The races began while I watched as the riders set out from the strip and zoomed into the distance. I suppose it would have been entertaining if we weren’t in fear of our heads being blown off at any moment.
Forty-five minutes into the event and I spotted a few members from the Death’s Hand club heading over to our stand. Our members were scattered strategically to ensure we had at least two members of their club in our sights to attack if tensions got too high. There was no alarm as the president of the club, Warden, and their sergeant at arms, Vice, headed over.
Snake and Tyler went to meet them, but I remained in my seat and kept my eye on them.
They spoke for a while, before they turned and called out to me. I didn't want to go, but neither did I want to be the dumbass that cost the others their lives, so I rose and headed over to the meeting. My sunglasses were over my eyes to shield my gaze from them all.
"They just explained," Snake said to me in his calm voice. “The attack was an impulsive offense from three of their members. They've since been severely punished. You were directly affected in this. What retribution do you want?"
I transferred my gaze to the two men. "I'm fine," I responded. "One of our members however is now paralyzed in the hospital. How are they going to pay for that?”
"We heard he wasn't a member, but a hanger," Vice said. "The matter then isn't too severe."
"He was a fucking member," I growled.
Both men hardened their gazes on me.
"Take it easy," Snake cautioned.
"And even if he is not a member, isn't he a fucking human being? He was the sole provider for his grandmother."
"What do you want then?" Warden asked. "Cover his grandmother’s bills?”
“And the kid’s financial needs. For the rest of his life," I said harshly.
Tyler turned to me. "That's fucking insane, Bone. Where's your head at? Are even our financial needs assured?"
"I don't give a fuck," I stated. "Either that or we break the legs of all three of your members."
"Your man’s insane,” Vice spoke up.
I took my sunglasses off to glare into his eyes just in case he thought I was joking.
"He's speaking his mind," Snake responded.
His voice sounded so still and cold, it even sent a shiver down my spine. Of the members of the club, Snake was the only one who caused a reaction in me.
"Then how about we speak ours too," Warden shot back. “That bloody moron RJ. He was fucking disrespectful on our own turf. How are you planning to deal with him?”
Both Tyler and Snake shared looks with each other. The immediate and appropriate decision would have been to ban him from the club, strip him of membership, but he was the source for the huge deal we had in the works for the upcoming meth transaction. None of us could afford to lose him, or let anyone know why we couldn’t.
"You know he's a bit of a nut head," Snake said mildly. “We're still thinking of what w—"
"Let me help you there,” Vice cut in. "Take away his patch, and send him over to us. And we’ll settle the score of his offenses in our bar directly with him.”
"We can't do that," Tyler answered instantly, his voice warned them that the issue was not up for discussion or negotiation.
"Then how do you suggest we solve this then?" Vice asked, his voice low and threatening.
Just then, I heard a vehicle drive up and turned to see a pickup truck a few yards away from us. It was pulling into the arena. Four members of the rival club jumped out of it. Then the driver jumped out and began to put on leather gloves and I was instantly on guard. "What's that bastard over there doing?" I asked.
We all saw the corners of the driver’s mouth lift in a sick smile. I could see that Tyler had also noted his gloves.
"Tell him to move away from that truck,” Snake said. "We want to see what's behind him.”
"It's no biggie," Warden said. "Calm yourself, man."
"If he makes one wrong move, this entire arena will turn into a grave site," Tyler stated as a thick blue vein was already ticking on his temple. It was throbbing with the thirst for blood. He bared his teeth at the men around the truck in a humorless smile that rattled my bones.
"May I remind ya’all that this place is packed with cops? One wrong move and we’ll all be spending the next decade in jail," Snake said.
"We definitely won't be joining you.” Vice laughed. “Our support gear is bringing in quite the buck so the best attorney is not a problem. Your club however, I hear is still … struggling. How many of those shirts have you all been able to sell this month?”
Flash fast and before any of us could even react, Tyler's fist swung into the air and smashed Vice squarely in the jaw.
The big man staggered backwards before falling heavily into the grass. It was as if the very earth under our feet quaked. In that moment, I could feel the entire air of the arena change as all eyes left the race and turned to us.
"The fuck." Warden turned to us.
Snake also turned to Tyler. "Calm down," he immediately intervened, his hands raised. "You both know how quickly this can get out of hand."
Vice, red with embarrassment jumped to his feet, but before he could pull out whatever he had in his pocket, his president crashed into him to shake him to his senses.
I noted the moments as they passed, my hand was just within reach of the gun I had tucked into the back of my jeans. Come on. Don’t fucking do it.
"I'm gonna fucking kill him," Vice roared out his anger. He was furious at being hit in front of all these people.
I noticed then that some top-ranking members of the Hells Angels, Durban brotherhood, and the Mongols began to approach us from every side. Vicious looking men, most with protruding bellies and wild beards, their glares hidden behind their small framed glasses. My attention shifted from the brawl in front of me to the president of the Mongols club as he approached along with the pack.
