by K E Osborn
“I was going to go for strange.”
“Oh, right,” Lookout says nodding matter-of-factly.
“A full bloom of furious beauty brings stiff hardness to the rod,” Jigsaw chirps with a giant grin still looking at the porn. The girl moans while sucking on the cock.
Furrowing my brows. I shake my head. “Anyway… Mad Dog needs us to go for a ride. We’re meeting with a new street gang to set up a deal with them for eccys and guns. The Prez wants us all there.”
Techie turns off his tablet ceasing the porn. Jigsaw whimpers rearranging his crotch as we all step toward the clubroom exit.
“I’ll get Ryder and Behemoth,” Techie expresses and strolls off in another direction.
We congregate outside, and all move toward our Hogs. In a way, I feel guilty for not reporting this in. But I feel even better knowing that my unit won’t be there to hound my brothers. I know I’m walking a fine line here, but sometimes you just have to go with your gut.
As I mount my bike, I look up to Sentinel in his post and he’s watching me like a hawk. I know he wants to know badly where we’re going, and hoping like hell I’ve reported it in, but I can’t deal with his judgemental eyes right now. I have work to do, and a deal to make with some new buyers. Starting my engine, Mad Dog rides off front door and Jigsaw follows along with Techie. I pull out and ride through the gate, risking a glance up at Sentinel. He glares at me and I shake my head letting him know I haven’t reported this in. His hands throw up in the air in apparent annoyance as I turn my head forward ignoring his outburst, and continue to ride with Lookout and Chops behind me.
Grinding my teeth as I ride off down the Virginia street, I shake my head slightly at Sentinel’s behaviour. He needs to be more careful with his actions or our brothers will become suss of him. He’s becoming a danger to the success of this mission.
The wind licks at my face as we ride along the streets on the way to the factory. My heart is pounding a little faster, as I haven’t been to a meet before, so this is all new to me. I have no idea if this is going to be tense or just a pleasant, happy chat.
We pull into the parking lot, and straight away I notice four 4WD’s stationed in the car park. We park our Hogs and get off noticing the obvious absence of people. Mad Dog looks back at us and brings his hand to his gun nodding his head. We all draw our weapons and step cautiously and quietly toward the open loading dock door. Behemoth stands out the front to take guard, and as we enter five men are standing around casually talking, but one guy spots us striding in with guns drawn and he pulls his weapon. The others turn and draw their guns too. My heart lurches into my throat as I notice one guy stands in front of the others not holding his gun, but throws his hands in the air in surrender.
“Hey, hey. We’re here to do business not point guns at each other. Weapons down boys,” the guy with the bald head says. He seems sensible as he looks at Mad Dog and grins. “Mad Dog, it’s nice to meet you in person. I’m Gunner, the Head of The Silver Syndicate.”
Mad Dog lowers his weapon and looks back at us nodding so we lower ours too. “Sorry about the defensiveness as we came in. You can never be too careful, Gunner,” Mad Dog tells him and Gunner nods.
“No, I understand. In this business, you have to protect yourselves. You’re safe here. We have no beef with you. We just want to start our business arrangement on a mutually beneficial ground.”
Mad Dog smiles. “Agreed. So, let’s talk business. We can distribute a load of AK-47’s to you on a quarterly basis, along with a shipment of E tablets, quantity to be decided by you.”
Gunner nods rubbing his chin. “Seems fair. Do you want the cash in a lump sum on the day of the handover?”
Mad Dogs nods. “I think that’s best if you’re happy with that.”
Gunner looks back at his men and then back to Mad Dog. “Seems fair to me. Well, once we get the first shipment in process, I’ll look at the quality and we’ll be in business… Nice meeting you, Mad Dog.” He puts his hand out to shake Mad Dog’s, he smiles and places his hand out to shake Gunner’s as there’s a noise like something metal rolling on the floor, followed by an almighty explosion. It rings through the factory reverberating off all the walls so loudly it knocks me off my feet. My body’s shaking as my ears ring from the intense noise as I try to grasp my bearings.
I know I need to get up—this could be bad, very bad.
