Link
Dragon Riders MC #1
Savannah Rylan
Copyright © 2020 by Savannah Rylan
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
1. Link
2. Joanna
3. Link
4. Joanna
5. Link
6. Joanna
7. Link
8. Joanna
9. Link
10. Joanna
11. Link
12. Joanna
13. Link
14. Joanna
15. Link
16. Joanna
17. Link
18. Joanna
19. Link
20. Joanna
Sneak Peak at Bowser
More Books by Savannah Rylan
About the Author
1
Link
The smell of cigar smoke and greasy chips filled the room as I stared at the cards in my hand. I kept my eyebrow quirked and my face still as my eyes danced around the aces I held at the ready. Poker had always been a great pastime of mine. I played it with my father, before he succumbed to drugs. I taught my mother how to play it before Alzheimer’s robbed her of the rules. I even played with my best friend growing up, trading twigs and rocks and pretending it was millions of dollars up for grabs.
I still didn’t bet millions on one hand.
But thousands? Sure.
Sounded like a regular game in my book.
“I’ll raise ya, Link,” Ice said.
My eyes flickered to him. “Ballsy move.”
He tossed his chips into the pot. “And you know they hang low.”
I reached for a few more chips. “I prefer mine high and tight.”
Ice snickered. “Like your women.”
I tossed them into the center. “And their tits.”
He shook his head. “Too rich for my blood. I fold.”
He slapped his cards down and a smile spread across my cheeks. I laid out my aces. All four of them, with a king to raise. Even though I didn’t need the damn king in the first place. All of the guys rolled their eyes and groaned. Ice chuckled as he reached for another handful of chips. I reached out, scraping the chips toward me as I became ten thousand dollars richer. And as I stacked them neatly in front of me, Ice started picking up the cards.
“My deal, right?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yep. Your deal.”
I knew Ash was outside watching the doors. But I still kept my ears trained out there. Ever since my crew—the Dragon Riders—had gone to weekly instead of monthly poker games, I hired Ash for some part-time work. With him being the crew’s enforcer, I knew he wouldn't hesitate. Especially after offering him a cut of any winnings that took place. Five percent off the top, plus ten percent of the fee to sit at the table in the first place.
Though, this particular game didn’t have a fee to sit.
The Iron Horse was our main bar. Had been for years now. It quickly became our post for meetings, our celebratory place for lifetime milestones, and a place to come and hang out without fear for our safety. The Iron Horse was also the place where we cleaned our money from transactions due to business. Every bar we owned across town hosted weekly gambling games. Backroom shows where women served us drinks, pleasure, and encouragement while we bet the bank and either walked away rich or poor. The games had grown in popularity so much that twenty percent of the crew’s revenue alone came from these damn games and their winnings.
But every first Saturday of the month, a special game was held in the back of the Iron Horse. One that required all presidents of the crews in town to appear. In exchange for a “no sit fee,” we freely exchanged information. Updates on police activity, news we’ve heard about investigations. Favors were made back and forth across this table to help one another and to research things to help our fellow man. It kept all of us in each other’s good graces. It kept all of us abreast of what was going on in the world. It kept us one step ahead of not only the competition, but the police. Which was an invaluable edge in the worlds we lived in.
Only one crew was unworthy of sitting at this table. A crew that terrorized all of us sometimes.
And of course, they were kicking back up again.
“You guys hear what happened with the Golden Jags?” Ice asked.
The guys around the table groaned as I picked up my cards.
“Something about a drug bust gone bad, right?” I asked.
Ice sighed. “Apparently, their enforcer got a little gun heavy. Took out two of their men before they could subdue them.”
I paused. “He killed two cops?”
“Not two cops, Link. Two DEA officers.”
The other presidents groaned again with strings of curses thundering beneath.
“That’s not good,” I said.
Ice shook his head. “Nope. It means every cop in the state’s going to be on high alert for anyone who remotely looks like them. Leather jackets. Boots. A bike.”
I snickered. “So, us. People who look like every single fucking one of us.”
“Unfortunately.”
I drew in a deep breath. “When did this happen?”
“Three days ago. The Golden Jags suffered a loss with their enforcer. But I’m sure that won’t stop them.”
“Never does.”
I looked at the shitty slew of cards in my hand as I chewed on the inside of my cheek. All sorts of things ran through my head as I picked out the cards I wanted to lay back down. I had to check in with my men after tonight. I needed to send out an encrypted text to all of them, making sure they knew to keep their heads low and their bikes quiet for a while. The Golden Jags dealt with some serious drug business that none of us wanted a part in. My guys were just happy with the money we got from the bars and the electronics we ran underground. Doesn’t sound glamorous, pushing hardware in the darkness, but our components were the best. Ripped from the highest-quality manufacturers and discarded tech and placed into the hands of those who certainly didn’t need it but were willing to pay handsomely for it. It worked for us, and since we were the only crew in town who even remotely dealt in things like that, we never hurt for business.
