Read Online The Best Bad Dream by Robert Ward - Free Book Online

to the bikers. They didn't notice him at all because they were busy staring with venomous hatred at the short, bald keeper of the gate.
    “Yeah, you're right about one thing, asshole,” Lucky Avila said. “The room is already booked. It's booked by us, dickhead. Who the fuck is out there now?”
    The waiter sighed and looked down at his schedule.
    “That would be the group from Blue Wolf Lodge,” he said.
    Lucky Avila looked as though he would gag.
    “Hey, fuck those dipshits,” Lucky said. “Tell ’em to shove off.”
    “I'm sorry, sir,” the host said. “They use the patio every year for their council meeting.”
    “Yeah?” said Lucky. “And when does the freaking council get their asses out of our seats?”
    “I'm afraid they've reserved the room for the entire night. They'll be out there until ten thirty, or perhaps even later.”
    “No,” Lucky said. “They won't be.”
    The other Sons growled at the little man, and one of them, a short, wide guy named Zollie who looked like Yosemite Sam, knocked a painting of a black bull standing in a sea of flowers from the wall.
    “I think we should, like, trash the Sombrero,” he said.

    The other Sons mumbled agreement. But Lucky Avila only smiled, shook his head, and then pushed the waiter out of the way. He kicked the door open and crashed the festivities on the patio.
    Jack eased around behind the gang and watched the collision. Bikers versus New Agers.
    The first thing Jack noticed was that the Blue Wolf crew was the same aging group he'd seen when he first came into town. The ones who had been so surprisingly nimble as they worked out in the park.
    Jack felt his hair bristle. If this was going to be a physical conflict the Blue Wolfers were going to lose, and lose badly.
    Surely they must know this. But they didn't seem at all intimidated.
    “Look who we have here,” said the white-haired leader who sat at the head of the table. “If it isn't the great outlaw himself, Lucky Avila. You're looking well, Lucky. Let me introduce myself. I'm Alex Williams, the president of the Blue Wolf council.”
    The older man's hair was still thick, his voice strong.
    “Like I give a shit who you are,” Lucky said. “Listen up, Williams. You guys have to leave. And I mean now!”
    The old folks at the table looked up at the outlaw king and seemed amused. They smiled as if Lucky were joking with them.
    “Really, and why is that?” Williams asked.
    “Because,” Lucky said. “Me and my guys, we had the place reserved for two months.”
    “Well, I'm afraid I've got you there,” Williams said. “Because we reserve the room one year in advance for our council meeting.”
    “Fuck your reservation. We have an important dinner and business meeting scheduled for tonight, so I think you better take your little crew here and buzz off.”
    “Sorry,” Alex Williams said, “we haven't even eaten our appetizers yet. But I do admire your aggressive stance, Lucky. Very manly.”

    Williams thrust his hand toward Lucky, steady and strong, and Lucky seemed compelled to shake it. Jack watched as the older man's fingers enveloped Lucky's. The gang leader grimaced and tried to pull away, but found the old man's huge hand held him firmly in his grasp.
    Panic crossed Lucky's face. He pulled backward as hard as he could, and then Alex Williams let go, catching him off guard. Lucky fell back against the wall, hard. He slid down it like a drunken cat.
    The Sons of Satan looked stunned. They seemed lost, unable to make a move without their leader.
    Jack watched as Lucky's face turned bright red.
    “That was funny,” he snarled at Williams as he got up. “See how you like this.”
    Contorting his face in anger, he raised his massive fist. But before he could strike the aged Blue Wolf president, Jack grabbed him and, a second later, had twisted his arm behind him and shoved his face up against the wall.
    “We're gonna kill your ass, mister,” a huge biker named Terry said, moving