I felt like shit. Every joint in my body hurt, every muscle, every organ, and my head felt as if it were about to split open. The wolf needs protein, but sometimes eating junk food helps when I don’t feel as if I’m in control. It didn’t this time, but at least I enjoyed the chips.
* * *
We usually ride our bikes to the woods, but with the turmoil around us, Duke felt it best we didn’t advertise a third of us were leaving. We all piled into the back of a delivery van with a cooler full of beer, and drank and talked about nothing in particular on the drive.
Brain and Duke wanted to wait with me while the others changed so they could talk me through my change, but I insisted I’d rather do it alone.
I walked a half mile into the woods, smelled and listened to be sure I was alone, and caught Brain’s scent.
“I know you’re there.”
“I was going to give you the illusion of privacy.”
“Didn’t work.”
“We can’t all be Ghost.” He stepped out from behind a tree. “You’ll be vulnerable for a long time. Let me watch over you and make sure another predator doesn’t happen along and see you as an easy meal.”
We’d both undressed back at the van, so I only had to go to all fours and try to let the wolf out.
I could feel him, and I knew he wanted out, but it wasn’t working. However, once I started trying the soul-shattering pain hit, and I knew it wouldn’t go away until the process finished.
When I finally managed to get it started, my spine changed first — one vertebra at a time, and it must’ve taken two minutes before the entire spine was a wolf’s backbone while the rest of my body was human. I screamed as my hips began shifting, and desperately wished I could just pass out during the process as I realized my bones were shifting but not my soft tissues. Tendons ripped, muscles tore, and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do to speed it up or stop the pain.
As my shoulders shifted and I felt the change making its way through every bone in my arms, wrists, and hands as the tendons and muscles ripped, Brain said, “When your skull shifts you’ll have brain damage until the soft tissues catch up. You’ll still feel every bit of it, but you won’t be in your right mind. If you’re going to reach out to Randall for help, you should do it soon — you’re barely a quarter of the way through your change.”
“How… reach out?” I managed to grit out between spasms.
“Just think of him, think of his energy, feel for it and ask for help. Just make sure you’re beyond respectful when you ask.”
I did as Brain said and I heard him talking to someone, or perhaps a group of people, as if he were on a stage. Somehow, he talked to me in my mind while he talked to them aloud, and I heard him telling me, “I have you,” as a warm, comforting energy enveloped me.
The process still happened as it’d started, but he made it happen within a few minutes instead of the hour or more Brain said it would’ve taken without Randall’s intervention. My fur was the last to form, and when I was finally all wolf, I sent a thank-you towards him. He sent another warm burst of energy my way before he shut me out so I could no longer hear what he was saying to the Pack before they changed and ran.
When the wolf was finally whole and walking, Brain quickly changed and we ran off together. I’m not sure how far we ran before we found the others, but they’d waited before taking down a deer, and I have to admit her warm meat was sweeter than any I could remember eating.
Chapter 24
Gonzo
Connie called me the next evening to let me know she’d meet me at the lab at ten Saturday morning with the twins’ bags packed, and I could take them with me after the appointment.
“Do you have a hot date Saturday night?”
“I have a date. I don’t know if it’ll be hot or not.”
I had to fight my wolf to tell her, “Good luck. I hope it works out, and if it doesn’t I hope you at least have fun.”
I’d been disconnected from my wolf too much to realize how much he wants her. Now that our connection was back to normal I understood we were going to have to find a compromise because I was slapped in the face with the realization he was going to do his best to push me toward her as I tried to pull back.
I talked to each twin for about fifteen minutes, and then she got back on the phone to verify they’d see me at ten Saturday morning. I reminded her we’d been invited to Duke and Gen’s house Sunday evening, and she said it was on her calendar.
* * *
The lab visit was without incident. They looked over our paperwork and scanned everything in, took pictures of the kids and me, and then took us back and swabbed our mouths.
I took the kids for ice cream when we finished, and answered all of their questions. Connie had told them we needed to do this so I could be their official daddy, so we had a talk about how their mommy didn’t list me as their father when they were born, so now I had to prove I was their daddy to the government.
We spent a good part of the day at the Tennessee Aquarium, and I watched everyone around us with an eagle eye. I was in jeans and a light grey shirt, with nothing to hint I was part of the MC, but with my tattoo, beard, and hair I’m aware I stand out easily to our enemies. We were supposed to be staying in groups of no less than three, but I’d told Duke my plans and he’d recommended I drive around until I was sure I wasn’t being followed before I went to the lab, but felt I’d be okay from that point as long as I stayed in the tourist areas.
The MC’s little circle was well protected at the entry choke point, so I felt we’d be safe at my house tonight. Besides, nothing had happened for days, so I didn’t anticipate more trouble and I wasn’t sure why Duke still had us at a medium alert.
We were in the saltwater building of the Aquarium and the kids were wondering why the stingrays and sharks wouldn’t come anywhere near their hands when my cellphone buzzed to let me know I had a text through our secured app.
High Alert. Everyone to the compound. Respond with ETA.
