End Game (Sinners MC Book 2)

by Jennifer Hanks

  Gunner snorted out a chuckle, but I kept my eyes locked on Colson. “Now, you and I both know that all the money the county gives you to take care of those three innocent kids in there isn’t in your bank account like you tell your wife. It’s in your fucking arm.” I smiled. “And we also know it would take one phone call for me to blow up your life.” I snapped my fingers. “Like that. Not only would you lose your job and your family, but you’d also lose your freedom, and I know enough men behind bars right now to make your time there painful.” His face paled even more, which told me I was making progress. Fear was always a good incentive to do the right thing, and this douche was obviously afraid of prison time. “Don’t underestimate me, Colson. Because I will destroy your life without one fucking regret if any harm comes to any of those three kids in that house.”

  He gritted his teeth. “That video isn’t real.”

  I grinned. “We both know that isn’t true, don’t we?”

  “Where did you get it?”

  Gunner leaned down close to his ear. “He got it from me, motherfucker.”

  “I’m getting tired of waiting for you to make the call.”

  He dug his phone out of his pocket and pulled up his contacts, but I could tell by Gunner’s expression that a name wasn’t attached to that contact. After he pressed the call button, I spoke. “Put him on speaker.”

  He hit the speaker button just as a man answered. “What?”

  “It’s Brian Colson.”

  “Know who the fuck it is. What do you want?” I didn’t recognize the voice on the other end, which was something I’d hoped.

  “Social services is watching too closely. Dominic needs to quit.”

  “Dimarco’s blond been poking around?”

  Gunner’s eyes widened slightly, and I shook my head when Colson looked at me. “No. Sue said it was a different one. But either way, if someone follows him, there could be trouble.”

  He was quiet for a moment before finally speaking. “Need you to replace him until I can.”

  Colson’s jaw hardened, but that made me really fucking happy. Now I could take them all down together in just one night. All I needed was to make sure Dominic was out of the way before I pulled the trigger.

  “Yeah, okay,” he mumbled and ended the call.

  I slapped my hand against his chest. “Good job.” I backed up, and Gunner released his hold. “We’ll be in touch.”

  His eyebrows drew together. “Why?”

  “Need to make sure you’re holding up your end of the deal, don’t I?”

  Turning, I walked next to Gunner to my truck and jumped in. Colson still hadn’t moved from his spot by the porch, but when something caught my eye on the other side of the house, I snapped my attention that way and saw Dominic leaning against the house. He jerked up his chin when his gaze met mine, and I did the same in return.

  And that damn smile was lingering around his mouth.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  BEAR

  “Got some new information.” I dived straight into the reason I had Gunner call this meeting after everyone was seated.

  “If it’s that Josie almost outdrank Bull, we already know that.” Tank grinned at Bull.

  Bull grunted and sat back in his seat. “Took it easy on her.”

  Race snorted. “Not from where I was sittin’.”

  Bull glanced my way and smirked. “How’d she wake up?”

  Fuck, he was a shit-starter. I watched as eyebrows on my men raised. I exhaled heavily. “She was fine.”

  “Thought Bull was on her.” Tank sat forward and put his elbows on the table. “You on her now?”

  That caused chuckles around the table, and I grinned. “Bull is still assigned her protection.”

  “You’re on her.” Tank chuckled.

  Race moved on, but even he was grinning. “She have a nasty hangover?”

  “Only a small headache.” I relayed to them what she’d told me when I called her to make sure her car had been delivered. At least that had been my excuse. I knew my orders would be followed, but I couldn’t tell her I’d just wanted to talk to her.

  “Maybe she didn’t want you to know,” Bull suggested.

  I shook my head. “She looked good when I left this morning.”

  “Figure you’d think that no matter what.” Pop spoke up, and I grinned at him. He knew where this had been heading the entire time.

  “Fuck.” Bull shook his head. “That girl can drink. Never drank with anyone who kept up with me like that, and then walked away on steady legs.”

