Page 106 of Guarded

Hueso is always talking. He’s a retired veteran who has nothing better to do than tell war stories and complain about the younger generations.

“Do you even care about what happens to the club?” Jasper fumes.

“What did Hueso say?” Louie asks.

Jasper continues staring at me while I smoke my cigarette and eat my sandwich. A minute passes by before he turns to answer Louie.

“We’re going to have to fill those seats.”

Those seats. The seats he’s talking about are the positions that belonged to Leatherface and Ghost. Ghost had moved on, resurrecting himself as Silas Macias, the real estate mogul, notorious kingpin, and family man.

The club’s rule was that if a president was unable to perform his duties, the position would be passed to the Vice President, which we did not have. I wanted the vice president position, but I didn’t want all the hassle that came with the title of President.

“Take the spot, Jasper. I told you countless times I don’t give a fuck.” I finish off the last of my cigarette and stomp it out, watching the headlights in the distance moving in on us. I pull my pistol and aim it at the car.

“Damn, who pissed in your cheerios, homie?” Louie says.

“He’s mad he didn’t get invited to Ariella’s birthday,” Jasper says with a smug smile.

One I’m eager to wipe off his face.

“Damn, Barbie did us dirty,” Louie says, drawing out the word with fake offense.

I give him a dirty look, but before I can explain to him that there is no fucking us and Ari, just me and Ari, the Russians pull up.

We load the van and move to the border tunnels where Silas awaits us. Next to him a familiar fucking face with a lopsided smirk. Efren.

I hadn’t seen the fucker since he and Ariella were dancing at Vicente Consuelo’s party.

“This is Efren,” Silas says, introducing us.

Louie and Jasper exchange greetings, but I don’t say shit. Disrespect was loud, and I wanted this motherfucker to hear me.

“I’m thinking of having him replace Louie as the new prospect,” Silas explains.

“Where am I going?” Louie asks, and I shake my head. Jasper follows suit before explaining the patching ceremony.

“You’re getting patched in pendejo. We recruit new prospects the same day.” Jasper laughs, hitting Louie upside the head.

There’s no way in hell I’d let Efren join us, but Jasper makes the mistake of saying we’ll vote it in.Not a fucking chance.

“We’re not voting for shit. And if we do, I’ll be running for President and overturn it.” I say, dropping the last rifle down to the men in the tunnel.

Silas follows me to my bike.

“Is there a problem here?” Silas says, looking back at Efren.

I throw my leg over my bike and start the engine.

“Nope.”Not yet.

“You know, when I left the party, Ariella was toasted,” he says.

“Why the fuck are you telling me that?” I say faking uninterest.

“Because I’m showing you how fucking easy it is to let a brother know what’s going on.” I turn to face the cocky asshole.

“The next time you see my wife visiting Leatherface, I want you to call me.” He points his thumb aggressively into his chest.

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