by Jamie Begley
Gavin laughed to himself, thinking Shade would let himself drown before letting him outdo him.
One of the rooms at the club had been turned into a makeshift gym that Rider, Shade, and he had gone into together to buy the equipment, despite the other brothers complaining they wanted the room to live in. He had put his foot down, though he would have given in to their demands and found somewhere else to work out, but he wasn’t going to take the chance that Rider and Shade didn’t get what they needed to keep their bodies in shape. Belonging to their elite unit, keeping their bodies in shape was as important as keeping their equipment in working order to leave at a moment’s notice. While Shade didn’t work with the same unit, he had to be at the ready for those assignments he did accept.
Putting the papers back in the folder, he knew the next week was going to be spent finding other properties that Shade would agree with. The drive to Treepoint wouldn’t take that long, so he could be back the next day. It would make Rachel happy, and he would be able to see his friend.
“You win. I’ll ride up there and look around,” he agreed. “Just don’t get your hopes up. I don’t see Treepoint being a viable location that’ll work.”
Rachel’s cheerful expression didn’t change. “I’m not worried. You’re going to fall in love with Treepoint.”
Chapter Eight
It was anything but love.
Gavin tiredly parked his bike before going into the clubhouse. He had spent two days in Treepoint, and there wasn’t one property that would suit The Last Riders’ needs. The only one that came close was an old inn that would need extensive repairs to redesign as a clubhouse. The factory he dreamed about would have to be built from the ground up.
Going inside, Gavin looked around the club, not seeing who he was looking for. He was about to call Viper to find out where he was when a woman threw herself into his arms.
“You’re back!”
Wrapping his arms around Natasha, Gavin returned the hug. “The brothers been treating you right since I’ve been gone?”
“You know they treat me good whether you’re around or not,” she teased. “They’re too afraid you’ll kick them out of the club if they don’t.”
“That’s good. I’m too tired to kick anyone’s ass right now.” Letting her go, he took another glance around the club. “Have you seen Viper?”
“He’s out back in the office.”
“Thanks.”
Natasha gave him a quick hug before he could step away. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Believe me, I am too.”
Walking away when she released him, Gavin made his way out back. Giving a brief knock, Gavin waited until he heard his brother tell him to come inside.
Viper turned in his chair as he stepped into the room. “How was the trip?”
Gavin closed the door before answering his brother’s question. “A complete waste of time, other than being able to see Lucky.”
“He told me. Said he didn’t think you were impressed with the town,” Viper said, placing his cell phone down on his desk.
“The town, I liked, just not as another location for the factory.”
When his brother swiveled in his chair, Gavin knew Viper was going to tell him something he wasn’t going to like. His brother never met his eyes when he was going to use his authority as the president of The Last Riders over him.
“Why wouldn’t it work?”
Gavin took a seat in the chair by Viper’s desk. “The nearest interstate is an hour and a half away, the airport is three, and it’s an eight-hour drive to the nearest ocean.”
“You didn’t like any of the properties the realtor showed you?”
“No. The only one that came close is an old inn. It has a decent amount of property for sale, but I don’t want to get started on another renovation when we just finished this one. The brothers would rather go back in the service before living in Treepoint, and I can’t blame them.”
“Did you talk to Lucky about how his investigation is going?”
“You know I did. Save us some time, Viper; Taylor is waiting for me.”
“The drug trafficking there is worse than Will knew. Lucky found out there’s a well-oiled pipeline going right through Treepoint.”
“We already knew that. That’s why Lucky is there, undercover as a pastor.”
“There are several large shipments in the works that the ATF are planning to let slip through the cracks so their agents can track those involved.”
“Then Lucky better get busy. From what he said, he was having trouble getting the townspeople to open up. It’s expected that most people wouldn’t want to discuss their drug use with their pastor. Lucky knew when he went undercover that it wasn’t going to be accomplished overnight.”
“He was just hoping to make more headway than he has. How was he when you saw him?”
“He misses the brothers. The few hours I spent with him, he seemed fine.”
“He seemed fine when I talked to him, as well.”
“But you don’t believe he is?”
“No. Will told me that Lucky went to visit a sick parishioner whose husband was refusing to take her to the hospital because he thought God was going to heal her. The husband called Will on him because Lucky refused to leave. Will had to drag him out of there. Will was able to smooth it over and convince the husband not to press charges. If he makes another mistake like that, it’ll jeopardize his investigation and all his hard work will go down the drain.” Worry furrowed Viper’s brow.
Viper became president of The Last Riders because each of them felt he had their backs as well as being able to handle the responsibility of the club as a whole. The same blood ran through his and Viper’s veins, but when the men joined the club, they all became family to him. There wasn’t a man among them who Viper wouldn’t lay his life down for.
“What are you thinking?” Gavin interrupted the silence in the room.
