“Some kind of deal,” Miller said. “His charter, his problem.”
“Point is,” Gaige cut in, “we lost a brother and we need to go and honor him. We’ll attend the funeral up in Daurian. Just the table though. The rest of the guys are going to stay here just in case.”
“We have to find out what happened,” Trev said. “Could someone be attacking us through other places?”
“How so?” Nate asked.
“Look what happened with Eden,” Trev said. “A blatant attack and murder. Whoever did that knew what they were doing and wanted her. Now someone up in Ripper’s crew gets hit? Maybe someone is trying to move us, keep us distracted…”
“Maybe,” Miller said. “We’ll have to keep our eyes open on everything. We’re going up north for the dark ride. We have to send our brother off the right way. Ripper’s table is voting on what to do with his cut and then they have to fill a seat. I know that the VP up there, Jasper, was close to Giovanni. They’re all in a fragile spot. Talking to Ripper proved that. He sounded numb and distant. We can’t let that charter get shaky. Especially with Jenn and this Eden situation.”
“Agreed,” Gaige said. “Suit up, brothers. We’re riding tomorrow.”
“Now get out there and let this shit sink in,” Miller said. “The reaper’s close. Too fucking close.”
Miller hit the gavel.
He then pointed to Trev and gave a nod.
Stay behind.
When it was just Miller and Trev, they stared each other down for a few seconds.
“What are you thinking?” Miller asked.
“I don’t know what to think,” Trev said. “Seems too convenient to me.”
“You think it’s all connected?”
“I think something is going on up north. I have a weird feeling, Miller. Hard to explain. We’ve always had problems with Ripper. He runs a little strange of outlaw. Taking one lone guy on a run? They get ambushed? Ripper wasn’t shot?”
Miller nodded. “Let’s just get up there first. This is still touchy. Now it’ll get even worse.”
“We can’t hide Eden forever,” Trev said. “She knows her father is dead. Maybe shit with Jenn could work out somehow. Someone sent that letter to Eden. There’s no way in hell Eden is going to stay down here while I’m gone.”
“Jesus Christ,” Miller said. “You want to take Eden up there? She and Jenn see each other…”
“Exactly. Let them see each other. See how everyone reacts to it. That’ll tell the story.”
“That’s a risk.”
Trev stood up. “Everything we do is a risk, Miller. I feel like we’re preparing for a really shitty war.”
“Me too, brother. Me too.”
Trev walked away and left the conference room without looking back or being dismissed. It was a bit of disrespect toward Miller, but Trev wasn’t worried about respect anymore. He was worried about survival. For the first time in his outlaw life, he gave a shit about living.
And that was Eden’s goddam fault.
__
fifteen.
Eden stood at the door as two prospects stared at her.
“What?”
“Clubhouse,” one said. “Come with us.”
“Why?”
“Trev.”
Eden felt her heart sink. “Is he hurt?”
“No.”
“Oh. Good. Why can’t he come here?”
“Clubhouse,” the prospect said again.
“Right now,” the other said.
“Fine,” Eden said.
She followed the prospects down the metal stairs and walked across the lot toward the clubhouse. It seemed fuller than normal. More motorcycles. More guys with leather cuts lingering around. It was a scary sight as Eden wondered how many people all these men had collectively killed, but then again, weren’t they just protecting themselves and their club?
When Eden entered the clubhouse, it was bustling. She recognized all the main table guys and their girlfriends. The President, Miller, stood with two kids in his arms. One kid was older than the other, laughing as Miller tickled his ribs.
“Daddy! Stop!” the kid cried out.
The other guy was just a baby, clutching Miller’s leather cut tight.
“Be careful,” a woman said as she stood with Blaine. “Don’t drop my baby.”
“Come on,” Miller said. “I’d never drop the future of Back Down Devil MC.”
“My baby isn’t getting patched in,” the woman said.
“Oh shit,” Blaine said.
“What do you want him to do in life, Jessa?” Miller asked the woman. “Look at his eyes. He’s got his father’s evil eyes.”
“And he loves Jessa’s tits just as much as I do,” Blaine said.
“Asshole,” Jessa said and slapped Blaine.
Eden smiled and saw the life they all lived for something greater. They really were a family together.
A hand touched Eden’s back and she turned to see Trev standing there.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey you,” Trev said. “Figured you could use a break from the apartment. Can we talk?”
“Of course. Everything okay?”
“Come on,” Trev said.
He slipped his hand into Eden’s and they walked to the side of the bar. They sat down and a prospect was there with two beers.