Shades (Evil Dead MC 3)

Shades climbed off his bike and stood with his arms crossed, watching with Ghost, Blood, and Sandman at his back.

With only minutes to spare, the Gulf Chapter rolled in the parking lot with a roar. Shades watched as they parked. Case wandered over.

“Any word?” he asked, his eyes on all the squad cars and uniforms.

Shades nodded. “Should be rollin’ up any minute. Word is they just crossed the canal bridge onto Perdido Key.”

They all stood and watched as suddenly law enforcement brought out barricades and set up a check point. A line of officers moved into position, blocking the road and forming a line, each holding a shotgun across their chest.

Shades grinned over at Case. “Guess that’s makin’ a statement all right.”

Case grinned back. “That would definitely make me think twice about rollin’ up on ‘em.”

The line of bikes stopped in the distance, pulling to the side of the road.

The men watched closely, waiting to see what the Death Heads would do.

“How many you count?” Case asked.

Shades squinted into the distance studying the men and the line of motorcycles, heat rising up from the pavement distorted the image with shimmering waves. “A shit load. Twenty-eight if I counted right.”

Shades could see the men in front squinting back in their direction and knew that not only did the Death

Heads see the major statement law enforcement was making, they also saw the sixteen members of the Evil Dead MC standing, their arms folded across their chests, in a line in the parking lot of the bar, making their own statement.

The line of bikes sat in the heat of the sun for a long time and tensions grew as everyone waited to see what the Death Heads would do. After about twenty long tense minutes, they finally turned around and rode off.

Shades and Case turned to each other, and Shades informed him, “Hopefully, they’ll rethink their plan to make a move into this state. But I doubt this is the end of it. More likely, it’s just round one. Your chapter’s gonna have to continue to hold ‘em off. You’re gonna have to be vigilant about that, Brother.”

Case nodded, but grinned. “True, but gotta say, it was fun watching them turn tail and run.”

Shades put his palm in the air, and Case grinned back, slapping his hand in a high-five. Shades turned to the other men. “Let’s get a drink, boys.”

Blood stopped him, asking, “You gonna be good to go? Make it back to Birmingham okay?”

“Yeah, man. We’re good.”

“All right, then we’re leaving,” Blood jerked his chin to Sandman.

Ghost, who was standing behind Shades, looked at Blood and grinned. “Don’t toy with us, Blood.”

Blood shook his head. “You’re a hoot.”

“I try.” Ghost shrugged.

They bumped fists. “Later.”

“Later, Blood,” Shades gave him a chin lift. “Thanks for your help.”

Blood headed off toward his bike, with Sandman in tow. He lifted his hand and gave a thumbs up without looking back.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Shades pulled out of Skylar and slid off her. Turning her and spooning up to her back, he wrapped his arms around her. He nuzzled her neck, and then he gave her earlobe a nip before his voice was in her ear.

“You good, baby?”

She grinned. “I’m great.”