Page 54 of Claimed By the Biker Brothers

Marlo gives me a cool smile, red lips parting slowly. “You handsome devils have gone legit. Whatever business I’m into is none of your business. Shall we just leave it at that?”

“We would leave it at that, but we know you’re lying,” I reply.

“I don’t know a Harlan, and if you insist on the matter, I will, in fact, let Calvin escort the three of you out of here—and not in a civilized fashion. Lord knows, he’s dying to get back at you.” She pauses and chuckles softly. “Did you really have to get so rough with him, Jagger?”

“He knew not to get anywhere near Robyn. He paid the price.”

“Robyn is my wife. You keep her name out of your mouth,” Calvin hisses.

“Ex-wife. And she’s got a restraining order against you,” I reply. “No matter how many times you deny reality, it doesn’t change anything. Frankly, I’m not impressed by your presence here either. Whatever you think you’re getting out of this, it’ll come back to bite you in the ass. That I can promise you.”

Marlo scoffs and shakes her head slowly. “Again, like little boys, eager to fight in my backyard.” She looks at me. “Jagger, we go back years. All of us. We’re not children anymore. I cannot help you with anything Harlan related. But should the DEA come by to talk to me or any of my associates, we’ll make sure to keep the Riders out of it. It’s the most I can do while you get your house in order.”

“My house?”

“What makes you think it was some dude named Harlan who got the original vest?” Calvin asks. “What if one of your own precious Riders provided it?”

“It could’ve been you,” Diesel replies, testing him, although he already knows it wasn’t Calvin’s vest.

“You burned mine.”

“Ah, you remember,” I chuckle.

But the look he gives me sends a shiver down my spine. “You should know… with enough cash and the right artist, anybody can reproduce a Riders jacket.”

“Nunzio confirmed it’s an original,” Knox says, though it’s not exactly the truth.

“So what if one of yours gave away his original for the drug run and is now walking around with a flawless copy on his back, huh?”

Shit. We didn’t consider that possibility.

Then again, we screened our club members. None of them gave us any reason to be suspicious. They all had reasonable alibis. We’ve yet to verify everything, though. Maybe we should if only to stop giving Calvin reasons to grin at me like that because my knuckles are dying to meet his face again.

“If that’s all, gentlemen,” Marlo says. “I have more meetings scheduled for the rest of the day. I’m sorry I can’t help you.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, Marlo,” Knox says. “We’ll get to the truth sooner or later. You’d better pray it doesn’t lead us back to you.”

“Was that a threat?” Calvin asks.

For the first time, I see an ancient fire burning in Knox’s otherwise sunny blue eyes. I see the promise of violence and death glaring back at Calvin, and I almost feel sorry for the fool. If there’s one thing I’d never wish upon my worst enemy—it’s Knox’s dark side.

“If I were you,” he tells Calvin, “I’d be more careful with my choice of words. Working for Marlo doesn’t grant you any kind of immunity, not as far as I’m concerned. And I’m not above putting a cap in your ass to prove a point. Jagger used his fists. I’ll use a 9mm and call it a day. Don’t fuck with me.”

“Whatever.”

That was purely for the sake of having the last word. I can smell the fear on him again.

Marlo waves us away with a nonchalant flick of her bony wrist. “You know the way out, fellas. Don’t make me ask you again.”

“You don’t have to,” I tell her, then turn around and head for the front door.

Passing the bodyguards, I can almost feel their deadly intentions. They don’t act on any of it, but I know they’re perfectly capable.

This doesn’t feel like a win. It doesn’t even feel like a step in the right direction.

Calvin’s glare doesn’t wear off until we’re back outside, getting our bikes ready for the road. We don’t say a damn word for what feels like forever. I check the brakes on my Harley and make sure everything is the way it’s supposed to be; I don’t put anything past Marlo or her people. As soon I stick the key in the ignition, however, Knox clears his throat, demanding my attention.

I look up. He’s smiling.

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