24. COLE

COLE

T he warehouse is dark as usual when Trey and I pull up, the only noise around is the sound of our engines until we both shut off our bikes. I hate this place. Every time we come here, something gets even more fucked up than the last.

“Stokes’s not even here yet,” Trey sighs, climbing off his bike.

I shrug. “Probably waiting for us to arrive before he graces us with his presence.”

Deep down, I’m grateful Stokes hasn’t shown up yet. We need a break and something to hold over his head. Him not showing up to a meeting he called would give me the ammo to avoid him that much longer.

Trey nods. He’s been suspiciously less chatty since we left the clubhouse, and even though I already know why, I enjoy the chatter. It keeps the nagging voice in my head at bay long enough for me to be able to think.

“You think Nash is good?” Trey asks, pulling open the metal door, the creak of it hard against my hearing.

“No,” I say plainly. I know he’s not. I’ve only seen that look in Holden’s eyes twice and the first time, I lost my friend to grief and alcohol until recently.

Trey nods. “You wanna tell me why we’re risking the club for this girl?”

“We aren’t risking the club.” It's a lie, and from the look Trey shoots me he knows it too.

“Right, so letting a random woman who apparently is now a fugitive and missing person live above the shop is not putting the club at risk?” He shakes his head. “Remind me, wasn’t it you who said we keep our business in the inner circle? She’s been here for a week, O’Neil and she already knows way too much about the shit we’re in, more than any of the other Lunas that walk around the club.”

I scoff. “If you think the Lunas don’t know about the shit that happens at that table, you’re clearly more oblivious than I thought.” Trey never questions me unless warranted and even then I hate it. This is my club, my men. I have final say. “And since when do you question my decisions?” I ask, turning to my vice president.

“I’m only curious as to why Nash, you, and now Wolfe have a fascination with helping Kadence.” He shrugs. “Especially after what happened to Becca.”

My jaw clenches at her name. Becca is still a sore subject and Trey knows that. "I'm helping her because of what happened to Becca." Which isn't the total truth but Trey seems to believe me when he sighs. "If this asshole is truly after Kade then... we should help her."

“But why?” Trey questions again.

Why did I want to help her so bad? I could have treated her like any other customer, but instead I treat her like a bird with a broken wing and coddle her. Offered her a job, a place to stay. All because in those green eyes, I saw a familiar face. Scared, worried and terrified of the world around her.

“Look.” Trey straightens himself. “I know you couldn’t save Becca,”

“Falcone–” I growl in warning.

“No, Cole, you couldn’t save her. None of us could. But I figured dragging some innocent chick into our shit would be the last thing that you’d do. You can’t save them all.”

I lunge at him, my hands fisting around the collar of his cut as I shove him against the closest wall. My chest heaves with the anger I'm failing more and more to keep hidden.

"I will rip that patch off your leather if you mention her name again." I seethe. My eyes flicker between Trey's wide, dark eyes. "I don't have to explain myself. You're my VP, but this is still my club."

The air between us becomes thick as Trey shoves me backward. I can’t punch two members in two days but my fists clench at my side as I stare at my friend.

"Trouble in paradise?" Stokes' voice echoes through the warehouse as he crawls out of whatever darker corner he was hiding in, Watson on his heels.

“Shit,” Trey mutters.

“Where’s your lap dog?” Watson hisses. “Better not be hiding somewhere.”

I chuckle, tugging on the ends of my vest to right myself, "Call Wolfe staying behind a peace offering."

Stokes narrows his eyes at me. "And Nash? I was hoping to be re-acquainted with him. It's been too long." He sneers. "I haven’t seen him since--" Stokes pauses, alluding to Becca's death.

“Since you shoved him in an interrogation room and accused him of murdering his sister?” Trey questions.

Sheriff laughs. “Oh, that was fun.”

“What the hell do you want, Stokes?” I snap. My hands clench at my side again when what Kadence told me earlier returns to the forefront of my mind. If Watson or Stokes had anything to do with Becca, I’ll kill them both.

Stokes leans back on his heels, turning his chin up as his hand leisurely falls over the butt of his gun. I force back a grin. The fucker is really trying his hardest to intimidate me. It's going to take a lot more than a weak gesture to scare me.

“I want Wolfe,” he states, so matter-of-factly that Trey shoots me a look. “And in exchange,” he turns and begins pacing in front of them. A slow walk that only grates on my patience. “I’ll leave your boys alone at the drop points.”

“Why the fuck would I give you a club member?” I hiss.

“Because he put two of my officers in the hospital. Richards has a fucking breathing tube down his throat because your guy has a taste for blood.” Stokes tilts his head. “I can’t look weak to our town, O’Neil. You know what happens if they think I’m weak.”

I narrow my eyes.

“The town will replace me,” Watson stands up straight as if he’s a fucking candidate, “and all of your lovely and seemingly above-board business ventures fall to pieces.”

Trey turns his back to them, taking a step in front of me. My eyes never leave Stokes’ even as Trey starts to speak.

“We can’t risk it, man,” Trey mutters, low enough only for me to hear.

My brows furrow at my VP, who so easily seems to be giving in to this asshole. “I’m not giving him a fucking club member, Falcone. Have you lost your damn mind?”

“Wolfe can handle it and we need a break. A distraction.” He shifts.

“No,” I cement. I wasn’t giving up a fucking member for the sake of a few brief moments to breathe. “It’s not happening.” Trey sighs as he turns back around and a wicked grin spreads across Watson’s face.

“So,” Stokes’ smug smile creeps across his features. “What’s it gonna be?”