Page 28 of Final Ride

“Where’d she get that old wreck, Cleo?”

Bobby followed the truck north.

“Yep, she’s going to Canada. Easy to read, isn’t she? Can’t wait until I kill her for Ray. Partly for me too, but mostly for Ray. He had talent and would’ve been a great songwriter.”

What a fucking waste.

Budget Inn. La Grange. Texas.

The boys were beat when they got back to their room, and they flopped on their bed and went to sleep. Annie had offered them guest rooms at her ranch and the boys would’ve liked staying there, but Travis wanted to be on his own. They’d only be in Texas for a couple of days this time and a hotel was the way to go.

He sat in the easy chair in the corner of the room, lit up a smoke and sorted out the ranches in his head. He thought about calling Jesse and having a conversation about the juvies but saved it for the next day.

He texted Billy and checked in.

“Anything new at the station?”

“Nothing. We’re bored.”

“Good enough. Stay bored until I get back.”

“Copy that.”

Travis used the bathroom, then stripped down to his boxers and was about to climb into bed when he heard the rumble out in front of the hotel.

Staring out the window he counted about a dozen bikes, but in the dark he couldn’t make out the logo on the cuts. Trying not to wake the boys, he rummaged in his go-bag until he found his spotting scope and his Sig.

Another trip to the window facing the front of the hotel and he read the name of the club.

Black Breed.

Yep. They’re here for me. The fuckers never give up. Annie was worried about this happening.

Intent on watching the Breed, Travis didn’t notice Virgil wake up and get out of bed. He was standing beside him peering out the window.

“That another thing you forgot to mention, Dad?”

“Yeah, one of them.”

Holiday Inn. Scranton. Pennsylvania.

Bobby pulled into the hotel parking lot following after Tammy and the guy she was with. They grabbed a parking space and walked two dogs. Looked like hounds.

Cleo growled and snarled at the other dogs and at Tammy. Bobby thought she recognized Tammy from the attack in the Midway house. The way she was snarling and snapping it was evident Cleo hated Tammy as much as he did.

“Shh, girl. They’ll go inside in a minute, and you won’t have to look at them until tomorrow.” Bobby laughed. “This will be your last night, Tammy. Make it a good one.”

Tammy and the guy came back to their truck after the dog walk and got their luggage. They walked around to the front entrance and disappeared inside.

Bobby and Cleo waited in the Jeep for another ten minutes to be absolutely sure Tammy and the old guy didn’t see them. “Let’s get our room, Cleo. You want to lie on the bed and watch a movie?”

Chapter Seven

Saturday, July 27th.

Budget Inn. La Grange. Texas.

At breakfast in the room off the hotel lobby, Virge asked Dad questions about the bikers who were swarming the hotel the night before. I had no clue what he was talking about.