But if cops patrolled our area more than usual?
That would certainly hurt business.
“That’s not all though,” Ice said.
I picked up my three new cards. “Fucking hell. What else do you have?”
He grinned. “Shitty hand or shitty anticipation?”
“Both,” I murmured.
The other presidents at the table chuckled as I plucked three more cards from my hand.
“Hit me one more time,” I said.
Ice’s eyebrows rose. “Sure thing, Link.”
I watched as Ice only needed one card and I figured I was fucked already.
Then, Ice continued. “Rumor on the streets says the Golden Jags are trying to work with a new group in town to get their merchandise.”
I paused. “Do you know who the new group is?”
He shook his head. “No one does. I’ve tried to figure that out all damn week. The rumors are everywhere, so you know it’s rooted in some sort of truth. But I can’t figure out who the new players are.”
“That might be why they got themselves into trouble. If the crew is new to this area, they don’t know how to operate within parameters yet.”
“Which draws attention to them.”
“He
nce the shootout with the DEA.”
He sighed. “You think those assholes will ever learn their lesson?”
I snickered. “Not a fat chance in hell.”
I peeked around the table at the rest of the presidents. There were five men at the table. Yet, only two of us were talking. I mean, sure. Ice and I ran the two biggest crews this side of New York. But it was uncanny how quiet the other men were.
I wanted to press them as to why, but I also wanted to concentrate on their little ticks. On their tells. I wanted information, but I also wanted their money. Especially since we had anted up two thousand a piece.
“I’m out,” one of the guys said.
“Yeah, me, too,” another said.
The third sighed. “Fucking hell, Ice. You stacking this deck or what?”
I chuckled as the other three men slapped their cards onto the table. I peered over at Ice as he sat there with a satisfied smile on his face. But little did he know the hand I already held.
“So? What’ll it be?” I asked.
Ice blinked. “Ah, fuck. I’m out, too.”
I blinked. “What?”
Ice pointed at me. “I know that voice. I know that tone of voice. You're sitting on something massive right now. That’s your tell. I never fucking know when you’re bluffing, but I sure as hell know when you’re not. And right now, you’re about to kick all of our asses.”
I grinned. “You think so, huh?”
“Yeah. And you’re not getting any more of my money tonight. At all.”
I laid my cards down. “Well, sucks to be you. Since I don’t have anything.”
I set down the random cards in my hands as all of the guys grumbled and groaned. I laughed with pride as I scooped all of the chips my way, enjoying my needless win. The most important aspect about poker was one that always got overlooked. One thing always got shoved off to the side in favor of the rules, the techniques, or all of the ways to lie.
If one was self-aware, poker was easy as pie.
“Jesus Christ,” Ice murmured.
I grinned. “Care to go again?”
“No!” all of the men said in unison.
I held up my hands. “Okay, okay, okay. Ash!”
The door behind him whipped open. “Yeah, boss?”
“Bring in the girls.”
The guys clapped their hands and rubbed them together as Ash beckoned for the ladies. Five of them walked in. One for each of us. And as they made their way to our sides, I watched the presidents push themselves away from the table. Ice patted his knee while some of the guys got up to kiss their ladies of the night. Dressed in sparkling clothes with slits in places that made any man’s mouth water, a pair of hands landed on my shoulders. My eyes fell closed as a woman started massaging my shoulders. I watched one of the girls sink to her knees as Ice leaned back and spread his legs. I shook my head and chuckled to myself as I turned my chair, giving the two of them some privacy. And as the rest of the men made their way out of the room with their girls, I raised my finger.
“Don’t forget to pay your exit percentage to Ash.”
Ice grunted. “Like we fucking won anything anyway.”
The woman behind me pressed her lips to my ear. “Congratulations, big winner.”
I shrugged off her touch. “Thanks, doll. But you’re free to go for the night.
I reached down for my pile of chips and plucked out four of them. I dropped them into her hand as her eyes widened, counting them to make sure she got it right. Yep. Four thousand dollars. Just for her, for being the cutest little thing she could be. Wasn’t her fault I wasn't in the mood tonight.
Even ladies of the evening needed to make money.
“Go enjoy yourself. Or pay some bills. But if you are looking to work tonight, I know my buddy Ash at the door’s been pretty lonely lately,” I said.
“Awww, good to know. Thank you for the lead,” she said.
Then, I watched her turn toward the brute at the door as I tossed him a wink.
