“Did he say what was going on?” Collin asked while we were getting on ourbikes.
“No—does heever?”
* * *
What we rolledup on was shocking, to say the very least. I would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. There were fire trucks, police cars, and an ambulance alreadythere.
Collin and I parked our bikes with the others and hurried over to Holt. Ryder was talking toCrowley.
“What the fuck happened?” Rage was building up deep, I knew someone had tried to hit ushard.
Holt walked out of earshot of the cops. “We went after the wrong Sinner, or at least they want us to think we did. That stripper is cut up and barely holding on to life right now. Cops found her when they responded to the fire. Luckily, the fire didn’t do too much damage, but the bar is fucked for rightnow.”
Collin ran his hand over his face. “What do you mean, ‘the wrongSinner’?”
Holt shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know. Ryder is trying to get details fromCrowley.”
“Fuck this. He’s not going to know anything. I’m going to go to the hospital and get to the bottom of this crap,” Iseethed.
Holt put his hand on my shoulder. “No. Get over to Ryder’s place. It’s time for church. Red and Jesse are already on their way there now, and Raine is on her way to the garage to meet us there. I didn’t want her hearing any ofthis.”
I did as I was told, following Holt and Collin to Ryder’s house. We all took seats around his dining room table and waited for our president to get there. The awkward silence that blanketed the group was driving me up a fuckingwall.
Ryder stomped in, his face red, his chest puffed out. He took his seat at the end of the table, taking a few breaths before he spoke. “She’s dead.” The words hit the air, coating theroom.
“What in the hell is going on?” Red spitout.
Ryder took a deep breath. “Apparently, Ralph didn’t die that night. Somehow that son of a bitch didn’t bleed out before someone found him. He figured out that his old lady ratted, and the cops found her in the parking lot of the bar with Ralph’s nuts in her mouth and ‘slut’, ‘whore’, and ‘snitch’ carved all over her body. She was dead before they even got her to thehospital.”
I slammed my fist on the table. “This is fuckingbullshit.”
Holt put his hand in the air. “I’m in agreement with Trent. What are we going to do aboutthis?”
All the guys started grumbling about revenge, but Ryder shook his head. “We need to take a step back, play this smarter from now on. I want all of those fuckers wiped off the map just as much as the rest of you do, but we are not going to get anywhere by being sloppy like the last time. We’re going to lay low, rebuild the bar, and in the meantime, try to figure out who to actually take out. Ralph is on a shoot first, ask questions later order, though. Any of you see him, call for backup and take him out. Other than that, no moreviolence.”
“What the fuck? Ryder, are you kidding?” Jesse jumped to his feet. “We need to show them we are notweak.”
Ryder gripped the end of the table. “A dead chick was just carted away from our damn doorstep. We need to make sure none of this shit blows back on us, is that clear? The cops could try to pin this shit on us if we aren’t careful. There’s a ball-less jackass running around, out for our blood. We need to besmart.”
Holt leaned onto his elbows with his head in his hands. “So, we go on working at the garage and cleaning up the bar?” He was looking right at hisson.
“Exactly. I’m going to meet with Crowley again later today. Trent and Red, we need y’all to head to the garage and get to work. We have a few pickups today. Jesse and Ozzy, I need you to go to the bar and assess the damage. Collin, stay with your mother and sister at your place today. Round up a few of the other guys to keep that place as safe as possible. I want guards ready and waiting. All of your families could be in danger, so bring everyone over to Crickett’s. We’re going on lockdown. Have them bring sleeping bags and shit. No one goes anywhere alone. Dad, you’re with me. Is thatunderstood?”
“Aye, brother.” Holt stood up. “Let’s get to work,gents.”
Chapter 8
Sloan
Alight tapsounded on the door before it opened slightly. “Sloan? Are youup?”
I sat up in bed, still in Trent’s shirt. “Yeah, kindof.”
Crickett came in with a change of clothes. “I think these will fit you. We’re going to head to the garage here in a fewminutes.”
“Sounds good. Thank you.” I took the clothes from her and she left me tochange.
Trotting down the stairs, I was greeted by the delectable aroma of strongcoffee.