by Jade Kuzma
“You patched him in. You wanna kick him out?”
“Is that an option?”
“We can put it to a vote. I don’t think the rest of the boys will agree with you though. I don’t think someone has lost a patch over a poker game before.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Garnet and I shared a laugh. I took a sip of beer and immediately felt a bit of relief about losing so much money at the table.
“Got a meeting,” he said.
“Right now? In the middle of the night?”
“Important shit. In the chapel.”
“Shit…”
If Garnet was calling a meeting when the club was relaxing, that meant something was up. The rest of the club wasn’t too happy about interrupting the poker game but Garnet commanded enough respect to get everybody into the chapel.
The door locked and everybody gathered around to listen to the president at the head of the table.
“Listen up,” Garnet said. “Big news in town is that we’ve got some federal agents dropping by.”
“Dropping by?” I said. “Does that mean they’re leaving?”
“They’re leaving. As soon as they realize that there’s nothing for them to find, they’ll be gone.”
“That doesn’t sound like good news,” Sullivan said. “Do federal agents normally come to Ivory?”
“No,” I said. “If federal agents are in town, they’re either trying to get some donuts at Amy’s or they’ve got a sniff of something they don’t like.”
“We already got enough trouble with the cops,” Garnet said. “Sutton and his boys would like nothing better than to bust one of these clubs. Frankly, I wouldn’t give a shit just as long as it ain’t us. But now that we’ve got federal agents in town, we can’t fuck around.”
“What does that mean?” I said.
“It means that shipments are going to be delayed,” Ghost said.
Ghost was the vice president of the club. He commanded the same kind of respect as Garnet. And right now, the two of them were looking around the table more serious than they’d ever been.
“That’s just fucking great,” I muttered.
“Sorry, boys,” Garnet said. “This isn’t some shit we can fuck around with. Moving weight is serious business. One of those agents sniffs some drugs on us and we won’t see daylight for the rest of our lives.
“I know this ain’t good news for you, Sullivan. It’s a good score and we make good money. But you’re just gonna have to wait a little bit longer before we move more weight.”
“It’s all right,” the new patch said. “I’ll keep paying my dues. I’m in this thing for the long haul.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Garnet looked around the table and eyeballed every member of the club.
“Let me be perfectly clear,” he said. “We’re not moving any drugs. Not until these agents leave Ivory. Once we’re in the clear, we’re back in business and shipments can proceed. Until then, I don’t wanna hear shit about you guys trying to push things on the side. All it takes is one of you to fuck up for a spotlight to end up on the entire club. This is serious. You got it?”
Garnet spoke with a tone so serious that nobody said a thing.
Damn.
Moving drugs was the best business we’d ever had. I made more money with the last few shipments than I’d made in years. Now there was no telling when we would be able to get back to it.
“Enjoy your night, fellas.”
Garnet snapped his fingers. Everybody got up from the table and left the chapel. I slowly made my way back to the bar to finish sipping my beer.
There were some other people in The Grindhouse tonight. Bikers from friendly clubs who were just looking for a place to drink. Women looking to spend time with a guy, hoping to be an old lady. Older folks from Ivory who just needed to get away. But even a wild atmosphere wouldn’t be enough to distract me from my thoughts.
“What’s wrong?”
I looked over and saw Garnet leaning up against the bar next to me.
“You all right, brother?” he asked. “You’re really not gonna play poker with the boys?”
“New patches always have beginner’s luck. It just comes with the territory. That’s the thing I hate about cards. If there weren’t any luck involved, I’d win every hand.”
Garnet gave me a hearty laugh then thumped his hand against my back.
“Give it time,” he said. “You’ll get your money back.”
“I know.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
I shook my head at him and shrugged.
“You’ve lost poker hands before. Now you look like someone shot your fucking dog or something.”
“I’m just thinking about what you just said. The Chinese pay us a lot.”
“We still got a deal with them. They’re not going anywhere.”
“It’s not just them. I mean… federal agents? Shit. I never thought I’d see the day when the government would care about this fucking town.”
“That just means Ivory is moving up in the world. You should be proud.”
“Oh, I’m fucking proud as shit. Don’t nobody move product like the Reapers.”
