Page 27 of Mace
“Figured it was somethin’,” Nicky says, but he doesn’t give me or Riot sympathy. The three of us have been close for so long that those words would be empty. He knows what Maggie means to us both.
“She doin’ okay?” Riot asks, sounding like the thirteen-year-old kid I met all those years ago.
“The dementia’s pretty bad, but it ain’t Maggie that’s got me torn up. It’s your fuckin’ sister.”
Riot nods, his head lowered so I can’t read his expression. Julie hates me for leading her little brother into a life of crime, but she’s never forgiven Riot for joining the club either, even though Maggie was already entwined with the Sons long before I came into the picture.
“What’s she done now?” he asks.
Nicky pushes to his feet, understanding in his gaze. He knows firsthand how shit our family is. He squeezes Riot’s shoulder before he heads inside.
I watch him go before I blow out a breath.
“She tried to stop me seeing Maggie. You’re on that same list too, Nate.” I revert to his real name now that we’re alone.
His head snaps up, anger contorting his face. “What? She can’t fuckin’ do that.”
“She’s your mum’s power of attorney. She makes all the decisions about Maggie, includin’ who sees her.”
“Fuck.” His face contorts as he tries to lock down his anger and fails. “She’s such a cunt.”
“I want her out of that place,” I say. “It’s a shithole, and your ma deserves better.”
“Yeah, she does. I got some money. Maybe Jack’ll step up for once as well. That prick’s loaded.”
Unlikely, considering the amount he’s paying out in legal fees for his divorce and custody battle.
“He won’t do shit, and we both know it.”
He huffs out a breath. “This is Julie’s way of punishing us both,” he mutters, turning his bowed head to pin me with an angry stare. “I’ll talk to her.”
“You’ve talked to her before.” He has, many times.
He was always going to walk this path. Riot loves to fight, and he loves to fuck even more. The guy was never going to be content in a nine-to-five suit and tie. We call him Riot for a reason.
“Yeah, well, this time, she’s gonna fuckin’ listen.”
I pat his shoulder as I stand. “We’ll figure it out. I gotta get going. Watch your back out there, okay?”
He nods. “You too, brother.”
SEVEN
MACE
I head backthrough the clubhouse, ignoring the shitshow around me, including Chloe and Crank, and make my way out to my bike.
As I ride to my flat, my thoughts are chaotic, and they don’t slow until I fall into bed. I wake an hour before I have to be at Temptation, so I take a shower and eat before making my way over just before doors open.
Two security guys are standing outside the entrance, their faces like granite as I approach.Guess no one’s rolling out the red carpet for me.
I smirk before stepping around them, as if I don’t have a care in the fucking world despite being outnumbered, and they don’t stop me as I head inside.
Their hate for me, for my club, means nothing.
The change in lighting as I move down the corridor that leads to the main room has me squinting, and my hand shifts to the knife I keep hidden under my kutte. I don’t think anyone would be stupid enough to attack me, but I keep my wits about me anyway.
When I push through the double doors and onto the main floor, the lights overhead illuminate every inch of the room. I glance around, my gaze locking on the bar area, but I don’t see my pretty little bartender behind the counter.