Page 56 of The Vows We Keep
King points his cigarette at me. “According to our little ray of sunshine here, Catalina threatened Henley with a knife.”
“And then I let her shoot him,” I offer. “Might as well know the whole truth. Made it look like he did it to himself. And you know what, she didn’t so much as flinch. No remorse. She just killed for our club, and you still don’t trust her. I get everyone betrayed you and shit, and now you’re suspicious as fuck, but you don’t need to put it at Catalina’s feet.”
“Catalina’s so-called family killed my father and came to kill me. Have you forgotten that you—”
“Wait. Can we all just chill out?” Bates says. “Everyone take a minute before shit gets said that can’t be taken back.” He squeezes my shoulder hard. “How did this conversation start?”
I sit back in my chair. “I asked for a temporary leave so I can help Catalina find out what happened to her father.”
“You really think that’s a good idea?” Bates asks.
I turn to face him, take a deep breath, and focus on my friend—the guy who has looked out for me for half a decade. I know he won’t lie to me or allow outside opinions to sway him from doing the right thing. “I do.”
“Why?”
Words flood my brain in a jumble. There are threads, one leading to the next before the sentence is fully formed.
Because she’s my—
I can help her with—
Because I want—
Stop fucking asking me—
“Colt,” Bates snaps.
“Because I’m not meant to let go of her yet.” It’s the best answer I can give.
Bates nods, then looks at King. “Permission for me to join him.”
“What the fuck?” Clutch mutters.
“We can’t afford to have both of you gone with these attacks on the club getting bolder,” King says. “Halo and Saint were just in here saying they confirmed the Righteous Brotherhood are rebuilding their trafficking route through the docks.”
Bates rubs his hand over his chin. “Play this out, Prez. He’s going. We all know it. This”—he circles his hand around the room—“is all for show. In his mind, he’s checked out. So let him go. And I think we both know that as soon as he leaves, I’m gonna follow him to make sure he comes back in one piece.”
“Fuck,” King mutters.
“I don’t need you to come with me,” I say to Bates. “I don’t need any of you.”
“Well, tough shit. I’m coming, you ungrateful asshole.”
“Fine,” King says. “If you’re so set on going, we’re gonna have some rules. No more than two weeks. Get Vex to help as much as he can without distracting him from the Brotherhood. Do as much of the roadwork as you can before you even get on your bikes. Get him to tag you guys up. I want James Bond–level shit. I want tracking devices everywhere. Your bikes, your boots, your belts, between the cheeks of your ass. I want check-ins. I want Vex to know where you are going, who you are meeting with. I want photographs when you get there. Of people you meet, of plates from vehicles. If this is a setup in any way, I want to know every single one of your last movements and moments.” He turns to Bates. “And your only job is to keep Niro alive. It’s not to help him look, it’s not to play Sherlock fucking Holmes. I want you armed and covering his back. I don’t give a fuck what happens to Catalina. You are not there to save her in any capacity.”
What the fuck. “Wait. No.” I say. “What if she has an accident or—”
“Those are my rules.” King slams the table. “Anything she does could be a setup. If you won’t look out for yourself and this club, I will.” He turns his gaze back to my friend. “Are you clear, Bates?”
“As crystal, Prez.”
“I still don’t like this, but you have my blessing. Make sure the arrangements are made for the tattoo studio and any other club business you need to wrap up. Let me know when you’re heading out. Oh, and under no circumstances are you to go all the way to Cali-fucking-fornia and launch any kind of revenge mission on Los Reyes. You do that and I’ll cut your Outlaws ink from your skin with a knife myself. Do not fuck this up. Do not deviate from the plan.” King flicks his hand in the direction of the door. “Now get the fuck out of my office.”
“Can I speak with you in private first?” I ask.
King nods and glances to Clutch and Bates with a tip of his head to leave. When the door shuts, I take a deep breath. “You think your old lady would ... like, talk to me and shit?”
His eyes narrow. “What do you mean,talk to you and shit?”
