Page 79 of Taming Raptor

“Well, I have something I wanted to discuss with you,” I began. His gaze flickered in my direction, then returned to the sinking sun that lit the Texas sky up with a warm kaleidoscope of color. Below the darkened settling in. Crickets began to chirp and still, I waited.

“Okay?” He hit the blunt one more time and held it in until he stubbed the end on the metal of the building. The cough that briefly shook him was what he had coming for hitting that shit so hard.

“What would you think of joining my chapter?”

The quick movement of his head from my peripheral was the only sign he heard me. “How can I simply ‘join’ your chapter? I’m not a member of your club, Raptor.”

“Understood. But right now, I’ve been given special privileges to ensure the chapter gets a fair start.”

“You mean like a patch for a patch deal?” Now a frown furrowed his brow, and I had his full attention.

“Sort of. I’ve been granted permission for probationary members. Essentially, you’d wear the same three-piece patch as we do, but you’d be on a one-year probationary period instead of prospecting. Lets me build my numbers without having to go through all the red tape and bullshit if you don’t work out.” I shrugged.

He sat there in silence with his mouth hanging open. Finally, he huffed out the breath he’d been holding. “You’re serious.” It was a statement, not a question.

“No shit. I don’t make offers I don’t mean. I’ve always liked you. Snow always speaks highly of you. You have a job you want done… we can do it,” I explained as I rested my forearms on my bent knees. Then I turned my head to lock my gaze with his, and dropped my voice. “Snow also said you had an interesting… talent… that might come in handy for us.”

At that his gaze widened. It was the first real emotion I’d seen from him in months.

“He told you that?” The question was softly spoken. And though he tried to pass it off as nonchalant, the rapid way his chest rose and fell, along with the way his fingers tightly curled into his palms told me he was anything but.

I stood up and brushed the seat of my jeans off.

“You think about it, but I do need an answer by Friday night. We have church.”

“Sure. Thanks. I’m honored by the offer, but I think I will take advantage of that thinking time you offered.” He swallowed hard, then cast his gaze up to me.

“Wouldn’t have offered if I had a problem with that. I’m a fair man, Memphis. I don’t like drama and bullshit. I cut to the chase, and I hate talking on the goddamn phone. Right now, all I can offer you for accommodations are three hots and a cot in one of the bunk rooms. Will this be an easy gig? No. It sure as hell won’t be. But I can promise you that if we find the people responsible for what happened to your girl—and we will—you’ll be included on the mission. The only stipulation is you show us you can do so without going berserk and risking yourself or my chapter.”

“Roger that,” he murmured.

I gave him a head nod, then grabbed the door handle. Checking that the folded sheets of paper were still in the inner pocket of my cut, I swung it open. There was something I needed to address, then had some making up for lost time with Sage.

The door banged as it closed and the two dark-haired boys at the bar turned to look my direction. Seth was still chewing as he held the giant burger in his hand. Gator pushed off the bar from where he’d been leaning over talking with them. The easy smile he had on his face fell when I met his gaze. He knew what was coming. I took a deep breath, slowly let it out and pasted a grin on my face.

“Got someone to feed you, did ya?” I teased them as I pulled up a stool next to them.

“Yes, they did,” Sage replied as she came out of the kitchen with two slices of pie that she set in front of both boys with a sweet tilt of those beautiful lips. “We were just getting to know each other better.”

The adoring glances they gave her had me snorting.

Well, shit.

“While I’m glad y’all are getting along, she agreed to be my girl—so don’t get any crazy ideas.” I joked with them. “I’d say I’m pretty lucky. Wouldn’t you?” My chest fluttered as I stared in her bright blue eyes.

“Well, if she always cooks like this, you’re on the road to getting fat,” Sam quipped. He hid his twitching lips with a big bite of his half-eaten burger.

“Keep it up and you’ll be in the gym doing my workout with me,” I shot back with a middle finger raised in his direction as I fought my laughter. Little smartass.

Then I sobered.

“Maybe it’s best I have you all here at once.” I scrubbed my hands over my face before I rested my elbows on the bar. Sage placed a soft hand over my nervously tapping fingers and gave me a curious tilt of her head.

“Boys, remember we sent the tests in?”

“Yes, sir,” they both replied. Sage stepped back and I could tell she was going to leave. I’d briefly told her about what Voodoo had told me and the tests I’d sent in to the guy Facet knew. She hadn’t met the boys yet and I figured I’d find out the test results before I introduced them, but here we were. I quickly grasped her retreating hand and held her in place.

“I have the results.”

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