Page 17 of Big Timber

Considering her stepfather's involvement in the human trafficking ring our chapter has been tracking, I would imagine the loss of the father she found a few years back has to hit her on many different levels.

“Is Talia home?” Throttle asks, pointing upstairs as he joins us.

“No, she’s at the station until tomorrow morning.” I let him know, nodding at the cold beer that I left on the counter.

“Damn. What’s that like knowing she’s sleeping in a room with a bunch of other guys?”

“She’s not, dumbass.” The comment would annoy me if it came from anyone else but Throttle. There are days I can’t help thinking that he and Justin have a similar problem: their mouths open and the unfiltered thoughts of a ten-year-old boy pop out. “Christ, tell me you play the strong silent type around Dylan?”

“How else do you think she can stand him?” Wolfman chuckles, opening a beer before looking around for the garbage can.

Instead of continuing in the same vein, Throttle shrugs, brushing off our ribbing. It’s the look in his eye that tells me he doesn’t give a damn what we say. He knows where he stands with his Ol’ Lady and looks pretty damn happy about it.

“How’s Diesel coming with finding the men who did this?” I ask, knowing this isn’t purely a social call. “And what did Declan mean the other day, when he mentioned someone could have been keeping tabs on us from the inside?”

“Diesel said he needs another day to find the men that were hired to burn down the clubhouse,” Throttle replies, taking a swig of beer. “Which means he’ll work for twenty-four straight hours.”

“Declan and Axel have an idea of who’s been talking out of turn. They’ll handle it once they confirm it. Don’t worry, you aren’t on the short list,” Wolfman adds before exchanging a look with Throttle. “You spent some time out in Roanoke before you came here, didn’t you?”

I nod, wondering where they’re heading. “Yeah, before that RBMC chapter patched over to the Imperial Knights MC.”

“We know the Northern Grizzlies up in Idaho, but neither Throttle nor I have ever met any of the ones back east.”

“They’re kind of known for sticking to themselves,” Throttle says. “I heard that Vector’s sister handles the books for all three chapters. That doesn’t happen every day in this world, so we were kind of curious about them.”

With that I grab a beer of my own and motion them to the well-worn couches, filling them in on my experiences with the Virginia-based Northern Grizzlies.

Chapter 6

Timber

Walking past the workers who are replacing the damaged entrance, I’m more than a little puzzled that I have to track Declan down for his appointment, despite all the shit going down.

I’d expect it of some of the others, but this guy has an internal clock the likes of which I’ve never experienced, so I’m more worried than pissed. Especially since he hasn’t responded to my text, and no one answered at the clubhouse.

Damn, I accidentally did this a couple of weeks ago and he had an entire crew out looking for me. It’s unfair to think that, but I have something important to discuss with him today.

Neither he nor any of my other brothers are in the front room, so after sticking my head into the kitchen, I really start to wonder what the fuck is going on. On my way back to Declan’s office, I notice that the door to the room we use to hold church is cracked open. As I reach for the knob to secure it, I see him standing inside the room, studying our creed.

ROYAL BASTARDS CODE

PROTECT:The club and your brothers come before anything else and must be protected at all costs.CLUBisFAMILY.

RESPECT:Earn it & Give it. Respect club law. Respect the patch. Respect your brothers. Disrespect a member and there will be hell to pay.

HONOR:Being patched in is an honor, not a right. Your colors are sacred, not to be left alone, andNEVERlet them touch the ground.

OL’ LADIES:Never disrespect a member or brother’s Ol’ Lady.PERIOD.

CHURCHisMANDATORY.

LOYALTY:Takes precedence overall, including well-being.

HONESTY:NeverLIE, CHEAT,orSTEALfrom another member or the club.

TERRITORY:You are to respect your brother’s property and follow their Chapter’s club rules.

TRUST:Years to earn it...seconds to lose it.

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