by KJ Dahlen
Pride and Candyman checked into the hotel and after hanging around hoping for some word from the old man. Pride finally sent the others home. He didn’t know what was going on but he just had a feeling he should stick around at least for the night.
“So what do you think about what you learned today?” Candyman asked his president as he settled on the bed.
Pride shrugged. “I don’t know. Have you heard anything about the old man being beaten to death?”
Candyman shook his head. “No, I didn’t order it done and I know you didn’t either. It shouldn’t have come from anyone in our MC.”
Pride shook his head. “But those two old men were so sure it was one of us. Hell, they told me if we came back, we’d be leaving full of buckshot.”
“Gotta ask you about something,” Candyman said seriously. “I’m just not sure how to say it.”
Pride turned his head and just stared at him. After a moment he growled, “Well, what is it?” He rolled his hand as if to tell the other man to get on with it.
“Did you notice this morning when Spider and Smoker came in, Spider had his hand all wrapped up?”
“Yeah, what about it?” Pride asked.
“He never did explain what happened, did he?”
Pride thought back to this morning and then he shook his head. “No he didn’t. I wonder why?”
“I don’t know but he also came back about four months ago, all beat to hell.” Candyman paused then said, “He never said what happened back then either.” He shifted on the bed and said, “Now normally, when one of us runs into trouble he asks for some help to handle it, but Spider never did that. If I remember right, he disappeared for a couple of days that time too.”
Pride caught on to what he was taking about and snapped his head up. “You think he’s not at home right now, don’t you?”
“Shall we find out?” Candyman asked as he reached for his phone. He called the clubhouse and asked to speak to Spider. He put the phone on speaker and the brother on the other end called out for Spider. Teacher came back on the line a few minutes later and said, “Sorry man, Spider isn’t here right now. One of the bros said he took off this morning right after you guys left and he isn’t back yet. You want me to leave him a message?”
“Naw, don’t bother him,” Candyman replied as he stared at Pride. “It wasn’t important anyway. We’ll be back tomorrow.” Then he hung up the phone.
“Well, well, well...” Pride rubbed along his jaw. “What do you suppose he’s up to?”
“Not sure boss but we may have to watch him to find out.”
“Yeah and that’s a problem for me. I have to trust the men we live and work with don’t we?” Pride stated.
Candyman reached inside his cut, pulled out some chocolate, and began munching down on it.
Pride just watched him for a moment then shook his head. “It’s a miracle that you don’t have diabetes with all that sugar you eat.”
Candyman growled. “That would suck hind tit wouldn’t it? Do you know how many times I’ve been asked for drugs because of my road name and how many times I have to correct people on what my name really means? Sweet Jesus, I consume candy, not drugs. I fucking hate drugs. The next pissant that asks me for some meth is gonna end up with his head in his hands.”
“Well, you certainly eat way too much of that fuckin’ shit.” Pride motioned at the bag of chocolate in his VP’s hands.
“Naw, at least I eat the good kind. Dark chocolate is better than the other kind of chocolate.” Candyman shrugged.
Pride just shook his head. “You just ain’t right in the head man. Who eats candy like you do?”
Candyman gave him a dazzling smile. “I’m as sweet on the inside as I am on the out.”
Pride snorted. “You are fucking crazy.”
They both chuckled
About an hour later, the four pizza’s they ordered arrived and they were sitting there eating when Pride’s phone rang.
He picked it up and as he listened, he looked like he might just commit murder.
Chapter Eight
The late afternoon quiet of the lake was shattered by the sound of a rifle shot. Then it was further disturbed when there was shouting from the bank.
Boo scrambled into her clothes and rushed to the deck of the boat to check on things.
Kirill grabbed his jeans, put them on and was right behind her.
They saw two men running from Henry’s boat and Fred chasing them with his rifle and then there was another shot. One of the men who’d been running away dropped briefly but he was able to get up again. The first man was just starting a vehicle when the second man arrived and scrambled to get in while they took off.
Boo ran over to where the anchor was hanging and pulled it up. When it was up, she started the engine and took off toward the docks.
It took maybe twenty minutes and by then, the police were there and EMT’s were carrying a stretcher to the ambulance. She docked her boat and ran toward her friends. “Fred what happened? Who was that?”
Fred looked up at her with tears in his eyes. “They hurt him, Boo. They got to Henry and they damn near killed him. Those lousy bastards. They stood right here earlier today and told us it wasn’t them, but I saw their vests. I saw them, hell I probably shot one of them.” He looked over at the officer and said, “And I don’t regret it either. We didn’t ask them to come here but this is our home and they came here to get us to move. Well, we don’t want to move. This is our home and I was protecting my home and my friend.”
Boo glanced over at the officer standing there, next to Fred.
He looked like he was listening carefully.
She turned to the cop and snarled, “This is the second time in just a few months this has happened, how many more people need to be hurt or die before you step up and protect us?”
“Ma’am, we’re already looking for them,” the officer told her.
Boo looked over at the road as the ambulance pulled away. “Is he going to be okay?”
The officer shook his head. “We don’t know yet. He’s an old man and he was beaten badly.”
