Page 5 of Wild Card
“Wait, haven’t you got a clubhouse to be hanging out at?” I follow after him. “I get that you want to help out Earl, but I’m good. I can manage on my own.”
“I’d rather be here, right now,” he tells me, lifting the bar hatch and stepping behind it.
“You ever worked a bar before?” I question him
“I was a prospect at the club for a little while; you learn quick there.” He cracks open a beer and starts to drink it.
“You know Earl doesn't like us drinking on the job,” I sigh. This guy won’t last in this town more than five minutes; he’s far too arrogant.
“You see Earl anywhere?” He looks around the room and raises his eyebrows.
“You really don’t have to help tonight. I got this covered. I know why you're here, and it’s really important that you focus on fixing that.” It’s scary how things can change so quickly. Our streets used to be safe, but since this drug problem started, the crime rates have gone up because people become desperate to feed their habits. It’s hard to feel safe anymore, which is why Earl offered me a room here, too. He didn’t like the idea of me walking home alone after my night shifts, and the rent I was paying was far too much out of my budget. It looks like I’m going to be getting to know this ‘Wild Card’ well.
“I got plenty of time for that, and I ain’t big on the whole brotherhood thing. It’s the reason why I’m a nomad.”
“A nomad?” I question. The Royal Bastard brothers tend to hang out here from time to time, mainly due to their loyalty to Earl. I’ve picked up on things from listening to them talk, but I’ve never heard of a nomad before.
“It means I’m a member of the club, but I don’t belong to any charter. I’m a lone wolf, darlin’, I rock up where I'm needed.”
“Putting out fires everywhere, huh?” I roll my eyes at his heroics.
“Or startin’ 'em.” He looks down at my lips and grazes his teeth over his own, and it kickstarts those flutters in my stomach again.
“I should get back to work.” I grab the tray and leave him at the bar because he’s far too much of a temptation.
A dangerous one.
THREE
Ash
“I’ll start by welcomin’ Malice and Wild Card. They're in town to help us out with our problem,” Byron begins, silencing everyone in the room adjacent to the clubhouse where the charter holds their meetings..
“Thought we were gettin’ Zander.” His VP, Grizz, scowls at me.
“Zander’s on his way, just had to make a stop off in Colorado,” Malice assures him. Those two guys usually ride together, so he’d know better than anyone else.
“Guess we’ll just have to get started without him.” I grin back at Grizz and watch him side-eye his president in distaste.
“I’m sending Wild Card to the party at the lake tonight. Moby, you're goin’ with him,” Byron informs the tall, bald brother sitting beside Grizz.
“Hold up, you're sending Moby to the lake, with all that college pussy?” The member who aint stopped flipping his fuckin’ switch blade since we arrived checks he’s heard right.
“Ain’t no better man for the job.” Moby rests his hands behind his head and leans back on his chair.
“You ain’t there to chase pussy, Mobe, you're there to try and catch a fuckin’ dealer,” Byron reminds him with a stern look on his face.
“Prez, ain’t you seeing the flaw in this plan? Everyone in this town knows Moby is with the club; whoever's working the lake tonight is gonna be outta there the second they see him.”
“Only if they know what's good for 'em.” Moby cracks his knuckles.
“Moby’s gonna be stayin’ in the cage,” Byron announces, making Moby’s smirk instantly drop off his face.
“Now hang on?—”
“Wild Card’s a fresh face in town, he’s a relatable age to the suppliers' targets, and he talks a good talk,” Byron admits, though I can hear the begrudgingness in his words.
“Aww, you're too sweet.” I kiss my lips at him, and without any warning, the freaky-looking guy sitting to Prez’s right stands up and marches toward me, wrapping his hand around my throat and tensing so tight he crushes my windpipe.