Shaking my head and opening and closing my eyes a few times, I look up to see everyone on the floor grabbing at their heads. I’m sure that was a stun grenade. Sliding my body toward Mad Dog, a swarm of men entering the factory catches my attention. Looking up, I see José and his lackeys, but more of them this time. I notice a group of them wearing vests displaying the Ingratos insignia.
Fuck!
I reach for my gun and bring it up, but my body isn’t reacting like I want it to. It’s still in shock from the stun grenade, and one of José’s men, who’s in a suit walks up to me pointing a gun right at my forehead. “Drop the gun.” I can barely hear him over the persistent ringing in my ears. But I can lip read just fine. I drop my weapon to my side, and he kicks it away from me as I look at Mad Dog. He glances at Gunner like he’s going to fucking kill him.
“You sold us out!” he yells to Gunner.
“Who the fuck are these people?” Gunner calls back still holding his head.
“Now, now, settle down. Don’t have a lover’s tiff because of little ole me,” José teases standing in between Mad Dog and Gunner. They both look up at him as we all remain on the floor surrounded by his men, and the Ingratos gang members aiming guns at our heads.
“Gunner pleased to meet you. I’m José. Mad Dog here has already made my acquaintance. He also knows that these streets are my turf and that any drug or gun deals go through me. So any business you agreed on with Mad Dog, you now run through us. Okay?”
Gunner looks at Mad Dog as he grits his teeth and balls his fists.
“You fucking gutter trash,” Mad Dog scolds bringing his fist up punching José in the back of his knee causing his leg to bend forward and consequently he falls to the floor.
The lackey next to Mad Dog brings his Glock up and smashes it into Mad Dog’s head causing him to collapse to the ground. Blood is pooling from his forehead as I take a deep breath, my heart racing a million miles a second.
“Don’t be a fool, Mad Dog. We’re being polite. We could just as easily end you all rather than just take your business. We’re giving you the option to live, but if you keep making poor judgement calls then I won’t be so forgiving,” José says standing back up and straightening his suit.
“Fuck you, cunt,” Mad Dog spits out still spread out on the ground.
“You wish you could fuck me?”
Mad Dog grunts and tries to stand up, but the lackey steps on his back and pushes him back to the ground.
“Prez, stay down,” Chops calls out, actually saying something sensible for once.
“You will regret this, José,” Mad Dog spits through gritted teeth.
“I don’t think I will… Gunner, it’s a pleasure doing business with you. I’ll call you with a time and location to set up our first meet. I already have your details.”
Gunner screws up his face and shakes his head. “What? How?”
José smiles and pats Gunner on his bald head. “Oh, I have my ways. Nice chat everyone. Have a good day.”
José turns walking out of the factory, his snakeskin boots thumping harshly on the cold concrete. His lackeys and the Ingratos all walk out backward pointing their guns at us the whole time, so we can’t pick up and fire at them.
Taking a deep breath as they retreat, I stand up and storm over to my gun, picking it up and placing it in its holster. Striding back over, Jigsaw is helping Mad Dog up off the ground as we all stand around wondering, ‘What the fuck do we do now?’ How the hell did they know about this meeting?
“Is everyone okay?” Chops asks. I nod along with everyone else as Mad Dog rubs the dirt
off his cut. “This is a fucking outrage. I can’t let those fuckers get away with this. Taking our business, it’s unforgivable. José has got to pay.” Mad Dog starts to pace the floor as I look at Chops and purse my lips.
“Prez, you need to think more clearly when you’re around these guys. Especially, when they have the upper hand—”
“Don’t tell me what to do, boy! Who the fuck are you to come in here and tell me how to run my club, huh?”
Raising my hands in surrender and shaking my head. “I’m not telling you how to run your club, just requesting you to be careful. You wanna end up dead?”
He huffs and leans in pushing my chest making me take a step backward. “You don’t know what you’re on about. Just shut the fuck up and let me handle this!” He storms off past me toward the exit. I glance at Chops, who’s shaking his head and frowning.
“Guy’s fucking losing the plot,” Chops mumbles and trudges off behind him as I look over to Gunner. His men are walking out the other exit as Behemoth steps in rubbing his bleeding head looking dazed and confused.