“Amen, brother.”
“Still… That money was fucking nice.”
“Since when did you care so much about money?”
“I was just thinking…”
I sipped my beer and swished it around in my mouth. I wasn’t looking at Garnet but I could feel his eyes on me.
“…It’d be nice,” I said.
“What would?”
“Just to have enough money and not have to worry about it. I don’t wanna be rich. I don’t need to be a fucking millionaire. There’s no way to spend that kind of money in Ivory. But to be able to relax and kick your feet up…”
“It’d be nice,” Garnet said. “I get it.”
“It doesn’t help that the new patch just took some of the money I had.”
“Look at it this way,” Garnet said as he patted me on the shoulder. “You’re doing something nice for Sullivan. Give him a little money and make him feel like one of the boys. He’s a brother now.”
“I suppose you’re right,” I sighed. “If I have to give my money to someone, it might as well be another patch.”
“That’s the spirit.”
I finished the rest of my beer and pushed the empty bottle across the counter.
“You got plans for tonight?” Garnet asked.
“Plans… You know what, I think you got the right idea. I’m just gonna lay low and wait for this shit to blow over. Feds in town. New patches taking my money.”
“Shit is just going terribly for you,” Garnet said with a laugh.
Garnet and I looked over at the card table. The club was laughing and talking to each other, having the time of their lives. For whatever reason, I wasn’t in the same mood as them.
“I think that’s what I’ll do,” I sighed. “Gonna head out for tonight.”
“All right,” Garnet said. “No meetings for the next few days.”
The night was still young but I decided to check in early. Hopefully, I would hear some good news when I woke up in the morning.
Chapter 3
KATRINA
“Oh… Oh, God… No! No, no, no! No!”
The smoke billowing from the hood of my car made it impossible for me to see in front of me. My car sputtering to a halt made it an easier decision to pull over.
“Dammit…”
I hopped out and watched as the smoke continued to rise. In the middle of the night, on a random street in Ivory, my return to town was abruptly interrupted.
I reached into my pocket and dialed for my brother.
No response.
I sent him a text message while sitting on the curb.
No response.
Considering how much he was drinking, it probably wasn’t a good idea for him to drive over and help me out.
The streets were empty. The night was silent except for the sound of music and conversation coming from inside the nearby bars. It was a strange feeling to feel so alone in the town I had grown up in.
With no other choice, I started searching on my phone for a tow. I was so distracted that I didn’t notice the loud rumbling of exhaust growing next to me. I finally looked up when a lone bright headlight shined on me.
“Need some help?”
I put my hand up to block the headlight just as it went out. I looked toward the voice and saw someone hop off of his bike.
He was a biker. If the bike itself weren’t enough, the leather kutte only confirmed it.
“It looks like it,” I sighed.
He didn’t walk toward me. He sort of sauntered instead. And when he got closer, I realized just how tall he was.
I looked up at him and for some reason, I was surprised at how young he looked. The dark blond scruff along his chin matched his hair, which was slicked back over his head.
“Do you want me to take a look?” he asked.
He gave me a smirk, staring at me with these deep blue eyes. The lone streetlight cast a shadow on his face but I could make him out clearly.
I’d been around bikers all my life. Jordan had been in a club for as long as I could remember. But none of them looked like this guy.
Things sure have changed in this town.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
I blinked and shook my head when I realized I didn’t respond to him. I was staring at his face for so long that I lost myself in my thoughts.
“Oh,” I said. “If you want to take a look, be my guest. Be careful of the hood. I think it’s still hot.”
“I’ll be all right.”
The grin on his face was growing. He looked away from me before I could stare at him any longer. The stranger lifted the hood up and released all of the smoke up into the night sky. After a few seconds passed, he peered over my engine.
I looked him over as he bent over the engine of my car. His jeans were baggy, hiding a pair of boots beneath. His arms were covered with ink all the way down to his wrists. The giant patch on his vest had BLACK REAPERS and a matching logo emblazoned on the back. I wasn’t too familiar with the clubs in this town, despite my brother being so involved.
“How does it look?” I asked.
