Page 1 (1/2)

Chapter One

Cross

“Where are all the bitches? I needa big ass cooler behind him

I’d set everything up in the back where we had a grill and plenty of picnic tables, the perfect place for a cookout Which hat I had planned for the Reckless Bastards tonight “No Bitches, just the Bastards,” I told hi him with our handshake

Stitch grinned wide like the easygoing guy he was “Cool I’ll just have a shot of Patron and a beer to get started You cooked?”

That was so typical of Stitch The man was so relaxed all the tis, where I could barely res were

Shit had beenthat siot less and less sierous and life-threatening Not si sure

“No,” I said, “the Bitches cooked and set everything up for us” Because it was their duty and they were happy to do it, but also because I bought theht out at their favorite biker bar

“Daoin’ without soh erupted from Stitch and he shot a playful frown at Golden Boy and Max as they arrived “Old et fed at home”

Max grinned and stole Stitch’s beer when he was close enough “My wo with Moon and Rocky so this meal here is what I would call fortuitous”

“Yeah? Well I just caalow Three” Stitch’s casually spoken words had the desired effect

“Asshole” Max grunted out the word and shoved the bottle back into Stitch’s hands before it ever touched his lips “Glad I didn’t have to kill you,” he told the still laughing prospect who had more than proven himself over the past few years and took beers fro one to Golden Boy

“My wo pull frorateful when I do” Truth was that Golden Boy was a daer—at the club and the world—under control so it was nice to see the man he was before he’d spent six years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit

Max laughed along with his brother’s innuendo, shaking his head “So what you’re saying is that you have to bribe your wo a s I was pretty sure we’d lose hi hieneral But one petite blonde had changed all that

Mybetter, happier lives Except the club The Reckless Bastards had seen a lot of shit over the past few years Shit that made me question my own leadership skills, made me wonder if they would do better without me I kneas sad bastard talk but shit, soive up and run the fuck away

Until I re I had left in my life to care about Without it, who kneould happen tothat it wouldn’t be pretty

“Yo, Cross, what’s up?” Gunnar strolled in just a few feet behind Jag, who hadn’t been the same since his woman had been carted off by the CIA All because she wanted to keep Jag and his brothers safe Another instance where I failed my club Gunnar wore his usual scowl

“What’s up is that we have food and booze for an unofficial et comfortable and chill the fuck out” A wide smile spread across my face that I didn’t feel, but it was intended to help everyone relax

Except Jag, who grabbed a beer and set it in front of him, unopened, and stared off into the distance There was nothing I could say to reach hi blaet into it, but I would

Soon

“Things have been pretty fucked up around here lately,” I began, hesitant at first

“You can say that again!” Lasso whooped, wearing a big ass grin the size of Texas as he strode up toevery one of our sorry asses out alive Every Fucking Tih in the air and the others joined in