“Yeah, I hear the Falwell Pride is trying to run you out of town.”
“Us and anybody else that won’t bow to them.” Connor leaned forward and lowered his voice. “We’re only human. And most of those in this town won’t stand up to threats of violence.We’ve made it clear that we’re not going anywhere and any type of force used on anybody in this town will be seen as an affront on us personally. But they don’t care. Seems like every day there’s a few more of them arriving. They bought the place that used to be Jared’s bar and leveled the little bit of charred remnants. They’re approaching town folk and demanding that they sell their homes to them. It’s inevitable that it’s going to come to a head. We’re prepared to fight, but a helping hand would be much appreciated. Normally, I wouldn’t ask. But we have something in common. We both respected and cared about Jared. I know what you are.” Connor gave a half-laugh. “Hell, I’m jealous I’m not what you are. And while we’re more than you see here, we’re nothing against an ambush of your kind. What I’m asking for is help pushing them out of our territory.”
Jack took a second to meet Rance’s gaze, and despite the lack of words, they seemed to be communicating before Jack nodded thoughtfully. He tapped his fingers on the tabletop three or four times before he finally lifted his gaze to Connor’s again.
“Give me a little insight to how they operate, we’ll see what we can do to help,” Jack said.
“Been a while. I’ll kill anybody. Just point at them,” Rance said.
Jack huffed a laugh and shook his head slowly.
“Uh, maybe try to remember… friend,” Pauly said, pointing at himself, then those sitting around him. “All friends.”
Rance just looked at Pauly with no response at all.
“He’s dealing with some shit,” Jack said. “But so you know, we’re here for vengeance for what was done to my brother. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, you and your people took out those directly responsible. But, their Pride is still left, and I have no doubt their Alpha, Trent’s father, ordered Jared’s death. And if he’s the same Alpha and same Pride threatening this town, consider us allies against it. Ifso, the only demand I have is that the Alpha is mine. Somebody other than me captures him, hold him and call me. I have a bit of karma to deliver to him.”
Connor sat back in his chair and grinned. “Welcome aboard. We appreciate you and anything you two can do.”
“Two? You think it’s just us?” Jack asked. “I got half my Pride in the woods around your club house. Another half a dozen or so staking out this diner. Squeegee said you needed help, I brought help.”
~~~
Jack backed his truck out of the parking space, and drove away from the diner. “It’s exactly like Squeegee said. They killed those directly responsible.”
“True. Doesn’t mean there’s nobody else to be killed, though,” Rance said.
“Exactly. With Trent’s father being first on that list,” Jack said.
“Yep. And once they see that we’ve arrived, it won’t be long until they start something. I plan to be here to finish it,” Rance said.
“Same. I’m looking for Falwell myself,” Jack said.
“Let’s kill him slowly,” Rance said.
“I got a better idea.”
“Oh, yeah?” Rance asked.
“I’m going to beat him to a pulp. But I’m not killing him.”
“Why not?” Rance asked.
“Ever heard the saying, ‘Some things are worse than death’? I plan on making sure he knows that before he eventually takes his last breath.”
~~~
Inside the diner, Connor and his men watched from their table as Jack and Rance drove away.
“And just like that, we have a fighting chance,” Connor said.
“That Rance guy is nuts,” Shan said.
“You can look into his eyes and know something ain’t right there,” Pauly said.
“Good. It’ll come in handy,” Connor said.
“You think we can trust them?” Pauly asked.
