Page 13 of Road to Absolution

“No, but V is. And she said if I was going to bet on her bestie, not to fuck around.”

I laid back on the bed. “Your wife, man, I feel for ya.”

“I know. Pity me—Ow!” He whispered, “And she’s strong.”

A bit of silence lingered again.

Blowing out air, I confessed, “Brother, the pit of my stomach is in acid. Tell me something.”

“I’m so fucking sorry, my man. I just can’t.”

They were grown adults. I couldn’t force them to tell me shit. “I understand.” I rubbed my forehead, which was starting to ache. “I guess, as long as Lilah isn’t involved, I need to stay out of it.” I was about to change my flight back to the next day until I realized Tucker was being especially quiet all of a sudden. “Tuck? She isn’t involved, right?”

When he said nothing, yet-a-fucking-gain, I sat up, board straight.

Now I was trying to reel in some serious rage. “Someone better start fucking talking right the fuck now.”

Cautiously, Tuck admitted, “They’ve been best friends since preschool, Mav. Do the math.”

“Do the—” I started to shake with a fury that was about to take me over. “Tell me you did not just say that to me. Do the fucking math? Is Lilah in danger, simply for being friends with Viola?”

I’m sure it sounds ridiculous to a civilian in the normal world, but in the biker world, I had a legit question, and an easily made connection if some ‘enemy’ was lurking.

When there was silence, my nerves set fire. “I’m coming home.” There was no way I was stepping into a ring when it was possible my wife was about to face a fight alone.

Tuck tried, “Maverick, breathe—”

“Fuck you.” I put the phone on speaker while I attempted to move my flight, again. I had to get home and get my hands on her. “Protecting my wife is my motherfucking job.”

“Dude, it’s me you’re talking to. The man who would die for her, too.”

I stood in the middle of the hotel room and roared, “Is my wife in danger?”

“No. We think all that’s about to go down will happen at the clubhouse.” He exhaled. “Can you hear me out, please?”

He had crossed a line. That’s why I yelled, “As soon as you admit to me not having a heads up is totally wrong!”

“I—”

“Stand in my shoes, right fucking now. What if it were V we were talking about? And she wasn’t even in the same state as you. And no one would tell you she’s even in danger.”

“You’re right. You are totally right.”

“Tuck, you say your sister’s your light. Well, hear this, she’s my fucking life.”

“I know. It won’t happen again.”

“I don’t give a fuck what’s happening with Diesel’s club, but if it involves my wife’s safety, I better be warned to be on guard. Or I swear, Tuck, I’ll fucking move her so away so that she has no connections to business I’m not fucking privy to.”

“Hey.” His voice lowered. “That would kill my father, asshole.”

“Yeah? And what would having a bullet in her head do? For some bullshit biker revenge shit that she ain’t even got motherfucking shit to do with? Grow the fuck up, asshole.” I hung up. “Fucking prick!”

In a split second, I knew getting to the airport was my best bet. Even if there were no earlier flights available, I knew cash was king and I could buy someone else’s. If they were a boxing fan, it would be even easier.

I was already throwing clothes into my suitcase when my cell started ringing. I knew who it was and answered, yelling, “And another thing, Tucker-Fucker—”

“It’s me.”