Page 41 of Finish Line
“It had to have been an M-80 or somethin’. Whatever it was knocked Smalls out and they left this.” Kicks holds up a manilla envelope.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bull
“What’s the verdict?” I ask Kicks, worried about what he’s gonna tell me.
“It had to have been an M-80 or somethin’. Whatever it was knocked Smalls out and they left this.” He holds up a manilla envelope and hands it to me.
I peek inside the envelope to find a stack of pictures. I pull them out, droppin’ the envelope on the ground. The first picture is of Athena sitting at one of the picnic tables in front of the clubhouse with Sienna.
“What is it?” Athena asks me. I hand her the picture, afraid to say anything, because of the anger boiling inside me. She gasps.
The next picture is one of Shade and Buster gettin’ out of Buster’s car at the shop. Then there’s one of Sketch and Rascal ridin’ their bikes. I keep flippin’ through them and find a picture of everyone who’s currently in the clubhouse, including myself and the brothers in New Orleans.
“Someone is watchin’ us,” I grit out. The last picture I come across is Raze and Minx walkin’ out of a building I don’t recognize. “Minx, where the fuck was this taken at?”
She walks toward me, and I hand her the picture. Raze comes up behind her as her face falls.
“Now isn’t the time, Prez,” Raze says to me in a low voice.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen this way,” Minx cries, a tear rollin’ down her face.
“Baby girl, what’s wrong?” I ask, grabbing her hand.
“I’m . . . I’m pregnant.” Tears fall down her face like a waterfall. “I wanted to be able to tell you before tellin’ everyone else.”
I pull her against my chest and hug her tight. “Oh, Minx. It’s alright, sweetheart. I’m so happy for y’all.”
She cries harder into my shirt. I rub her back and glance around at everyone. Athena’s eyes are as wide as saucers. She’s tryin’ to stay strong, but on the inside, I know she’s freaking out.
“These pictures are a gift from the cartel, lettin’ us know they’re watchin’ us. Including inside the fences of the clubhouse,” I explain to everyone. “Startin’ today, we are on a full lockdown. Some brothers and prospects will need to make a run to the grocery store to make sure we have enough food for at least two weeks.”
“I’ll go,” Rascal volunteers. Tech, Buzz, and Shade all step up as well.
“The four of you, plus Prospect Pete and Rex,” I tell them. “Take one of the vans and Shade’s car.”
Raze takes Minx out of my arms and ushers her into the clubhouse. Everyone else slowly makes their way back inside behind them while Athena moves to stand in front of me.
“We should still have the fireworks display tonight,” she suggests.
I wrap her in my arms. “I was thinkin’ about that, too.”
“There’s so much food prepped already. It would be a shame for it to go to waste,” she says.
I smile at her. “You’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You know that?”
“It’s something I’m working on,” she tells me. “I haven’t had much of a reason to be strong until now.”
I take her face in my hands and kiss her lips. Gently at first, then more passionately. She parts her lips, granting me entrance for my tongue. My dick strains against my jeans, begging to be released. I break the kiss, resting my forehead against hers.
“I have a few phone calls I need to make. Meet me in my room in an hour,” I tell her.
“In your room? Why, whatever for?” She gives me a faux innocent look.
“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” I give her a wink. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“I’ll think about it,” she says playfully as she walks into the clubhouse, puttin’ a little extra sway in her step.
