Page 20 of Banshee
I wanted babies. Wanted her to have my babies.
“Might not want to hang ‘round too long,” Cecil said, his voice low.
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
There were a few men and women scattered around the room. I’d clocked the two guys at the end of the bar the minute I walked in. I knew who they were. Taz and Wrench. Two patchedbrothers in the Death Dogs. They were young, probably in their mid-twenties. And by the way they kept looking my way, they thought they could take me.
“This place ain’t as hospitable as it used to be.”
“I don’t know. Seems like a great place to stop and grab a drink after a long ride.” I raised my glass and cheered the empty space between us. Cecil shook his head and grabbed the rag over his shoulder to wipe down the bar.
I sat nursing my drink as I waited for the two men to leave. Looking around to see if anyone else was paying attention, I asked Cecil, “How long have they been coming around?”
“Little over a month. Moved up to Hillsdale, and every night a couple of ‘em show up.”
“They causing any problems?”
“Not yet.” Cecil leaned over the bar, his meaty arms crossed in front of him. The rag back on his shoulder. “Heard ‘em talking one night. They’re lookin’ for someone.”
That made the hair on the back of my neck stick up. “You find out who?”
“A woman.”
“Fuck,” I hissed.
“I take it you know where this woman is?” Cecil asked. I wasn’t in the habit of talking to strangers, especially about club business, but there was something about this guy that said I could trust him.
Something I’d learned since moving to the Midwest. Most folks out here were trustworthy. They weren’t looking to make a name for themselves. They enjoyed their quiet life and wanted to keep it that way.
I didn’t answer his question, and he nodded his head, telling me he didn’t expect me to.
“Some friendly advice,” he added. “Get her outta town.”
“She’s not in town. Not close.”
“Keep it that way.”
I stood from my stool and pulled my wallet out of my pocket. I tossed a twenty on the bar and said, “Thanks.”
“Come back anytime.”
My senses were on alert as I walked outside, expecting an ambush. What I found were two Death Dogs, unconscious on the ground. At least I hoped they were unconscious. I didn’t want any trouble coming Cecil’s way.
I ambled over to my bike and found a note on my gas tank.
I searched the area for someone who might have left the note, but aside from the two unconscious men on the ground, no one was there. I stuffed the note in my pocket and climbed on my bike.
Without wasting time, I pulled out of the lot and headed toward home. I was uneasy until the clubhouse came into view. Something told me the two men in the bar knew exactly who I was. But did they know my connection to Aspen?
Had Skinner moved his entire club to Wyoming in search of Pepper’s wife? That didn’t make sense. No one moved a club that size for a woman. Especially one that wasn’t married to an officer.
I went into the clubhouse through the back. I wasn’t in the mood to talk, and I knew most of the brothers would be in the bar drinking, despite how late it was. At my age, getting wasted didn’t have the same appeal. It was a lot harder to get through a hangover than it used to be.
The next morning, I got back on my bike early. Making my way out of the clubhouse before anyone was up. I had a phone call to make, and I didn’t want anyone listening in.
I dialed the number. The bastard was an hour ahead of me, so I didn’t want to hear any bullshit about the time.
“What the fuck do you want?”