The kids still had the butterflies and the huge tank with the big sharks you can walk through to go, so I texted Duke through the app to see what was going on.
Last vote was followed through two hours ago and someone just shot into the bike shop. We’re all okay, and the customers there at the time are fine.
Fuck. Shit. Fuck-damn-shit.
I’ll get them through the rest of the Aquarium as fast as I can. When you order food, can you make sure you get plenty of ice cream?
Already done. Make it fast and let me know when you’re inbound.
I knew there’d be plenty of pizza and barbecue, but sometimes they get ice cream as a treat and sometimes the women do cakes or pastries or something.
“Guys, my friend Brain just told me they’re having another party at my clubhouse. Let’s move on to the butterflies and then head downstairs. We can come back and spend more time here next time, but parties at my clubhouse are always more fun than this. Plus, they’ll have pizza and ice cream.”
“Yeah, I’m getting hungry, but I want to see the penguins!”
They spent two minutes with the butterflies, five minutes with the penguins, and ten minutes on the biggest tank downstairs. We breezed through the gift shop and I held their hands as we walked through the parking lot. I was a dad out for the day with his kids and nothing more.
I’d left my car at the bike shop during the week so Bash could install Window Armor on the back windows. It wasn’t completely bulletproof, but it’d protect against handguns from a distance. I got the Kevlar blankets out of my trunk and tucked them in around the kids’ torsos before I buckled their car seats, and then brought the bottom of the fabric up and over their legs. Between the wrap around car seats, the Kevlar, and the armor on the windows — they should be safe.
“I don’t like this blanket thing,” Chloe complained. I’d left their arms out and she tugged at it through the harness.
“I’m going to turn the air conditioner way, way up, and it
’ll keep you from freezing.”
“Why are you going to make it cold in here?” asked Declan.
“So it won’t be warm. Why do you think the stingrays and sharks acted afraid of you?”
Thankfully, this got us onto another conversation and they forgot the blankets. I tucked my weapon under my right leg when I got into the car, and made sure my extra magazines were close at hand in the console.
My options were to take them to a hotel and sign in under my alias, or to take them to the clubhouse. Once we got to the compound we’d be safe, but I’d have to be on my toes every second in a hotel unless we stayed in the room the whole time, and that wasn’t an option with two four year olds.
I texted Brain through the app to let him know we were leaving the Aquarium and the route I intended to take. If I went the long way around and came in from the other direction I was least likely to get stopped at a red light.
My phone rang a minute later and it was Brain. “The route looks clear but I’ll keep an eye on it as you drive. Put me on speaker through your vehicle and leave the line open so I can warn you if you need to abort.”
I did so and told him, “Cool. The twins are discussing why the stingrays and sharks were afraid of them.”
“Do they have a winning hypothesis yet?”
“What’s a hypoth… hypoth… what’s one of those?” asked Declan.
“It’s when you think you know why something works the way it does. If you can prove the hypothesis, it becomes a theory,” Brain told them over the speaker.
We spent the next couple of minutes helping them learn to say hypothesis, and when I was a mile and a half away Brain said, “Slow it down so you don’t have to stop at the next red light.”
I dropped my speed and kept a sharp eye out, and when he told me I could speed up, I did — and I kept it up as I made every light and swung into our compound without incident.
We pulled into the garage and Angelica was waiting to help me get them out of their seats and walk them in. We went to my room first to drop off their things, and Chloe asked, “Where will Declan and I sleep?”
“You’ll both sleep with me. My bed’s plenty big for three people.” And I knew this for a fact because I’d had three people in it more times than I could count.
Fuck, I’d need to change the sheets before they got in it.
The clubhouse was packed full of people and I maneuvered the twins to the little kids’ playroom. Two-way glass lets us watch them, but they can’t see into the clubhouse when the door’s closed. I wasn’t about to take them in and just leave them, as most of the parents did, so I made plates for all of us and we ate at a little table. When we finished I sat on the floor near some of the toys and played with them, and I smiled as some of the other little ones joined us. Most had been at the picnic and they were happy to see each other again. Angelica sat with us and played as well, and I understood why when Bash came to get me fifteen minutes later.
“Kids, I have to go help with the party but Angelica’s going to stay in here with you, and if you need me she knows how to get me, okay?”
They were so busy playing with the other kids and Angelica, they gave me quick hugs and went right back to playing.
I followed Bash downstairs, went through the process of making sure no electronics went into church, and finally took my seat. When Brain gave the all-clear Duke told us, “We nabbed Sullivan early yesterday and put a Disciples gang tat on him, then went in on the other three last night and made it look like they all shot each other. We put Sullivan in and shot him with one of their guns as well, made sure all of their fingerprints were as they should be on the appropriate guns, and left. They weren’t discovered until this afternoon, and whoever found them called the cops. As of now the cops are assuming it’s an internal gang dispute, but apparently someone in the Disciples has other ideas. Marlin claims to not be involved, but he’s honest about the fact he isn’t sure exactly who he can trust right now. He once gave Pit Bull his complete trust, so I think he’s doubting himself.”
