved me so I could live in pain and guilt. That’s all I have to say about Duke. It’s my land out there, too, sis. I’ll do whatever I want. I’m not living in the memory of our parents. I’m not living in the thought of what could have been. It’s time to move on. Completely.”
Jim exited the room and left both myself and Maggie sitting there, speechless.
“I think I need to go talk to him,” Maggie whispered.
“Go.”
When I was alone, I tried to collect my thoughts. I had a few minutes to myself before my phone beeped with a text message from Duke.
Coming up tonight. Make sure Jim doesn’t leave the house. If you have a gun, load it and keep it close. See you later.
nineteen.
(duke)
I wiped blood off the corner of my mouth and Jasper pushed me back to a stool at the bar. A prospect quickly poured me a shot and I threw it back. I then stood up and nodded to Trev, ready for another punch to the mouth.
“Do it again,” I said.
“No,” Trev said. “Table. Everyone.”
I couldn’t blame them for all wanting to beat the shit out of me. I deserved it. If the roles were reversed… shit, they had been with Trent not all that long ago. He defended the hell out of Harlee when she was sent to kill me.
Sadly, I now knew how Trent felt.
I would do anything to protect Belle. And as far as Jim went… fuck. We grew up tighter than brothers. We trained together. We served together. We went to war together.
I got myself a beer and was the last person to enter the conference room. Max shut the door, locked it, and took his seat. I hung back, leaving my chair empty. Maybe it was a symbol to the club. Maybe it was just a symbol to myself. Without the MC I’d run outlaw. Trev had run outlaw many times in his life and look where it got him. Not that I wanted to sit at the head of a charter as President.
“Fire away,” I said.
“Right now the Russians think we’re working with the Hell Five,” Jasper said. “They think we purposely lost their money only to buy up some land. There’s more to this story, but they want to blame you, Duke.”
“You were the one who called,” Trev said. “The one up there. The one who grabbed a prospect and not a member of the Hell Five.”
“A member would have caused a bigger war,” I said. “And you’ve talked to Carlo. I’m not involved in shit.”
“But you know more than the rest of us,” Kye said.
“That I do.”
“Holding back on info?” Trev said. “That’s vote worthy to strip you of your goddamn leather cut.”
“Then fucking vote!” I yelled. “The truth? I’m trying to find out myself. A guy I served in Iraq with is the one who sold that land. I was up there trying to help him personally. His sister called me. He had a couple rough nights. That’s why I was up there.”
“Pussy,” Cash said. “Always goddamn pussy.”
“It’s not that,” I said. “It’s more.”
“Jesus Christ, Duke,” Jasper said. “If he sold that land, what are we supposed to do?”
“My plan was to go back up there and talk to him. I was up there already and found out it was him that sold the land and not his sister. That was my first priority.”
“Pussy,” Cash said.
“If you say the word pussy again I’m going to make it so you never enjoy pussy again.”