Boo growled and fisted her hands. “I think we should tell you, we are all armed down here. If those bastards want trouble, they’ll find it if they come back.”
“Yes ma’am. I believe you, but please don’t put yourselves in danger.” He closed his book and put it in his pocket. “We’ll be making rounds during the night but please, if you see anyone who doesn’t belong here, call us first.”
Boo and Kirill just watched as the officer turned to walk away. Then she turned back to Fred. “What happened here this morning?”
Fred lowered his rifle to the crook of his arm and let the barrel hang down. He looked at the big man behind Boo and told him, “I’m glad to see you on your feet again, there young fella. I think maybe it was best you weren’t around here until now, Boo.” He rubbed his finger along his jaw and said, “Me and Henry were sitting out here mending out nets this morning and we got some visitors. They were the same ones that were here before, that MC trash. As soon as I saw his vest, I thought it looked familiar. Anyway, he started asking questions about you but me and Henry told him we didn’t know you. That other young fellow acted surprised when I called him on it. I called him out on the account it was him, or someone from his group that hurt Joe. I was too far away to stop it from happening or seeing the face of the man who done it but I remember that stupid crown and skull on the back of his vest. I told him to get away from us and stay away from us but a couple hours later, his two friends came back and they hurt Henry.”
Boo growled. “If I knew where they were, I’d hunt those bastards down and fill them with lead.”
Fred didn’t say a word but instead reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper. He handed it to her and told her, “That’s Henry’s blood on the paper. The crown and skull guy from this morning gave him that and told him to call this number if there was any trouble down here. I migh
t not know where this MC man is but I have a feeling he’ll answer the call, if you’ve a mind to call him.”
Boo snatched the paper and read the phone number written on it. She tried to not see the blood but it was hard not to see it and know what it represented. She was about to turn and go back onto her boat when two men scrambled down the path from the parking lot.
“What the hell is all this, Kirill?” one of the men looked at the man beside her.
Kirill turned and frowned at the two men. “Excuse me?”
“I asked, what the hell are you doing, brother?” Felix demanded.
Kirill stared at them for a moment then everything snapped back into place. “Felix? Kosta? Is that really you?” He stepped over to the other two men and clasped their shoulders. “Blin, rada snova tebya videt'.”
Felix looked over at Kosta and then back to Kirill. “What do you mean, it is good to see us again? We were together only yesterday.”
“Oh blyad,” Kirill swore. “I forgot you didn’t know.”
“He was attacked yesterday and when he came to again, he didn’t know his own name,” Boo told Kirill’s brothers. “I took care of him but he couldn’t even say his own name until now.” She turned to him. “I’m so glad you remember everything now. I told you, you would have people waiting for you to come back to them.”
Kirill stepped closer to her. “But Boo, I can’t just leave you here with this hanging over you. I need to protect you too.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. Boo reached out and held her fingers over his lips. “You don’t owe me anything. You were the one who already stood up for me, remember?”
“O chem ona govorit, Kirill?” Felix asked in Russian what she was talking about.
Kirill shook his head and explained, “Yesterday, as we pulled the boat in, I saw a man sitting in the weeds watching her. I don’t even know if he knew her but there was a look in his eyes that I didn’t like. As he approached her, I stopped him. He did look like he was sneaking up on her. He pulled a knife and tried to fight with that but he didn’t stand a chance. I broke his wrist then it was lights out for me.”
“Yeah, the bastard had a friend with a two by four in his hand.” Boo snarled. “Monster alerted me and I grabbed my gun.” She paused then added, “They belonged to an MC called Kings of Wrath. We recognized them by their vests.”
“Wait...Who or what is Monster?” Kosta asked with raised brows.
Hearing his name, the huge black dog leapt off the boat and came to stand beside Boo.
Felix glared at the animal then turned to Kirill. “Are you sure you’re all right? Yuri will bring down the heavens on these bikers if you are hurt.”
“Da, I am fine,” Kirill told his brother. “I had a blonde moment when I first woke up but seeing your ugly faces again, told me who I was.”
Felix chuckled. “You know I am the prettiest brother. So shut the fuck up.” He slapped him on the back.
“We all know who is the best looking.” Kosta rolled his eyes and pointed to himself.
The three brothers all laughed.
“So, you ready to go home, or what?” Kosta asked Kirill.
Kirill shook his head, “Not just yet. I think I need to be here right now. Please tell Yuri I’m sorry but this is where I need to be.”
Felix and Kosta shared a look. “Do you want some help?”
“Da maybe, it shouldn’t take too long to root them out of hiding.” Kirill sneered. “They prefer to beat on old men and come after women. They have no clue how to come after real men.” He looked around the docks. “These people are simple people and these bastards are trying to get them out of here so they have a clean drug run to the Gulf. Chto zh, eto ostanavlivayetsya zdes' i seychas... Well, that stops here and now.” He growled in Russian.
“We’ll let Yuri know and go from there.” Kosta nodded at his brother. “We’ll be out there but you won’t see us. We’ll watch over you tonight and every night until this is over, one way or the other.”
