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He looks up at me and smiles. “I was thinking we should give ourselves a challenge—just the two of us.”
I like his thinking.
“Let’s ride.”
Whatever’s got him on edge, I wouldn’t want to be the Rat he gets his hands on tonight.
“Let’s tool up first.”
Wow, he really is looking to hurt someone.
We head to the garages. He collects a crowbar and I pick up a wrench, as well as our guns. We’re prepared for anything.
Cas watches calmly as we ride out. I wait for our phones to blow up with Cas wanting to know where we’re going, but nothing comes. If he is watching Leo to see how he handles shit, then after tonight, at least he’ll know Leo can handle himself. Not that he doesn’t already know that about his son.
The ride into town is quiet, and I concentrate on the headlight lighting up the road ahead of us. The diner is gearing up to close, and no Dead Rats are hanging around. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve already been seen and word has spread about two Lost Souls riding through town. They seem to be fucking everywhere.
However, we ride along Main Street until we hit Josie’s Bar. I know we’re in the right place when I see six motorcycles parked out front in a neat row.
The music’s loud enough to mask our engines to the Rat fucks inside, and no one comes out as we climb off our bikes.
Leo rolls his neck, and I flex my fists, cracking my knuckles. My heart pounds harder as we approach the door. It’s not nerves, though. It’s pure adrenaline, laced with excitement and need. Until I have my wife back in my arms, this is how I’ll get through her absence.
With his hand raised, ready to push open the door, he says, “As much as we want to tear their fucking heads off, we still need the townspeople to see them making the first move for our benefit. We head for the bar, order a drink, and see where the cards fall, yeah?”
“As long as the cards fall in our favour, then sure.”
Opening the door, I follow him inside. The place isn’t as busy as it would normally be, which is probably because of the Rats causing trouble. Without meeting anyone’s eye, I count eight of them hanging around the pool table over in the corner. Leaning on the bar, Josie walks over with a huge grin on her face.
“No Harper with you tonight?” she asks, already reaching for two bottles of beer.
“Not tonight. She’s at home,” I lie.
Aside from the family at the club, Josie is Harper’s only friend in town. At first, I thought it was just a bartender/punter type friendship, but Josie really does care for her. Yet I can’t bring myself to tell her where she really is.
“Send her my love, and tell her there’s a beer waiting for her when she’s had the baby.”
I’m not surprised she knows about the baby, and I nod.
“Have your new customers given you any grief tonight?” Leo asks, keeping his voice low.
Without looking their way, she slides our beers over to us.
“Not tonight, but one of them got a call to say there were Lost Souls in town. They were expecting you.”
Leo discreetly slides an envelope across the bar. Snatching it up, she tucks it into her back pocket.
“If this is what I think it’s for, just try not to damage the jukebox. It’s the only thing that gets me through the day, and I doubt there’s enough to cover the repair or a replacement.”
I smirk. “You know we’d look after you, Jose.”
Rolling her eyes, she takes Leo’s money for the beers and rings up the register.
“There’ll be no trouble unless they start it,” Leo assures her, but she’s not stupid. And to prove it, she surmises, “But you’re betting on them kicking off first.”
Neither of us respond as she tilts her head and makes her way down the bar.
The rowdy voices from the corner die down, and without making it obvious we’re looking their way, we see them watching us.