  “Hoped you enjoyed it ’cuz that shit’s not happening again.”

  Bull’s eyebrows rose slowly. “You hear that from her?”

  I scoffed. “Don’t need to. It’s my fucking call.”

  “She’s not gonna like you making those calls for her.” He pointed out the obvious.

  I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the table. “Not her choice.” Bull shook his head, but he was still grinning, so I pressed on. “You got a different opinion?”

  Bull shrugged. “Been spending a lot of time with her, brother. One thing I know for sure is that girl does not like to be forced or bullied into anything. She gets her back up every fucking time.”

  “It’s for her own good.” I defended myself.

  “She ain’t gonna see it that way.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You think you know her better than me?”

  The table grew quiet as our conversation became more serious. “I’m not fucking her, so I got a clear head.”

  “She talk anymore about getting a gun?” Gunner asked from beside me in an effort to change the subject. I appreciated that because it was obvious neither Bull nor I would back down.

  “No.” I shook my head. “I got the feelin’ she didn’t like what she was seein’ at Manny’s either.”

  “She tell you that?” Tank inquired.

  “No, but I can’t think of another reason she wouldn’t have kept goin’.”

  “Think someone should give her lessons on shooting?” Tank suggested. “Get her a gun so she has some protection?”

  My attention shifted to him. “She decides she wants that; I’ll do it.” He jerked up his chin, and I glanced around the table. “Movin’ on.”

  Bull jerked up his chin. “This about the new Widow?”

  My eyes scanned the officers before nodding. “Met with Kyle. He was able to dig up shit on Hawk, and none of it’s good.”

  “Fuck.” Ritz dropped his elbows to the table.

  I glanced at Gunner, who nodded and began speaking. “When Viper decided he wanted to run the show as the national president for the Widows, he was VP. The president at that time was keeping the Widows on a cleaner track. They ran drugs but weren’t sellin’ women. Viper thought they should be, but the president, Stone, wouldn’t do it.”

  “He take ’im out?” Tank asked.

  I nodded. “Tried to make it look like an accident, but the members knew it was a setup. This isn’t new information.” I gestured to the man who was the backbone of our club. “Pop told us this shit months ago, but he didn’t know much about Stone personally.”

  “And no one knew about Hawk,” Gunner added.

  “Who is this fucker?” Bull growled.

  “Stone’s kid.”

  I could almost feel the air change in the room as my men went on alert. They knew this meant we were facing an even bigger enemy. It was one thing to face a rival club who wanted to destroy us because of greed or power, but a whole other when the motive was revenge. Pop dropped his head and rubbed the back of his neck.

  He knew what this could mean for us.

  Tank whipped his head in Pop’s direction. “You know he had a kid?”

  Pop frowned. “No. Stone kept his personal shit private. The few times we partied with the Widows, he was alone. Thought he didn’t have any family.”

  “He after you?” Bull faced Gunner and asked the question on everyone’s mind.

  “N
ot sure,” Gunner admitted.

  “Kyle know why he was in town?”

  I sat back and crossed my arms over my chest. “Kyle found a way into his text messages with his mom. After Viper killed Stone, she took the kid and ran. Even changed both of their names. According to the texts, he feels he needed to join because of unfinished business, but Mom wasn’t happy. She didn’t want him to end up like Stone.”

  “He tell her he was here?”

  “Yeah, but not why. Apparently, she asked, but he told her it was club business.”

  Race’s eyebrows drew together. “He still in town?”

  “According to Kyle, no, but he’ll let me know when he’s back.”

  “You plannin’ to meet?” Ritz asked.

  I nodded and dropped my arms. “Think it’s the best way. Neutral ground. Find out what he wants.”

  “Or get killed,” Race pointed out.

  Bull grunted. “Think you gotta plan that meet. He hasn’t approached any of us. Just watched Josie that one time.”

  “Can’t go alone.” Pop’s tone was serious. “And can’t take Gunner.”

