Page 36 of March 5

"What's crawled up your ass?"

"Nothing."

Bane tilted his head. "I've never known you to be in a bad mood."

Jagger banged the gavel on the table, stopping any further probing, and called the meeting to order. For the first ten minutes, the president of Havlin went over the next week's work schedule before Wire spoke about the money coming into Havlin and the extra expense of updating the sign for the parts shop.

Bane wiped his hands on his jeans. "On Thursday, we'll have to park in front of the building. We're having the back lot asphalted."

"Sweet." Brett crossed his arms. "No more potholes."

"If we run out of room out front, Whale's Tale Coffee Shop has mentioned we can park behind their building in the gravel lot. If that happens, be considerate of their business." Jagger shuffled the papers around. "In old news, we're still working on getting the correct number of how many Los Li members are estimated to be in the United States."

Dio crossed his arms over his chest. Since the Feds were able to arrest eighty percent of the members in the states on the Rico charges, the others had gone back to Mexico. But it was essential to keep an eye on the growing number trying to make their way back stateside.

"There's a new product for..." Bane looked down at the paper. "For Rolling Cannabis on Stewart Street. They'd like a security escort from the farm to shop every Tuesday. I'll be setting up a new crew to cover that day."

Jagger said, "Remember, we have prospects coming up for a vote at the end of the month. Talk to each sponsor before then, and make sure you know how you're voting."

"Bobby, Sauce, Frankie, Night, Moto, and Runner." Wire slid a piece of paper into the middle of the table. "If you need their sponsor's name, check the list."

The gavel hit the table. Chairs screeched against the concrete floor as the senior members and officers left the table. The others who attended the meeting and stood the whole time headed toward the door.

Dio stretched his back.

"Are you coming over?" asked Maverick.

He clasped Maverick's hand. "Yeah."

Dio stayed a few steps behind Maverick, leaving the clubhouse, but ended up beside him as he mounted his motorcycle. Brooke texted him yesterday, asking him to comefor a barbecue. It'd been a coupleof months since they'd all gotten together.

Maverick coughed, put on his helmet, and rode away from the clubhouse. Dio followed. A route he'd taken more times than he could count. Maverick and Brooke had welcomed him into the family from the beginning. He'd shared many Sunday dinners sitting at their table or in a chair outside around a grill.

He appreciated the quiet side of Maverick. The man was smart and loyal. Dio had seen how much his MC brother had suffered before his surgery, where he could barely talk without a fit of coughing stealing the wind out of him. So, to sit and enjoy a meal, no matter how quiet—he respected that.

Brooke and Skye were always thereto keep the conversation going.

His gut tightened at the prospect of seeing Skye today.

Neither Brooke nor Maverick mentioned if Skye would join them for dinner. Regardless, he'd go because they were the closest thing he had to a family anymore.

It'd been a week since he apologized to Skye and later saw her at the Havlin party. She hadn't checked in on him or swung by the clubhouse during the week to see him. Things weren't back to normal.

He rode the long driveway onto the bluffwhere the house sat, protected by a rock wall in the back and a cliff off the front yard. Stopping in front of the garage, he backed up his Harley and toed the kickstand, parking beside Maverick's motorcycle.

He killed the engine and removed his helmet. It was a warm day, and the breeze on the bluff felt good.

His stomach growled. Ever since he woke up and found Skye in his bed, he'd lived off junk food. If he had to sit too long, he'd start thinking so he kept himself moving.

He looked around, not seeing Skye's car or any sign of her. Hiding his disappointment, he walked into the house with Maverick.

Brooke looked up from the stove. "Oh, good. You guys made it in time. I was afraid the meeting would last longer."

She leaned over and puckered her lips, kissing Maverick as he stepped into the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"I hope you're hungry, " she said, pointing to the counter. "The steaks are all ready to go on the grill."

Dio inhaled deeply. Brooke was stirring what looked like a bowl of potato salad, but something else was in the air.