Page 27 of Brooks (Dirty Misfits MC 1)
After I cleaned up my place at the table.
“Come on, spit it out,” Archer said.
I flopped back down into my seat. “Remember that feeling the next time the two of you want to keep something from me. Got it?”
Porter sighed. “We get it, damn. Now, come on. Spill.”
I told them everything Raven told me. I told them about how I saw the Black Flags on the road heading for her place. I told them how I didn’t have my gun, but I had my throwing knives. I told them about how they busted into Raven’s place and how they mocked Gage’s death before asking for me.
I even told them about the question Raven had for that man as well as his answer.
And that stopped the two men in their tracks.
“He said what?” Porter asked.
I nodded. “Yep. He said, ‘Is that what you really believe?’”
Archer furrowed his brow. “Well, that’s what she claims he said.”
I gnashed my teeth together. “You callin’ her a liar? Because I’ve known her for years.”
He held up his hands. “All I’m saying is that it’s been years since you’ve seen anyone, and a lot changes in that kind of time.”
I looked around the clubhouse. “Yeah, tell me about it.”
Porter reached for a third beer. “Why do you think the Black Flags would be looking for you?”
I shook my head slowly. “No fucking clue. I didn’t get into one ounce of trouble while I was in prison. I didn’t mess with any of their former members that I came into contact with and I sure as hell didn’t attempt to fuck with them while I was on the inside.”
Archer narrowed his eyes. “Why go see her?”
I paused. “What?”
He reached for another beer, too. “After all these years, why go see her?”
I shrugged. “I made a promise to Gage when they first got married that I’d look after her if anything happened to him. I was robbed of being able to fulfill that promise for almost five years. I won’t be robbed of it a second more.”
Archer didn’t look as if he was satisfied, though.
“What?” I asked curtly.
Porter interjected hastily. “Do you think the Black Flags were involved in landing you in jail that night?”
My eyes whipped back over to his face. “I think this proves they were involved somehow, and they’re wanting to shut up anyone from that night who witnessed anything.”
Archer sighed. “That would give one explanation as to why Hyde is currently dead.”
I pointed at him. “They’re the ones who deal in drugs constantly. Including the drugs that were supposedly found in Hyde’s place when he was gunned down, right?”
They both nodded. “Right.”
I chugged back my beer. “That at least gives us a possible motive. Right now? That entire fucking club is suspect number one right now.”
Porter stretched his arms above his head. “You know, they’ve been a bit more active these last couple of years.”
Archer clicked his tongue. “They’ve been expanding their territory at a blinding pace, too.”
I held out my arms. “Only more proof and more evidence to the fact that they were involved somehow that night. We were set up by those assholes, and that’s why Gage is dead. That’s why Hyde is dead. And that’s why I ended up in prison. They wanted to disband the core group of this club so they could encroach upon our territory that they’ve been trying to take from us for damn near a decade now.”
Porter’s eyebrows rose. “Shit, we need to take this to Chops.”
I pointed at him. “I don’t want him involved in this. Not until we have hard proof as to what we’re dealing with.”
Archer balked. “You want us to withhold something this big from our fucking president? Why?”
I scoffed. “He’s not my president.”
Porter narrowed his eyes. “You think Chops is involved somehow, don’t you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. But I do know that something about this just doesn’t sit right. You guys might not see it that way because it’s been like this for you guys for a while now. Just now coming into it, though? With all of this information being tossed at me? And my presence essentially being erased from this place? Who do you think gave the command to have my room taken over? Who do you think gave the command to have my name spray-painted over?”
The two of them looked at each other before Porter sighed. “Fuck.”
Archer pinched the bridge of his nose. “God damn it.”
And just as the birds chirped outside, a door creaked open in the distance. The pitter patter of soft footsteps came down the hallway. I didn’t even need to turn around to see who it was. I knew damn good and well who it was.
“Can I go home now?” Raven asked softly.
I knew she wouldn’t like my answer, but it was the only one I had for her. “Not right now. It’s too dangerous.”