“We haven’t told Marlin we’re responsible, and he hasn’t mentioned the fact Sullivan had a new gang tat,” Brain told the room. “If Marlin thinks someone else feels they have the clout to let people in, he’s going to go on the warpath to find out who it is.”
“Do we know who shot into the bike shop?” Bash asked.
Brain left the room and brought a large laptop in to show us the images he had. We saw the back and side of a car with a barrel hanging out the back passenger window, and then we saw the rear of the car at an intersection, then a close up of the license plate.
“It doesn’t belong to anyone in the gang and I have a feeling it’ll be reported stolen soon. The family that owns this car isn’t likely to be involved, though we can’t rule out a girlfriend, of course. Here’s the best shot I could get of the driver’s face. I don’t have the person in the back seat in any image except the one with the gun, and then we only see part of his hand. He must’ve dropped down into the floorboard as they pulled away.”
Most of the Disciples are black, and all of their leaders are. The man driving the car looked to be in his mid-forties and appeared to be a basic everyday Caucasian civilian. His hair was greying and short, which could point to him being ex-military. Was it possible the shooting wasn’t related to our problems with the Disciples?
“I’m researching the car owner deeper to see if I can find a connection to us, and I’ll ask Gonzo to help with that when we break up here,” Brain told us. “If the car is reported stolen then we’ll obviously drop that line, but I’ve run several images of the driver through facial recognition and nothing popped, so the car’s owner is all we really have to go on.” He shook his head. “The driver knew to wear sunglasses, so we can’t assume he’s an unknown just because we didn’t get a match.”
“What Brain is saying,” Duke said, “is if they stole the car we’re at a dead end. If that’s the case, I’d like to hand over what we have to Aaron Drake and pay him to see what he can find.”
No one objected, and I asked, “Are we operating on the assumption the drive-by on the bike shop wasn’t related to the Disciples, or do we think they paid someone to do it?”
“We’re looking at all possibilities,” said Brain.
“Do we know why Sullivan went to the Disciples? Were they paying him for the info, or perhaps keeping him safe from someone?”
“Did you come up with anything when you were looking for him?”
“No, but I was just trying to figure out how to find him. I’ll look through it all again and see if anything pops.”
The meeting broke up and I watched the twins through the glass a few moments to assure myself they were okay. This was supposed to be my day with them but it couldn’t be helped.
With a sigh, I went to the control room and Brain handed me the USB with everything I’d found on Sullivan. He keeps them in a safe that’ll fry them if someone unauthorized tries to enter.
Nothing popped up, and on a hunch I looked up the names of all Julie’s rapists and then looked up their mug shots. Something had made Sullivan go to the Disciples, and I reckoned that once I figured out why he’d gone to them, the rest might make sense.
Bingo. Once I compared mugshots to the image, I recognized him. The resolution had been so crappy on the one half-way-decent image, I hadn’t realized who he was.
“Brain. Found him.”
I left his image up on the right corner of the screen while I used another window to research his name.
“Three of them got out of prison five weeks ago,” I told him.
“Retaliation to us for putting them away,” said Brain, “and possibly what sent Sullivan to the Disciples for protection, if his dad found his mom and was taking her money and valuables again.”
Brain pulled his phone from his pocket and punched long enough I was sure he was using the app.
“Bud, Julie’s rapists are out. I know she has a new name and is living on your stre
et now, I just wanted to give you a heads up.”
I could hear Bud through the speaker. “What the fuck? They’re supposed to be inside another ten years, and the victim’s supposed to be told before they’re released!”
“They’re apparently coming after us first, but you need to make sure Julie’s safe. I wouldn’t tell her they’re out just yet, not until we figure out what we’re doing on this end.” Right, because if we kill them then it’ll be hard to explain to Julie how we know they won’t come after her without admitting to murder. I didn’t think Julie would rat us out, but we don’t tell civilians that sort of thing.
“Ya’ll need help?”
“We’ll let you know if we do. Angelica’s in the clubhouse, we’ll keep her safe.”
“Make sure you do.”
We both heard the threat in Bud’s voice, and Brain rolled his eyes as he disconnected. “Bash has balls of steel to take on Bud’s daughter, but I’m glad it’s working out.”
Brain glanced at Viper sitting at the control desk and looked back to me. “Go back to the twins and play. I’m going to pull Duke and Bash in so we can figure out what happens next. You’re welcome to stay, but I know you don’t get much time with your kids.”
I was tempted to stay — the MC is my family, but my twins are also my family and Brain was right about my not getting much time with them.
I saw Knife on my way to the kitchen and gave him the key to my room and told him to change the sheets on my bed and then bring my key back to me in the little kid playroom. He went running to do as he was told, and I loaded four bowls with ice cream, stuck spoons in, and headed to the playroom.
The twins came running when I set the bowls on the little table, and I once again stooped onto the small bench, stretched my legs out, and ate with them. Angelica fit better than me, and she smiled as she ate and commented, “It isn’t Grape Nuts, but it’s still good.”
Gonzo (Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club Book 7) Page 19