This didn’t go so well.
CHAPTER EIGHT
As we pull into the clubhouse, after our fucked up defeated plans with Gunner and the Silver Syndicate, I can’t help but notice an out of place black 4WD parked in the compound. Parking my Hog, I slide off and walk with Lookout toward the clubrooms as Behemoth rushes toward us.
“What the fuck is up with you, motherfucker?” Lookout asks with a chuckle as Behemoth puffs out of breath.
He furrows his brows like he’s concerned and chews on his bottom lip before talking, “Lookout… Nikita is here… looking for you.”
Lookout jolts his head back in surprise, and his chest starts to heave as he turns staring at me in just as much shock as I am in right now. She hasn’t been here for a while and I don’t really know her full story. All I know is that her son Jackson went to Willow’s child care centre, and I’m pretty sure my brothers did a job for her. What kind of job, who fucking knows, but I do know it’s the kind you don’t talk about outside of the club.
Lookout turns storming off toward the clubhouse. I follow behind in quick succession. He’s a man on a mission, as I pace behind him trying to keep up with his large gate. Once inside, I turn toward the bar to see Crash behind it with a kid, and he’s attempting to teach him how to pour a beer while he stands on a stool. Nikita is watching and giggling shaking her head.
Lookout pauses just staring at her. I think I see him exhale slightly, as a look of awe washes over his face, but as quickly as it was there it washes away and a sternness is soon replaced. He storms up to Niki as she turns finally noticing him. A smile lights up her entire face when she spots Lookout and her eyes begin to sparkle. She really is drop dead gorgeous.
“Lookout, it’s nice to see you again.”
He smiles and exhales. “It’s fucken amazing to see you again, but ah…” he tilts his head to the side, “…who’s the kid?”
She smiles and exhales. “That’s Jackson… my son.”
Lookout frowns and watches the kid who’s chuckling as he pours another beer. There’s already three lined up on the bar. “Your kid is fucken here?”
“I’m fuckin’ here, and I’m fuckin’ pouring cordial,” Jackson states as Lookout’s head snaps toward the kid. His mum shakes her head as Crash fist bumps him.
“Jackson, be polite,” Nikita berates and Jackson smiles.
“Sorry Mama.”
“Your kid motherfucken swears?” Lookout asks with a smirk on his face like he’s super impressed.
She nods her head trying to hide her smirk. “Like a trooper. Learned from his father, then carried it on from Steel.”
“Is Steel here, Mama? I wanna ride on his fricking bike,” Jackson asks and I can’t help but chuckle.
“I’m not sure, baby.”
Lookout frowns. “Steel’s not here, little man. But if your mama lets you, I can take you for a fucken ride later?” Lookout asks and I raise my eyebrow in surprise.
“Really? Can I go, Mama? Can I ride his fuckin’ bike?”
“I don’t know, baby. You’re so little. Maybe when you turn five.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Jackson murmurs.
I can’t hold in my laugh as he folds his arms over his chest in annoyance and pouts angrily.
“Anyway, why the fuck you here Niki? Not that I mind, though,” Lookout asks.
She exhales and looks at Jackson and then to Lookout. “Is there someone who can watch Jackson while we talk? I don’t want him to hear?”
Lookout rubs the back of his neck and then turns to me. “Yeah Stealth, he has motherfucken kids. You can watch him, right?”
I go to talk, but before I can open my mouth, Lookout slaps my shoulder. “Thanks, brother,” and walks off with Niki.
Shit!
He’s right. I can do this. “So Jackson, you’re four?” I ask. He climbs up from the stool, on top of the bar and sits down on the bench.
Nodding his head, he looks at me and smiles. “Yup, I’ll be five soon. That means I can go to school and get learning.”
Laughing, I nod. “Sure does. You excited about going to school?”
“Nup, I just wanna be a biker and ride bikes and shit.”
Furrowing my brows, I take a deep breath. “Why do you love the bikers so much?”
He smiles and sits up taller. “‘Cause Steel helped Mama and me. He made the bad stop and we’re happier now. So bikers are fricking good.”
Wondering what that means, I lean in closer. “What was the bad, Jackson?”