I gathered my earnings and cashed them in with Ash, who held onto our cash until our games had ended. I counted out his share of the door percentage fee, then clapped his shoulder. Leaving him to do whatever it is he wished with the buxom beauty that had been assigned to me for the night. Ice groaned and cursed in the background as the sounds of slobbering and sucking mounted. So, I closed the door behind me after watching Ash walk off with that woman underneath his arm.
“Always a good night when everyone walks home happy,” I murmured.
I made my way down the darkened hallway to the sounds of people clinking beer bottles together. Music struck up before people whooped and hollered. Then, all I heard was the thumping of the bass. That music signaled how late it was. Because every night, right at eleven, three of the seven bars we operated became dance clubs for the younger crowds. That was our biggest money maker around here, especially with the New York city slickers. City kids came from all corners of the state to entertain themselves in our Iron Bars. And the full house made me smile as I made my way through the crowd.
“Care for a drink, Link!?” the bartender asked.
I shook my head. “Nah, man. I’m heading out. Remind Gail she’s locking up tonight, okay!?”
The bartender nodded. “Can do, boss man!”
I didn’t feel like staying at the club tonight. Even though girls on the dancefloor stared at me with their arms wrapped around another man’s neck, I didn’t pay them any mind. I wasn’t in that kind of a mood tonight. Right now, all I wanted to do was take a nice, long night drive all the way back to my place.
I wanted to carve out a little bit of peace for myself before I called a church meeting in the morning.
I shoved myself through the front double doors and made my way for my bike. I drew in a breath of fresh air as I unlocked the compartment that held my helmet. I slipped it over my head and flipped up the visor. I tossed my leg over my bike and struck up the engine, feeling it vibrate and rumble between my legs. And as I revved the engine, signaling my leave to the staff, I sped off into the night.
Ready for a chance to wind down in peace.
The wind whipped around me as I soared through town. Upstate New York would always hold my heart. Especially since I grew up in the area. I’d become fond of it as a little boy, even though my childhood had been less than spectacular. This place taught me how to be a man. How to draw lines in the sand and stick with my moral codes. This place taught me that intelligence wasn’t everything, but neither was brute strength. It taught me about life, love, loss, and business. I rumbled through my neighborhood, passing all of the massive houses that had popped up on the block. With three acres of land a piece, the mansions loomed over my childhood home. Effectively raising its value, even though I lived in an area that was once considered taboo.
As I pulled into the driveway of the childhood home I now owned, I parked my bike in the garage.
With the smell of fresh paint greeting me as I cut the engine.
2
Joanna
I cruised down the road in my old red Subaru as the tires hummed beneath me, reminding me that I needed to get the wheel bearings on the damn thing replaced. I looked down at the check engine light and cursed this entire vehicle. No matter what I did, that damn thing wouldn't go off. And I sure as hell didn’t have the money to take this thing to a shop. The 1997 car was on its last legs, and while it had served me well during college and law school, I needed something more dependable. Especially in this snow-laden state.
“Come on. Just get me home,” I murmured.
I was up to my knees in debt from school. And now, with the building I just bought with my practice, that put me into debt up to my hips. I ran the numbers in my head as I made my way back home. Which made me snort.
Home.
I hadn’t had a home in well over a decade.
In fact, I didn’t own any sort of property. I couldn't. Especially not in this rich of an area. Upstate New York was filled with clients
that needed my expertise. But this place wasn’t filled with houses that were in my price range. Thankfully, my landlord had started off as a client of mine. After winning her court case and getting her free from her abusive ex, she cut me a very nice deal on rent. $800 a month, including water, sewer, newspaper delivery, and an allotment for electricity.
Easily half of what a mortgage in this same area would eventually run me.
Still, I had plans. Big plans. Plans to really establish myself in this area and plant roots in the community. New York was as far away from my hometown as I could get without leaving the country, and I wanted it that way. I never wanted to go back home. I never wanted to look my parents in the face again. I never wanted to hear their voices, listen to their pleas, or hear them curse me as I left them in my dust.
They deserved it, anyway.
Especially my mother.
As I came to a rolling stop at a red light, my engine sputtered. I paused as I reached for my phone, sending up a silent prayer that this damn thing wouldn't cut off on me. Stick shifts were finicky enough; the last thing I needed was my car dying on me.
Because if it did, I had no way to get myself another mode of transportation.
“Come on. Just be good for once,” I murmured.
I abandoned the idea to check my schedule and held on tightly to my steering wheel, as if holding on tight might change the entire car’s mind. The light turned green and I shifted as softly as I could. I had a smooth take off from the stoplight, and I sighed with relief. All I needed to do was get home. On a Sunday evening, where I needed to prepare for Monday, what I wanted was to get back to my place and organize things at my kitchen table for tomorrow.
Link (Dragon Riders MC Book 1) Page 1