One You Never Leave Read Online Free PDF Page A

said Luke through clenched teeth.
    “What’s more important to you, Luke? A motorcycle gang, or your wife and child and the life you can have here?”
    “The Spawn is part of my life!”
    Matt shook his head. “Your decision, Luke. But do me a favor and think about it. Think about what’s important.” Matt sighed and stood. “Thanks for dinner,” he said as he put on his suit jacket. “I’ll be in touch.”
    Luke saw Matt out the door while the words the man spoke rolled in his gut. His head told him the lawyer was right, but his heart argued furiously otherwise. The Spawn were the people who’d kept him together after he returned alone from the navy. Their business helped him to morph from doing a few repairs on the side into a thriving business. His life during riding season revolved around the club events, and he’d even built a clubhouse that did a good business through the riding season. Giving up the Spawn would be giving up a good part of his life.
    But what about Emily and the baby? his head spoke urgently. Do you really want to risk them?
    No. No. A thousand times, no. He’d lost her twice. Luke wasn’t going to lose her again. Luke kicked the door. Even through his work boots, pain shot up through his big toe. “Ouch!”
    “Luke,” called Emily, “everything okay?”
    “Yeah. I just stubbed my toe.”
    “But you’re wearing your work boots.”
    “Yeah, about that. I’m going to take them off now, so you’d better stuff cotton up your nose. You know, so you don’t suffer the effects of my stinky feet.”
    “Come here, you silly man,” she said with a laugh.
    “I thought you were sleeping.”
    “Nope. Just resting. There’s a difference between resting and sleeping.”
    “Uh-huh,” said Luke as he entered the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his left foot across his knee to get at the laces of his work boots.
    “Why did you promise to give Matt one of your bikes?”
    Luke shrugged. “Lawyers aren’t cheap, Emily. I’d rather part with the bike than the money.”
    “Luke, is there something you’re not telling me about our finances?”
    “Me? You’re the accountant. You have access to everything.” At that, Luke felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t told her about the money his father had taken and hidden from the Icherra drug cartel. Twelve point five million dollars would go a long way to easing their money troubles. But the last thing he wanted to do was take that money and use it. Luke always felt a sense of pride that he hadn’t fallen back on that dirty money, but made his own. No. That money would be for emergencies.
    His phone on the nightstand rang and Emily reached over and answered.
    “Okay, thanks for letting us know.” She clicked off the call. “You might not want to pull that boot off. That was the security company. The store’s alarm went off.”
    Luke groaned. “Probably another coyote sniffing around the fire pit where we roasted that pig last summer.”
    “The police are there now and they didn’t see anything.”
    “Well, that’s what the alarm is for—to scare off the man or beast that’s trespassing. But I’m not looking forward to another face to face with Westfield’s finest.”
    “You’ve got to turn off the alarm, so you can’t avoid it.”
    He finished retying his laces and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. No man or beast is going to keep me from my beautiful Emily for long.”
     
     
    Luke’s truck moved through the chilly November night. It didn’t take him too long to make it to the shop. In fact, his heat had barely kicked on before he reached the parking lot. He squinted against the flashing lights of the police car parked at the shop’s entrance.
    “Hello, officers,” he said as he walked to the door. He didn’t recognize either one of the cops.
    “You the owner?” asked one.
    “Yes. Luke Wade.”
    “This is second alarm this month. One more and we’re going to have to