End Game (Sinners MC Book 2)

by Jennifer Hanks

  But today, that all changed.

  The call that Hawk was back just came in, and I was done fucking around. I’d called Tank, and we were meeting in the parking lot of the hotel where he was staying. I wasn’t waiting until he made a move. I needed answers, and the one person who could provide them had just checked in to the only hotel in our small town.

  I drove my bike into the parking lot and pulled into a space beside Tank. We both shut down our bikes and stared at the six-story building in front of us.

  “We got a plan?” Tank inquired.

  “No,” I replied. “We’ll follow his lead and try to get the answers we need.” I glanced at Tank. “He pulls a weapon, get out.”

  Tank’s jaw hardened. “I leave when you leave.”

  “Appreciate the loyalty, brother, but he’s one man, and if he’s gonna attack, it’ll be me. Your mission will be to get out and call Gunner. We have a plan in place for emergencies if either of us is brought down.”

  Tank dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his boot. “That’s not how I work, brother.”

  I nodded. His loyalty knew no bounds. His military training had stayed with him, and as much as I appreciated it, I needed him to move quickly so we could keep the rest of the club safe. “That’s the plan.”

  He jerked up his chin, but he wasn’t happy. Tank was a tough-looking bastard. He had a tattoo sleeve on both arms, all symbols and drawings that meant something to him but would probably be intimidating to someone he just met. However, the man underneath was someone who proved himself time and time again. He was also someone I could trust to follow orders, or he wouldn’t be here today.

  I swung my leg over the bike and stood while Tank did the same. We walked side by side into the hotel lobby. A young girl stood at the desk, and she smiled when she saw us, but her eyes gave away her fear. We looked mean, and the Widows had caused a lot of distrust within our community, so I wasn’t surprised she seemed afraid of us. It was going to take a long time to rebuild the trust we’d lost over the past year.

  “Can I help you?”

  I smiled and tried to soften my expression. “Just visiting a friend.”

  “Oh, sure,” She stammered and pointed toward the set of elevators. “The elevators are right over there.”

  “Thank you.” I moved quickly toward one of the elevators.

  We were just inside and watching the doors close when Tank spoke. “Hate seeing that.”

  “The progress we’d made is shot.” I agreed and glanced his way. “But we’ll get back to where we were.”

  The elevator stopped, and we moved out, almost immediately arriving at the door boasting the room number Kyle had given me. Lifting my hand, I knocked abruptly and waited.

  But we didn’t have to wait long.

  The door opened, and a man stood before us who was probably around my age. Josie had been right. If I had to guess, I’d say he was in his early thirties. He was tall with dark hair, so dark it was almost black, and had equally dark eyes.

  He watched us silently for a moment. “Wondered how long it would take.”

  “For what?” I asked.

  “For you to find out I was back in town.” He backed up a few steps and held the door open.

  Tank and I walked inside and positioned ourselves so we could see him and the entire room. This wasn’t our first time doing shit like this, and we knew better than to underestimate a Widow.

  Or ever turn your back on one.

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Just gonna get to the point. What the hell do you want in this town?”

  He grinned and moved across the room toward a coffee machine. He filled a Styrofoam cup and held it up. “Coffee?”

  “No,” I answered, and Tank grunted.

  “This coffee is shit.” He took a drink before continuing. “But I didn’t have time to go to Joe’s yet.”

  It pissed me off that he’d made himself at home in our town after only a few visits, but I shouldn’t be surprised. The Widows always did shit like this. It was their way of showing we couldn’t keep them out, and that we didn’t have the manpower or strength to claim our territory, but they always overlooked the fact that our club wasn’t about that shit.

  “What do you want?” I pressed.

  He took another drink before setting the cup on the small table. “Nothin’.”

  My eyebrows drew together. “You’re in this town. You want somethin’.”

  He nodded. “Nothin’ with you.”

  “What the fuck does that mean?”

  “I’m here watchin’ my local chapter.”

  I glanced at Tank, who was hiding it well, but I knew this didn’t make sense to him either. “You helpin’ them rebuild?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I’m here because Snap doesn’t like who he’s answering to and needs reminders. I don’t trust him. He’s doing shit I haven’t approved, and I’m not in the market of abusing women. What happened to Josie was unacceptable.” His steely eyes met mine and held. “Snap is no longer your problem. He’s mine, and he will be dealt with.”

  I didn’t want to believe him, but the fact that we hadn’t heard anything from Snap since the attack proved he might just be telling the truth. “You were watching her.”

  “Found out she was at the hospital and waited for her. When I saw she was okay, I left.”

  I put my hands on my hips. “How the fuck do you seem to know so much about what’s goin’ on in my club?”

  He took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. I had no doubt he’d ignore that question. He’d lose his upper hand if he gave away too much information, but it was worth a shot.

  “Got someone inside your walls to keep me updated.”

  Fire raced through my veins when the full impact of his admission hit me, and Tank tensed next to me. Someone had breached our privacy, and he admitted to setting it up.

  “Who?” I questioned with venom in my voice, the need for retribution overwhelming me.

