Page 13 of Jag

“I’ll have everything you like ready and waiting,” River yelled. When I glanced over my shoulder, she stepped toward the parking lot and headed to her car. I was surprised I hadn’t noticed the little silver Mercedes when we pulled in.

“Make sure you don’t run over my brothers when you pull out,” I yelled and continued to follow the sheriff.

“Thanks! And why don’t you try not to be an insolent asshole!” River was in her car before I had the chance to respond to her parting shot. My disposition went further into the toilet when I noticed my brothers sat on their bikes grinning.

“Fuck everybody,” I mumbled, then flipped my brothers off as I walked into the station. The sheriff was already in his office, and I nodded to Shirley as I passed her desk and walked through the doorway.

“Appreciate you taking time to look at this for me. I haven’t changed anything in years, and I’m sure there’s stuff that needs adjusted, increased, or added. My will is in there, a few stocks, my personal insurance policy and 401K. Also, my pension information and the insurance policy that is included with my job that I’ll have an option of keeping whenever I leave my position. If you find anything I’m missing or should have in place, please give me the suggestions. I want to make sure River is taken care of if anything happens to me.”

“Why would you want to do this for a woman who’s been with you, what? A couple months?”

Will Lance was a smart man and a friend to the club, no way would I let some young woman take everything the man had worked for.

“Because she’s mine, Dom, and I love her. That’s why most men do these things. River moved here to be close to me after her divorce, and I won’t let anything, or anyone, hurt her again. I know about the run-ins the two of you have had. She told me about them. I think you’ve misunderstood what is between she and I. And what you witnessed in front of the station probably didn’t help. I don’t know why she stopped me from telling you then,” the sheriff said and shook his head. For what, I had no clue. There was no need for an explanation in my book. Anyone driving by that saw them together wouldn’t need one.

“No need for you to explain, I think I fully understand. But you asked me to look at these papers for you, so it technically makes me your counsel, and being that, I’m required to give the best advice I have to offer. Hold off on any changes for now. I understand you think you have feelings for her, but do you know if she has the same for you?”

“Dom, I’d really like to explain what is between River and me. You’ve got the wrong impres—”

“Nope, we’re good, Will. Your personal life is just that. You’re a good friend to everyone at Black Hawk, and I wouldn’t feel like I was doing my job if I didn’t at least try to get you to change your mind. Let me give these a once over, then you and I can sit down and talk after. If you still feel the same, well, I’ll do what my client asks of me within the legal system. However, I can set it up where you won’t lose anything that you’ve worked for if the relationship goes south.” I took the manila envelope he pulled out of his desk and had held out to me.

“Alright, we’ll talk after you read through the papers, son. I think once you go through them, you’ll get a clearer picture,” Sheriff Lance said, then chuckled when I frowned.

“How can you find humor when some young woman, recently divorced no less, and probably took the ex for a pretty fucking penny, has now set her sights on you? Don’t get me wrong, with a body like hers, a dying man would react if she walked in. But shit, Will. Enjoy it for a while. There’s no reason to let a piece of as—” I stopped my rant when Will’s hand went up. As he looked at me, his lips went tight, and his eyes flashed with anger.

“You’re going to wanna stop right there and mind what you say about River. I’d hate to pull my goddamn gun out and shoot you, Dom, but I will. Just like I would have gladly spent the remainder of my life in prison if she had let me shoot that prick she’d been married to. Probably would have done it if she hadn’t waited to tell me what shit she’d been through until after she had enough and left his ass. As for taking his money, I had to force the girl to take what was rightfully hers, and in my eyes, it wasn’t enough. I was willing to explain, but you know what? I’m not going to explain shit to you. Take the fucking papers and go through them. You’re being a dick, and since I’m not in your precious club, I don’t have to listen to you rant about something you know nothing about. You need to get out of my office before we both say stuff that can’t be taken back.”

“Listen to me,” I started, but didn’t finish when the man’s face went bright red.

“Get the fuck out, Dom. I’m done. You don’t have a fucking clue, and I’m not feeling much obliged in setting you straight.”

“Fine, make a damn fool out of yourself, and while you’re at it, find someone else to help you.” I stood, threw the envelope back on his desk and walked out of his office.

“Fucking attorneys. Nothing but a bunch of assholes!” I heard as I pushed through the station’s front doors.

My brothers said nothing until I straddled my bike. “Jag, what the hell happened in there? You barrel out and cross the parking lot like you want to kill someone,” Coast asked.

“Damn, you and the sheriff didn’t get into a fight over the chick, did you?” Flirt asked.

“Sonofabitch, he can have her. The man got bent out of shape when I tried to warn him about getting serious about someone who was more than likely using him for some type of gain. He threw me out of his office after that. Hell, he can learn on his own. I’m done talking. I want a damn beer. No, I want several. I’m getting shitfaced, and I dare anyone to say one goddamned word.” I cranked my bike before they asked anything else, and I was on the street and headed in the direction of Soft Tails before they caught up to me.

By the time we reached the parking lot of the club, I’d made up my mind to drink until River’s face no longer showed up when I closed my eyes.

It was a helluva plan, and I was damned set on it until I opened the door and walked in.

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