Page 37 of Lost King

I'm tossing back a beer at the bar with one of the club girls Suzy perched on my lap dressed in a barely there dress and her fake tits pressed up on me when the door to the clubhouse opens drawing my attention. Turning on my stool, I see Logan and Reid strolling in from school with their backpacks slung over their shoulder. My brows furrow when I look at some blond-haired scrawny runt trailing behind them. Both Logan and Reid are acting as if this is the norm having some stranger walking in behind them and into my clubhouse. Tapping Suzy on her ass, I motion for her to get lost. I smirk when I see the newcomer's eyes go big as he watches Suzy sway her hips as she struts over to Sean who is sitting on the sofa.

"Logan, Reid, you boys get your asses over here!" I holler.

"Mind tellin' me who the hell this kid is and why he's standing in my clubhouse droolin' over Suzy's tits?" I ask thumbing my finger towards the kid.

"Followed us home from school, Prez," Reid answers. "He was getting his ass kicked in the bathroom at school. Logan and I stepped in and took care of the fucker wailing on him. Now he's declaring himself our best friend or some shit. Followed us home."

"Fuck me," I mutter. "Hey, shithead," I call getting the kids attention. "Wipe your Goddamn mouth and get your ass over here."

Without a care in the world or any fear, the kid steps to me, looks me straight in the face and gives a full-on grin. "I think I'm going to like it here," he beams.

Chuckling, I ask, "you got a name kid?"

"My name's Quinn Beckett."

"Well, Quinn do you know where you're at?"

"Yes, sir. I'm at The Kings of Retribution clubhouse. I haven't lived in Polson very long, but I've heard about you guys. Everyone knows who The Kings are."

"What would your folks say if they knew you were here right now?" I ask. "To most people in this town, we're nothing but dirty criminals."

Shrugging his shoulder Quinn answers. "Mom and Dad say you can't judge a book by its cover. They said you should never believe in rumors. It's best to get to know someone and make your mind up about that person. The way I see it, Logan and Reid saved my skin today. I've made up my mind."

From that day forward Quinn was a daily presence at the clubhouse. The day he graduated from high school was the day he became a prospect for The Kings. I watched him as he earned his patch and took pride in watching him grow to be the man he is today.

The door behind me slamming open gains my attention and brings me to my feet.

"Prez, we need ya," Gabriel grunts.

"What's goin' on?"

"There's a kid at the gate. Has a package with him. Said he was told to bring it here."

Stomping my way across the clubhouse parking lot, I make my way to the front gate where there is in fact a boy no older than twelve standin' there next to a bike with a box in his hands.

"What's your name, boy?"

"M…mm…my name is Devan," he stammers.

"What are ya doing here on my property, Devan?"

"Some guy in town paid me fifty bucks to deliver this package," his voice cracks.

"Can you tell me what this guy looked like?"

"Um… he had black and grey hair. He had a big belly. He was also wearing a vest like yours; only it didn't say Kings."

"What did his cut say?" the question comes from Gabriel and the boy's eyes go big, and he looks like he's going to piss his pants.

"It had Satans something on it," Devan tells us.

"Fuckin' bastards," Logan hisses.

"Okay, son. I want you to put the box down on the ground. Then I want you to get on your bike and go home. If a man with that same kind of cut comes up to you again I want you to run. Ya hear me kid?"

Nodding his head frantically, the boy jumps on his bike and pedals his ass out of here like it's on fire. Those sorry fuckers have the nerve draggin' innocent kids into their business. Looking down at the box sittin' on the ground in front of me my gut clenches because I know that whatever is inside is a message. By the looks on Logan and Gabriel's face, they know it too. Bending down, I rip the tape off the closed box then open the flaps. As soon as the contents inside are exposed, I hear a loud gasp behind me. When I whip around, I see Emerson with tears running down her now pale face and her hand clasped over her mouth.

Chapter Nineteen