As I stared unblinkingly at him, whatever civility I had nursed through this entire debacle dissipated quickly and was replaced by the vicious thirst for blood that had driven me into this life in the first place. Two years ago, he had shot and killed Mace Herald the only true friend I had in this damn world. Barely an hour after I had spoken to him, he was gunned down by the monster who was now approaching me.
He held my gaze too, as he neared. No doubt, he was perplexed as to why I always had my gaze fixed on him anytime we came into contact. He didn't look away and kept his equally unblinking gaze on me.
The Hells Angels President, Leroy Dawson spoke, “Y’all need to take this somewhere else. This whole place is crawling with bugs and they’re looking to take us all down. The war is not going to be between just you two anymore, if that happens.”
Snake stepped up to the Deaths Hand president. “One more time, what are you going to do about the boy who lost his legs through your attack?” He looked between the leaders and his still fuming sergeant of arms.
“We can’t solve this today,” Warden said. “Let’s tackle this another time.”
“He needs his medical fees covered.” I growled. “Today. What are you going to do about that?”
“You should have fucking restricted that dog you call a member to behave then. And we don’t fucking owe—”
My gun flew out at the speed of light and pressed right against his forehead.
“You fucking moron,” someone swore as the entire gathering around us stiffened, their hands going to their own weapons in alarm. The race forgotten.
“How do you pick em, Snake?” Vice mocked.
Snake narrowed his gaze at me, surprised at my move. “We’ll handle all of this next time. Bone, put your gun away.”
A few seconds ticked by before I could calm myself sufficiently to tuck my weapon away. I turned and stormed away from the gathering.
I was standing at the edge of the canopy when Tyler and Snake walked up to me. They were both clearly annoyed.
“What the fuck was that all about, Bon
e?” Tyler roared. “You losing your mind now like RJ?”
I kept silent, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to get away with it.
“You’ll be punished,” Snake spat.
I couldn’t have cared less.
Della Ray
“Hey.”
I was brushing my teeth so I could head into the shower when Nichole popped her head into the bathroom. When I saw the look in her eyes, something hit hard against my chest. “What is it?”
“A video surfaced from the race,” she said. “It’s everywhere online and on the news. A fight broke out, but there were no guns involved. Only fists. At a point though, it seemed like they were going to go at each other’s throats.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I mumbled, turning the faucet off.
“I thought you’d like to know if he got hurt.”
“I don’t care.” I replaced my toothbrush and snatched the bath curtain aside so I could get in for a shower.
“Okay,” she responded and left.
As the hot cascade poured atop my head, I felt the knot in my heart start to loosen, but then the moment I remembered the girl’s words in the bar. I tried to remind myself that it all meant nothing … him, her ... them. All of it was of no consequence whatsoever to my life and wellbeing.
Why then was my heart breaking?
* * *
“Hey, I think we saw your guy on the news,” Gloria said as I arrived into the diner’s kitchen.
I ignored her and retrieved the supplies I needed to replenish my section. I really didn’t need any more aggravation this evening. I was already like a cat on a hot tin roof. Then at that moment, my phone rang so I slammed down the thick jars of ketchup and mustard on the table and pressed it to my ear. “What?” I barked.
“That’s how you answer your phone,” came the response.
I couldn’t breathe. I really couldn’t breathe. The fire that had been charring my chest over the last few days blazed like someone had poured a jug of kerosene on it.
“How did you get my number?” I snarled.
He went silent. Then … “I need to see you, Della.”
I scoffed in disbelief. “You’re out of stories to sing to your buddies? You want some new ones now?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
I hated how cold and calm his voice was while I sounded like I was running on coals. It wasn’t fair. I was always the one suffering. He always took what he wanted and went on his way. No more. No more. “We agreed not to contact each other ever again. Why are you calling me?”
“It was a rough night. And through it all, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. How do I get you off my mind, Della?”
I could feel myself start to soften. God, how I wanted to believe him. To be with him. But I couldn’t. I had Jess to think of. If I had been single, perhaps I could have seen a life with him as an adventure, but with Jess, no way. I could never do that to her. I took a deep breath. “Well for starters, delete my damn number.”
“I need to see you, baby.”
I hated myself for asking but I couldn’t hold back. “Are you okay?”
“I’m not,” he said. “You have your shift at the diner, right? I’ll come over.”
“Please don’t!” I snapped.
Silence.
“Why not?” he asked quietly.
“I don’t want anything to do with you, Bone. I’ve got my life and you’ve got yours. This is what we agreed on, remember?”
“Yeah. You’re right,” he said, and the line went dead.
For the longest time all I did was hold the phone, the beep singing of endings and death in my ear. The door to the diner dinged open and at the sight of our manager, I put my phone away and went on with my job. I think I worked on autopilot. Smiling, pouring coffee, carrying plates, ringing up the register. All the while I could hear him saying, I need to see you, baby.
I was exhausted by the time I took my apron off. When I went back home, I held Jess in my arms, and I knew it was worth it. “I would do it all again for you,” I whispered in her ear.
