Ginnie watched the man go with narrowed eyes. “Yeah, and with a lot of Riders.”
“You think there’s gonna be trouble,” Grace surmised.
“A bunch of drunk men from formerly rival clubs? What could go wrong?” Ginnie replied dryly.
For the first time I took note of the subtle tension in the air. It made sense. As Cash described it, the two clubs had been at odds for years and had only recently decided to work together. There had to be some folks who didn’t agree with that decision.
“Why do you think Gun and X have been posted up at the pool table all night?” She snorted, gesturing to the two men who were playing a game of pool close by. As I looked over, Gunner eyes lifted in our direction, surveying all of us before his gaze returned to the game. But even then, I knew we had all of his attention.
One thing was for sure, the Knights took care of their own.
Chapter 19
CASH
When I walked into Cole’s office after making sure Layla was okay for a bit with the girls, I was surprised to find only Thorn and Cole in the room.
“Walker,” Cole greeted with a chin lift.
I returned the gesture, my gaze shooting to Thorn in question.
“Archer wanted a word,” Cole explained. “I’ll leave you to it.” He clapped me on the back and made for the door.
As he left the room, I wondered if Thorn knew what I did. And as he leaned on the edge of Cole’s desk, his legs crossed at the ankle, arms crossed at his chest, for the first time I saw how much I looked like him.
The realization had an uncomfortable feeling spreading in my chest. Part of me wanted to know him, while the rest wanted to run clear in the other direction.
“Heard you been out huntin’,” he said by way of greeting.
I nodded, masking my surprise. It hadn’t been what I’d expected him to say.
“I think I know where he is, figured I’d save you some time.”
I raised a brow skeptically. “Selling out your own so quickly?”
He eyed me steadily. “This isn’t about loyalty. He betrayed me the moment he not only made a move without my approval but more so when that involved putting his hands on a woman. This is about principle. When you said he wasn’t punished enough, I thought it over. You were right. You should have your vengeance. If it were me, I’d feel the same way.”
Throughout my life, I’d been honing my skills at reading people. Years in the system as a kid, my years in the military, and now with the Knights had only sharpened my skills. And from everything I could tell, the man was solid.
“Appreciate it.” I nodded with respect.
He cocked his head to the side. “You don’t say much, do you?”
“Not unless there’s something to say.” I didn’t add how that rule didn’t apply around Riley and Layla. Around them I was different. I was a version of me I hadn’t known until them.
“I can respect that.” He nodded. “I’m much the same.”
There couldn’t have been a better opening if I was asking for it. And I wasn’t asking. But here it was, and I debated whether to take it.
“Something else on your mind?” he asked after the silence had hung between us for a time.
“Word is you knew Kelly Walker.”
His blue eyes lit with surprise at my comment. “Haven’t heard that name in decades. But yeah, I knew her. Why?”
I was formulating my next words when a loud shout sounded from the outer room, and the telltale sounds of a brawl wrenched the air.
“Fuck,” I grunted, determined to get to Layla.