He shakes his head. “Mama says I’m not allowed to talk about it. It’s a fuckin’ secret.”
Taking a deep breath, I nod my head. “Well, are you happier now?”
He nods and smiles bouncing up and down on the spot. “Yep, me and Mama are all good,” he nods his head, “…we just need a dad to fill the spot. Like Steel. I want him as my dad. He’s so freaking cool.”
I nod. “Yeah, he is cool. But Lookout is cool, too.”
“Was that that big chocolate man Mama was talking too?”
Smiling, I chuckle slightly. “Chocolate man?”
“Yeah, Mama says we’re made of chocolate. He looks like us. So he’s a chocolate man, too. Right?”
I nod and smile. “Yeah buddy, he’s made of chocolate, too.”
“Then yeah, he’s cool. He talks funny, though.”
Chuckling, I nod. “Oh, you have no idea kid, no idea.”
Jackson purses his lips and tilts his head in confusion, as I grab one of the beers he poured and take a sip. He grabs one too and goes to take a sip, but I quickly pull the stein away from him.
“I think you need to wait a few more years to drink that, buddy.”
“But you can drink the cordial?”
“It’s not cordial Jackson, it’s beer.”
He opens his eyes wide and his mouth drops open. “It’s not fuckin’ cordial?”
Laughing, I shake my head. He shoves his finger in a glass and swirls the foam around. “I guess it doesn’t look like cordial… I need to pee.”
Smirking, I chuckle slightly at the sudden change in conversation, and I nod my head as I stand up. “Okay buddy, arms up.”
He puts his arms out and I lift him from the bar and grab his hand. As we walk, he skips along and a sharp pain rips through my chest as I think of Logan and Lucas. They’re only a year younger than Jackson, and I’m missing out on so much of my boys growing up. Not to mention my baby girl Molly. I haven’t even seen her yet. I’m a terrible father.
“I really gotta fuckin’ go!” Jackson insists crossing his legs together as he walks breaking me from my thoughts.
I nod and lean down picking him up and move quickly to the bathroom. Opening the door, I put him down. He runs inside and straight to the urinal, I close the door letting him do his thing. He’s old enough to know what to do. Turning, I lean my back up against the wall and smack my head against the plasterboard
. I feel like crap. I should make an effort to see my kids. I miss them. But this life is dangerous, and if I go to them, I could put them in all sorts of trouble. No, I’m better off staying away. For their sake.
Skye glides down the hall and spots me.
“Hey handsome, you okay?”
Sighing, I shake my head. “Nope.”
She frowns and grabs my hands facing me. “What’s wrong?”
I don’t even know where to start. How about—I’m infiltrating your clubhouse, and I have to take down the brother’s I’ve grown to love. I miss my kids and wife, and yet somehow I feel like I’m falling for you too, which is only making things harder. I don’t want to betray anyone and yet I feel like, in the end, I’m going to betray everyone. Yeah, how do I explain that?
“I miss my kids,” I choose to tell her instead.
She nods and presses her forehead against mine. “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
I shrug. “Make my kids appear out of thin air?”
She giggles and nods. “Your wish is my command.”
The bathroom door opens and Jackson walks out. “I’m here.”
Skye backs up and her mouth drops open. “Please tell me that’s not one of yours? ‘Cause if it is, I swear to God I didn’t conjure him up.”
Throwing my head back laughing at the sheer awesome timing of that, I shake my head. “No gorgeous, this is Jackson. He’s Nikita’s kid. I’m watching him for her while she talks to Lookout.”
She slumps her body and nods taking a deep breath. “Oh thank God, ‘cause I thought for a second there that I was doing something I didn’t know I could. You know, super-powers and all that.”
Smiling, I pull her to me and kiss her forehead. “God you’re cute. No, that was just impeccable timing.”
“So I get the whole missing your kids thing now. When you’re finished babysitting, if you want to talk I’m here. I’m always here.”
Smiling at her, I nod. “Thank you, that means a lot.”
“Are you two married?” Jackson asks.
Skye giggles and I raise an eyebrow.
“Um… no, little man. Why do you think that?”