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“Yeah. Sorry,” I mutter.
“Are you changing your mind? I’ll be honest, I don’t like the idea of you doing this shit anyway. I still think we should just go in and blow the damn club up. Let the chips fall where they may.”
“It’s not that simple. They have strong chapters starting up, but I’m pretty sure it’s their allies that would come crashing through our doors. That’s where collateral damage comes in and you know it. You need to think about Lyla and baby Tasmin. They need our protection.”
Ford’s usually stern face softens at the mention of his daughter and grandbaby. “If I needed to, I could send them to live with the Savage Brothers.”
“Do you want Dragon taking your place when it comes to watching over your family?” I ask. I know damn well it’s not. Ford flips me off. “Besides, you’ll want to be around to kick the ass of any boy who tries to break Tasmin’s heart.”
Ford lets out a heavy sigh, running a hand over his face. “Things get complicated when a man has people in his life to protect.”
“Yeah,” I agree. It comes out heavier than I expected.
“Why do I get the impression you understand what I’m feeling? Has being around T got you all in touch with your feminine side?”
“Fuck you, asshole.” Laughing, I rub the back of my neck and decide to come clean. “There is a woman.” I shrug. “It’s early days. I don’t know where it’s going, but I sure as fuck know where I want it to go. She’s a good woman—the kind you keep.”
Ford nods. “That’s never something I have to worry about. Women can’t be trusted. This is another reason you shouldn’t do this. We can find another plan to figure out what’s up with the BMRRs and get revenge.”
“This makes the most sense. There’s less collateral damage this way. I do have one request, though.”
“What’s that?”
“If things go south, I want this woman brought in for protection.”
“We can do that,” Ford says, nodding in agreement.
“And… maybe her grandmother,” I add.
“Fuck, man. What are you doing? Claiming the whole family?”
I smirk, saying nothing because hell, I figure that’s what is already in play. I like Billie—even if she is a cantankerous old woman. She’s got fire.
“Might as well deliver the bad news then. T is in town. I sent him to the local parts house on an errand. After that, he’s going to run by our alcohol supplier delivering a contract. It’s the one on Main Street. You can run into him there and start your shit. There should be plenty of witnesses.”
I nod knowing this is the beginning of getting this shit done. I don’t want to do it, but I wasn’t lying. We know the BMRR’s have some big money backing them. This will be the best play to see who that is and make sure it’s only Apex who has a hard-on for Ford. Once everything is figured out, we can cut the head off the snake. “I better get going then.”
“T will kick both our asses when he figures out that he’s been played. I don’t like doing it this way. Maybe we should tell him. There’s still time to bring him in on this.”
“No. It needs to look real, and Thomas will hold back because of our history if he knows,” I argue.
“You need to level with him and let him know who you are,” Ford advises. I know he’s right. We’re not that far apart in ages really, but he’s probably the closest thing I’ve ever known to a father. I appreciate the bastard more than he knows.
“I plan on it,” I admit, although until this moment when I utter the words out loud, I don’t think I did. I’ve always been of the strong opinion that secrets need to stay buried. The truth is, I like T enough that I don’t like keeping him in the dark. I hate lying to him. “Now is not the time to come clean, though,” I respond—talking more to myself than Ford.
“Then get your ass out there and start spreading chaos.”
I can’t help but laugh. If only it were that simple. “That sounds a hell of a lot more fun than this is going to be,” I answer as I get up. Ford nods as the room suddenly fills with tension. It’s coming off the two of us in waves.
We’re both dreading what’s coming next.
Chapter11
Shelby
It’s such a beautiful day that it seems like the walls are closing in on me at the hospital. My job can be hard on the best of days, there are times when it overwhelms me completely though. Today is somewhere in the middle. It’s been bad enough that I’m walking a couple blocks over to the park on Main Street. There’s a food truck set up there that has the best tacos and homemade Pico De Gallo. I volunteered to pick up lunch for me and the other nurses working the ICU with me today. Normally we eat in the cafeteria because it’s easier—and quicker. That gets old really fast. Cafeteria food starts to only have one flavor.
I wait through a large line, but when I grab four street taco combos that come with refried beans and rice, it was worth it. I also got us all Mexican street corn with butter and mayo in a cup topped with crumbled cheese. It smells so good my belly rumbles.
