Outlaw's Ride: An MC Romance by Carter Steele (books recommended by bts .txt) 📕

“Safe and sound. Can you wash this for me?” I asked, killing the engine and pulling out the key. It was a nice ride, but I liked my Indian Bobber better.

“Five K to wash and color. I know a guy, but it’ll take about a week.” Patrick replied. The response was immediate and all business, his concern for his sweet girl all but forgotten. “Any preference on color?”

Washing was code for grinding the VIN numbers off and Color meant they’d paint it. With all the mayhem of last night it’d take the cops a while to sift through all the wreckage, identify the bodies and figure out what exactly was stolen. I wasn’t super worried about the dead man’s motorcycle being recognized but there was no reason to take the chance, especially being that this was going to be a gift for someone.

I owed Yoga a bike and having ridden this one I knew this would be a good fit for the big bastard. I still felt bad about the way all that went down and what happened to his old bike. This would go a long way to make amends.

“Take it out of our score for last night,” I said with unshakeable firmness, then tossed him the key. It was the least he could do considering that there were significantly more of Don Accardo’s men there last night than he told us there’d be. Dunk’s Special Forces training paid off in spades last night, but there was no denying things could’ve gone real bad real fast. If we’d gotten surrounded or cut off every last one of us would’ve been dead. Ultimately the MC got lucky last night.

And I sure as hell wasn’t going to forget that.

Patrick soured a bit but eventually nodded, not wanting to split hairs over something relatively small potatoes.

“Why don’t you head inside and relax?” He regarded Sarah, gently but insistently moving her toward the front door. Turning back to me he added, “I’d like to thank your rescuer for bringing you home safely.”

Sarah spared me a glance before disappearing inside. Her mouth tucked to the side, and eyebrows pulled together. Although it was only a passing look it spoke volumes. She was gone before I could acknowledge her, but either way the message was loud and clear.

Don’t trust whatever he says.

I’d sooner trust an alligator with my head in its mouth.

“You seem to be in a good mood.” I smiled broadly, crossing my arms and leaning against the bike. I fought to keep my eyes from narrowing at him. “Last night was as much of a success as you were hoping, I take it?”

“Last night was the beginning of a new era here in Baltimore.” He breathed in the crisp air to full lungs as he placed his hands on his hips and walked a few steps. “You can taste it in the air. We got every last one of those fat, complacent bastards. Out with the old and all that.”

“That’s great. If you don’t need anything else from me it’s been a long night I’m going to head out.” I pulled out my cell phone and ordered a nearby rideshare to take me back to the rest of my MC.

“No.” Patrick smiled, walking slowly back to me. “It’s what I can do for you.”

I looked up from my phone, but stayed silent. What was he getting at?

“You guys did such a great job that I wanted to give you a little something extra.”

“We don’t need extra. Seventy percent of whatever we find on a raid is good enough for us. That was the deal.”

The raid against Don Accardo’s place last night was the big score. It was the big money that our MC was originally promised. After all the jewelry, art, and all the rest of the expensive shit was appraised, and sold through black market connections, my crew’s share going to net a few million easy.

“Of course. Of course, but it’s going to take some time to properly fence everything. Then there was Billy. He’s not going to want all of his inheritance stolen, sure it’s all insured but the most expensive things are his family heirlooms.”

My expression darkened noticably.

“But!” Patrick quickly added, growing a little tense at the anger rising in my face. “I have a plan for that too. Let’s just say we’re not done yet. My alliance with Billy was always more of a temporary thing.”

“Now that he’s in your way.” I snorted. “Does he know how temporary your friendship is?”

“He’ll find out one way or another.” The light caught the tall man’s glasses lighting them up into a white screen, emphasizing the dispassion in his features. It’s all business to him. “In the meantime, as a show of faith for our continued partnership, I’ve sent your president, Dunk, a down payment for what’s to come. Until this is all over and you’re on your way, well, you boys are the only real friends I have.”

I wondered if we’d eventually find out how true that was in the same way as Billy Bones.

“So that’s the little something extra then, huh?” I openly scoffed, pitching myself forward to stand fully up and face him.

“That’s just an advance on future profits.” Patrick offered defensively. “No, the gift is something you are far more interested in. I’ve noticed you have an affinity for my girl, Jezebel. So for the duration of our partnership I want you to have her. She’ll be your personal whore, free of charge.”

“What’s the catch?” I didn’t bother denying I was interested in her. Between having words with Billy Bones, and me prioritizing her safety over the success of the mission last night, any idiot could’ve put two and two together.

This fucker knew I wanted her.

“No catch! I only ask that you treat her well and that she comes back home each night to do some administrative work for me. That’s all.”

Generosity wasn’t in Patrick’s wheelhouse. Whatever this was, it came with