  I shook my head. “Gunner stays with Maggie. Not sure why Hawk’s been in town, but if he’s putting together a hit list, she would be the next likely to Gunner. Race.” When I said his name, his eyebrows raised. “I need you on Becs. She’s making a lot of trips to work and to the hospital to be with Wyatt.” Race nodded solemnly, and I continued. “When you can’t, assign it to someone.”

  “Got it,” he replied.

  I slid my gaze toward Bull. “You’re on Josie. I’m gonna keep my distance in case this fucker is watching me. Don’t need to give him more reasons to target her.” Bull nodded once, but I could tell he was pissed. He was a man of action and sitting around as a bodyguard was not his way. I leaned forward. “Need someone on her who won’t let a damn thing touch her.”

  He nodded again, but this time when his eyes met mine, he seemed to have a better understanding. I had no idea what the fuck would happen between us, but I knew I needed her to be safe. If something happened to her, I would lose my shit and release the man I kept a tight lock on. A man capable of shit I wasn’t proud of but would do again if anyone touched her. I just wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it with her yet. I was a target for the Widows, and so was anyone close to me. She already knew that, so it might be the only thing I could use to make her understand why I was going to be distant again.

  “I’ll go,” Tank volunteered.

  I slid my gaze back to him. “I get the call he’s in town, we need to act.”

  “Work in the garage. Easy for me to leave. Easier than Ritz trying to get outta work.”

  I nodded in agreement. “Keep your phone on you at all times.”

  “What about Snap?” Ritz asked.

  “Think Snap’s on a tight leash right now. Our bigger threat is Hawk. No one’s even seen Snap or any of those boys.” I watch them nod in agreement. Snap basically disappeared after Josie’s attack. “We got a bigger problem, and that’s where I need your focus.”

  Murmurs of agreement floated around the table. “Doesn’t mean we let our guard down. You see Snap or the boys, call Gunner or me immediately.”

  Again, a series of head nods before I finished. “I’ll keep you updated on Hawk, share information as it comes in. Not sharing with the other members yet, but we will when we have a plan.” Glancing at Gunner, he jerked up his chin, letting me know he didn’t have anything more to offer on that subject. “One last thing.”

  When everyone remained silent, I continued. “Josie worked with a kid over the summer who, since coming back to town, has found trouble.”

  “She tell you that?” Tank asked.

  “Didn’t have to,” I replied. “I followed her when she followed him. She was putting herself in danger, so we’re stepping in. Kid’s eighteen and lives in foster care right now until he finishes up high school. Foster dad’s a dick, but the kid’s staying because his little sisters live in that house, and he won’t leave ’em.”

  “Did the fucker do something to the girls?” Bull growled.

  “No, the kid said when the dad’s high, he seeks him out and picks a fight.”

  “What’s his name?” Bull asked.

  “Brian Colson.” I held up my hand. “It’s been handled.”

  I knew Bull had a short fuse when it came to this shit. We all did, but he would react without considering the blowback on the club, and I couldn’t allow that.

  “Problem is the kid got a job to make money so when he’s forced out, he can afford to take the girls with him.”

  “Have a feelin’ it’s not legal,” Bull stated.

  “Nope. He was working for a dealer. Helped stuff the bags of product into mattresses and other shit, then loaded the trucks. Never went on a run, but…”

  “Still a felony,” Tank finished for me.

  “Explained that to the kid, but he didn’t feel he had any other options. Offered him a job in the garage.” I held Tank’s stare. “Need you to work with him when I’m not around. He had some training with school, but not much.”

  “Boss gonna let him go?” Bull asked.

  I gestured back and forth between Gunner and me. “We doubted it, so we intervened.”

  Tank’s eyebrows raised slightly. “How?”

  “The kid reported Colson has a drug problem. He got him the job because he’s in tight with the dealer.”

  “What a piece of shit,” Tank murmured.

  “He is, trust me.” Gunner spoke up.

