Helpless (Steel Demons MC #5) - Crystal Ash Page 0,33

Bray told us,” Dyno added, “when he ordered us to bring any supposed allies directly to the governor if we returned to Four Corners.”

“So you’re protecting your own necks, first and foremost,” Reaper concluded. “Following orders even though you’re not citizens, so you can keep your cushy escort and protection contracts with the governor.”

“Yeah, and?” T-Bone’s eyes heated, his jaw jutting out in challenge to Reaper’s statement. “What else are we supposed to do? Our friends and family are gone. We don’t have a home, and now you don’t either. We’re not taking you to a prison cell for fuck’s sake, we’re just being transparent about who we’re bringing into the territory.”

“I would appreciate more transparency with me,” Reaper returned with an eerie calm. “I’m trusting my whole club with you, following you here.”

“I haven’t kept anything from you. Are you not familiar with the idea of self-preservation? Do I have to tell you my personal motivations for everything I do? No, president.”

“Guys, cool it.” T-Bone and Reaper had started to lean into each other, and I forcefully pushed their shoulders away from the other man. “Let’s just meet the governor and get this over with so we can get some fucking rest.”

The two men gave each other stink-eyes, but otherwise quit arguing and continued walking in silence. Once at the edge of the grass field, a gravel road took us through some kind of orchard. The trees were young saplings, with some people walking through the neatly planted rows to adjust stakes or prune leaves.

“Apple trees.” Dyno answered the question on my mind before I could voice it.

T-Bone cleared his throat. “The governor’s house is just on the other side of the orchard.”

Surprise washed over me at the sight of the oversized cabin beyond the orchard. It was big and luxurious, no doubt, but a fraction of the size of Reaper’s mansion back in Sheol. Dark wood paneling gave the home a rustic feel. Porches wrapped around the ground floor and upper level, and a stone chimney jutted straight up against a slanted roof. It was a nice house, but the furthest possible image from where I expected a governor to live.

The only indication that a politician lived here at all was the two armed soldiers guarding the front porch leading up to the door. There wasn’t even a gate around the house.

T-Bone raised his hand in greeting to the guards and received a sharp nod in return. “Wait here,” he muttered, and walked up to speak to the guards alone.

It was a short conversation. Only a few seconds passed before the guards shifted into at-ease positions and T-Bone nodded back at us to follow.

Our small group walked up the porch steps to stand in front of two heavy wooden doors inlaid with glass. The doors pulled open from the inside and a young man wearing glasses and a suit smiled at us across the threshold.

“Come in, come in! I was hoping to see Sons of Odin faces again, good to see you, T-Bone!” He clasped hands with the large sergeant at arms and shook enthusiastically.

“Josh, we have some guests with us.” T-Bone turned toward us with an arm outstretched. “This is Reaper, president of the Steel Demons MC, his old lady, Mariposa, vice president. Jandro, and captain of the guard, Gunner.”

“A pleasure.” The suited man nodded at each of us, sandy blond hair flopping into his eyes. “I’m Josh Lemon, Governor Vance’s secretary and chief of staff.”

“Nice to meet you,” I offered with an elbow jab to Reaper’s ribs when none of my men said anything.

A couple of wordless grunts came out of them following my greeting. Overgrown children, the lot of them.

“Where’s the rest of your crew, at the B&B?” Josh turned to face T-Bone.

“No, uh—”

“We have,” Dyno cut in with a hand on T-Bone’s shoulder, “a lot to update the governor about. Can we see him right away? It’s been a long ride and we’d all like to rest.”

Josh sighed and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “The governor is eager to see you as well, and also has lots to update you on. He has a job for you, and I’m afraid he won’t let you rest for long.”

“Fair enough. We’re happy to stay busy after a bit of proper R&R.”

The secretary shook his head. “This is a personal matter to Governor Vance. He would let Four Corners crumble before delaying this any further. You must take this job, and it must