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“Maybe even someone who can aim?” Bear adds and settles into a chair as the other guys chuckle. “Because those fuckers couldn’t hit anything.”
“If they could, half our club would be dead now,” I grumble, not finding any of this shit particularly amusing. “But to answer your question, Peter Halvorson is a punk-ass bitch. I’m not sure he’d have the balls to approach those men. He’d probably worry they would rat him out to his dad.”
“What about her other brother?”
“These guys paralyzed him. Can’t imagine he’d pay them to go after his sister.”
Bear levels his cold, blue-eyed gaze at me and mutters, “That leaves Urick Halvorson.”
“He has no reason to kill Austen. The man’s got one foot in the grave. Her brothers, though, gain more inheritance if she dies before Urick does.”
“So, do you think anyone offered those assholes money to kill Austen?” Tack asks and glances at Bear. “Because it won’t look good if we lower our guard and Austen ends up dead in our territory.”
“Because you want to make nice with her mom,” Goose mutters.
Bear glances at Tack before explaining to us, “We won’t pretend we know Austen well. Hunter runs in the same circles as our club, though, so there’s a personal element. But from a business standpoint, we don’t need more of your town’s trouble spilling into Banta City.”
Even nodding, I feel like this club is looking for assurances we can’t give them. “The Halvorson family is a wild card. If you want them dealt with, have at it. We just wanted the ranch hands dead.”
“Does that mean you’re leaving Banta City?”
“Yes.”
Golden quickly asks, “When?”
“Soon.”
Bear grins and nods. “Take your time. Hit the casinos, see a show, have fun. It’s all good.”
“Not really,” Golden grumbles and shoots a frown at Sync.
Bear ignores the younger man’s bitching. Once Goose and I strap on our weapons, he ushers us out the front doors and to the replacement motorcycles—a Road King for me and a Fat Boy Lo for Goose.
“What do we owe you for this?” I ask and gesture at the hogs.
“Consider them gifts,” he says and hands over the titles.
Goose hasn’t pissed in anyone’s direction for a few minutes, so she growls, “Why?”
With Bear being my size, I doubt he’s intimidated by me in the least. So, Goose must seem damn adorable with her muscular, little build trying to scare him. A smile warms his face, and I get worried he might pat her on the head.
“Yesterday could have gone very differently. Without you showing up to help out Austen and explain how the problem came from out of town, Banta City would have exploded with paranoia. My president wanted to show his thanks.”
Bear suddenly chuckles. “And I think he wanted to make sure your bitchy lawyer didn’t fly into Banta City and scream at him up close. This here is our way of saying thanks for the help and maybe call before you visit next time.”
I’m not surprised the Backcountry Kings don’t want to deal with Kourtney Clark. Hobo’s sister is the club’s lawyer and a real ballbuster. As a teenage boy, I had the biggest crush on her. However, as the son of mean people, I wasn’t looking to hook up with someone who’d yell at me. Kourtney most definitely suffers from volume control issues.
Bear heads back inside while I text Ruin to update him. The road next to Above Snakes is busy. Cars fly by as I comfort my pissed president. He doesn’t like how we’re getting gifts. Ruin is even angrier over how we aren’t hurrying back to town.
I let him fume, knowing he’s still riled up over the last week. Once Ruin accepts how the ranch hands are dead and cremated, he’ll get back to enjoying his life.
Soon, Goose and I leave behind Above Snakes Bar & Grill and the Backcountry Kings. I figure one day after Austen is settled in McMurdo Valley and loves me with every bit of her big heart, we’ll return to Banta City to visit her mom and sister. Hell, we’ll even hit the casinos or see a show if she wants.
However, until then, I plan to keep my eye on the prize and get her to McMurdo Valley as soon as possible.
AUSTEN
Last night proves tough. The house gets quiet early. Though I want to speak with Walla Walla or check on Coco, I’m agitated and unsure about what happens next. My life was so wonderfully mundane before today. Now, people are trying to kill me, my father’s presence seeps into my life, and I’m lost in regrets and hopes over Walla Walla.