“If none of the townspeople are willing to talk to Lucky, we could give them someone they might feel more comfortable talking to.”
Gavin felt in his gut where this conversation was going.
“You’re joking, right?”
“No.”
“Are you talking about sending another Last Rider to go undercover, or are we talking about the factory? Because, if you want to send Lucky some help, I’m all for it, but to invest that kind of money into a factory that can’t recoup our stake isn’t going to be something I can be onboard with.”
“This is a small town that will be wary of anyone coming to town, asking questions. They might not feel the need to unburden their souls about the drugs in town, but they’ll be a hell of a lot less suspicious of someone spreading their cash around town.”
“Except it’ll be our money!” Gavin argued.
Viper’s face firmed. “You said you wanted to make a difference in the town you picked. You can make a difference in Treepoint. We both know it. You’re not the only one who knows how to do research. The last time someone tried to start a business in Treepoint, the investor promised dozens of jobs. The town put the last of its resources to get that factory started when the coal mines shut down. Several people lost their life savings while the investor is now living it up in the Bahamas. If anyone needs a break, it’s Treepoint.”
“Fuck.” Gavin ran his hand through his hair. He had refrained from researching Treepoint because he knew himself well enough to know he had a soft spot for those who were trying to get ahead and then had the rug pulled out from under them.
“Let’s think of this logically,” Gavin started, trying to convince Viper away from the direction he was heading, despite his own changing opinion. “Number one, the brothers will hate it there, and number two, and most important thing, is we’ll never be able to convince Shade.”
“You don’t think so?”
“I know so. He shut me down on locations that were better suited than Treepoint.”
Viper grimaced. “You’re right.”
Gavin tried to hold back the words that would seal The Last Riders’ fates, as well as their wallets, but he couldn’t. “Shade would give the go-ahead if he thought Lucky needed The Last Riders to help him deal with his PTSD.”
“That must have hurt.” Viper’s mouth curled upward in a crooked smile. “I know you don’t want Treepoint either.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, I think his PTSD is getting to him. He also filled me in on the pipeline. He thinks it’s much larger than the DEA thought. If that’s true, I don’t want him there on his own.”
“Me neither,” Viper agreed, looking thoughtful. “Talk to Shade, get his go-ahead, then email me the property you saw.”
“How do you plan to convince the brothers?”
“I won’t have to.” Viper hooked one thigh over the other. “Most of the brothers can stay here. We’ll outfit the factory in Treepoint for manufacturing and leave distribution here. We can pick a few brothers to set it up and, once Lucky’s investigation is over, they can come back to Ohio after everyone is trained. The inn can be used for buyers who are interested in seeing the manufacturing process.”
Dropping his thigh, he turned back to his desk. “You use mom’s maiden name when you were in Treepoint?”
“Yes. It’s easier to get a lower price on the property if they think we’re a start-up instead of looking to expand.”
“Sounds good.”
Gavin rose to his feet. “Except one thing, how about Rider? A large chunk of the money will be coming from him.”
“We both know all you have to do is ask.”
“I don’t use our friendship where money is concerned. That’s how we stay friends.”
“You would stay friends even if he turns everything he owns to you.”
“Viper ….”
His brother sighed. “Then work up the figures, and I’ll talk to him. He can make his decision based on the numbers you put together. You think The Last Riders will make money building another factory?”
“Yes.”
“There you go. Problem solved.”
Gavin nodded. Viper might have taken the pressure off him with Rider, but it still remained that all the brothers were putting their futures in his hands and he couldn’t do it unless he was there to make sure they didn’t regret placing that trust in him.
“I want to be the one who gets the factory started.”
Viper turned back to him. “That’s going to take at least a year. I don’t want you gone that long.”
“I can’t let the brothers lose that money. I’ll stay until I have the factory on its feet and the workers trained.”
Viper narrowed his eyes on him. “No.”
“I’m not a fucking kid anymore. I don’t need you telling me if I can or can’t do something.”
“Maybe not as a brother, but as President of The Last Riders, I can. You’re the one who talked me into being the president. You’re not going to listen to orders from me when every brother in this club knows the repercussions for disobeying me?”
“You wouldn’t have a problem doing it if we chose Florida or Texas.” Gavin forced himself to keep his tone even. He was too old to get in yelling matches with his brother. “Which one do you think I can’t handle—building the factory or helping Lucky?”
Viper didn’t have the same hesitation at raising his voice. “I didn’t say you couldn’t handle it, just that I need you here. What the fuck, Gavin? You didn’t even want to pick Treepoint, and now you’re busting my ass because I’m not making you go?”
“I don’t need you watching over my shoulder all the fucking time, Viper.”
“Jesus, have you even thought of how Taylor would react to living in Treepoint? I haven’t been there but, from the pictures I’ve seen, I don’t see her wanting to live there for the next year.”
