Page 86 of Allegiance
“Five days. Scalpel was ready to take you to the hospital, but Maniac and Lynch wanted to wait a couple more days. Those guys seem to have a phobia about hospitals.”
Tank laughed. “Look at you, their names just rolling off your tongue. We only go to hospitals if Scalpel demands that it’s dire.”
She placed a glass of orange juice and a small plate of cut-up pineapple and mango slices in front of him. “I’m getting used to the weird names of your friends.Dawsonis the only one that makes sense.”
Another laugh burst through his lips. “If you knew the guys, their names would make sense too.”
“I getScalpel, but I don’t even want to know whyManiac,Lynch, orReapermake sense—it’s too scary.”
“And so are they, sometimes.” Picking up his glass, he drank the juice in one long gulp. “That was damn good.”
“Freshly squeezed—way better than the carton stuff. I hope you like eggs Benedict. I didn’t have Canadian bacon, so I had to improvise.”
“Anything you cook is fuckin’ good, darlin’.”
“It better be, especially after all that money and time spent in Paris.” She joked.
He gave her a serious look. “I’d like to ride around France, Italy, and England. Maybe we can do that sometime.”
Lena put a piece of bacon in her mouth and chewed slowly. “Maybe. The best part of living in France for four years was that I was able to travel all around Europe and the UK. It was pretty awesome. I can see where it would be fun to ride a motorcycle through the back roads and countryside.”
“I’d like it. But then, I like going anywhere with you on the back of my bike.”
“I liked the times we rode around the county,” she said, placing a plate of eggs Benedict in front of him.
She’s being noncommittal as fuck.Picking up his fork, he cut into the egg and looked up. “So, how long have you been hanging around here?”
“Ever since your friends brought us here.”
“Yeah, where ishere?”
“You don’t know? Maniac called it thesafe haven.”
Tank leaned back in the chair and laughed. “That’s fucked. I knew it looked familiar, but I couldn’t place it.”
“Well, in your defense, you were in a helluva fight.”
Nodding, he took another bite. “It also looks different. Last time I was here, there was hardly any furniture, all of which came from garage sales.”
“I’m sure the wives fixed the place up. It’s real cozy. The beach is our front yard.”
“Yeah. The house has been with the club for over fifty years.”
“So the title’s in the club’s name?”
“Not exactly.”
“How’s it titled, then?”
He kept eating.
“Let me guess”—she waved her fork at him— “you can’t tell me.”
“You’re catching on.”
A knock came at the door.
Lena jumped up, and Tank grabbed her wrist.
