Page 42 of Bolo's Curveball
I blinked and watched as he put bread into the toaster and then bacon, which I was glad he was eating because I couldn’t seem to eat it anymore, into a pan. “What does that mean?” I asked.
He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, as the bacon sizzled on the stove. “We take care of this city.”
Sounded reasonable. “Like…helping with food drives and stuff?”
“That too,” he agreed. “But more we help clean up the trash.”
My eyes narrowed, brows drawing together, but I didn’t interrupt this time. I was just going to let him get to his point.
“There are some…” He sighed and shrugged, as if he was just going to go for it. “There are shit bags in this city and we clear them out.”
My brain stuttered as I tried to follow that. “...shit-”
“Criminals.”
“Isn’t that what the cops are supposed to do?” I asked, arching a brow.
He nodded. “And when they do their job we don’t get involved. How many times have you investigated a fire and the person who started it got off on some bullshit technicality?”
More than I liked.
“So…you’re like…vigilantes?”
“That’s what the cops would call us,” he said with another shrug of his massive shoulders. “Really we just want to protect the people of this city. Our city.”
“Why?”
He grinned. “Same reason as you.”
I understood exactly what he meant. That need to help others was the reason I went into firefighting to begin with. Nodding, I studied his face. “Why not do it the right way? Become cops?”
He considered the question for a moment. “Every man in my club was in the military. Most of us finished up our term and got out. Some extended, but none of us were lifers. Don’t get me wrong. The military taught me a lot. Was good for me really.” He gave me one of those sexy grins of his. “But I’m finished with all the rules, procedures, hell, the chain of command.”
“Your club doesn’t have a hierarchy?”
“It does,” he admitted. “But they’re men I respect. Men I’d happily follow into battle. Leaders who would put themselves in danger before asking anyone else to do so. It wasn’t always like that in the military. Here, I don’t have to deal with someone that is appointed over me, someone unknown and untested.”
I nodded again. “Aren’t you worried about getting into trouble?” I asked.
He grinned. “I know bikers and law enforcement have a reputation for hating each other. And for the most part they can’t stand us. We’re mostly ambivalent to them. We stay out of their way and off their radar as much as possible.”
“But if they caught you, they’d arrest you?”
He nodded. “In a heartbeat.”
I folded my arms under my breasts, considering what this meant. “If you end up in jail, I’ll be here alone.”
“That’s why I’m telling you this, Dev. You have the right to know. Youneedto know.” Our eyes locked. “I’ll do everything in my power to stay with you and my kid. My club is a huge part of who I am. Which means I can’t give up the things we do. Not when there are times we’re the only thing standing between people and the assholes hurting them.”
My eyes traced his face. He looked determined. Fierce. I’d be lying if I tried to say my heart didn’t jump at the conviction he was wearing like armor. He was strong and capable.
“I hope you can accept that.”
“I…need to think about it,” I told him, trying to be honest. It was a lot to swallow. It wasn’t every day that I met people who admitted to breaking the law in such a blatant manner. I just hadn’t grown up around anything like that.
“Understandable. I’ll answer any questions that I can, for now. Then later, I’ll fill you in on it all.”
“Why not fill me in now?”