“She will.”
“You sure about that, brother? You’re expecting a lot from a woman you just asked to marry you.”
Gavin might not be confident that Taylor would want to move to Treepoint, but he was confident that she wouldn’t want him to spend the year away from her. She had texted him dozens of times since he’d been gone, and that was just two days.
“She will.”
“Brother, you’re heading for a fall. I’m telling you, she won’t.”
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Viper turned back to his desk, his anger palpable in the room. “Yes, we will.”
Gavin jerked the door open, went outside, then slammed it behind him.
His brother had to learn that he was capable of holding his own without having him constantly in his crosshairs. Even when they were in the service, Viper remained active until he decided to leave. That he remained with the unit when he was needed was another bone of contention with them. And the older Viper got, the more overprotective he became. He trusted his judgment where the club money was concerned, but not his safety. He also didn’t extend the same understanding that Gavin didn’t need his constant advice where his personal life was concerned.
Whether Viper liked it or not, Gavin was determined to be the one to go to Treepoint. He would get the factory built and help Lucky discover exactly how the drugs were moving through the tiny town. When he was done, Viper would realize his little brother was able to hold his own without any help from him.
I’m fucking going to do it, Gavin swore mentally to himself. Even if it kills me.
Chapter Nine
“There’s no way I’m going to a hick town where I can’t find a job.” Taylor shoved him off her naked body when he was finally able to get his breath back after the marathon sex they had just finished and tell her they would be opening the factory in Kentucky.
“We don’t know that.”
“It took me six months to find the job I have now. Does Treepoint even have a hospital?”
Gavin raised up on his elbows, watching as she angrily wrapped a silky housecoat around her. “I’m sure they do.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not going.”
“If we moved to Florida or Texas, you would have to leave your job.”
“I’m willing to leave it for a bigger hospital; I’m not going to take a step back on my career, Gavin. I won’t do it.”
“As a pharmacist, you can find a job anywhere. It only took you six months after you graduated because you were being too picky.”
“That’s right, I was, and I’m not going to apologize for it. I have thousands of dollars in student loans to pay off, and until I do, the only thing that will get me to leave is if you pay them off.”
“I don’t have that kind of money. I sunk the last of my money into the factory. I told you, once I can, I will.”
“Until then, I’m staying put.” Taylor went to her nightstand and picked up a hairband to pull her hair back. “Do you even want to marry me?”
He felt guilty when he saw her quivering bottom lip as she sat down on the side of the bed.
Rising, he scooted across the bed to hold her. “You know I do.”
“Then why are you putting up this roadblock?”
“How’s it a roadblock? We can get married anytime you want.”
“How can we get married if we can’t agree where to live? I was willing to marry you when you said we could end up in Florida or Texas. Why can’t you give an inch for me when I say I won’t move to Kentucky?”
Gavin wanted Taylor to say she would be willing to go wherever he wanted. That she wouldn’t, he couldn’t blame her. He was asking her to pick up her life to move to a place that was nowhere on the horizon when he asked her to marry him.
“When were you thinking about setting the date for the wedding?”
“I was planning on talking to you about it tonight; now you’ve spoiled it.”
“I’m sorry.” Gavin curved his hand around her neck. “Babe, forget about Treepoint and the factory. When do you want to get married?”
She laid her head on his shoulder, letting her hand fall
to his thigh. “Eight or nine months from now.”
“A big wedding takes that long to plan?”
“Usually longer.”
“If we make it year, you could have the wedding as big as you want, and I should be able to finish up the factory in Treepoint by then. One of the other brothers can take over the training.”
“But that means we’d be separated for a whole year!”
“You could find us a house. This apartment isn’t big enough for the both of us. I could drive back Friday night and go back Monday morning. We don’t see much of each other during the week anyway.”
“I wasn’t planning on doing this wedding by myself. Half the fun of getting married is picking the cake and food out, as well as all the other stuff.”
Gavin felt her tense body relax against his. “You make the appointments, and I’ll be there, even if I have to walk,” he promised.
“You say that now, but when the time comes, you’ll cancel on me, and then I’ll have to take Jana with me.”
“Jana hates me. She talks you into shit I hate just to get back at me. If I swear I’ll be here, I’ll be here.”
Taylor laughed, turning in his arms and swinging her leg over to straddle him. “You stand me up for one appointment, just one, and I’ll cut your dick off.”
“That’s a little drastic for missing a cake appointment, don’t you think?” he teased.
Taylor pushed him back on the bed, sliding her pussy over his dick and letting the wet folds rub against him. Rotating her hips, Taylor wiggled until his dick was sliding slickly into her pussy. Using his back and the heels of his feet, he moved them to the middle of the bed as Taylor started fucking him.