  “We knew that too.” I gestured toward Gunner. “Gunner was able to get some video of shit he wouldn’t want shown to anyone, and we used that as our bargaining chip. Had him call the boss and put it on speaker. Boss agreed as long as Colson took the kid’s place.”

  “This gonna be somethin’ that could bite us?” Race asked.

  “Might,” I admitted. “But as soon as we can find a way to get the girls out and not lose their brother, we’ll move on it.”

  “Josie know?” Bull grunted.

  “No,” I replied. “Talked to the kid before this meeting. He still doesn’t want her to know anything because he’s afraid she’ll want them moved into a new foster home, and he knows they’ll be separated. He asked us not to say anything to her, and we’re respecting that for now.” I held up a finger when Bull opened his mouth to protest. “He already told her he quit his old job and got a new one in a garage and said she seemed happy. We shouldn’t have to worry that she’ll be following him anymore unless he misses an appointment.”

  “She might see him if he’s here workin’,” Race pointed out.

  “Thought of that,” I confessed. “Josie never goes in the garage, and when she’s coming here, she calls or texts Bull first.” I swung my attention to Bull. “You let the kid know, and he can get gone.”

  Bull grunted, but I took that as agreement. “What’s the kid’s name?”

  “Dominic Vahey. He has twin sisters, Arie and Kyla, who are ten.” I redirected my attention to Tank. “Keep in mind, if he mentions them to you, he’s very protective, so tread lightly with any questions.”

  “Like him already,” Tank confessed.

  I grinned. “He’s a good kid, but tough to break through the fucking attitude he uses like a shield.”

  Gunner grunted. “Sounds like someone we all know well.”

  I ignored the round of chuckles in the room, used to the teasing. They weren’t wrong about me. I could be difficult to deal with, but they all knew that when they joined.

  The fact that I’d been worse lately wasn’t something I was willing to discuss.

  “Just gotta ask, we getting involved in this because of the kid or Josie?” Tank asked.

  “Both,” I replied honestly.

  “Sure that’s a good idea?”

  “Nope,” I admitted. “But it’s done. And I plan to find out who’s running that amount of drugs out of our town.”

  “You involving the cop
s?” Tank asked.

  That was a good question, and something I’d thought of, but I needed to make sure Dominic was clean before I talked to Luke. “Need to make sure Dominic is out before I do that.”

  “Anything else you wanna tackle?” Ritz teased and was right. I kept adding shit to my plate, which added it to theirs.

  I grinned. “I’ll let you know.”

  My men chuckled, but my eyes met Pop’s, and his mirrored my exact concerns.

  We had one too many enemies right now to promise anyone safety.

  And that was unacceptable.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  BEAR

  Six fucking weeks.

  Six weeks since I’d heard anything from Kyle, and during those weeks, I’d been living up to my road name. After speaking to Pop and Gunner, I’d given up on tackling the dealers Dom had been working for until I handled the Widows. Dom and his sisters were safe for now. He reported Colson was avoiding all of them, telling me the video was enough to scare the fuck out of him.

  I’d also spent six weeks avoiding Josie, needing to put some distance between us. I had no idea who was watching us, and I wouldn’t put her in any more danger just because I couldn’t leave her alone. Hawk was unpredictable, and I wasn’t sure who his gun would be aimed at when he finally lined up his targets. I just knew Josie wouldn’t be one of them. I’d called her that Sunday night and explained it was too dangerous for the cover we’d so meticulously put into place to be unveiled yet, and she agreed.

  But I wasn’t handling it well.

  Bull gave me weekly updates but reported she’d been working late almost every night. The nights she hadn’t, she spent some time with Lucy and even had Maggie at her apartment. Gunner and Bull were there, but it was still a big deal for Maggie, and I was starting to think it was the same for Josie, who didn’t seem to have many friends either. The one day she left before her workday ended was the day Becs finally brought Wyatt home from the hospital. Bull gave me a heads-up that she planned to go to my place and visit with her, along with Maggie, so I’d stayed at the clubhouse.