The Darkest Of Light (The Kings of Retribution MC)

." He walks off towards his own ride, pulling his phone out, probably to get in touch with Bella before climbing into his truck heading in the direction of the clubhouse. Flicking my unfinished cigarette, I walk to my truck, start it up and follow him.

I’m sittin at the bar in the clubhouse nursing a beer waiting for everyone to show. Within an hour and half the place is packed.

"Gabriel," Doc’s voice rumbles as he sits down in a stool one over from where I’m sittin’.

"Doc," I respond with a chin lift.

"How’s that woman of yours today? Heard she went home a few hours ago,” he inquires.

"She’s good. Doc said baby boy is good too."

"Aww shit, man, a son? Congratulations, brother!" he boasts as he raises his bottle in the air and I lift mine in response.

Downing the remainder of my beer, I stand up and glance around the room. Looks like everyone that lives in town made it. I catch Prez walkin’ from the back and making his way toward the center of the bar.

"Listen up," his gravelly voice booms over everyone else’s causing the room to go quiet, “we have a situation. I called all you brothers in today because I need all of you in the streets throughout the day tomorrow. As you know, Gabriel’s woman was in an accident. She’s going to be okay, but we learned this morning that someone fucked with her brake lines."

The silence in the room is broken by several ’what the fucks’ and ’motherfuckers’ from my brothers.

"Quiet the fuck down. We need to flush this cocksucker out and if he is in town we will."

When we find the bastard, he is mine.

I still can’t make out who the hell could be the threat. If Santino was alive I wouldn’t put it past him to have something to do with it. But just because he is dead doesn’t mean he doesn’t have reach. Maybe he has family...family who wants to avenge him? This is definitely something I need to bring up to Prez and the other men. We can’t afford to ignore any lead we can think of. If only we had something more to go on besides speculation and our own goddamn imaginations.

"Alright, men. I know it’s starting to get late and I know most of you put in a full day’s work and just clocked out awhile ago. Go home. Those that can do so, get out there and ask around. Find out if we have any new faces in town and if so, where. At this point anything you find can be a potential lead," Logan orders.

As Logan and Prez start to walk off I stop them, "You think Santino’s family could be behind any of this?"

"Like I said, we leave no stone unturned, Gabriel. I’ll have Reid do some digging into Santino’s extended family and their locations," Prez says.

Before we get any further into our conversation Logan’s phone rings. Pulling it from his cut he swipes the screen and lifts it to his ear, "Yeah," he clips. His eyes quickly cut to me, "You know a Sam."

"That’s the guy who was living with Alba and her friend Leah in Bozeman. Why?"

"Because he’s sitting out at the front gate askin’ to speak with you," Logan tells me.

What the hell would he have to talk to me about? And how in the hell did he know where to find me or the clubhouse?

"Let him in," I tell Logan. Two minutes later he walks through the front door, pausing, taking in his surroundings before making his way in further.

"What the fuck you doin’ out here uninvited, in our town, at our club?" My voice booms causing him to halt. His hands go up, "Look, man, I’m not here to stir up any shit. I’m here because I think I might have some information concerning Alba and her stalker."

"How did you know where to find me?" I ask, hardening my stare at him.

"I only know Alba’s home address, but I didn’t want to upset her with my suspicions, so I decided it was best that I find you first. Alba never mentioned locations or anything, so I had to be resourceful, you know, ask around a bit. Most people weren’t too keen on telling me anything, but I found out enough to find my way."

Deciding we need to hear what he has to say I pull a chair out at a table to my right, "Sit," I order. He takes a seat and Prez, Logan and myself pull out some chairs and do the same.

Prez is the first to break through the thick tension in the air, "Son, what’s so important that you went nosing’ around our town? It’s not smart showing up out here uninvited."

I’ve got to give it to him, the guy has balls showin’ up to a biker compound unannounced like he did. Either that or he’s stupid.

"After Alba came home, our old professor showed up at my front door asking about her. Asking why she left and did I know how to get in touch with her. I found it strange.

I clench my fits, trying to control the anger building inside and listen as he continues.

"Anyway, Leah was approached by him a few days later asking her the same thing. When she recounted what he said, I went looking for him the next day. Teacher or not, he’s messing with my friends and snooping, and I don’t like it. I had an office worker dig up his address for me. I showed at his doorstep that same day and couldn’t get an answer. He hasn’t been back teaching classes either. Seems as though he just up and left. I’ve asked around and no one knows why," Sam finishes.