  “Don’t worry, you haven’t lost your touch,” he replied. “You would’ve spotted him if he’d been anyone else, but he’s good, way too good to be discovered.”

  “Who is he?” I repeated menacingly.

  “Skinner.”

  “Fuck.” Tank hissed.

  I had to admit I was shocked. Skinner was an asset to us, one of the strongest prospects and now member we’d had in a long time. It was disappointing that I would lose him because of this piece of shit ratting him out.

  “How do you know him?”

  He lifted his cup and took a drink. “Friend from the Air Force. Both left around the same time. After I told him my story and plan, he agreed to help, and here we are.”

  “Friend?” I lifted my eyebrows. “You just signed your friend’s death certificate.”

  He shook his head. “No, I didn’t. Your club isn’t in the business of killing.” He studied me closely, and his next statement told me he knew more about us than he should. “Anymore. Skinner knows I’m here. He wanted to be here and tell you himself, but I needed this time to talk business.”

  “Fucking unbelievable,” Tank muttered.

  “Why infiltrate us?”

  Again, I was surprised when he answered. “Needed to get rid of Viper. Did a little research and found out about Gunner. That’s when I knew I needed eyes on you. Skinner volunteered, got himself in, and kept me updated on the plan for Viper.”

  I gritted my teeth at the idea of our private information in a Widow’s hands. “What else did he tell you?”

  “Nothing.” He looked back and forth between Tank and me. “I wanted more information, and he told me I had all I needed. He refused to relay any club details and only made sure Viper was where he was supposed to be and reported back when everything was over. We never expected your friend to blow up the fucking building, but that only made it better.”

  “He told you about Nick?”

  “I recognized him as a plant the second he joined, but I kept my mouth shut.
I knew he would end Viper if you couldn’t. Either way was a win for me.”

  “Viper didn’t know who you were?” I inquired.

  He smirked. “Viper’s ego blinded him. That’s why he’s dead.”

  “The other members know who you are?”

  “Older ones do. The ones who knew my dad and supported him have had my back and were the reason I was voted in. The young ones will either follow my lead or get the fuck out.”

  His comments sounded similar, considering I’d made almost the same ones when I started to rebuild the Sinners. “Your dad wanted a clean club.”

  He took a deep breath, and his expression hardened. “My father had a plan for this club. He was murdered before he had the chance to make it happen. I’m gonna finish what he started for him and for the club.” He gestured back and forth between us. “I think that’s something we have in common.”

  He was right. If what he was telling me was true, we were both fighting to keep our father’s dreams alive for them, but I needed him to be clear. “There’s been bad blood between our clubs since Viper took over and set up a Widows chapter in town. You tellin’ me that’s over?”

  “I’m tellin’ you not to expect retribution from us. We have no problem with your club.”

  “Including Maggie and Gunner?”

  He nodded. “Nobody in your club is on my radar.”

  “You speakin’ for Snap and the local chapter?” Tank asked for clarification.

  “The local chapter will see some changes. We’re keeping one here, but if Snap can’t get in line, he won’t be runnin’ it.”

  “You got any other rats in my club?”

  Hawk grinned and shook his head. “Not sure I could’ve gotten anyone but Skinner past you. I told him after this meeting that he’d be voted in as my VP, but he wants to stay on board with your club. Said he never wanted club life, but he likes how you run yours, and if he was gonna stay in one, it’d be the one he’s already in.”

  I shook my head. “You know as well as I do that he’s not staying in my club. Dishonesty like that can’t be forgotten or forgiven.”

  He nodded and headed toward the door. “Got shit to do if we’re done here.” He stood near the door and faced us. “Skinner proved his loyalty to both of our clubs this past year. He helped you save Maggie and had your back with Viper. He helped me by making sure I could eliminate our club’s biggest threat, which was its own president. All compromises made today aside, if you fuck him up, I’m coming for you. I’m doing you a favor by making sure Snap has backed off. I expect that favor will send Skinner back to me safely.”

  I jerked up my chin in silent agreement, but Skinner was not going to walk away from my club without knowing exactly who he fucked over.

  We walked to our bikes and straddled them without a word spoken, but before I started mine up, I looked over at Tank and gave the order.

  “Bring me Skinner.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  BEAR

  I slammed my fist into Skinner’s side for what had to be the tenth time, hoping like hell that I’d cracked his ribs. To say I was pissed that a rat got past me and was made a member of my club was not only an embarrassment but a massive security threat. How the fuck could I promise my members safety if I’d missed something as important as this?

  Stepping back, I dropped my fist to my side and surveyed my work. Skinner’s left eye was almost completely swollen shut, and blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. He looked beat to hell, but it was nothing compared to what I should’ve done.

  Pushing away from him, I leaned against my desk and looked to my left. Gunner and Tank stood by watching but had been fairly quiet.

  “What information did you give him?”

  “Enough to ensure Viper was put down.” He answered the question I’d asked over and over again, the same way. He jerked his head to the side and looked at his arms. “You can untie me. I have no plans of retaliating.”

  Gunner snorted. “Why the fuck should we believe you?”

