Rely on Me - Elizabeth Knox Page 0,20

I know better than to leave you alone. Det skulle göra mig mer till ett odjur. Mer än jag är.”

I do a double take as he speaks in Swedish and tells me it would make him more of a monster, more than he already is. “Jag tror knappast att du är ett odjur. Du har bara visat vänlighet mot mig och djur är inte snälla.” I tell him that I can hardly believe he’s a beast, how he’s only shown kindness to me and beasts don’t show kindness.

“You speak Swedish?” He cackles, smiling from ear to ear.

I roll my eyes, “Självklart.” Telling him obviously.

“Fuck. What a lovely surprise.”

“As a child I spent the summers in D.C. with my mom’s family and during the school year I was in Sweden.”

“Shit. What a small world. My family is from Stockholm.”

“Gothenburg,” I respond. Now I’m the one smiling from ear to ear.

“I knew there was a reason I wanted to ask you out.” He chuckles.

Heat flushes across my face and I know I’m blushing. I take another sip of the coffee, needing the liquid courage right now. Then it sinks in, the movers were going to be at my apartment at seven. “Fuck. The apartment. I had the movers going there this morning.” I start to get up, but Mammoth places his hand on my shoulder.

“Relax, Mouse. All of it’s been taken care of. Including the bodies. I had one of the club prospects stay at your apartment last night. He made sure no one fucked with anything while King and Judge disposed of the bodies.”

I take in another deep breath, “You act like it’s no big deal, disposing of bodies.”

“To be fair, I did tell you I was a beast.”

I roll my eyes again and then stare back into his. “I know I’ve said this already, but I really appreciate you coming when I called.”

“How could I not have? You could’ve called anyone, and you chose to call me. It might not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but . . . I’m not anyone else. You feel me?”

I nod, taking another sip of coffee, ever so grateful that Mammoth is unique. If he was a sane man he wouldn’t have come. Though, I’m glad he’s not.

Chapter Eleven

“A wounded lion is still more fierce than a healthy sheep.”

~ A Wordless Man

Mammoth

“There’s some old geezer out front who wants to see Gamble,” Needles pipes up, approaching Hart and I.

“Care to elaborate?” Hart’s already annoyed and I don’t blame him.

“Old white dude, geezer. Fancy suit. Said he’s with a trust and it’s imperative he gets in contact with Gamble immediately.” Needles goes on.

“Where is he now?” I question.

“Are either of you two listening? Out front.”

“You left him in the cold?” I hiss. Even though he’s an outsider, we don’t act like this to people. I walk through the club and open the front door, Hart right by my side.

“I am so sorry Needles left you to wait out here. Please, come inside.” For a moment I thought this could be some sort of set up, a hit for hire assassin or something similar. People have been going after Gamble for ages, especially over the last year. Don’t even get me started on the Baltimore Kings. Fuckin’ lowlife pieces of shit.

As the older man walks through the door, I spot a bike coming in. Narrowing my eyes, I watch him pull up beside the garage bay and dismount, walking toward the door. He’s wearing a cut, and as he approaches, I know exactly who he is. Blood, from the Royal Bastards Elizabeth City, North Carolina charter.

“Hey, brother. What’re you doing up this way?” I greet him.

“Long story, but you’ll see. Hey Stanley, nice to finally meet you.”

I glance over to Hart and both of us share the same look. These two know each other, which is odd. “You two know each other?” Hart says it like a question, but it’s obvious.

“Yeah, we do. Been chatting for a few months. Is Gamble around?” Blood asks.

I let Hart take the lead here, because Gamble came back this morning for some sleep and a shower. They’re going back to the hospital in a few hours to check in on Ace. Thankfully, she is doing well. They have her on a sedative to keep her calm, but she’s alive and doing well. That’s more than we could’ve ever asked for.

“Yeah, she’s asleep. Mind telling me who you are, and how you know Blood?”

“I’m Stanley O’Rourke, attorney at