Page 59 of Property of Rattler

But these few weeks he’d been gone? Fuck, I doubt I’m the only one who missed him. Church ran far too smoothly when he wasn’t there.

I’d let him down. There were things I could have done differently. Insisting on his marriage signed his death warrant. And though it had brought Stone out of hiding, it certainly wasn’t in the way that I wanted.He’d been in our territory and we’d missed him.Should I have sent backup with Rat? Too fucking right. But I’d been overconfident that the cabin was off-grid and untraceable.

Now Rat’s paid the price for my failings.

As prez, I’ve got to cope with the hand that’s been dealt and move on. But it’s not fucking easy.

I’ve lost a man on my watch. I’ve got blood on my hands.

At last, I rise and go to where the brothers are congregating in the clubroom. I’m not feeling particularly sociable, but it would be crass not to join them. As expected, they’re crowding the bar, Trixie and Knight running themselves ragged to serve them.

Knight. As I take my place in line, I muse that he’s done his time. And that empty chair around the table feels like it’s mocking me. As far as I’m concerned, he’s earned his patch. When the dust has settled, I’ll bring it to the table. Which will then mean we’ll be on the lookout for another man to swell the ranks. Three prospects at least is a good number.

“Whisky,” I demand when it’s finally my turn to be served. My lips curve as Trixie reaches for the top shelf and the bottle she keeps back for just me. “How was Ames when you left her?”

“Unconscious,” she confides. “Bron gave her some shit that knocked her out. She’s still up there, looking after her.”

“Trip?” I enquire about the whereabouts of Bronwyn’s son.

“Pippa’s got him until Short was free. He’s already gone over to pick him up. I’ll take over from Bron later and let her go home.”

“Freak okay with that?”

“I’m okay with what?”

I turn to find my enforcer standing behind me. “Trix watching over Ames tonight.”

“We both will be,” he confirms. “Ace is staying at my ma’s tonight.” Then, moving around the bar, he reaches for his old lady. She goes willingly and they lock lips. When he’s finished devouring her mouth, he turns his attention back to me. “That girl was in fuckin’ pieces.”

“You really think the two of them were an item?” I mean, I’d heard it from her own mouth, but like the brothers, knowing Rat, it seems unlikely.

He presses his lips together. “You know those cheap rings we bought them? She’s still wearing hers.”

I hadn’t thought about it at the time. But he’s right.

My lips compress. If she was tight with Rat, then we have to start thinking of her as his old lady. Even if he’s no longer able to make the claim. She’s no longer under the Kings' protection as a client, but she’s one of ours. And Kings look out for their own.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

BULLSEYE

Suddenly, a piercing whistle breaks through the noise in the room. It’s Dum, the prospect. I’ve often used his attention-getting ability before. Realising it must be something important, I jerk my head toward the jukebox. Paint, nearest, hurries and switches it off.

Dum shouts. “Is there an explosive expert in the house?”What the fuck?The prospect continues, “Someone just threw a package over the gates. Need it checked out.”

Freak tenses beside me.

“Freak…”

The enforcer turns to his old lady. “I’ve got to go look.” His face softens. “I got this.”

“You fucking better,” Trixie replies. But from the way her jaw tenses, I know she’s worried as fuck.

What kind of prez would I be if I didn’t follow him outside? I’m not the only one. Most of the brothers exit the clubhouse with no regard for the risk to their lives.

Staying close to Freak, I hear him tell Dum, “You did good.” He steps closer to the package. Turning, he waves the rest of us back. We all retreat a few yards.

Crouching on his haunches, he spends a minute just eyeing what to me looks like a brown envelope, slightly puffy as though it’s lined with bubble wrap protecting whatever’s inside. Then, he reaches out and, with the tip of his finger, turns the package over.