The Mayor was standing in front of me, tugging on the lapels of his sharp, navy blue suit before he reached up to adjust his matching tie. Walsh was a tall, gangly man, with broad shoulders and an instant air of arrogance about him. His ginger hair was peppered with blonde and white specks, and his angular nose was begging to be broken.
The look he gave me was instant recognition. Of course he knew who I was.
The entire population of Babylon knew my name, my reputation, and my face. I was the anti-hero of this town, despite the good we’d done since the Emps had been blown up in that warehouse. It was clear to see that no amount of propaganda could turn my image around in some people’s minds. The Mayor’s was one of them.
His pointy, shiny leather shoes scuffed over the surface of the parking lot, his strides confident and assured as his eyes stayed locked on mine the whole time.
I was hiding my slightly swollen eyes behind my shades, but both of us could feel my gaze and the hatred I was passing his way before I saw the small twitch of his lips turn into a smirk…
And then he strode on by me like I was a homeless beggar boy and he was a king.
No words were exchanged but so much was shared.
If we hadn’t already known, our mayor was working with the ATF and anyone else he could get close with to bring our MC down. It had all started with him and The Navs working together to bring me down, which had led to them actually taking Harry from me.
My fucking Harry. That dark cloud wasted no time in rising around me then, and I spun around to watch our townMayor stride up the stairs into the police department with a confidence that made me want to run after him and tear him apart. I was thirsty for his blood, desperate to see it on my hands.
I knew where I had to go.
The Mayor’s house was well known in Babylon. It was gated and tucked away from the townspeople, surrounded by high rising trees and shrubbery that contrasted against the sandstone building it was hiding. It didn’t particularly scream money. It fucking hollered power.
I pulled my bike into a narrow section off the road, and took a good look at the place, trying to figure out a way I could get inside, hide away and then surprise that arrogant fucker when he came home later that night. But no sooner had I pulled up and leaned back on my bike, I heard the heavy breaths of a bicycle closing in on me, followed by my name falling from a familiar boy’s lips.
“Drew?” Rubin said with surprise tainting his voice.
He skidded to a stop in front of me, kicking up dust with his back wheel as he flicked it out and slammed on his brakes, dropping his feet to the floor.
It was thanks to Rubin that Deeks’ old lady Autumn had survived. Rubin’s act of bravery followed by his insanely good aim had delivered the gunshot that had sent the bullet aimed for Autumn’s head astray just weeks ago. I’d seen him a few times since, hanging out with Tate. I wouldn’t say we were friends, but I knew the kid well enough to know he had heart, and he was welcome in my club any time he wanted to bethere.
“Rubin?” I scowled as I removed my sunglasses and tucked them inside my cut.
“Hey,” he said, his face matching mine, both of us confused. “You okay?”
“Good. You?”
“I’m good.” Rubin glanced over his shoulder at the house next to us, and then he looked back at me. “Are you lost?”
“In Babylon? Kid, that’s never gonna happen.”
“You here to see me then?”
“You?” I frowned harder.
“Well…” He looked back at the house again. “Yeah. You’re at my house.” Rubin looked down at my bike as if he was checking it over. “Or did you, like, break down or something?”
Hishouse?
How the fuck didn’t I know this? Or had I known this and just forgotten? Anything was possible these days. Literally anything. I was a mess, and my short-term memory was shot to shit as I focused on all the things that haunted me, ignoring all the things that lived for me.
“Well…I…” Fuck me. I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes to try come up with some shit that wouldn’t give me away. “Sorry. I just rode a bit too hard and got a headache. Pulled over the first chance and I got and was just admiring the house. Didn’t realize you lived here.”
“Tate didn’t tell you?” he asked, sounding slightly proud to be having a simple conversation with me.
“Probably.” I shrugged, sighing as I dropped my hand and looked up at him again. “I’m not doing well at focusing rightnow, Rubin.”
His face fell, an understanding and sadness flashing my way. “I’m sorry about Harry. Tate’s broken over it all.”
“Thanks, kid.” I looked at his house, unable to believe what the fuck he’d told me. “So, you live here, huh?”