Page 21 of Fool's Gold

Scar smirked and held out his helmet to me, but I shook my head.

“I’m not a pussy,” I snapped.

He chuckled. “Kid, I’m gay as fuck, but even I don’t understand that saying. Pussies push out fucking babies bigger than watermelons. That’s tough as hell if you ask me. Just wear it.” He shoved the helmet against my chest, and I had no choice but to take it. I thought I heard him mutter, “Kids these days.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled the helmet over my head without strapping it under my chin. Scar slid onto the bike first, and I got on after him. Using the back of the passenger seat as a place to grip, I kept the distance between us.

If he noticed, he didn’t say anything.

I glanced back at Jonas and Bishop as the Kings started their motorcycles again, the roar of the engines echoing around the narrow alleyway. Jonas seemed to be saying something to Bishop and had his arms wrapped tightly around Bishop’s middle, and while I knew it was because he’d clearly never ridden on a bike, acid jealousy swirled in my chest. I wanted to reach over and punch Bishop for getting a hug that I craved from Jonas.

Clenching my teeth together, I gripped the handles on either side of the passenger seat tightly.

Scar hit the ignition of his black Harley and it roared to life, vibrating underneath us. He began to push us backward until he could safely turn the bike around to face the street, and then he followed the rest of the Kings. Bishop stopped so Jonas could go grab his phone off the sidewalk before they pulled out onto the road in front of us. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Jonas the entire trip, my heart thumping wildly every time he pressed his helmet to Bishop’s back.

When we stopped at a red light, he raised his hand to wave at me, and I did the same because he couldn’t see the smile I gave him.

Bishop smirked at me and sent me a wink.

I gave him the middle finger in response.

He threw his head back and laughed.

Asshole.What was it with these Kings?

By the time we arrived at the junkyard the Kings used as a clubhouse, I was vibrating in irritation. Scar drove the bike through the gates and avoided the potholes in the rutted road that wound through stacks of junk on either side. Why didn’t they get rid of all the scrap metal? Off to the right, just outside the property, was an old water tower with New Gothenburg painted on the side in faded yellow. A sprawling, two-story house with navy blue siding came into view. It seemed as if additions had been tacked on whenever someone felt like it. All the windows on the first floor were blacked out, which made me a little uneasy. I shifted, antsy to slide off the back of the Harley and get to Jonas. When Scar finally pulled to a stop next to a bunch of other bikes, I ditched my helmet, then jumped off and stalked in Jonas’s direction.

He popped up the visor when I got to him, and I unbuckled the strap before I helped him slide the helmet over his head. He grinned at me and ran a hand through his short hair, excitement sparkling in his eyes as I helped him off the back of Bishop’s bike.

“That was so much fun.” He laughed and bounced on his feet. “I want to go again.”

A strange sensation stirred in my stomach, and my chest felt airy as I stared at him and the joy that rushed across his face. His happiness was an addiction, and while I’d seen him in various states of emotion in the years I’d watched him from across the river, I’d never quite seen himlike this.

“Come on.” Scar waved for us to follow him.

I slid my hand into Jonas’s, which was something I usually wouldn’t do in public, but these were the Kings. They were known for fucking guys, and as badass and scary as they were, at least they understood that part of me. Dutch hadn’t cared what they did, despite the rules at the trailer park, as long as their money was green.

Jonas smiled sweetly at me, and together we walked toward the clubhouse. A German shepherd lay right outside the red stainless steel door, which was hanging off its hinges and not really closed. The dog raised its head and cocked it when we walked past. Jonas stopped me so he could pet the dog, and before I could tell him that wasn’t a good idea, he was already patting the animal on the head. The shepherd made a small moaning sound and leaned into Jonas’s hand.

How am I jealous of a fucking dog?I wanted Jonas to touch me like that.

“You’re adorable, aren’t you?” Jonas murmured, and the dog whined as if agreeing.

I tugged Jonas’s hand gently. “Let’s go inside and get this over with so we can do that Frisbee golf.”

He nodded.

Together we walked through the front door and into a dim hallway. Scar led us straight into what appeared to be a barroom. The bright overhead lights had me squinting a little. On our left was a gleaming wooden pool table with blue velvet on top that matched the color of the Kings of Men patch on Scar’s jacket. Black leather couches lined the wall straight across from us and a couple of guys were sitting on them talking. A wooden bar sat on the right, and a man with pink hair was already behind it serving drinks to a few Kings seated on stools. No one here seemed to care that it was still early.

The bartender noticed us immediately and stopped pouring rum into a shot glass. He flashed me a bright smile and settled the bottle on the bar. “Who is this?”

Scar waved us forward and pointed at me. “This is Ethan Shepherd. Remember I was telling you about Leo, the guy in jail? This is his brother.”

The pink-haired dude straightened. “Yeah. Welcome to the circus, Ethan.”

I shrugged. “People call me Shep.”

He nodded. “Shep.”

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