Page 145 of Crow
“Off the record, yes. I’m very sorry.”
Crow clenched his jaw.
“I wanted you to know.” The sheriff walked away toward a patrol car.
“I appreciate it, Wexler,” he said.
The lawman turned and tipped his hat, slipped into the vehicle, and drove away.
All Crow could think about was retribution. He wanted to make the fucking killer’s death a slow and painful one.Jim didn’t deserve this.He didn’t ask Wexler how Jim had died, but he knew it was like all the others. The sonofabitch bludgeoned and hacked a decent man to death.
Being an outlaw, Crow was no stranger to violence and death. In the one-percenter world, life was fleeting, and death was imminent. Living in the moment was paramount because an outlaw never knew which enemy lurked around the corner. Crow had been on numerous missions against rival clubs or drug dealers who tried to encroach on Night Rebels’ territory, and he’d mourned his share of brothers taken down. Living fast and dying hard was part of the fabric of the outlaw world.
Every one-percenter chose to live his life as an outlaw, partaking in the good—freedom, riding, women, and booze, and the bad—injury, disability, and death. They all knew the benefitsandthe consequences of their lifestyle and being part of the brotherhood.
All Jim did was mind his own business and live life to the best of his ability. He was an alcoholic who couldn’t fight his demons, who never hurt anyone but only tried to survive.I fuckin’ swear I’m gonna avenge your death, buddy.
Loud rock music punctuated by raucous laughter spilled out of the clubhouse as three women in micro miniskirts opened the door and walked inside. A club party was in full swing, and several more women, teetering in stiletto heels, walked across the parking lot. One of them smiled broadly at him as she tugged down the hem of her top, flashing him the swells of her tits.
Crow turned away and took out his phone. He’d planned to stay a few hours until Angie was finished with her girls-night-out dinner, but that was before the badge showed up with news about Jim. He punched in Angie’s number and put the phone to his ear.
“Hi, sweetie.” Her cheerful voice was a beacon of light shining through his darkness.
“Hey, are you done?”
“Not quite. Why?”
“I wanna go for a ride.”
“That’s okay. Regina can take me back to the hotel.”
“I want you to come with me.”
“What’s wrong? You sound down.”
A long breath pushed out from his lungs. “Yeah.”
“Come pick me up. My friends will understand.”
“I’m on my way.”
The wind against his body made him feel alive. He increased the speed until he was flying down the old highway.
Angie was waiting on the sidewalk as Crow pulled up to the curb in front of the restaurant. She hurried over, kissed him firmly on the lips, then climbed on the bike. He rolled on the gas, merged into traffic, and rode out of town.
He loved the feel of Angie’s arms wrapped tightly around him, her thighs pressed against his hips, tits smashed into his back, and one hand just inches above his crotch. She was exactly what he needed.
In the distance, the San Juan Mountains pierced the sky, and after a long while, Crow turned left and made his way up a steep road, leaving the desert behind them. When they reached the hilltop, he shut off the engine.
He shrugged off his cut and laid it on the seat, then helped her off. He pivoted away from her, opened one of the saddlebags, and pulled out a blanket. Angie came up behind him, gently ran her fingers through his hair, and massaged his shoulders. “You’re so tense, sweetie. What’s going on?”
“I wanna show you something.”
Crow swung around, tucked her hand in his, and led her through a cluster of pine trees until they reached an open area. He swept his glance over a seemingly infinite expanse of mountain ranges that melted into each other as low clouds barely hovered above the jagged peaks. The river rushing below echoed against the canyon walls.
“As long as I live, I’ll never get tired of this view,” he said under his breath. He spread the blanket down on the ground.
“It’s beautiful here,” Angie said, looping her arm through his.
