by J. J. Baxter
“You don’t seem like a day-drinker to me,” one of them said, tousling his blonde hair while he smiled confidently at me.
“I’m usually not, but today is an exception it seems. I’ve had a hard week. So better to get an early start on drinking it away,” I said.
He chuckled. “Oh, really?”
“I’m new to this town and so far, I’ve learned that I shouldn’t be heading out at night alone or I might run into some bikers. At least, that’s what my landlord had been saying when I was hauling my stuff into my new place a week ago.”
“Yes, well they aren’t the kind of people you want to mess with.”
“Why is everyone so afraid of them?” I asked, trying to play dumb, like I had absolutely no idea what I was dealing with.
“They’re ruthless,” he said. “They do whatever it takes to get what they want. And if you ask me, the city would be much better off if they no longer had the freedom to roam around on the streets whenever they damn well please.”
I could tell this was a touchy subject for him, like it had hit a nerve. Exactly what I was looking for, someone to get angry enough to spill every last detail of what was going on. “No kidding. I’ve only been here a few days and I’m already terrified,” I said, finishing my drink, staring back at him so he knew he had my full attention.
“Well, it’s probably best that you look out for any of the Reckless Riders. Trust me, you’ll know them when you see them. They think they run things around here, but something tells me that confidence of theirs is going to be their downfall one day.”
“Any place in particular that I should avoid?” I asked, genuinely curious as to whether he knew where they liked to get together.
“For starters, you probably wouldn’t want to be in this bar when the sun goes down. They love to gather here and about any other place that serves alcohol for that matter. They stroll in here with their damn leather jackets, smelling like cigarettes and gasoline, truly making every place they go an unpleasant experience.”
I nodded, seeming to hang onto every word he said. But I would shut it down before he got too comfortable with the idea that I wanted to keep the conversation going.
One thing seemed clear, even the police were intimidated by how much power Scotch seemed to have. I wondered if they were even able to do anything about it at this point, or if they just joined in with the others, turning a blind eye to the fact he spent his days taking advantage of the innocent, probably pushing drugs and weapons to make ends meet. I knew it wouldn’t be my first time taking out a dangerous man, but I had to make sure I was careful. One wrong move and it would be the end of the line for me.
I thought about what the man said, about this bar being one of the places they came to at the end of the evening to blow off some steam, but I’d also heard quite a few rumors about them liking to spend their time at a local strip club downtown, choosing to indulge in a little show before coming here.
I thought about the sign I’d passed earlier, as it wasn’t lit, but I could already imagine its red neon hue, spelling out the words the Hidden Apple. I decided that I would be joining them tonight, hanging around to see who shows up. Find whatever information they may have to offer. It will be only a matter of time before I have the chance to meet you in person, Scotch.
3
Chasing New Blood
I didn’t know what to think about Scotch and his offer. Maybe this was my chance to finally step outside of my comfort zone, stop having to swipe wallets off of strangers to make ends meet. To finally feel like I had purpose in my life again.
I parked my bike outside of the small apartment I’d rented for the time being, glancing around at just how empty it really was, having just a bed, a fridge, and an old couch in the far corner of the room. It was enough for me right now, because I spent most of my time out on the road anyway.
Scotch expected me back at the bar sooner or later, but I was in the mood to see what else Las Vegas had to offer. Sitting around in the small apartment just reminded me that I should’ve been out chasing a better life for myself, enjoying every moment to its fullest. So, I grabbed my keys and headed right back out on the road. I hated being in any small, confined space. I needed to feel free, especially right now.
I got onto my bike, letting my mind run wild as I took off down the street. I thought about Scotch the entire time, driving around without any real aim of where I wanted to stop. I pulled up to a stoplight across the street from the Hidden Apple, knowing it would be bustling with strippers, dancing the night away for their top-dollar clients. I wasn’t sure if I felt like blowing any money tonight. Then I noticed a woman standing outside of the club.
She was talking to a couple of the hookers who were outside taking a smoke break. It seemed like she was looking for someone. She held up a picture and they both nodded as though they recognized the person.
Something about their interaction made me want to know more. The woman herself was beautiful and she didn’t look like she was from around these parts. So, I let my curiosity get the better of me, turning into the strip club the moment the light turned green, because something about her drew me in.
I parked my bike, remembering the last time I spent a night at a strip club, having blown every dollar I had on me for the beautiful woman giving me a lap dance, because at the end of the night she had met with me and we had our own little show behind the building. I had a feeling that tonight wouldn’t be like that, because the woman I fixated on didn’t look like she was after a good time. She looked like she was after a few answers and I wanted to know what the questions were.
I headed inside, noticing that like the Lazy Pint, this place was absolutely crawling with bikers. They all sat around on the large velvet tufted sofas, enjoying their drinks only half as much as they were enjoying the women. I stood back, in absolute awe of some of them, until I remembered why I’d come in the first place. Out of the corner of my eye, I could’ve sworn I caught sight of her sable-colored jacket.
