Page 62 of Riding the Edge

Chapter Eighteen

Slamming the car door, I drop a fist onto the roof of the Charger.

Run.

Only a fucking coward would run but instead of telling that to Maria, I silently accepted her dismissal like some fucking challenge because I figured her head wasn’t right. She was still reeling from the biopsy and scared as fuck to learn the results. She could brave a smile and try to hide that shit, but I saw right through her armor and like a putz, I added to her already full plate. Now, her car is parked on her driveway just like I promised and I’m trying to rein myself in before I fuck things up any more than I already have.

“Wolf?”

At the sound of Pipe’s voice, I hang my head and mutter a curse.

I do not want to deal with this motherfucker right now. Not, in the mood, I’m in. Actually, scratch that—I don’t want to deal with him on a good day either. Fucking guy goes and gets lost in the woods only to come back with a ready-made family. Now, all he does is preach about peace and positivity.

Fuck that fucking shit.

And fuck him too.

Peace is for pussies and positivity doesn’t exist.

“What the fuck are you doing here at this hour?” he questions as his boots pound the pavement behind me.

“Obviously, I came here this late thinking all you idiots would be gone by now.”

“And, why the fuck are you driving a car?”

“Shouldn’t you be tucking in a fleet of kids and polishing your ol’ lady’s brass knuckles?” I growl.

“Yeah, I should be but unlike some people, I take care of my responsibilities.”

That strikes a cord and I turn to him.

If looks could kill this motherfucker would be six-feet deep in the earth.

“The fuck you know about responsibilities, Pipe? It took you forty-five years to learn what one was, and once you did, you decided to be an over-achiever by taking on four at one shot. How’s that working out for you?”

“Great, man, you should try it.”

“Fuck you.”

“What the hell has gotten into you, Scotto? First, you go rogue with this Cain shit, then you turn your fucking patch in and now, you show up here looking like you’re ready to drop a body. For fuck’s sake are you having a mid-life crisis? Is that why you’re riding around in this thing?” he questions, pointing to the car.

Maybe I am having a mid-life crisis.

“Look, Jack gave me the low-down. I understand why you kept Linc’s identity a secret. Hell, I would’ve probably done the same. What I don’t get is why you handed in your patch. Man, you know Jack is a loose cannon—”

Rubbing my hands over my face, I cut him off.

“I didn’t come here for this shit.”

“I don’t give a fuck why you came here,” Pipe barks. “You need to listen to me.”

“No, you need to listen to me, Pipe. I got bigger problems than the club and Jack’s sanity.”

“I know about Nico, Wolf. Jack told me this morning,” he says, rolling a toothpick between his lips. “You know we’re going to handle it right?”

“I’m going to handle it,” I snap. “Me,” I say, pounding my fist against the center of my chest. “I’m his father. I know that doesn’t mean anything to you—”

“Layla’s pregnant,” he replies, spitting out the toothpick.

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