Hunter (The Untouchables MC 6)

“Thanks for coming,” Matthew said as a guard appeared behind him and tapped his watch. “It means a lot.”

“I’ll be back soon,” I promised.

I walked out of the prison and took a deep breath. The smell of disinfectant was washed away with the clean air. I knew the guys serving must miss the smell of fresh air and motor oil. They missed the road, the speed, and the fucking wind in their eyes. They couldn’t ride.

So I would ride for them.

Chapter One

Hunter

One year later

One year later

I rode the winding roads leading from my new place to town. It was further than my old crash pad. But this was no shitty apartment in a bad part of town. It was a house. A home, maybe, for the first time in my life. I was putting down roots after all the long and lonely years. From one home to another, I thought to myself as I sped through the empty streets. The clubhouse loomed large, a full city block sandwiched between crumbling factories and warehouses. The whole hood was empty except for the Untouchables, based just outside the outskirts of the industrial area.

I had a fire in my belly tonight. I wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was something in the air. The wind bit into my skin, making me feel awake and alive.

Tonight we were deciding what to do with the Hell Raisers. Things had been unsettled for a while now. Our former rival club was crumbling around the edges. Shane was still the club Prez, but he had little interest in it now. He was more of an Untouchable than anything. In fact, he was family.

Even though we were a different club, we were the ones pulling the strings. They needed a strong leader. Doc had been Shane’s second in command, so he was the logical choice. But Doc was more like Preacher, a friend to all and welcome in any clubhouse on the West Coast.

He’s footloose and fancy free, I grumbled to myself. Doc’s only responsibility was stitching up drunk assholes. And the bastard liked it that way. I had a feeling he was going to put up a fight.

I rolled into the clubhouse and into the meeting room. Cain was at the head of the table, looking grim. Vice and Trace were there, too, as well as Mason, Shane, and Connor. I raised an eyebrow at Con and he shook his head. Doc was nowhere to be found.

“I’ll be stepping out for a drink during the vote,” Con said, holding up a glass of bourbon. He grinned at me, clearly glad to be let off the hook.

“Just initiate the bastard already,” I ground out. Con might be the law, but he was one of us too. He just liked to keep his hands clean . . . for the most part, anyway.

“I keep trying,” Cain said calmly. Cain said everything calmly. That’s why he was the best damned leader I’d ever known. He was also Connor’s brother-in-law. The two butted heads, but they respected each other. I was pretty sure they even liked each other, but they kept that hidden.

Con just smirked and toasted his brother-in-law. Mason shook his head and Shane was smiling, too. We’d been through hell and back together. Even though we hadn’t all started out as Untouchables, we were family now.

Finally, Doc rambled in with a bottle of tequila clutched in his fist. Like Preacher, he liked to get paid in booze. He must have snipped off a mole or some shit while we were waiting.

“See you stopped by the bar first,” Cain said with a raised brow.

“Couple of guys needed to get stitched up. Been here an hour,” Doc said with a lopsided grin. Bastard was already tipsy. I groaned.

“Now all we need is for Preacher to walk in,” I grumbled. Everyone else groaned.

“Do not say his name again,” Shane said with a shudder. “You might conjure him up.”

“Like Candyman.” Doc cackled.

“Or Beetlejuice,” I concurred.

“All right, let’s get down to it. Con, you can stay,” Cain said when the big man stood. But Connor shook his head.

“Need a refill, anyway,” he said before ambling out of the room. I rolled my eyes and Mason laughed. They were both as happy as two pigs in shit. Lucky fucks, I grumbled to myself, thinking of how lucky they were to have the old ladies they had. Michelle and Kelly were amazing, beautiful women. I loved them like sisters. Casey, too. Even Preacher was paired off. In fact, Doc and I were the only single guys in the room.

Not that I’d ever wanted to get tied down. But all the guys had done really well for themselves. Cain, Mason, Con, Shane, and Preacher were with remarkable ladies who I considered blood and were growing families with kids who were like little nieces and nephews. For the first time in my life, I could see the appeal.