Before I could make a move, someone tapped me lightly on the shoulder. “Running into you just about everywhere lately, aren’t I, Blayd?”
I turned to look at the man. “Scotch. Of course you’d be here,” I said with a slight chuckle.
“Have you given any more thought to my offer?”
“Yeah, I might take you up on it, depending on what you’re going to have me do as an initiation,” I said, after hearing the rumors of bikers putting themselves in insanely dangerous situations in order to please their president. I wanted to be part of a community that had each other’s backs, not one in a constant power struggle. I had yet to see what Scotch and the Reckless Riders were all about.
“Why don’t you come meet a few of the other members?” Scotch offered. “Have a drink with us and then, we can talk about it tomorrow. I think you might be better off getting to know everyone first.” He led me to their table.
I couldn’t tell him I was here to see a girl I didn’t even know, so I went with him, glancing back to see if she was anywhere to be seen, but it was like she’d vanished into thin air.
“Listen up, I’d like you all to meet someone,” Scotch announced. “It looks like we’ve got a new prospect.”
“Have you given him a name yet?” one of the men asked.
They were all staring back at me. But they seemed friendly enough.
Scotch nodded. “Found him at the Lazy Pint getting into a fight with Ray and some of the brothers. I gave him the name Blayd, I don’t know his name yet.”
“Name’s Max, but Blayd suits me just fine.” I spent nearly the entire rest of the night at the Hidden Apple, but I didn’t see the woman again. I wondered what she was doing there, who she’d been looking for. I didn’t know why, but I felt like she might be trouble. It wasn’t like I’d see her again though, so I tossed the thoughts of her away.
I drove back home that night, realizing my life had already been changing. I never met anyone or any few people that made me feel welc
omed, gave me something to look forward to. I hoped I wasn’t getting myself into deep shit by agreeing to be a prospect for the Reckless Riders. I just hoped it would be the right fit for me. That I wouldn’t eventually find out that Scotch was one of those ruthless leaders that would make my life a living hell. Something told me he was more focused on trying to provide a good life for his members, all while engaging in the very same kind of secret business practices that got me this far in the first place.
I was supposed meet Scotch out on the road that led directly out of the city. I would have my first assignment there, the first real test to see if I was cut out for a life on the road with other bikers by my side. They all appeared much like a family, like they’d known each other for ages, and would do just about anything to protect their own.
I drifted off to sleep, having had more action in the last few hours than I had in the last few years, and it made me see that going at life as merely a lone rider maybe wasn’t enough for me. I’d grown used to relying on myself to get things done, to make ends meet when no one else would, but I now had hope I could really be a part of something more.
We’ll see what you have in store for me, Scotch, but for right now I have to keep my guard up in case you turn out to be exactly the kind of biker I’ve been warned about. The kind to never do business with. Even if you aren’t, I’m sure that during my stay in the city, I will run into a few. At least I know, it won’t be my first time and it certainly won’t be my last. Now, I have to see if a life with the Reckless Riders is worth the time, the effort, and most of all, the fight.
4
Hooked on the Kill
The night I thought would lead me to more answers, only gave me more questions. I’m not even sure I had enough to get anywhere near Scotch just yet, especially because the strippers I’d met with outside the Hidden Apple said nothing but nice things about him. It wasn’t him they were afraid of. What if I can’t find the answers I’m looking for? What if I’ve been tasked to take out a man that has done virtually nothing wrong?
I decided not to move on the contract until I knew everything there was to know about Scotch, about what his plans were for the rest of the Reckless Riders. I wanted to know where he was keeping his stock, if he was exploiting his men, and who he engaged with on an everyday basis. I’d seen him at the strip club, but I knew I had to stay out of sight, even though I wished I could just walk straight up to him and ask him myself. I’d been led to believe the worst about him, that he had absolutely no redeeming qualities. So, what the hell was going on here?
I had an inkling my employers were cops, probably retired, the ones who wanted people like me to do their bidding for them, but I didn’t mind. For the most part, I never cared about going through with the job if the person had been guilty of something terrible. He didn’t read as someone who’d spent his entire life torturing the people around him. Now, I wondered if the people that hired me got it wrong. I needed to be sure that I wasn’t trying to take out a man who was just trying to protect his own. That’s not how I do business.
Yeah, a hit woman with a heart. I shook my head. But it was so. I always checked the mark out first. I had refused to complete a couple of jobs already in the past when the mark did not appear to be a bad person. It was just one of my rules. The employer did not have to understand it. I did. I gave a fuck about their needs and wants if it did not sit well with me.
