“Skull,” the biggest one of the two says. He’s a big man, and when I say big, I’m not talking about height or muscle. The guy obviously likes his beer because he has a gut on him. Still, he’s broad in a way where you know he could put a hurting on a man if he wanted. He’s got long hair, which at one time used to be brown in color, but now is silver-white. He reaches out his hand, which is just as meaty as the rest of him. He’s got two fingers on his right hand cut off at the knuckle. His index finger is intact and carries an insignia ring with a T on it.
Tucker.
I take his hand, shaking it firm and dry. You can tell a lot by a man’s handshake. For instance, Tucker’s whelp Viper always had a damp hand; sweat would roll of the bastard.
I take a seat and Torch remains standing behind me.
“What’s this about?”
He looks me over. I face him head-on, wondering just what the fuck his game is.
“I wanted to tell you a story,” he says as I lean back in my chair.
“Never was much on books or libraries, and my school days are well in the fucking past.”
“I get there’s bad blood between you and Viper. It’s nearly destroyed both our clubs. I hoped Viper would prove to be a good leader.”
“I’d say your hopes were motherfucking dashed,” I answer.
“He’s weak. A product of his mother, a club whore. A man should be more careful with the woman he chooses to give his dick to.”
“Is this the story you wanted to tell me? Because I have to tell you, hermano, I have zero interest in where your polla has been.”
The man gives me a smile and eases further back in his chair, looking at me as if I just passed a test of some sort.
“You had a good woman for a mother. I can tell.”
There’s a faint ache in my chest as I remember my mama. “She was,” I agree.
“And your father was smart,” he adds.
“My father was a bastard.”
“Most of us are,” he points out, and I can’t argue.
He turns his head. “Are you the one that my men tell me is called Torch?”
I feel Torch shift around on his feet behind me. “I am,” he replies.
“Word is, you’re marrying one of the girls Colin has a price on.”
“I am,” he repeats, and I feel the tension coming off him.
“I hear he’s asking two million for each girl now.”
“No one’s touching her.”
“If the purpose of this meeting was to try and gain the women, you’ve wasted our time,” I tell him, getting ready to leave.
“You’re protecting both of them?” he asks, surprised.
“They’re property of the Devil’s Blaze,” I tell him.
The man curls his nose in distaste. “Property can be sold and bartered.”
“Not in this case,” I growl.
“You’re very much like your uncle. Did he ever tell you how the real feud between the Saints and the Blaze began, Skull?”
“No, and I never gave a fuck once I took over. Viper struck out against my men and I retaliated.”
“Just like that,” he states, as if he’s thinking about something else.
“A man ain’t a man if he can’t protect what is his,” I respond, thinking if I leave now I can get back to Beth in time to take her back out to the lake.
Tucker nods his head in approval, as if I finally said something he can agree to. Maybe the son of a bitch is senile and that’s why Viper took over the club.
“Which is why I stepped down from the Saints so many years ago,” he begins.
“Listen, Tucker…”
“A few more minutes, son. I think you will be interested in this story.”
“I’m not your son,” I object, the nickname irritating me. Actually, this whole meeting so far has.
“True. If you were, then life would be much better at this moment.”
Que está loco.
“A man makes mistakes, Skull. I claimed Viper’s mom. Married the bitch so my son would have my name and so I could control what happened to him. It was a disaster. Hooked on blow. I had to lock her away to keep her clean while she was pregnant. That was my first clue to the weakness in her. What woman ignores the child inside of her for her next high? Still, I suffered through and did what I had to do to get my child. I thought that the club and the life I led was all there was… until I met Lilly.”
“Listen, Tucker, you’re wasting my time here, and I have shit to do. I’m sure your life’s story is interesting shit, but…”
“Lilly was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.”
“Tucker…”
“Blonde hair, the color of summer gold, and eyes the deepest color of gray I had ever seen…”