Free Trip's Retribution (Hell Raiders MC Book 3) by Aden Lowe

and the way he kept himself tightly controlled, watched everything warily and sipped water.
    Trip made his way over to the big MMA fighter, stopping along the way to exchange greetings with a few others. "You ready for this?" For some inexplicable reason, he felt the need to warn the scout ahead of time.
    Ryker shrugged and regarded him with a speculative gaze. "Always. But something's got you on edge about this run."
    Caught out, Trip had to admit it. "Yeah, li'l bit. We're running through Saxons territory, and those fuckers are righteous bat-shit crazy. I don't trust them."
    Around them, the party atmosphere built. Ryker's gaze slid over the crowd. "Let's step out and get some air."
    Fabio sat alone at the end of the bar, and Trip paused beside him. "Hey, man, you got a minute?" When Fabio nodded, he continued. "Come outside? Got some concerns."
    Outside, away from the noise and crowd, the three men walked a short distance from the house. Trip wished for a couple more hits of Hanger's weed. That shit worked miracles with stress.
    Fabio rolled his shoulders as if the tension tightened his muscles, too. "'Sup Trip."
    "Wanted to touch base with you on this run. Like Kellen said, the client expects trouble." Damn it, he wasn't quite sure how to explain. "But I have a feeling there might be something more."
    Ryker gave him a steely-eyed look. "You're about as jumpy as a first-timer in the cage. We riding into an ambush or something?"
    Trip hesitated a moment, then shook his head. "No, at least, I don't think so. The thing is, we're going through some sketchy territory. Saxons MC."
    Recognition showed immediately on Fabio's face. "Trouble waiting?"
    Trip nodded. "Could be. I don't trust them. Their prez is laid up right now." He went on to describe Buffalo's unfortunate accident. "The VP, I don't know how to take him. But if they thought they could grab the truck and make a profit, they'd sure as fuck do it."
    "I'll make sure we're ready for a possible hostile takeover, then." Ryker scowled, apparently adding to his mental list of preparations for the run.
    "Good." They talked a few more minutes, discussing possible scenarios for an attack from the other MC, and how to respond.
    Despite the early hour, Trip succumbed to the fatigue making his muscles ache and said goodnight. Noise from the party buffeted his room and flowed around him, but he turned on music and rolled into his bed anyway. After a couple years living in the club house, nothing kept him from sleeping.
    ***
    Roughly four hours in, as they neared the Tennessee line, Trip called a halt for lunch. Nothing but food and fuel would pull them off the road now that they were underway. Still, with a long haul left ahead, he saw no reason to push the men or machines too hard. Time enough for that in the next few days.
    The Hell Raiders avoided the fast food joints in favor of a busy truck stop. Given a choice, they always went for real food over the other stuff. They parked off to the side, away from the general traffic, and headed inside en masse . Since they were flying low, Trip didn't post a watch at the bikes. Doing so advertised the whole fuck-off attitude of outlaws, and he preferred they come off as casual riders. No need for local LEO attention for some guys just passing through on the way to some fucking theme park down south.
    Inside, the truck stop looked like any of a thousand others, and the men quickly ordered their meals and seated themselves. They talked quietly and ate, careful to avoid scrutiny. Had they just been out riding for the hell of it, they would likely have cut up and played a little. But on a business run, everyone behaved like a model citizen. The food was good and they welcomed the relaxation after the time on the road even if they didn't get to have much fun with it.
    At first, Trip paid no attention to the three men seated to his left wearing trucking company jackets over their flannel shirts. They were just some guys enjoying their lunch.