Page 30 of Bounty
“Too fucking bad, asshole. Should’ve stole the shit right.”
“I worked with what I had,” I yelled, my hackles rising. “Riker sent me to Memphis with half a day’s notice and on my fucking own.”
“Shouldn’t have shown your fucking face.”
“I broke into their motel room in the middle of the fucking night while they were asleep to minimize risk to myself, Dad. I didn’t know those assholes would identify me.”
“You wore your fucking cut!”
“I blindfolded those two motherfuckers.”
“You should’ve plucked their fucking eyes out. Couldn’t blindfold both of them at the same fucking time, dumb ass.Oryou shouldn’t have worn your cut.”
“I don’t take off my colors. You taught me that and Riker drilled it into all of us.”
“Use your fucking noggin, Slice. You work with what’s available to get the job done. It was you, two motherfuckers from a rival club, and their drugs you were there to borrow.”
“It’s done, Dad. Drugs are in our possession—”
“Were,” Dad cut in. “Riker sold them far above market value.”
“Tell me he didn’t fuck with those drugs. Cut the coke with baking soda. Exchange marijuana with plant materials.”
“He promised me he wouldn’t do that again, boy. Told him I’d turn in my fucking patch before I die over stupid shit.”
“Of course you would,” I bit out. “Except you can’t now. He paid my bounty. He’ll expect the Elmont men to kiss his fucking ass and jump ten feet in the fucking air when he snaps his fucking fingers.”
“Enough, Slice!” Dad growled. “He’s our president and he didn’t have to try to save you. He even offered a one percent cut of our earnings to the Sinners. Wasn’t enough. They wanted the drugs returned or their buy cost repaidandseventy-five percent of the money Riker received.”
“Fuck.” I blew out a heavy breath. So much could’ve gone wrong during that meeting and I would’ve lost my father and brother. “I’m glad you and Drifter made it out safe. And Riker,” I hastily added before Dad got on my ass.
“Sumbitches kept to their fucking word and let us walk on and leave club grounds unscathed. Your bounty is paid. Now they just want you fucking dead. Even if Riker wanted to hand over the drugs, he couldn’t.”
Despite what Dad believed, I’d bet my ass Riker fucked with the merchandise before he sold that shit. Striker’s claim that Dutch was in the area came to mind. Arguing with my dad over Riker wouldn’t help, so I relayed the information.
“Goddamn it. Those rotten motherfuckers!” Frustration filled Dad’s voice and he blew out a heavy breath. “Lay low. Understand? Don’t leave your fucking room except to go down to the fucking signing—”
“It’s not in the hotel,” I interrupted. “Tonight’s dinner is.”
“Fuck. Knew this was a bad fucking idea, Slice. You’re not a goddamn model; you’re a motherfucking biker. Keep your eyes and ears open on the way to that place tomorrow since I already know you’d decline having Striker send some of his boys. Strength in numbers, you know?”
Striker wouldn’t agree anyway, but I didn’t point that out.
“Yeah, Dad. I’m declining the offer. It’ll bring more attention to me. I don’t want to put Effie in danger.”
That slipped out before I realized it.
A moment of silence went by. “Thought that woman’s name was Daria.”
“Effie’s her daughter,” I said with a sigh.
“She knows about you?”
“Some. Not that it matters. It was just a fling. She’s too fucking young for me.”
“How old?”
“Twenty-one. As I said, too fucking young.”
