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Trying not to take his frustrations out on the new guy, he simply raised his eyebrows.
“He said, um, everyone knows what happened with Wes. But I don’t. Know what happened, I mean. Is it okay for me to ask?”
Ah. His uncle. Everyone knew what he did, but no one talked about it. “He patched out.”
The prospect gasped.
“He got arrested, I don’t know, maybe twenty years ago. His probation officer rode him hard about the club, threatened to put him back inside if he didn’t cut ties. So, he made a choice. He chose his freedom.”
The prospect said nothing else; he shook his head as he walked away.
That was the thing about patching out. A brother didn’t just leave the club, the club left him. Walking away made Wes dead to them all. He hadn’t seen his uncle since he was a kid. He didn’t know if the man was even still alive.
It was why he never thought about leaving, even when he knew the club was on the wrong path. Those men were his family. They’d been there for him when he needed them the most. They laughed together, partied together, and picked each other up off the floor.
Patching out was the ultimate betrayal. If he didn’t like what was happening in the club, he’d need to fix it from the inside, or else he’d be left with no family, no friends, and no hope of ever getting them back.
CHAPTER SIX
Kane
The back of Kane’s leather jacket pulled in Robby’s clenched fingers, as the man scrambled for purchase on the back of his motorbike. No chance in hell the guy would fall off, not with the death grip he had going. If this was how hard he held on now, God knew what it would be like once the engine started.
“Nervous?” Kane turned his head to the side, catching a glimpse of pinched features on Robby’s normally cheerful face. “Is it the bike, or is it me?”
“Scared of you?” Robby scoffed, the tension melting from his face. He relaxed his hold a fraction. “Okay, maybe a little. When I first met you. Other than Brick, you’re probably the biggest guy I’ve ever seen in real life. When you mix in the tattoos and the scar…”
Yeah, the scar was kind of hard to ignore. But it was a part of him now, just like the ink covering both arms from shoulder to wrist.
Robby shrugged. “Then I realized, you can’t be all bad.”
He grunted, his finger hovering over the ignition button. “Gee. Thanks.”
“No, I mean it. Brick wouldn’t have chosen you as a friend if you were a bad guy. He doesn’t hang around with people like that anymore, you know?”
If Robby only knew how true his words were. Not only did Brick keepbad guysout of his life, but the man had also led the execution of every one of them who posed a threat to him or the woman he loved. He and Robby were probably the only people Brick had given a peek behind the curtain of his tough guy shell. Well, them and his girlfriend, Olivia.
“If Brick thinks you’re good people, I trust his judgment.” Robby had the voice of a true believer. “So, no, I’m not scared of you. I’m just—not great on two wheels.”
“I’ll keep you safe, kid. We’ll be there before you know it.”
True to his word, he got Robby to their destination in one piece. Brick now lived at Olivia’s apartment, since he’d left his old place—and his old life—behind.
He climbed off the bike, the rumble from beneath his thighs still echoing in his muscles.
As unsure as his passenger had seemed before they left, now Robby hopped off the bike like he’d been riding for years. “Are you sure he’s up to having company?”
Unbuckling his helmet, he pulled it off and hung it on the handlebars. Robby followed suit.
“I’m sure. He’s looking forward to seeing you. C’mon.” He led Robby to the closest door and rapped on the heavy wood, his hands still sheathed in his black fingerless gloves.
Hopefully, Brick’s recovery was going as well as he’d promised. His skin had looked a little gray when Kane had dropped by to return his money this other day. But Robby was worried about his hero, and well, seeing was believing. At least, that’s what Brick said the last time they talked.
His hand was balled up to knock again when Brick finally opened the door. His buddy was barefoot, wearing a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants. Instead of sickly or fragile, Brick looked better than ever. His cheeks were rosy with color, his eyes sparkled, and he was…smiling.
Instead of waiting for either of them to step forward, Brick came out of the apartment and dropped his big hand on Robby’s shoulder. “I hear you’ve been worried about me.” The deep rumble and cadence of his voice made his Georgia roots unmistakable.
Clearly swallowing back tears, Robby nodded sharply. It was like the kid had been so prepared for the worst, he didn’t know how to deal with good news staring him in the face.