Felix reached out and snagged Kirill’s arm. He had to ask, “Kto ona brat ...Who is she brother?” he spoke in Russian and his words were low, so only the two of them heard them.
Kirill looked up at him and answered in Russian, “She belongs to me, and I intend to keep her.”
Felix smiled and asked...also in their native language, “Does she know it yet?”
“She knows I put a claim on her.” He shrugged. “She just doesn’t know what it means yet.”
Felix smiled and said, “Good luck brother. You might need it with that one.”
Kirill smirked. “Da, I just might. She’s just a girl, she’s a little bit on the wild side and cusses like a sailor, but she’s mine.”
“I cannot wait to find out her story and get to know her.” Felix grinned.
“We have to settle this first.” Kirill gazed around as he now spoke in English, “These people don’t want to leave their homes.” He looked back over at his brother, “This is the second time this has happened. The first time it was her Grandpa Joe. Now, it’s her friend Henry. It has to stop.”
“How do you plan to get the MC back here?” Kosta asked.
“We’re going to call them and invite them back.” Boo snarled. “But this time, we’ll be ready for them.”
Felix turned his head slowly and stared at her. “And just how do you propose we do that? If they are trying to hurt these people, they won’t come when they know you’re waiting for them. Your best defense is surprise.”
“But there is something they want more than just access to the gulf,” she replied.
“And what would that be?” Kosta asked.
“Me. I don’t know why or what for but they want me too. Two different men have come here looking for me and I have no idea why.” She smirked. “Maybe it’s time I find out why.”
“How are you going to do that?” Kosta frowned. “They would be stupid to come now. The police have been here and an ambulance took another body out of here. Especially since this is the second one, in four months.”
“I’ll get them back here.” Boo smirked.
“Again, I have to ask you how do you plan to do it?” Kosta demanded.
Boo smiled wickedly at him. “Just you watch me.” She turned around and went aboard her boat. She found her satellite phone and with shaky fingers, she dialed the number on the paper stained with Henry’s blood.
Chapter Nine
As Candyman ate his slice of pizza, Pride answered his phone, “Hello.”
“Listen to me, you two timing son of a bitch,” a female’s voice snarled. “I don’t give a flying fuck who you think you are but I don’t want any part of it, or you. Get this through your fucking head, I don’t want nothing to do with you or yours, stay away from me and stay away from this lake. Find another way around the lake. If you or those butchering buddies of yours come back here, you’ll find yourselves filled with buckshot and if I get my aim on you or your men, you won’t be able to sit down for a God dammed month. I may not be able to kill you like the skunks you are but I can shoot you where the sun don’t shine. You’ve already taken one old man away from me, so I won’t let you do it again. Stay the hell away from me!”
“Who the hell is this anyway?” Pride growled. “I don’t appreciate being talked to like this and you better identify yourself immediately.”
“The only name I know to call myself is Boo. I was given that name when I was four. When I arrived here, I was hurt, scared and bleeding. I didn’t even know my own name but Joe took me in and helped me heal. He took care of me all these years and I held him in my arms when you and your men murdered him. I don’t know who the fuck you think you are but to me, you are nothing and you have the blood of two men on your hands, you lousy bastard.” She paused then added, “I was told you were here asking about me this morning but I wasn’t here at the time, now I’m telling you to stay the fuck away from me and this place because we won’t take any prisoners now. I’m declaring war on the Kings of Wra
th. Do you understand that? Do you hear what I’m saying?”
“Yeah I hear you, but now you hear me.” Pride gripped the phone in his hand. “I did not order any attack on Henry, nor did I order any attack on Joe. I didn’t know anything about that. I tried to tell Fred that this morning. And I’ll tell you the same thing tonight. I came looking for you because I believe you are my long lost daughter. Your mother Joanie Remmy was bringing you to meet me but she never arrived. I never heard what happened to her but I’ve been looking for you for years now. This was just another lead my VP found. He saw you on the deck of your boat yesterday. He took pictures then showed them to me. That’s how I knew where to find you. But I swear, I didn’t order anyone hurt to find you.”
“I don’t fucking believe a word you are saying,” Boo retorted. “It doesn’t take that much courage to beat up an old man like you did Henry. And to send in two men to work him over is just cowardly,” Boo told him rigidly. “I may not know my own name but I don’t need a dad like you. If my mom left you before I was even born then she had her reasons. I can’t ask her about them because she isn’t around either. I don’t know what happened to her but I don’t need you in my life either. What you did here was despicable. The man you sent yesterday will have a broken wrist and the man from today probably has an ass full of buckshot. If you come around again, you’ll get the same.” She snarled. “How big a man do you have to be to be armed with a two by four and sneak up behind a man? The Kings of Wrath make me want to puke! Joe at least taught me about honor and the fact that once you give your word you have to keep it, so listen up you slimy little worm. I give you my word that if you come around here again, prepare to eat lead because that’s all you’ll get from us. We will and can defend our property against you and yours.”
She ended the call.
Pride and Candyman were stunned to say the least by the phone call. Her words had been loud enough that both men could hear them.
Her words had cut Pride deep, as she hadn’t even given him a chance to explain. He looked over at Candyman with a frown. “What the hell happened over there?”