Page 5 of Property of Spike

“Got it.” He stands and stretches his arms above his head, his expression softening for just a moment. “Anything else, or can I grab a drink before my head explodes?”

“Go. Take five,” I mutter, glancing back at the map. “I’ll be here if something else goes to shit.”

As Skip heads for the door, the weight of the conversation lingers, adding to the ever-growing burden on my shoulders. Another crisis to handle, another fire to put out. It’s the life I chose and the life I’ll defend with every ounce of strength I’ve got.

***

The sound of boots hitting the concrete floor draws my attention, and I look up to see Maverick entering the room.

“I’ve got good news,” he says, walking toward the table.

I raise an eyebrow. “Let me guess. You’ve got the border situation under control?”

Maverick smirks, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. “Hell yeah. The guy who took over for your man? I found out he’s got a gambling problem. He’s deep in debt, and I’m betting he’s more than willing to take a little extra cash to look the other way.”

I lean forward, the tension in my chest easing just a bit. “Good work, Maverick. Get with Skip and come up with a number before making the offer. If he takes it, we’ll move forward. If not, we’ll figure out how to make him see the error of his ways.”

Maverick nods, turning to leave. “You’ll have an answer soon.”

I watch him go, my mind already back on the shipment and the other fires that are still burning. One down, a thousand more to go. But that’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it always will be. I’ve built this empire, and I’ll be damned if I let anything or anyone take it from me.

The club’s not just about the legal stuff. Hell, we don’t operate on the legal side of things at all. Weapons, that’s what we deal in. Illegal weapons. The kind of shit that keeps the world in balance for the highest bidder. We’ve got our hands in the dirt, but that’s how it works. You want power, you want control? You play in the shadows, and sometimes, that means doing things that keep you on the edge of a knife.

But there’s one line I don’t cross. One thing I won’t allow to be sold on our streets.

Drugs.

We don’t sell drugs. Never have, never will. It’s a matter of principle, even if it makes me a goddamn hypocrite. We mule the stuff across our territory, sure. Get paid a lot of money to do it. But I’ll be damned if I let it poison the streets I’ve fought to protect. I’ve seen the damage it does, how it tears families apart, how it fucks people up from the inside out. I’ve been down that road before, and I won’t let it happen again.

I’m a businessman, and I’m in this for the power and the money, but I’m not about to be the one who lets the poison spread. Not on my watch.

Which brings me back to Billy. He actually thought I’d let him sell the most dangerous drug on my streets? Fentanyl is fifty times stronger than heroin. Double that than morphine. Hell, even a tiny amount of two milligrams has been known to kill people. What the hell is he thinking?

Fucking idiot.

Chapter Four

Riley

“Can I help you, ma’am?”

“Oh, I just need to know where I can find the diapers,” I smile at the kind woman.

“Isle five,” she answers.

I thank her before heading that way. I’m so exhausted. I haven’t slept more than ten minutes at a time in the past two days.

But I’ll have to be more careful. I was almost found this morning because I fell asleep on a park bench. Someone saw me and called the police. Luckily, I was able to leave before anyone could arrive.

I’ve already decided to try the biker club one more time. I understand if they don’t want to get messed up in my drama, but maybe they can point me to someone who will. Or, at the very least, point me in the direction of a safe place to sleep.

I just need a few hours, and I’ll be good to go. My brain is too fuzzy to stay alert, and that puts my son’s life at risk. I’m just so grateful that the weather has been warm enough that being outside isn’t a danger.

If nothing else, I’ll go to the library. There’s a corner section where people go to read. Maybe if I’m holding a book, they will think I just fell asleep reading.

Taking a deep breath, I walk forward, pretending to have all the courage in the world when, in reality, I have less than the cowardly lion. Purchasing the diapers and wipes, I place them in the diaper bag on my back and head towards the Iron Shadow’s compound.

It takes thirty minutes to walk there, and by the time I reach their security gate, I’m about to keel over.

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