Page 197 of Savior
“Believe me, I was tempted.” I say, knowing exactly what Slice is implying. “I need you take him in for a while. Until shit blows over with the Demons. If anyone is going to kill Daniel, it’s gonna be me.”
The men around us all laugh.
“Alright.” Slice nods in agreement, then turns his head to Daniel. “This ain’t gonna be a vacation for you. Know that.”
Daniel nods silently and solemnly. I’m sure he’ll be treated worse than a prospect, but at least he’ll be beyond Legion’s reach.
“Shit must have popped off. I heard about the fire at the CDMC’s club house.” Slice says.
“Yeah… That was my bad… I mean, technically.” Viking shrugs with his usual indifference. “Shit happens.”
“You heard anything from the Knights?” I ask.
“Nope.” Slice shakes his head. “Radio silence, since we found out they’re palling around with the Demons.”
“I hate to say it, but I think I lost their allegiance when I forced them to put Shane out bad.” I sigh. “Pretty sure it’s just been pretenses with them, ever since.”
“It is what it is.” Slice shrugs. “The Jokers and the Saviors will always be allies. The Demons must know it too, or they’d have approached us as well.”
He’s right. The fact that Legion hasn’t even made the attempt with the JoCo Jokers, makes me wonder just how much homework he’s done on my past, to know it would be a fruitless endeavor.
“So, how long are we babysitting your brother?” Slice asks.
“I wish I had an answer for you. I don’t.”
“Fair enough.” Slice snaps his finger at one of his guys, then gestures towards the hall at the far end of the wide open space. “Put this prick in one of the bang-around rooms in the back for now.”
A Joker standing near Daniel, shoves him. “Follow me, asshole.”
Daniel adjusts the backpack on his shoulder and puts his hand out to Slice. “I appreciate this.” He says, more timidly than I care to hear.
Slice looks at his hand, then back up at Daniel, an unamused expression on his face. Daniel clears his throat, dropping his hand back to his side, then turns to face me.
“Thank you, Dean.” He says, looking a tad bit pitiful.
“I already told you,” I growl at him. “Thank our Madelines.”
With another somber nod, Daniel turns to follow the Joker to whatever accommodations they’re willing to provide.
I offer my handshake to Slice again, and he pulls me in for a quick shoulder hug.
“I’ll be in touch.” I tell him. “I doubt Daniel will give you any shit, but if he does, it’s on him. Do with him what you will.”
I’ve fulfilled my obligation.
“Iwanted to come by and see how you are doing after everything that happened last night.” Cherry says, when I open the front door and let her in.
I had been in the bedroom packing a small bag for our impromptu weekend getaway, when I heard the doorbell ring. We’re leaving for the cabin as soon as Dean gets back from whatever last-minute biker business, he had to wrap up that couldn’t wait.
“I’m…fine, I suppose.” What else can I really say?
She looks at me with that familiar, sympathetic expression. Both hands holding onto the strap of her leather studded boho style purse, hanging from her shoulder. “I know, yesterday was a lot.”
It was. But compared to what she felt forced to reveal about her past last night, in an attempt to defend Dean… I can’t help feeling like I should be apologizing to her. I can’t even imagine what her childhood had been like.
My hand gravitates to Ace. I don’t want to imagine...
“Dean told me. About the tattoo. What it actually means to the two of you… How close you really are.” I say.
