Page 10 of Catch a King (Five Kings 1)

Luckily, it’s a drive through and as I chew on the burger, I remember how Sawyer couldn’t take his eyes off me as I ate my breakfast. He intrigues me and I say with interest,

“So, what’s Sawyer’s story and why is he so uptight? I mean, I know he’s just lost his dad and all, that would explain a lot, but he seems so angry.”

“He is - they all are. Sawyer more than most probably because he wasn’t here.”

She sighs and pulls over to eat her burger. “You see, when Billy was murdered, Sawyer was overseas. He got the call from Slade and left as soon as he could, but it eats him up that he wasn’t here to say goodbye.”

“But I thought…”

“That he was dead when they came back, no. He was critical, but not dead. He’d been shot and was struggling to breathe, but Slade and Axel at least got to say their goodbyes.”

“That must have been tough.”

“It was, on all of them. Slade was so angry, Axel too, but Slade, well, you can only imagine. The worst part of it was that no one saw a thing. The cameras were cut, there were no territory issues and for all we knew, Billy hadn’t upset a fly. We still don’t know why he died, which is tearing the club apart.”

“But if he was still alive, did he not tell them, could he even speak?”

Marina shakes her head. “He could hardly breathe, let alone speak. The only thing they found that they couldn’t place, was a gold coin in his hand.”

“In his hand, do you think it was his, or someone put it there?”

“We don’t know, but nobody had ever seen it before.”

She shakes her head and crushes the packaging, before opening the window and tossing it in the trash. “If you’ve finished, we should be heading back. I need to show you how the bar operates and Axel will be back soon from his meeting.”

“His meeting?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything because Marina’s eyes narrow and she says with an edge to her voice. “It’s best not to ask, honey. Business and women don’t mix in the Dragon’s Ruin. They are the biggest bunch of women hating pigs I’ve ever met and keep their business close to their chests. The only time they spill is when their defenses are down and that’s the time I get all my information.”

“Axel?” I laugh softly.

“Yeah, the great oaf hasn’t worked that out yet. If I want to know anything, I just get out those silk panties and whip it out of him.” She winks. “Even a hard man goes soft when faced with what he desires most. It’s how I’ve lasted so long and it works for me. Word of advice, honey, if you intend on sticking around, make one of them commit. Otherwise, when Axel’s back is turned, you will be fair game.”

“But he…”

“Doesn’t mean shit and they know it. They’ll keep their distance for a week or so and then when you least expect it, you’ll find yourself waking up with one of them next to you. The only definite is that, and it’s up to you how you’re gonna handle it.”

“What if I don’t want to - handle it, I mean?”

“Then it was nice knowing you. There’s only one certainty in the Dragon’s Ruin, honey, and that’s you’ll be sharing your bed before the week is out, president’s orders, or not.”

We head back and suddenly it’s even more important I find the information I need before I have to fight off the whole lot of them. Fucking bikers.

Chapter 8

Sawyer

Icouldn’t get out of there fast enough. The fact I was watching her the whole time like a dog on heat tells me I need help and fast. Maybe I should lower my standards and take one of the girls at the Castle. God knows there are enough offers but even thinking of touching one of them after she’s been with probably most of the guys makes me wanna hurl. No, I’ll deal with my problem the usual way and get off in the shower.

I make it to the Bus Stop and see the guys are already here. The Bus Stop is a bar across town—a biker bar. Despite the fact it’s early we have a meeting with a rival gang, the Dark Lords. For the main, we get on ok with them, none of us wants any trouble and Axel called the meeting to see if they know anything about Billy’s death.

I take a moment to stop and get my shit together because just thinking about my father gunned down like a dog, fills me with murderous rage. Why? That’s what I still don’t get.

Trying to get anything out of Slade is a waste of time. He shut down years ago—we both did I suppose when mom died. Like Billy, her end wasn’t a pleasant one and rather than blame anyone for it, we have no one to blame but ourselves. None of us saw what she had become. We never registered the weight loss, or the mood swings. Her skin was sallow and her hair limp and greasy. The dark circles under her eyes should have been a giveaway, but we were all so wrapped up in our own shit we never took a second to look at her properly. Saskia Channing died of a heroin overdose the day before I finished basic training in the Marines. It was a dark time. We all blamed each other, but Slade didn’t stop there. He got into terrible fights, even killed a man, the one responsible for dealing her shit, but he has never recovered from it. Of all of us, he took it the hardest, and maybe that’s why I was so keen to return to the field. Remove myself from a situation I couldn’t deal with.

Now I’m back to deal with another situation, and I wonder if my life will ever be anything different.

“About time you showed up.”

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