  “No reason to lie,” he explained. “Hawk told me. I knew this was coming. That’s why I came here myself.”

  And he had. I was shocked as shit when I’d barely closed my office door, and there had been a knock. I’d opened it and came face-to-face with the man who’d betrayed all of us. He didn’t offer any explanation, and I didn’t ask for one. I dragged him into the office, threw him up against the wall, where I hit him over and over again. At some point, Gunner and Tank had come in and pushed him into a chair before tying his hands behind his back, but fury blocked out time, and I just kept at him, hoping the crunch of bone on bone would relieve the anger burning through me. It wasn’t working. As I looked at him now, I realized it wasn’t working because I wasn’t angry. I was disappointed in him and myself.

  “What did you tell them?” I repeated.

  “You can ask me a hundred times, brother, and my answer will always be the same.”

  “You talk to Snap?” I probed.

  His lip was swelling, and I knew he had to be in pain, but he acted like we were sitting at the bar chatting. He was one tough bastard, and I hated I was losing someone with his skills and edge.

  “Why the fuck would I talk to Snap?”

  “Snap always seemed to know a lot of what was going on around here.”

  He shook his head slowly. “Wasn’t from me.”

  “Then who?”

  “No idea, man.”

  Pushing off the desk, I ran my hand through my hair and stared down at Skinner. “You tell Snap we had Maggie?”

  “No.”

  I grabbed his chin and jerked his head until I could see his eyes. “You the reason he attacked Josie?”

  His expression hardened. “Never hurt a woman in my life. Don’t like people who do.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question.”

  He pulled his head from my grasp. “No.”

  “What the fuck do you get for doin’ this?” I asked the question that had been plaguing me. There had to be a reason he entered this fight with Hawk. He had to be getting something from it.

  “Nothin’.”

  “Money?”

  He licked the blood dripping from his lip. “No.”

  “Marker?”

  “No.”

  “Gotta get something’, man.” I pushed forward. “Nobody would risk this much for a man they met in the Air Force.”

  His eyes slowly raised to meet mine again. “Owe him.”

  My eyes narrowed. “For what?”

  “None of your business,” he replied, but I saw something in his expression. Something he was trying to hide but failing. I’d obviously hit a nerve.

  “Must be pretty fucking big for you to agree to put your life on the line.” I egged him on, trying to get him to talk.

  “I pay what I owe, that’s all.”

  All of our heads snapped to the left when there was a soft knock on the door. I signaled for Gunner to get rid of whoever was out there, and he’d just started across the room when the door was pushed open.

  “Sorry, Gunner, I know you’re working, but Kat needed…”

  Maggie trailed off when her eyes landed on Gunner and then slid across the room toward Skinner. She jerked back and shook her head when Gunner reached for her.

  Kat came in behind Maggie, and when she saw Skinner, she ran to him and squatted down. “What the hell happened to you?”

  “Nothin’.”

  She glanced at his hands and stood to face me. “What’s going on?”

  “Club business,” I replied harshly. “Which is none of your fucking business.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Didn’t think you were the kind of club who attacks their own members.”

  I stared at her a moment. “You need to leave.”

  “Fine.” She nodded. “But when I agreed to treat your members, it was because I believed you were a decent club. This proves you’re not.” She turned back toward Skinner. “If you need medical treatm
ent, Skinner, I’d be happy to help you.” Then she started toward the door and called back over her shoulder. “The rest of you can find a new doctor.”

  After she left, I gestured for Gunner to take Maggie out of the room. He would explain it to her, and Maggie would understand. She understood club life because she’d lived in it for years, so she’d at least accept it, but I doubted Kat would reconsider, and that was a loss for my guys.

  I moved around the back of Skinner’s chair and untied his arms. He shook out his hands but remained seated.

  When I walked back to stand in front of him, he spoke. “Got some information.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why the fuck would I want any information from you?”

  “To help the kid.”

  I should toss him, but curiosity got the better of me, and for some damn reason, I still believed I could trust the information he was going to share.

  “What do you know?” I growled.

  “Did a little digging into the business Dominic was working for.”

  “You find out who’s running it?”

  “Not sure who’s running it, but one name keeps coming up who’s definitely playing a part in it.” He lifted his arm to lay across his side and shifted, pain briefly marring his features. “Julian Klein.”

  I glanced at Tank, who shook his head. I didn’t know that name or why he was giving me this information, but I wasn’t about to shut him down. “Do I know him?”

  He nodded slowly. “Snap.”

  “Sonofabitch.” Tank spit out.

  “Hawk know this shit?”

  “Not by me.” Skinner stood slowly from his chair. He held his arm tightly to his side, but once he gained his footing, he continued. “Since you pulled the kid out before he got in too deep, I thought you should know who you could be facing if Colson talks.”

  “Hawk shuts down Snap, he shuts down this business,” Gunner stated.

  He shifted on his feet and winced, but it was subtle. “He’s not workin’ alone.”

  I studied him closely for a minute, wondering what he could possibly gain from sharing this information with me. “Why tell me?”