Page 19 of Bowser (Dragon Riders MC 2)
“Knuckles, you still here?” I asked.
He popped up from the recliner. “Yep. Just reading.”
I nodded. “Good.”
“Did you fill in Link?”
“Not particularly.”
I felt him staring at me. “Any reason why you didn’t?”
I shrugged. “I figured this was a decision the entire crew needed to make.”
He walked up to me. “In other words, you’re concerned he’d say no unless he’s in front of a bunch of guys that agree with you.”
“Yep.”
“If we can get them to agree with you.”
I looked over at him. “You no longer agreeing with me?”
He sighed. “Fine, yes. With us.”
I nodded. “Good. I’m going to need you on my side for this meeting. You know Link’s gonna blow through the roof.”
“Hey, at least you’re V.P. Had I called the meeting? He’d be coming to burn my leather cut tonight.”
“Is there anything we want to tweak about this plan before they come inside?”
“I mean, usually if someone asks that question—”
“Don’t read into it, Knuckles. Just answer it.”
He shook his head curtly. “No. Not a damn thing.”
“Good.”
The roar of the bikes became deafening before they all shut off. The silence of the woods was marred only by the furious bootsteps charging up the porch. The front door opened, and the guys came pouring in. Sly, bringing up the front; and Link, bringing up the back. He glared at me with his stone-cold stare as he closed the door behind him. Knuckles ushered everyone into the living space, trying to get as far away from Hope’s bedroom as possible.
I didn’t care if Link was pissed, though. This was for Hope.
And I had to make them see that.
“Anyone hungry? Or thirsty?” I asked.
Link spoke up. “This isn’t a pow-wow. It’s a church meeting, apparently.”
Knuckles stepped up to the plate. “Doesn’t mean we can’t drink.”
Sly shoved his hand into the air. “I’ll take a beer.”
Link cast him a look and Sly shrugged.
“One beer. Anything else?” I asked.
“An explanation might be nice,” Link said.
“Not sure I’m familiar with that drink,” I said, grinning.
The guys chuckled. But Link didn’t even crack a shadow of a grin.
I looked over at Knuckles and he nodded. He walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge before the rattling of glass started. I stared at Link, trying to silently manage his anger. I’d never seen the man so tense in all his life. Had something happened that we hadn’t been briefed on yet? That was what it felt like.
“All right. Who else wants a beer?” Knuckles asked.
Every single one of us took one. Except, of course, Link.
“Sure you don’t want one?” I asked.
“Get to the point. It’s late,” he barked.
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed tonight,” Sly murmured.
Link ground his teeth together. “Why did you call this meeting?”
I sipped my drink. “I think a better question right now is why the hell are you so angry about it?”
All eyes were on him as our president heaved a heavy sigh.
“I was in the middle of a special night planned specifically for Joanna when you texted. And while none of you heathens have families you want to spend time with other than who’s around you, I’ve got someone special I’m trying not to disappoint day in and day out.”
I blinked. “Trouble in paradise?”
“If I don’t get back for dessert, there will be.”
Sly grinned. “Dessert. That sounds… oddly fancy.”
Knuckles chuckled. “Well, if we get everyone’s cooperation, this will go splendidly.”
Link furrowed his brow. “Did you just say ‘splendidly?’”
I interjected. “He’s right. So, I’ll get to the point so you can get back to your banana pudding or whatever it is the two of you call sex.”
The guys chuckled as Link’s eyes locked with mine.
“I’m waiting,” he said.
I peeked over at Knuckles. “Knuckles and I have come up with a viable plan to take down Skeleton and free the rest of those girls at the motel.”
Link’s face fell as Sly spoke up. “Are we even sure they’re at the motel anymore?”
Knuckles nodded. “We are. Bowser and I have been patrolling the four-mile stretch for about a week now.”
“And you didn’t tell anyone?” Sly asked.
I tried to get a read on Link, but his face had gone stone-cold. And when that shit happened? It was impossible to read him until he decided to clue you in on something.
“Skeleton and his crew are stupid enough to have stayed in the same spot. I don’t know if that makes them idiots or if that means they’ve come up with a plan of their own. But they have upped their security,” I said.
“Of course,” Link said.
Knuckles spoke. “What we want to do is run a basic sting operation. The motel now is much too fortified for us to penetrate without failure. Their guns are bigger. They’re carrying more ammunition rounds on their person. It’s a multi-person war-show going on in there. But if we can draw them away from that camp…”
