Page 8 of Falcon

“They don’t count. They’re not an MC. Notorious Princes won’t recognise them,” I stated.

“No, they won’t,” Ghost agreed.

“What’s our next move?” Texas asked.

“We wait. They’ll want those colours back. Thief, their Prez, will reach out, and it’ll cost their club,” Calamity said.

“Okay,” Texas replied, and walked out with Ghost on his heels.

“Damn, I expected pushback from him,” Calamity admitted, rubbing his face.

“Texas?”

“Yup. I can’t figure the fucker out. At home, Texas is a total asshole, but here… he’s deferential.”

“Maybe because Texas trusts you as Prez but not as his son-in-law?” I suggested.

Calamity scowled. “I ain’t going anywhere.”

“We understand that. But Rosie will always be his baby girl.”

“With her own kids!” Calamity retorted.

“Don’t matter to Texas. Did I do right?” I demanded suddenly, having self-doubts.

Calamity gave me an incredulous look. “Yeah. What could you do? Allow disrespect?”

“Just checking, Prez.” For all my confidence, sometimes my age worked against me.

“Are you taking anyone tomorrow?” Calamity asked, and I frowned.

“Huh?”

“The fuckin’ town fair that Amberlea organised. We gotta attend.” Calamity scowled and reminded me so much of my Uncle Drake I had to choke a laugh.

“Gauntlet will kick our ass if we don’t,” I mused. “Might be worth it to avoid it.” I grinned.

“No way. If I have to suffer, so do you, Veep,” Calamity fired back.

“Ah, crap,” I muttered and sighed, resigned.

Falcon

I headed for the smell of bacon, my stomach rumbling. Rafe and Shelby sat at a table, eating, their plates piled high.

“Shit, alright last night?” I asked, and they nodded.

“Didn’t see anything, Veep,” Shelby answered.

“No trouble,” Rafe declared around a mouthful of sausage.

“Finish your food and hit the sack,” I ordered, and they jerked their chins.

We’d hired guards but hadn’t been able to trust them when one fell asleep on duty, and a woman snuck in. That had caused a scene. Rosie had bitch-slapped the hell out of her, which had been amusing.

Penny stood by the counter, looking bright-eyed, and I silently cursed Texas’s wife. At seven a.m. Penny shouldn’t appear so happy.

“Morning, Veep,” she beamed and met my glower. “Get over it, Falcon, you’re attending the fair. Fetch your breakfast.” I grabbed a plate as the clubhouse door slammed open and Gauntlet stomped in. He glowered at everyone there and, without a word, headed for the serving counter. Gauntlet noticed me standing in his way and raised an eyebrow.