The feel of Boone inside my body awoke the fearless part of myself that never seemed to come out any other time. Nothing in the world scared me when we moved as one.
Outside this room, danger might have been lurking. People probably wondered where the hell we were. But those concerns couldn’t touch me.
Right then, I only saw Boone, who watched me like I was the most fascinating creature in the world.
BOONE
The walk from the Reed houses to the community center felt long despite spanning only a few blocks. Riding to our destination made sense. Walking, though, gave everyone a chance to calm themselves before facing Tricky.
Clint and Rock led the group. Zodiac and Exile were at the back. I sensed the Black Rainbow’s leadership was plotting.
Old Baton Rouge grudges had found their way to Little Memphis. Clint had warned Tricky about patching in the outsiders. But our childhood friend was desperate to inflate his club’s numbers, even if he got himself tied up with unpredictable assholes.
I slowed down my pace until I was walking next to Exile and Zodiac. I gestured toward where Nova and I enjoyed our backseat fun.
“I’m planning to build a house down that way for Nova and the girls.”
Exile’s expression remained hard. He was psyching himself up for the confrontation about to happen. Yet, his eyes revealed a hint of softness at the thought of his sister living so close.
“That would be good,” Exile said. “Our kids can grow up together.”
Zodiac rolled his eyes at the bonding moment between Exile and me. I still lingered back with them as we approached the community center at the center of Sleepy Eye.
Inside the common area, we found Tricky and Jagger standing with their fathers, Joker and Madden, and several members of the former Little Memphis club.
Joker looked stronger than usual. His reddish hair was tied back in a ponytail. His white beard was tidy. He wore his old club vest and smiled easily. Joker was a guy prone to sayingsomething funny before attacking. That made him a difficult man to read. I had no clue what his mood might have been right then. However, his presence meant he knew today’s brawl could turn into a bigger problem.
While Joker hid his thoughts behind a fun exterior, Tricky did nothing to disguise his anger. He glared at Clint before unleashing a snarl at the sight of Zodiac and Exile.
“Look at these old men,” Ford taunted and gestured at his friend Lucky standing next to Joker. “Breaks my heart to see how far you badasses have fallen.”
A grinning Lucky ran his tongue across his teeth before asking, “Didn’t I catch you out back gardening like an old lady?”
“Naw, that was Pax,” Ford said, throwing his little brother under the bus.
“You’re both whiny, old fuckers,” Pax grumbled and frowned at Tricky. “Now, let’s hurry this along since I have tomatoes that need pruning.”
Joker grinned at the men before the amusement drained from his face. The mood shifted around me. Joker felt like the man still calling the shots.
“Today shouldn’t have happened,” Joker said and nodded at Tricky. “My boy warned those assholes about engaging with the foxes.”
“That’s great to hear, but you understand that’s not enough,” Clint said in a gentle tone.
Everyone treated Joker with kid gloves. He’d been a powerful man, literally choosing who lived and died in Little Memphis. Yet, the motorcycle accident messed him up. These men mourned who he once was, and their grief clouded their ability to deal with him.
Joker rubbed his jaw and asked, “Whatwouldbe enough?”
“Them in the ground,” Zodiac said immediately. “Nothing less will do.”
Wearing his reddish-blond hair tied back like his father’s, Tricky revealed none of his normal jovial demeanor. Something about Zodiac always set off our old friend.
“Why is he even here?” Tricky snarled.
“Your club bros attacked my daughter!” Ford barked before Zodiac could speak. “My pregnant fucking daughter, Tricky! Zodiac’s unborn son was in danger! Don’t play stupid like you don’t know why he’s here.”
Tricky stepped closer. “I’m not allies with him, so I don’t want him around.”
“But you are allies with the Crimson Guard,” Clint said calmly. “Those guys today wore your club’s patch. Your members attacked my members. Even if you erase the family connections, your club started a war with mine. And since I’m allied with the Black Rainbow, they’d be part of that war. But because our families are tight, we aren’t treating this situation like the LM Jokers attacked the Crimson Guard. We’re treating this like a personal problem to be dealt with quietly.”
