Page 60 of Claimed By the Biker Brothers

“Don’t do it, Marlo. Don’t rekindle this fire. The Rogue Riders have grown over the past four years. There’s more of us now and we have the full support of law enforcement. The people of Redwood have already expressed concern and dismay regarding the recent drug busts and the spike in overdoses across the district. I know you’ve got dollar signs in your eyes, but I’m warning you, you’re about to destroy everything you have left if you insist on going down this road.” I pause to give my words extra impact. “It won’t end well for you, I promise. You don’t have the same support from the locals because they’ve moved on.

“Many got clean. They found decent jobs. I’d say the Riders have provided Redwood and its surrounding areas with plenty of new work opportunities. Our taxes are feeding the system and making sure the district has the funds to maintain and develop its infrastructure further. What you’re suggesting is a regression, and we will resist.”

“Not only that, but we will oppose you at every turn,” Jagger adds.

I nod in agreement. “Marlo, this isn’t the Wild West. This isn’t no-man’s-land. You only have the interest and likely the financial support of some very dangerous cartels. They expect a clean and smooth takeover most likely, which is not what you’re going to get out of us. What will you do when your project gets delayed and the Sinaloa execs start calling your private cell number expecting positive updates?”

“It won’t get to that,” Marlo bluntly replies, the goodwill gone from her eyes.

“What if it does?”

She scoffs and says, “Knox, darling, perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. I didn’t come here for business advice. I didn’t come here to ask for your permission. You don’t want to play nice, and I get it. With or without you, business will go on. I was hoping you wouldn’t get in my way, but if you wish to turn this into something adversarial, then so be it. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Does Calvin’s parole officer know about this?” I ask with a flat smile. “I’m guessing Calvin is totally on board with your ambitions. But legally speaking, he is vulnerable.”

“What are you going to do about it? Rat him out? You have no proof,” Margo snaps, then mirrors my expression. She looks like a Victorian doll that’s about to slit my throat open, though. “From what I’ve heard, the Riders are on the wrong side of the law right now, and with the appropriate evidence too. Calvin just works for me. He’s legally my employee. His paperwork is in order.”

“Is it, now?” Diesel mutters.

“Employment contract and everything,” she replies.

“Why him, though?” I ask. “I’m genuinely curious.”

“We go way, way back,” Marlo says. “I know him better than most, better than that ex-wife of his. Which one of you fellas is banging her these days anyway or do you take turns? How does it work?”

My blood boils. I’m inches away from tearing her throat wide open.

To my surprise, Diesel calmly places a hand on my shoulder, discretely holding me back. “Calvin’s got some idea of how the club works. He’s useful to you. You could’ve just said that instead of twisting yourself into knots in a sorry-ass attempt to insult us. It makes you sound bitter, and I’m pretty sure we’re not the first men to turn you down. Learn to take no for an answer. Have some dignity.”

“Oh, I’ll enjoy destroying you,” she says, gritting her teeth.

“The door is over there,” I shoot back. “Get the fuck out. The next time I see you or any of your people around here, it’ll get ugly fast.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I don’t make threats, Marlo. I simply explain the facts and how they’re going to unfold. Whether they unfold or not is entirely up to you. But I will make you a promise.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Go ahead. This should be good.”

“You go anywhere near Robyn or her daughter, and I will be gunning for you and Calvin, and there won’t be enough cartel money or gunmen to protect you,” I say. “I know Calvin has your ear, and I get that you want to help him, but stay the fuck away from Robyn and Kyra. They’re not your concern. Do you understand?”

“Relax, I have no interest in either of them,” Marlo mutters. “That’s Calvin’s past to deal with, not mine.”

“For his sake, remind him that the restraining order is still valid,” Jagger says.

Marlo points at the Lincoln all the way across the parking lot. “You do see where I left him, right, though I don’t see your club whore anywhere.”

“Get the fuck out of here,” Samson snaps. “I’ve heard enough of your bullshit.”

“Maybe I’ll come for you first, old man,” she says with a giggle, then casually walks out the door followed by her goons.

Minutes pass in the heaviest silence while we wait for Marlo and her people to get ready to leave the parking lot. We watch, still and quiet, as she saunters to her car. Calvin gets behind the wheel while her bodyguards jump into another vehicle. Once they take off, I feel like I can breathe again.

But with this breath comes a devastating wave of pure rage as I punch the top of the bar, startling everyone around me. “That fucking bitch!”

Heat courses through me, clouding my judgment. It rarely happens, but, together, Marlo and Calvin seem to have that effect on me.

“It’s going to get a whole lot worse,” I warn them. “Marlo doesn’t take no for an answer.”

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