I trudged over and opened it myself.
Jodie-May had made herself scarce, and Ramon was standing there alone.
“Good to see you, bro,” I told him, and I meant it. Ramon had always been a cool fucker. He didn’t ride a bike, but he had the spirit of a biker. That didn’t take away from the fact he was mean as shit and had more blood on his hands than even Flame, and fuck, Flame could probably swim around in the blood he’d shed.
Ramon held out his hand for me to shake, then he hauled me in for a bro hug. As he slapped me on the back, he murmured, “Same here, muchacho.”
“How’s the family?” I asked, as I invited him in then took a seat behind the desk.
“All’s good. Same on this end?”
I smirked at him as he took a seat opposite me. He was a few inches shorter than me, but the guy had presence. Unlike me, who wore a pair of jeans, a wifebeater, and my cut, he wore a slick suit that he had to be miserable in in this hot weather. With his greased back hair and goatee, he looked like Lou Diamond Philips.
“Yeah, all’s great. Lots in the works.”
“Good to hear it. I always was sad that we broke ways.” He rubbed his chin. “I always could be assured a warm welcome.”
I snorted as I reached into my desk drawer and drew out a bottle of Scotch. Behind him, Dagger grabbed a few tumblers and he set them on the desk as he clapped Ramon on the back.
“Good to see you,” Dag told him too, with Flame and Axe echoing the sentiment.
As I poured us all some drinks, I said around a laugh, “We saw Jodie-May’s greeting. Warm ain’t the word.”
Ramon grinned and waggled his brow. “Hot as fuck that one.” He smacked his lips, but in his eyes, I saw something that put me on edge.
“Everything all right, man?” I queried carefully, pushing a Scotch his way.
“You’d been VP for how long before you became Prez?”
I blinked, surprised by the question. “Two years. I was Road Captain before that.”
“Got arrested too.”
Nodding, I told him, “Nothing too bad. They couldn’t pin shit on me for smuggling though. Got me on evading arrest.” I shrugged. “Had to try to get away from the pigs, didn’t I?”
“Shame it didn’t work,” he retorted drily. “I only ask because I wondered if you were in the know about why I’m here today.”
I shook my head. “No. In the dark. Was this an arrangement or something with Bomber?”
“No. Not exactly.” He sighed. “I was hoping it would end with Bomber, but Carlos is a mean bastard. His grudges don’t die, and when he heard that Lucie Steeler was back in Rutherford?” He clucked his tongue. “Shit hit the fan and heads rolled. Thankfully not mine, but it was a close call. Especially since I was the one he set to find her all those years ago.”
I gaped at him, while Dagger had the wherewithal to demand, “What the fuck?”
“I wouldn’t worry. I knew where she was all along, but Bomber and I had a deal.” His mouth tightened. “Her safety for Aaron’s. He might only be a bastard, but he’s mine and his mama gave me some good times. No need to waste a life when I wasn’t that interested in finding Lucie anyway.”
Axe rasped, “I think you need to start from the beginning.”
“Maybe I should, but the end? You’re not going to like it, but it’s either do as I say or he’ll send someone else after her.”
There was a finality to his tone that had my heart sinking to my stomach. “What did Bomber do?” I demanded.
“I don’t know all the details. Just know that word got back to the cartel that you were missing a kilo of coke. Whispers surged about the fact that Lucie had stolen them. Carlos was mad. He’d already decided to stop working with you because Bomber was certifiable, but something like that was an outrage.
“He sent me and somehow, on yet another grapevine, Bomber figured I was the one who’d been sent on the hit. The irony is, of course, that I would have helped him without his threats, but…” He shrugged. “His loss.”
“Carlos still wants her?” I frowned at him. “That doesn’t make any sense, Ramon. She didn’t take it.”
“She did. Or, at least, someone did and was content for her to take the fall. The shipment, when it turned up to