Page 105 of Last Mile

“There’s only one person it could be.” At the thought of Eddy, a low growl took me by surprise and seconds later I realized it had come from me. Samantha’s gaze snapped up from her paperwork at the sound. “You’re in luck because if you nail this guy, you can have access to the Diablos.”

Samantha’s eyes widened as she stared from me to the mirror. “The bureau has been trying to get them for a long time.”

“Well, you track down Eddy, and you’ve got the Diablos by the balls, because if I know anything about Eddy, it’s that he has no loyalty. He’ll sing like a canary if you make it worth his while.”

“I see.”

Samantha scribbled furiously as I related what had happened with Eddy at the meeting in Virginia. Her pen stilled when I told her that he was one the behind the shooting. She glanced up to look at me. “This fucker has Gavin’s blood on his hands?”

“Damn straight.”

“I’m going to enjoy nailing him to the wall.”

By then I had finished relating everything I knew, including my theory about how the storm and the power being out enabled Eddy to plant the guns. “I’m sure if you had some agents go over the property, you would find evidence of shoe prints or tire treads.”

Samantha nodded. “I’ll put someone on it.” She shuffled her paperwork and then put it back in the folder. “I guess we’re finished here.”

“I guess so.”

“Once we produce the new evidence at the arraignment, it should be less than twenty- four hours before you guys are let out.”

“Good.”

She rose out of her chair. “I’ll let you know if we need anything else from you.”

When I nodded, she started for the door. As I watched her leave, I once again felt as if my chest were caving in. There was so much I wanted to say to her, but I was too stubborn. Finally, I blurted, “Thank you.”

Samantha froze. Slowly she turned around to face me.

“You know, for sticking your neck out for me and my brothers.”

“You’re welcome,” she murmured.

We stared at each other for a few seconds before she hurried out the door. When it closed behind her, I brought my cuffed hands up to rub my shirt above my heart. No matter how I hard I tried, it still hurt like a motherfucker.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: BISHOP

When the van carrying us home from jail pulled into the clubhouse parking lot, I couldn’t hold back my emotions, and I let out a giant whoop of joy. Archer had barely put it in park when I flung open the door and hopped out. Raiders came streaming out of the clubhouse. I don’t think I’d ever been hugged and kissed and thumped on the back so much in my life.

While the welcome was nice, it still felt hollow to me. Especially as I watched Alex and Annabel run into Deacon’s and Rev’s waiting arms. Even Boone, who had been married forever, had a happy moment with his wife. It made me miss Samantha, even though I shouldn’t, and I fucking hated myself for it.

Yet in that moment, I didn’t care about all the bad shit that had gone down between us. I just wanted to feel her soft curves against my body, inhale the sweet smell of her peach shampoo, and feel the comfort of her arms around me.

With a grimace, I pushed those thoughts from my head and tried to focus on the party. I wanted a beer the size of my head.

Before we could appreciate the welcome- home party, there were some things we needed to take care of in church. So we headed into our meeting room and closed and locked the door behind us.

Rev took his usual seat at the head of the table. He looked at Archer and Crazy Ace. “Were all precautions taken to ensure that the feds didn’t leave any bugs after the raid?”

Archer nodded. “We’ve each swept the room five times to make sure we didn’t miss anything.”

“Good.” He glanced around the table. “Now, gentlemen. We can begin.”

“Feels good to be back in here, eh, boys?” Deacon asked with a grin.

“Sure as hell does,” Mac agreed.

“Didn’t know when my ass would slide across this leather again,” Boone joked.