“I have to go.” I head to the door.
“It’s a dangerous game you’re playing, man. I know because I’ve been in your spot and played it.” That stops me. I turn to look him in the eyes.
“I’ll handle it,” I sneer, then walk out of the room.
“I hope so,” he yells after me. “We don’t have room for mistakes.”AXELIt takes ten minutes to get to the diner from the clubhouse. I make it in five. The parking lot has thinned out but still has customers going in and out. Fucking Blade, he had to push me. Antoinette is not something I’m ready to talk about. I’m not like them; I’m wired differently, and frankly, the fact that I crave Antoinette more each day is somewhat of an enigma. I’m assuming it has to do with her being untouched and I like that feeling of her being 100 percent mine.
She thinks she’s in love with me, so after I kill Benny, I should cut her loose. It’s the right thing to do. I’m never gonna be the kind of man she needs.
But why does the thought make me want to attack someone? Maybe I’ll go with my earlier plan and get her a small house, or a condo, and keep her as my go-to fresh cunt. Fuck, I could buy her a dance studio, kind of like Dolly’s salon. We need a new place to launder our money.
Edge is outside talking on the phone. He gives me a nod while I toss my brain bucket onto the handlebars and pull out a new burner phone.
I change phones so much that I memorize everyone’s numbers. Most of my brothers aren’t as anal about changing phones, but we go through a lot of numbers.
“Fuck off,” Ox growls into the phone when we connect. He’s our most unpredictable Disciple, but he’d take a bullet for any of us.
“Get your face out of that snatch.”
He chuckles and grunts a get out to whoever is with him. “Brother, someone has to take care of all the lonely pussy. You’re off the market.” He snorts loudly. Ox’s wake-up drug of choice is not coffee.
“What’s happened?” He snorts again, and I peruse the large parking lot. Other than Edge and me, it’s mostly older couples and some suits.
“You swept the clubhouse yesterday, right?”
“I did. We’re clean.”
“Benny’s been spotted in Out Takes. I know you helped Ryder this morning, but I need you to do a thorough sweep of the diner. Assume he has everything—cameras, microphones.”
“Motherfucker. I’m on my way.” The line goes dead. I know Benny’s close. I can feel it.
“How’s Dolly, man? She wanting one of Victor’s Reuben sandwiches?” I say in code. Edge instantly gets it. There’s a reason we’re the deadliest MC. We don’t fuck up.
“Nah, I do.” He laughs as we walk in. I nod at Cindy who frowns. Her eyes go from Edge to mine, but we ignore her and walk behind the counter and turn up the music.
“He’s got cameras. I can feel it,” I hiss.
“Blade sent Eve the photos. She confirmed it was Benny. So if he does have it wired, who knows what he’s heard.”
“I have Ox coming to sweep. You talk to David?”
“Yeah, not happy. Making Charlie close the diner early.”
“What are you guys doing here?” Charlie snips as she walks out of the kitchen carrying four plates, two stacked on each arm. “Turn down the music.” She eyes us as she passes.
“I’m taking Antoinette out of here.”
“Perfect,” Edge says. “I have to deal with them.” His eyes swing to Cindy and Charlie, but truly I think he’s more scared of Joy who’s making her way straight toward us.
“Good luck with them.” I grin and swing open the kitchen door, instantly smelling bleach. Victor is humming to old-school Santana as he lifts the rubber black mat, preparing to spray it down in the back alley. He stops and nods at me, but it lacks his usual jovial demeanor. That’s okay. He likes my ballerina and I’m the asshole who’s gonna break her heart. I’m man enough to respect him for that.
“Carl.” I nod at the busboy who’s busy spraying dishes.
“Hey, dude.” He salutes me. He’s Bobcat’s kid and is constantly trying to become a prospect. Not to brag, but unfortunately, he doesn’t have the ability. He stupidly plastered his tattoo of the Disciples symbol all over social media without permission. We voted no to prospect after that even though his old man is as good as you can get. He seems determined, though I have a hunch all he wants is pussy and notoriety rather than the life.
I knock on the office door and scan the large kitchen. There are plenty of places where someone could have hidden cameras.
She peeks out the door. And my heart hurts, giving me that urge to rub my chest again.