AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Now, they relied on me to know what was what when a biker came through. Most times, it was nothing. Today, three of them wearing cuts were having fried pickles and beer in Hotshots. Gotta say it was pretty ballsy of them to wear their cuts like they were in their own territory. I didn’t like it one bit, and neither had Travis, which was why he had called me.
Judging by how clean their hogs were, they hadn’t been riding for very long. That was concerning.
I stalked around the Harleys, looking for any clues to what club they might belong to. Massachusetts plates? What were they doing so far west?
I put my hands on my hips and steeled myself.
It’d been two weeks since Shelby went home and she hadn’t called or texted. I didn’t fucking know what was going on and it drove me crazy. But I would not make the first move just yet. She’d been the one to end us. If she wanted me, she fucking needed to get rid of her billionaire.
My patience and frame of mind were next to nil. Probably not the greatest combo when I was about to go inside, like I was the king of Burntwood, and question some bikers.
But there I was entering the bar, totally fearless and in the mood to bust some faces.
I scanned the room quickly, spotting them against the wall at a table for four on my left. They were close to the front and back exit. Smart and cautious. From their vantage point, they could see everything happening around them.
Pretending like I didn’t care about them, I went to the bar, where Travis waited behind it.
“Hey, thanks for coming.”
“No problem. How’ve they been?” I leaned against the bar at an angle for them to see my handgun tucked in the back of jeans. South Dakota was an open carry state. Some called us the Wild West, and they wouldn’t be wrong. We took care of business and protected our own and just about anything went.
As a rancher, I’d worn a gun to defend myself and my livestock against predators, but it was usually holstered. But I wanted to give off outlaw-gangbanger vibes to our visitors, so they’d know I wasn’t a spineless rancher.
“Quiet. Should I call the sheriff?”
“Nah. They aren’t doing anything wrong. I’ll find out why they stopped in your bar.” I sensed they were checking things out, possibly considering making a claim.
But it wouldn’t be so easy to settle and mark their territory. The Knight’s Legion MC ruled South Dakota. No MC could put roots down in the state without David Knight’s blessing. Andsince I’d become friends with his son, Storm, up in Minnesota, I would know if these men lied to me.
“Just don’t destroy my place or kill anyone. I texted Diesel. He’ll be here shortly, and I have my medical kit behind the bar in case there are any injuries.” Travis poured me a draft and set it on the bar.
In our small town, we didn’t have the luxury of having an EMS provider. Most of the firefighters in Burntwood were volunteers and were all EMT certified. The fire department transported medical patients to our small rural clinic that had a twenty-four-hour emergency room. In severe, life-and-death cases, there were two farmers who were certified pilots, and they would fly the patient to a hospital in Sioux Falls.
“You know I can keep my cool.”
“I also know you haven’t heard from Shelby.”
My jaw tightened, not appreciating him bringing up my girl. “I’m just going to talk to them.” I took my beer off the bar and went over to the three men I’d felt drilling their lethal gazes into the back of my head.
“Evening. Mind if I sit down?” I pulled the vacant chair away from the table and waited for a reply.
The men considered me for a long second. I darted my eyes between them. We had a president, sergeant at arms, and prospect in our mists. The prez appeared older than me and the prospect looked like he barely learned to wipe his ass.
“Who are you? The welcome committee?” the prez asked.
“Something like that.” I sat, even though no one gave me permission to. “Bikers don’t pass through Burntwood. This is Knight’s Legion territory.”
“Who said we were passing through?” The prez arched a don’t-fuck-with-me brow. Something about him reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“We might want to raise a family here.” The SAA leaned forward and the corner of his mouth twitched.
“There’s a protocol to follow, which I’m sure you’re aware of.” I glanced sidelong at the entrance. Diesel and a couple of his buddies from the firehouse entered.
Tension rolled in like a summer storm, slow yet dangerous. I could tell the gruff men at the table noticed.
“We know the way it works,” the prez said. “David Knight suggested we check out Burntwood.”
“Why would he do that?” I narrowed my eyes, trying to read his angle.
