AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Please, I don’t want to know. If the police ever come around asking questions, I can honestly say I know nothing.”
Lincoln rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t like this, Parker. I don’t like this distance you’ve put us in.”
“Youput us here,” Parker emphasized, looking around. “You’re a criminal. I don’t understand why you chose that path, and I can’t condone it. I mean, look at your knuckles!”
Lincoln glanced at his hands. On each knuckle a letter was tattooed spelling out PAIN on his right hand and FREE on the left.
“You’re my brother and I love you,” Parker continued. “Lately, though, I haven’tlikedyou.”
“All right,” Lincoln said calmly, although it made his heart ache. “That’s fair. Like I said, I just stopped by to say thanks. If you ever bothered to return my texts, I wouldn’t have to stop by and embarrass you.”
“Stop putting a different meaning into my words. That’s not it, and you know it.”
“You just think I should be more like you.”
“And why not? Hm? You’re the smartest man I know. Even smarter than me, and you waste your talent on a motorcycle club. Why? Why them? Why did you replace me?”
The last question brought Lincoln up short. “Is that what you think?”
“It’s what I know.”
Lincoln placed his hands on his hips and glanced away. The truth sat on his tongue like an anvil. Even if he was inclined to tell Parker everything, he had no idea where to start.
“I didn’t,” he said softly. “You’re my blood. My brother.”
“They’re also your brothers,” Parker whispered, so softly Lincoln almost didn’t hear him. “You chose them over me.”
“It’s not the same and you know it.”
Parker shook his head. “No, actually, I don’t. What I know is that for some unknown reason you walked out of your life and into a world of crime. Until you’re ready to tell me why, we don’t really have anything more to say.”
His words sliced through Lincoln painfully. “Maybe one day, Parker, when I’m ready to talk about it, we’ll sit down with a beer.”
“I’ll be waiting. Until then, however, I think it’s best you don’t call me again.”
Lincoln took a deep breath. “Very well. If that’s what you want.”
He turned and walked away, even though all he wanted to do was shake his brother until the gap between them disappeared. They were twins. They shared a womb and a bond not many could understand. Parker had just broken his heart.
Although, he might have broken Parker’s as well.
Chapter Two
Vivi looked around at the fierce-looking bikers. All of them were big men. Giants really. Then again, almost everyone were behemoths compared to her petite size. Take for instance, the massive man standing in front of her with the word “President” stitched on his leather cut. Put one of those ghillie suits on him and he would rival Bigfoot.
Maybe hewasBigfoot.
She took a quick peek at his booted feet.
Meh.
“Hi,” she said. She looked around as many pairs of eyes stared back. Some were curious. Some were lecherous. She glanced up at the big, scary man in charge. Not knowing what else to do, she lifted an imaginary skirt and curtsied. “Mr. President, sir … is there a name I can call you?”
“I’m Cross.”
She smiled. “Biker names are so interesting. Why do they call you Cross?”
“Why do you think?”
