All Chapters of Riding with the Pack: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CyrusI'd stayed late working on a pickup to see when Harlow got out of the bar. When she finally did, I walked over to my bike, lit a cigarette, and sent her a text. I did my best to act cool when she looked up, taking a drag, but the truth was I'd been thinking about her all day.Even through the late-night Howlers meeting about Sunrise Corp, which basically ended up nowhere, she was at the back of my mind. Seeing her over there in a little white dress under her leather jacket, I couldn't wait to get her on the back of my bike and drive off into the Bone Hills. When I got her text back confirming our meeting, I smiled from ear to ear. I tore off my coveralls and put my cut on over my T-shirt. "Hey, I'm gonna finish this up tomorrow," I told Mac and Butch, the two guys left working. "You in a rush to be somewhere?" Mac asked. "Hot date?""Nah," I replied, "your mom's busy.""A**hole," Mac said, throwing a dirty rag my way. "See ya," I called as I started my bike up and wen

Harlow"Good news," Bonnie said as she arrived at my table and slid into the booth. "Votes are in. You made the cut.""I can stay?" I gasped.She nodded. "We're going to wipe the slate clean and give you another chance.""Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.""But, you're not out of the woods just yet," she replied, her expression turning serious. "Like I said, this pack is built on trust, which takes time. And given recent events, you're gonna have to step up and go the extra mile. You think you can do that?""Absolutely. Whatever it takes."Bonnie smiled. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Madoc is coming back tomorrow, and I have no idea what he's got planned for us. I'll need all the reliable help I can get.""You can count on me," I said. "Good." She stood and left to chat with Lola and Dax.As I looked around the room, I watched pack members laughing and joking as they ordered round after round of drinks, played cards, and argued over which song

CyrusThe Marshal swerved into the garage parking lot."Any idea what this is about?" Tank asked me."I don't know. But everyone stay put and I'll find out," I replied."Hey, you're not calling the shots now," Mac said, getting up in my face."I'm still your Beta.""And I'm VP," he replied.From the corner of my eye, I saw the Marshal's driver side door open."We don't have time for this. Come on," I said.Mac and I both hurried across to join Blayze, who was standing in front of the garage. At the same time, the Marshal stepped out of his Charger. His cowboy hat, badge, and sidearm made him look like he'd just been plucked out of the old west. He put on a pair of aviators as we approached."What can I do you for, Marshal?" Blayze asked."I have reason to believe the fugitives, Robbie Cooke and Travis Lawrence, are bankrolling the citizens of this town to keep them underground," he replied."Sorry, but I don't know anything about that. My boys and I run a legitimate busines

HarlowBonnie eyed Madoc suspiciously."I know you're not accustomed to taking orders," he said to her. "So I'll try my best to give you some time to adjust to new management."That clearly pissed Bonnie off, but she held her tongue for the time being."You ok if I go?" she asked me.I didn't know what other option we had, so I nodded."If I find out you so much as looked at her funny—" she began, but Madoc released his grip on my wrist and raised both his hands in the air."I'm just having a meet and greet with my newest employee," he replied."I'll be back in just a couple minutes," Bonnie assured me and headed for the door.When she was gone, Madoc said, "Why don't you be a dear and make me a margarita?""No salt with a little umbrella?" I asked."Good memory."I made my way behind the bar while he sauntered over to the jukebox. Coins clanked into the machine, and he selected a song. As I measured and poured the margarita ingredients into the cocktail shaker, a glitter r

HarlowThe next day, Red, Goldie, and I finished up all the passports for the trip. Then Red closed up the bar at 3:00 in the afternoon, so everyone had time to get ready for the potluck. The whole MC was expected to be there, and from what I could tell, a lot of non-MC pack members were attending, too. That also meant that Cyrus and I would once again be in the same place. But being surrounded by people from both sides, we couldn't actually interact with each other."This used to be Arlene's big tradition," Red explained. "A pack-wide potluck at her place the night before a group got on the road for a big out-of-town mission. I've actually kinda missed it. The last one we had was right before the Mexico incident.""That was when Cyrus's father was killed?" I asked.Red nodded. "Him and eleven others. Lola, Dax, and Mac were the only ones on that mission that made it outta there alive. D*mned hunters just ambushed 'em. That last potluck was the last time things really felt whole."