Grayson smiled warmly at me. “You good to get back on the road?”
“Yes, I think so.” While he put on his helmet, I said, “Thank you. I don’t think I would’ve made it this far if it hadn’t been for you.”
“Nah, something tells me you would’ve done just fine.”
He gave me a wink, then got back on and started the engine. He had no idea how much our little chat had helped me. While I was still nervous, I wasn’t completely freaking out. I just had to make it through the next twenty-four hours, and then maybe I could breathe easy again. Grayson eased back onto the road, and it wasn’t long before we were in the Nashville city limits. I’d been there hundreds of times but seeing it now on Grayson’s bike made it seem like a whole new world. The sounds, the smells, and even the colors were more pronounced. With the wind whipping around us, I finally understood why he loved riding his motorcycle so much.
After a few quick turns, we pulled up to a warehouse with a ten-foot fence around the perimeter and a gate with two Sinners standing guard. As soon as they motioned us through, my nerves returned, and my stomach twisted into a knot. Grayson pulled up to the front and parked, then extended his hand to help me off the back before throwing his leg over the bike. Once we’d removed our helmets, he asked, “You good?”
“I’ve been better, but I’m okay.”
“It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
I was glad he was with me as we headed inside. We’d barely made it through the door when I heard a familiar voice say, “It’s about time you two got here. We were beginning to think you got lost or something.”
“What’s wrong, sunshine?” Grayson chuckled as he looked over to Rafe. “You miss me?”
“You know better than that shit.”
“Mm-hmm. Whatever you say, boss.” Grayson’s smile faded as he asked, “Prez around?”
“Yeah, he and Axel are in his office waiting for you.” Rafe was sitting at the bar with Hawk and two men I’d never met before. Rafe looked over to me and smiled. “Good to see you again, Kiersten.”
“Good to see you, too, Rafe.”
“We better get going.” Grayson nodded for me to follow. “We don’t want to keep Viper waiting.”
“Okay.” I gave Rafe a quick wave and said, “Hope to see ya later.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Grayson led me out of the bar and down a long, dark hallway lined with various doors. I was so busy taking in my surroundings that I’d almost forgotten I was about to meet with Viper, but the realization hit me the second Grayson stopped at the end of the hall. I was expecting my heart to start racing again or my throat to close up, but neither happened. Instead, I remained perfectly calm as Grayson tapped on the door and stuck his head inside. After a few brief words, he motioned me inside. “Good luck.”
“Wait... You aren’t coming with me?”
“No, babe. This is all you.”
“Seriously?” I inhaled a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “Okay, I’ve got this.”
“I know you do.” He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “I’ll be waiting in the bar when you’re done.”
I nodded, then stepped into the office. Viper was sitting behind a large desk, and there was a man sitting in front of him. The man stood and extended his hand as he said, “You must be Kiersten.”
“Yes, sir. I am.”
“Good to meet ya. I’m Axel. The club’s VP.” He was older, maybe in his late forties, but like Viper, he was tall, muscular, and clearly able to handle himself. He pulled out the chair next to him and said, “Make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
Once I was seated, Viper looked over to me. “I appreciate you coming down to meet with us. I know you’re busy, but I didn’t want any distractions while we discussed the final details of our agreement.”
“I understand, and I was more than happy to come.” I shifted in my seat, trying to make myself a little more comfortable. “I’m eager to hear your thoughts on how this should play out.”
“Hawk has already discussed some of the ground rules. Before we continue, I want to be sure that you understand our expectations.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands on his desk. “Your safety is a priority to us. We don’t want to put you or our partnership in danger. In order to do that, we must limit your exposure. Your sales to the college have to stop, and we will become your primary source of distribution.”
“I understand.” While I wasn’t exactly thrilled about losing the college sales, I knew Viper was right. I was putting my entire operation in danger every time I sold on that campus, and I was more than happy to take that risk out of the equation. Besides, with them taking over distribution, I could put all my focus into my production—where I’d always wanted it to be. Maybe then, I could do more to help those in need. “I just have one request... actually two requests.”