Preacher had gotten Dog and a few other associates, including Billy and Ryan, to try to figure out the best way to get this son of a bitch on his side. So far, there had been a couple of warnings.

Just last week he’d been in town, and O’Klaren had sought him out. It was the first time any of the cops on his payroll hadn’t given him the heads-up. He’d been right to keep quiet and lay low.

He’d been in charge for a long time and was used to getting what he wanted. This was the first time in a while where he had to literally do nothing and just wait for the all clear.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Keats, and I’m not going to justify calling you by your road name, you will always be Keats or Caleb to me. This is my town, and whatever shady shit you think you’ve got going down, it stops now. I will end you. I’m not Milner. I can’t be bought. You step out of line, I will make it my personal mission to see you rotting in jail and becoming someone’s bitch. I may even watch.”

Preacher would give the man some credit. He had a pair of balls, that was for sure. No one spoke to him like that, and because O’Klaren decided to go on the offensive and seek him out, well, he was more than willing to fight him back if he needed to.

With that in mind, he flicked open the file. It had only been a week, but there was sure a lot of information on the good old man of law.

He never had a bad word said against him. Always checked his leads. Took care of rats. He was, for all intents and purposes, a good guy.

Sitting back, Preacher finished his sandwich with a good look at the man’s family. He was a married man with five kids. The oldest was already away at college, and the kid had a history of problems. Assault and petty theft.

It intrigued him to know a good old guy like O’Klaren had a kid misbehaving, acting out. Taking a note of the kid’s age, Preacher saw he was only a year older than Bishop.

“Bishop, get your ass in here,” he said.

He didn’t have to wait long. Even as his kid was dragging his feet, he still arrived. “What’s up?”

“I’ve got an assignment for you.” He handed him a picture. “I need you to get close to this kid.”

“He’s in college.”

“Last time I checked you had a bike. Besides, I’m not asking you to enroll into college. I’m asking you to get close to this kid. Find out what his deal is. Why he’s always in trouble. It doesn’t require you to actually do anything about it.”

“I’ll go and start now.”

“Anyone home?” Bear called.

“In here.”

“See you later,” Bishop said.

As his son left, Bear entered.