Read Online One That Came Back by Lexy Timms - Free Book Online Page B

couple pool tables. Now, to cover expenses, he had to raise the rent to seven hundred fifty a month instead of the five hundred he had wanted to charge.
    What started as a midnight inspiration ended up as a giant summer headache and a royal pain in the ass. Aside from all the challenges, the opening of the clubhouse was nearly accomplished and the smell of the pig roasting to the left of the clubhouse wafted over the parking lot. Pepper came around the side, his face smudged with charcoal.
    “What’d you do, Pepper? Start eating that pig?” Luke smiled.
    He grinned back. “Man, that porker’s falling off the bones already. Good thing you had me put that chicken wire around it.”
    Luke nodded. Okie taught him that trick on previous club pig roasts. “Well, remember to keep turning it. That center has to be good and cooked through for this evening.”
    “You got it, boss.”
    “Don’t call me that.” He couldn’t stand hearing anyone call him boss since Gibs died.
    “Sorry, forgot.”
    “That does smell good.” Aces sniffed the air.
    “We’ll have a good opening. By the time that pig’s done it’ll literally fall off the bones onto our plates once we clip open that chicken wire.” Luke threw his arm around Aces neck briefly in a show of camaraderie he did not feel. “Good drink, good food and good friends.”
    “Hell yeah! How about a look inside the clubhouse.”
    Luke shook his head. “Nope. I want it to be a surprise. You’ll see it all tonight.” He grinned like a proud owner of a shiny new toy, which was a lie. The DEA complained that they couldn’t get anything on Kinney because he never discussed any of the club’s business in a place where the DEA could listen. Frustrated by the first non-productive weeks of his involvement in their investigation, Luke came up with the idea for the clubhouse. Truth was, a couple of the DEA crew were still inside checking the cameras and bugs they installed inside the club. Luke almost shit a brick when Kinney showed up this morning asking to see the clubhouse.
    “Well, later Spade.”
    “Later.”
    With relief, Luke watched Kinney get on his bike and pull out of the lot. Pepper walked up to Luke.
    “Tell you anything good?”
    Luke shook his head. “The little jobs he has me do don’t give a clue as to what he’s up to.”
    “Kinney hasn’t done shit since the firefight.”
    “I wouldn’t say that. He’s padded the membership with the Tucson crew and the new prospects he’s recruited. I think he has plans to add some of those as patched members tonight.”
    “I’m not so sure,” said Pepper.
    Pepper wasn't sure, but Luke understood what Kinney was doing. Every instinct Luke had said Kinney was getting ready to make a move, but he couldn’t do it without the right kind of membership behind him. As the old members of Hades’ Spawn moved off in disgust, Kinney brought in men that looked like they’d done time. Pepper’s DEA crew confirmed they did.
    “He’s just gathering his forces is all.”
    “I hope you’re right.”
    “I am. It’s what I would do if I ran a crew like that.” He sighed. It was frightening how easy it was for him to think like a criminal. “Okay, get back to that pig. I’m opening the shop.”
    “Luke.”
    “What?”
    “These six day weeks look like they’re killing you. Why don’t you let George handle opening and get yourself some breakfast?”
    Luke raised an eyebrow. Gone were the days of working half days on Saturday. “What are you, my mother? Being down a man doesn’t help my business.” Saks, Pepper and Luke had to put in extra hours to cover losing Gibs.
    “It’s just, I notice you look skin over bones.”
    “Excuse me?” Luke looked at Pepper in annoyance.
    “You look like shit. I can’t afford my asset not being at the top of his game.”
    Luke figured he’d lost some weight because his jeans were loose, but never figured it was noticeable. He took a cigarette out from his pack in his shirt