Home to Stay (The Long Road Home #2) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,35
the two men clasped palms together. “I’ll have Sylvie, my wife as well as our office manager, call you with the details.”
The server brought more pitchers, and the conversations once again became easy. The crowd in Moose’s Bar was small, making it easy to observe the other patrons, all seeming to know Mace, occasionally tossing up a hand or chin lift in greeting. The comfortable vibe made it evident that when the door opened and a few bikers walked and headed to the back, the group he was with stiffened, their eyes sharp once again. John spied the same insignia on their patches as the ones that had been there the other night—the same ones Paula had been hanging with.
Tuning in to the others’ reactions, he looked to Mace. “What do you know about them?”
Mace’s granite expression gave no emotion other than the glitter in his eyes. “Idle curiosity?”
“Not at all. A… friend was in here the other night with someone who was hanging around guys with the same patches. Gave me a bad feeling. Lucy wants nothing to do with them, but I’m not sure about her friend.”
“Lucy?” Babs asked, her brow quirked upward.
He glanced down at the table. “Lucy Carrington. Local teacher. Her class project was me.” Seeing the questioning stares peering at him, he shook his head. “They wrote to a local soldier. I was the lucky bastard who got a piece of home sent to him each month. Met the teacher and the class when I got back.” Turning back to Mace, he said, “She’s solid, but I’ve got a bad feeling about her friend who was cozying up to one of them.”
“Minotaurs.”
The one word growled from Mace had no meaning to John so he remained silent, waiting for more.
“Outlaw biker gang, mostly in Canada. Work with Hell’s Angels here as part of their pipeline. Run drugs, guns, women, and if our intel is correct, possibly more.” He leaned closer, his voice cold with conviction. “You tell Lucy to stay the hell away from them at all costs. Her friend doesn’t follow suit? Then Lucy should not engage, not challenge. She disengages, even from the friendship.”
“Fuck,” John cursed as he exhaled heavily. “Lucy and this friend are going to Sherbrooke in Quebec this weekend to a music concert. Her friend has already promised that it’s music only and nothing to do with the bikers.”
“Fuck. Minotaurs and Hell’s Angels’ territory,” Clay murmured. “Dealt with them before.”
The cold fingers of fear for her threatened to overtake the good time he was having, and he pulled out his phone, tapping out a text.
Worried about you. Paula’s new friends are trouble. Take care and remember to call me if you have any problems.
He sighed and shoved his phone back into his pocket, uncertain when she would get the message or how she’d react. He’d stupidly walked away from her, forcing them into the friend-only zone. At least, I hope we’re friends. He wasn’t sure about that status, but it seemed after his visit yesterday to her class, she’d warmed up to him again. He reached up and squeezed the back of his neck, swallowing his grimace so as not to draw attention to himself.
The gathering soon broke up, the others taking off in their vehicles after he shook their hands, accepting their enthusiasm for his visit to the Lighthouse headquarters. When it was just him, Bray, and Mace left in the parking lot, he turned to the iconic leader of the Keepers. “Mace, I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity.”
“I’m a good judge of character, John, but have to admit that you having Bray’s commendation goes a long way as well. I’ll have my Sylvie get in touch and send the paperwork you’ll need to complete before a meeting on our turf.” With a final wave, Mace turned and climbed into his large SUV.
He looked at Bray and shook his hand. “Thanks, man. This means the world to me.”
“It’s you, Wrecker. Mace won’t take just anyone who served in Special Operations. Just being a former military elite isn’t nearly enough to make a Keeper. But you impressed him, and what I know of you, you’ll be an asset.” Bray chuckled, clapping John on the shoulder. “Hell, man, I’m thrilled. It’ll be great to finally work on the same team with you.”
With final handshakes, he walked toward his SUV, glancing to the side at the bikes parked nearby. Minotaurs. Drugs. Guns. Women. And Paula’s got Lucy on their radar. Fuckin’