I wondered how Scotch would react if the police were hot on his tail. I wanted to see if he would fly into a blind rage, take out the cops hunting him down one by one, or if he would deal with it the way any leader should, by coming up with a solution and calming his members down. I decided that tipping off the police in the area might not be the worst idea and if all went well, they would have to meet at some point to discuss what was happening. I’d learned enough about the Reckless Riders to know that most of their meetings are in the back booth at the Lazy Pint over a few drinks. They didn’t spend half as much time in their clubhouse as they did at the bar, at least that’s what I’d heard.
I was also curious to see if there were any other MCs that would come out of the woodwork, I wouldn’t be killing anyone until I had the information I needed. I knew that when the time came, I would have to get dangerously close, so close in fact that Scotch would have to decide himself whether I was trustable, because I was determined to make the opportunity impossible for him to pass up.
I took my time writing a letter to the police, disguising my handwriting perfectly as I donned a pair of gloves to make sure that my prints weren’t anywhere on it. I put it in a large yellow mailer, one that signified that it was a package that needed urgent attention. I got onto the back of my bike, driving it down to the police station, as I stayed out of sight, waiting for the opportune moment to leave it on the receptionist’s desk, with my sweater hood shielding my face from the cameras. It was a risky move, but it had to be done, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before the police started knocking on the known addresses of some of these bikers, I just had to make sure I would be present to see exactly what they were planning on doing, and how they reacted the moment they learned that they’d been set up.
It went like clockwork, hearing the sound of the police sirens early the following morning, as they were whizzing past my apartment building one after the other, like they had true business to attend to. I wondered if all of them were planning on making a scene out of this, but I realized the police cars flashing red and blue hues were already chasing down bikers. I wondered if they had an inkling that they truly were guilty of something, or were they stopping them all to make sure.
I felt hesitant about heading back out into the city, following them on my own bike, but I had no choice. I was responsible for this, and if the cops were going to stop me, I would just have to deal with the consequences.
I strapped my helmet on, then took off into the afternoon sun, following the police cars within the vicinity. I wanted to see how close they were going to get to these bikers.
One police car pulled up in front of a small house with a white, wrought iron gate in front of it.
I stared at the little red door from across the street, waiting to see what the officers were going to do. I noticed the emblem on the bike in the driveway, and wondered where I’d seen it before. A little paved roadway enclosed in two angel wings, with a sword striking right through the middle. It was then I remembered seeing it on the back of Scotch’s jacket. This was the Reckless Riders patch. See this would help me scope out any new members I might be able to use this to my advantage.
I parked my bike in the alleyway across the street behind a dumpster, making the rest of the journey up to where the officers were on foot because I needed to get close enough to hear the exchange. The air seemed still, absolutely silent as though there was little to no activity happening behind that closed door at all. I hid behind a bush, watching them knock loudly on the door, telling the person inside to open up.
“How can I help you, officer?” a man asked as he opened his front door.
“We got a call stating that there have been bikers in the surrounding area that have been caught with narcotics,” the officer explained. “We’ve been out visiting a few of the houses in the neighborhood where you boys live, and we would like to come in to make sure you’re not hiding anything in there.”
Even I knew the cop wasn’t going to get away with this.
The biker’s entire expression changed immediately. “I’m sorry officer. I’m not sure what it is you think you’ve heard, but I have nothing like that here. If you have a problem with any of us, you know where to find Scotch. He will have the answers to any questions you may have, but until then, I’m going to politely ask you to get off my property.”
I felt a little shocked at his brazen and sure answer.
He didn’t look or act nervous, even though he had the police standing at his door. It was clear that Scotch had all of his members act a certain way, knowing exactly what to say
to the police, because none of them seemed to act out in any way. I was starting to think I had truly made a mistake, going after the wrong guys. I knew though that I had to get closer. I needed to find out which one of the members I could use to get in with Scotch.
This might just be the way they covered their asses, so none of his business practices were ever brought to light. I needed to get him and the rest of the Reckless Riders to trust me. I thought about how I saw him at the Hidden Apple and how he’d been introducing the rest of the Reckless Riders to a new addition to their biker gang, someone they called Blayd.
Scotch had treated him with the utmost respect, and I wondered if that was the kind of thing each of his members could expect. Maybe this new addition was exactly where I needed to start. I noticed that this Blayd guy didn’t have his patch as yet. Now, I needed to track down my opening to the Reckless Riders.
5
Get Me a Gun
I heard a loud, obnoxious knocking on my front door the next morning. When I finally opened my eyes, I listened closely to hear that it was the police. I didn’t understand what they would be doing outside my apartment, or what they even wanted with me, but every bone in my body was telling me not to open the door. I didn’t want to face them, because I could list off a vast number of terrible things I’d done over the course of my life, and I wondered which of those acts had led me to this point.
Suddenly, I thought about Scotch, about how he’d told me that a time would come where I would uphold the image of the club myself, not having anyone to back me, or help the conversation along when I started to mess things up. I took a deep breath, knowing they probably weren’t going to leave until they got a good look at my face, so I rose from the hard mattress, making my way over to the door. I swung it open.