Page 9 of Riding Dirty
She blows out a heavy breath of air. “Okay… so I was one when my parents gave me up. They loved drugs and alcohol more than me. I was traded around from family to family since then, but I have an older brother. He’s much older. He’s your age. I knew of him,” she smiles nervously, “but he didn’t know of me until a few days ago when I stole his car.” She pauses, letting the shock of that statement settle in. “From what I could gather in the few short minutes I watched his house, he drives a really nice motorcycle and I doubt that piece of shit car even matters to him.” There’s edge to her voice almost as though she’s blaming him for something.
Okay, she stole a car. I can fix that. “How’d you know you had a brother?”
“My parents passed away a year ago.” She chuckles. “Oddly enough, they made it to old age. The article in the paper noted one living son, Romeo Mancuso.”
My heart stops.“Mancuso?”
“Yeah.” Her brows wrinkle. “Why?”
I draw in a deep breath and let it out quickly, flashing my gaze toward her. “If he’s the guy I think he is, he’s a member of a rival MC we’ve had issues with recently. The Death Rangers.”
Her body stiffens. “They sound fun. Why are they your rivals?”
“Territory issues. We’ve signed an agreement with them a while back that they’d stay off the mountain and we’d stay out of their block in the Springs. Did anyone see you take the car?”
She draws in another deep breath. “Yeah. They had a security camera on sight and a few guns went off when I left. One guy chased me, but I lost them when I got close to Rugged Mountain. I thought it was weird. Now I know why.”
I scrub my hand down over my beard. “Did you check the car before you drove off with it?”
She shakes her head, twisting her long blonde hair onto her shoulder. “No. I was in a hurry. I wasstealinga car.”
Pulling her against my chest, I hold her close. “No matter what, you’re safe here.” I hold her tight and send out a notice to the guys on my cell. The MC needs to be on alert. If that car was filled with what I think it was… we’re in deep shit.
Chapter Four
Millie
Leviis an older man—even older than Gunner. I’d guess he’s in his early sixties. Through the back and forth, I gather Levi has a story to tell from back in the day. I’d love for him to elaborate, but it seems everyone is down to business first thing this morning. Too bad none of it includes the exchange of pleasantries and manual labor I was hoping for. After the weird night Gunner and I had, I was looking forward to feeling useful and working up a sweat.
First, he has his hands all over me and we’re both desperate to be touched. Then, without warning, I’m confessing my virginity and my criminal history.
Despite Gunner insisting I take the bedroom, I didn’t sleep well. The entire night was a Yo-Yo of dreams that consisted of me getting to third base with Gunner only to be interrupted by a rival motorcycle gang who wanted their car back. This went on in perpetuity until I woke up. I still don’t know what might be in the trunk. I didn’t dare ask. I’m not sure my heart could’ve taken it last night, but Gunner seems concerned.
He stands beside me waiting as I slide the key into the truck of the twenty-year-old car. The wheel well is rusted out, and the bumper is hanging low as though it could fall off any second. I think the guys are wrong about this thing being filled with anything valuable. It broke down in less than two hundred miles. Who would use a car like that for crime? I thought crime cars were supposed to be quick and sporty likeThe Fast and the Furious.
“This is why I got out of the MC back in the day.” Levi crosses his big arms over one another as I pop open the trunk. “Too much fucking drama.”
“Nothing.” Relief waves over me. “See… just a few—”
Gunner pulls a pocketknife and stabs into the back of the trunk, slicing through the fabric and into the back seat. White powder plumes out into the air and we all back up.
“What is that?” I wave my hand back and forth clearing the white fog.
“Cocaine.” Gunner slides his knife back into his pocket. “The Death Rangers move drugs. This is a vehicle they either store supply in or tow.”
Of course my one living relative would sell drugs. That makescompletesense. I wonder now how much interaction my brother had with our parents. Maybe they got their drugs from him.What a messed up world!“So, what does this mean?”
“I have to take the car back to them. I’ll explain what happened and hopefully they’ll laugh it off and invite me in for coffee.” I know he’s being absurd.
“No! They’re dangerous, right? They’re dangerous and they can’t come out here, so why do we need to take it back?”
“I guarantee they’ve had someone watching you.” Levi covers his mouth and nose with his handkerchief and pulls down the rest of the fake wall. “Cocaine is about a hundred bucks a gram out here. This is what… ten bricks? That’s a lot of money to lose.” Levi continues to move the trunk’s contents around to get a full view. “They’re here. I’d bet my life on it. They’re just trying to make sense of what you did before they act because of this truce we have with them.”
Gunner turns toward me. “He’s right. I need to call the guys and let them know. I want you to stay here with Levi.” He looks toward his friend. “Don’t let her leave, okay?”
“I made the mistake. I’ll return the car and I’ll talk to Romeo. He’s my brother. Maybe if he knows that, he’ll have mercy on me.”
Gunner turns toward me, his gaze like stone on mine. “Or… you stay here like I asked you to.”