“What did you say, Mommy?” she asked innocently.
“Nothing, sweetie,” I said, holding back the tears. Any sacrifice would be worth it for this little angel.
“Mommy, can we have dinner together tonight?”
“No, babygirl. I have to work, but Nichole will have dinner with you.”
“Can Nichole work and you have dinner with me for once?”
I started crying then. I couldn’t help it. Everything was so messed up. When Jess asked me why I was crying, I told her I had dust in my eyes.
“Poor, poor Mommy,” she said sadly.
Della Ray
I was an hour into my shift when I received a call from an unknown number so I watched it ring, fighting with all my might not to pick it up. It stopped and I sighed with relief. It would all be fine.
Just before I took the first step away from it, it began to ring again. I pulled it out of my pocket and placed the phone to my ear. “Hello?” I hated how breathless and eager my voice sounded.
“Della-Ray,” my sister’s voice came through and my heart sunk into my stomach.
“Denise?” I hadn’t seen her in four years. Ever since Jess was born.
“I’m at your home with Nichole,” she responded. “I hear you’re at work.”
The hair on my arms stood on end. “What are you doing there?”
She ignored the question. “I just saw Jess. You’ve done a great job with raising her. Can you get home a bit earlier today, though? My boyfriend and I need to be on our way in about an hour.”
“Can I talk to Nichole please?” I asked.
There was shuffling and movement as I waited for her to be put on. I placed the tray down on the nearest table and focused on my call.
“Hey,” she said, her voice unnaturally bright.
“How did Denise know where we live?”
“I told her. She wanted to see how her daughter is doing. Umm … can you ask for the rest of the night off? They need to speak to you.”
Nichole sounded strange and my heart began to pound in my chest. I knew something was very wrong. I ended the call and hurried over to Henry, my suspicion about what was going on becoming too nerve racking for me to remain. He gave me the rest of the night off, and I was in a taxi and on my way home in no time.
There was a small beat up Honda in our driveway.
I hurried into the house and burst into the living room. Jess was asleep in Nichole’s arms. Her mother and my sister were seated on the adjoining sofa. She was looking much, much older than was normal for her age of twenty-six. Beside her was a man in a fedora whom I assumed was her new partner.
I ignored the both of them and immediately hurried over to Jess. “Is she okay?” I asked.
Nichole nodded. “Talk to them,” she said. Then she rose to her feet, with Jess’s head on her shoulders and headed back to Jess’s room.
I turned towards my sister. My question was simple. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re here to take Jess with us.”
“What?”
“We’re here to take Jess with us,” she repeated.
“What do you mean?”
“We’re taking her to the orphanage down at Cuyahoga. It’s about two hours away from here. I signed her up for admission when she was born. I gave them a call just now and they say they can immediately start looking for a family who would—”
“You must be out of your mind!” I yelled before she could finish her ugly sentence.
“I’m not, Della-Ray and I’m not joking either.”
I started to walk away from her. When I heard footsteps behind me, I hurried on and as soon as I arrived at Jess’s room, I shut the door behind me and locked it. Nichole was sitting on Jess’s bed and patting my baby’s stomach.
“What’s going on?” I asked Nichole. I felt like a hunted animal. No matter where I turned, there was danger.
She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it, guilt filled her eyes, and I understood what she had done. Denise began to knock on the door but I ignored it. I directed my fury at Nichole. “You called her?”
“No. She called me. She just wanted to know where we had moved to and how you were coping. I told her the truth.”
“Why, Nichole? Why? You know what she’s like.”
“She’s Jess’s mother.”
“I’m Jess’s mother!” I screamed, tears streaming down my face. “I’m Jess’s mother. Me. I’m the one that loves her. How could you, Nichole? How could you?”
“I’m sorry, okay. At that time, I really believed it was better if she was with a family that could afford her medical bills.”
There was a stronger knock on the door, and I knew it was the man who had come with Denise.
“We don't have time for this,” his deep voice came through, and when he banged on the door impatiently, both Nichole and I jumped.
“Della-Ray, she is my child,” my sister said. “And I have the right to decide what is best for her. Let her—”
“You have absolutely no fucking right!” I yelled back. “I’ve cared for her since the moment you gave birth to her and abandoned her. And now you want to make her life a living hell? What fucking family will accept a child like her and love her more than I will? She's no fucking orphan, she’s mine and I’m not letting you take her. I’m going to take care of her.”
“Della-Ray, you can’t give her all that she needs,” she yelled back.
“And a stranger could?” I roared back.
“Yes! Listen to me, I’ve already spoken to the orphanage director, and she says she will find the best home possible for Jess. She will have all she needs and you’ll be able to move on with your life.”
“She is my life!” I screamed back at her, “and you are going to take her away from me. You lost that right when you abandoned her.”
With all the noise, Jess came awake with a low cry, and I instantly rushed over to take her into my arms. “You’re not going anywhere,” I promised as I rocked her in my arms. “You’ll be perfectly fine with me.”
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