Page 24 of Rio's Release

“I can’t believe he’s gone.” I ask the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question that’s been eating at me since I heard the news. “How did he die?”

“Storm was killed by the Shadow Hawks.”

At the mention of one of our rival MCs, I frown, leaning forward. “No shit?”

He nods. “We didn’t find out they were responsible until four years after my father’s death.”

“How did they do it?”

“They slit his throat in his own goddamn house.”

“You’re fucking kidding? Those fucking bastards.”

Pain crosses his face, and he changes the subject before I can even ask if he’s gotten retaliation.

“I think you’ll like the land we acquired for you.” He tosses me an envelope. It’s thick, and when I flip it open, it’s stuffed full of cash.

I arch a brow and look at Ghost.

“There was some leftover money from that heist.” Ghost takes a hit of his smoke. “Dad set it aside. He wanted you to have it. He appreciated the sacrifice you made. He wanted you to know that. Hell, I want you to know that.”

I look at the envelope, feeling the weight of it, the thickness of it. I won’t thumb through it and count it in front of Ghost. It would be disrespectful. Instead, I cock my head. “You didn’t have to keep his promise. You could have taken this money, but you didn’t. I respect that. You’ll be a good president.”

“Start your own chapter with my blessing.” He nods toward Zig. “They found a good piece of land with a lot of potential. Set things up however you want, but you’ll have to make your own source of income. And you’ll need to send ten percent to the mother chapter from any income you set up.”

“Understood.”

“How about we go over to the restaurant and get you a nice steak dinner?” Ghost offers with a grin.

“Sounds fucking fantastic.”

After the best meal I’ve eaten since I was sent up, I go to the room they rented for me, take a long, hot shower, and look through the duffel bag Zig carried up from the truck with some of my old clothes and boots.

I touch one of the shirts, smiling. Hell, just to have my own goddamn things is overwhelming. I change into a thermal shirt and a pair of sweats, then stretch out on the bed.

To be on a real mattress, after having slept on a two-inch pad for years, is amazing. I stack my hands and stare at the ceiling, thinking of all my plans. There’s so much I need to do, and I can put them all in motion.

I can’t wait to see the property I’ve got to work with. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.

Glancing at the bedside table, I pick up the photo of Shelby and stare at it. For years, I’ve longed to know why she stopped all contact with me. There had to be a reason.

Memories of her visits kept me going—that and the determination to track her down when I finally got out of there.

“Soon, sweetheart. Soon I’ll see you again. I swear it.”

A knock at the door has me setting the photo aside and standing. I cross to the door and peer through the peephole, expecting to see Zig or one of the other guys from the club.

What greets my gaze is a pretty young woman. I swing the door open with a frown. “Yeah?”

“I’m Sally.” She smiles and holds up a bottle of booze. “Your friends at the bar thought you might want some company.”

I glance down the empty hallway, then step back, letting her inside, and swing the door closed.

She’s got long blonde hair and curves in all the right places, and I haven’t had a woman in forever. My dick gets hard just watching her ass strut across the room.

I’m not interested in the booze. I take the bottle from her, setting it aside.

“You’re cute,” she says before I take her face in my hands and kiss her quiet.

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