“Well…”
He turned around, a confident smile on his face as he shrugged.
“I’ve got some good news and some bad news,” he said, slapping his hands together. “What do you want first?”
“What’s the bad news?” I sighed.
“The bad news is you’ve got an oil leak. You probably shouldn’t be driving this thing around until you get it fixed.”
“Are you serious? Oh, great… My apartment is just a few blocks from here.”
“I wouldn’t risk it. Not unless you want even more repairs.”
“Yeah, yeah… What’s the good news?”
“The good news is I can fix it for you. Not right now, but I’ve got a garage. All you have to do is get it towed and I’ll take care of it there.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
Who is this guy?
There was something about the way he looked at me. It was like that smirk of his was tattooed on his lips.
I shook my head, trying to figure him out.
“You could be lying to me,” I said. “How do I know you’re not just some mechanic trying to sucker people into overpaying for repairs?”
“Who said anything about paying?”
“What? I mean… I… Why would you want to fix my car for free?”
“I didn’t say for free. You still owe me.”
“…I suppose I do.”
“I could use a drink.”
“A drink?”
“This place will work.”
He looked over my shoulder. I turned around and noticed the bar I had inadvertently pulled up next to.
“Let me get this straight,” I said. “You’re going to fix my oil leak for a drink?”
“And some company.”
I glared at him, looking into those deep blue eyes of his to try and figure him out. The way he grinned at me made it hard for me to not smile back at him. He sure was confident.
“All right,” I said with a nod. “Sounds like a deal. It doesn’t make any sense, but that could work.”
“Who said good ol’ Ivory hospitality never made any sense?”
“And that’s what this is? Ivory hospitality?”
“You must not be from around here.”
“Oh, I’m from around here. It’s just… It’s been a long time.”
“Why don’t you tell me about it? Over that drink you owe me.”
He was smooth. I had to give him that. I bit my tongue to stop from smiling.
“…You’re not like some serial killer, are you?” I asked as I winced.
“Is that what I look like?”
“Judging from the tattoos and the leather kutte, do you really want me to answer that?”
“Fair enough,” he said with a chuckle. “But you’re not gonna get a better deal in Ivory to fix an oil leak. I can promise you that.”
Oh, what the hell…
I shrugged and turned around to walk into the bar. The stranger followed closely behind me.
There were only a few people in the place. The music was soft and everybody seemed to be keeping their conversations to themselves. Considering I just came from The Bone Pit, I thought it was strange that a bar could be so calm.
The lights were dim but there was just enough to see my peaceful surroundings.
I took a seat at the bar and the stranger leaned up against the counter next to me.
“What are you having?” the bartender asked.
“I’ll have a shot of whiskey,” the biker said.
“And for you?”
“I’m not drinking tonight,” I said.
“That wasn’t a part of the deal,” the biker said.
“W-what? I said that I would get you a drink.”
“And your company. I can’t drink alone. I’d be at home if I wanted to do that.”
I sighed a deep breath and shook my head.
“Whiskey,” I sighed.
While the bartender poured our drinks, I took a better look at the man who was apparently my savior.
He looked out into the bar with his back against the counter. I got a better look at the intricate ink on his arm and noticed just how bulging his bicep was.
Wow…
When he noticed me staring at him, he turned and gave me that arrogant smirk of his.
“Cheers,” he said as he picked up his whiskey.
Along with the shot I had earlier, I had more than I was used to. The alcohol didn’t burn as much it did the first time but I wasn’t in love with it either.
As soon as it was down, I sighed a deep breath of relief.
“So… What brings you to Ivory?” he asked.
“What brings me to Ivory? What makes you say I’m not from around here?”
“I would have remembered someone like you. There aren’t that many places in Ivory to hide in.”
“Maybe I was hiding in a really secret place.”
“You don’t look like the type.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re not the type to sit around and do nothing in a secret place.”
He leaned in closer to me. His face was just a few inches from mine as he stared into my eyes. I looked back into his blue eyes as he narrowed his gaze at me.
“I can see it in you,” he said. “You like to go out. You’re a free spirit. An adventurer.”
As I stared back at him, my throat felt dry suddenly. I swallowed just as he pulled away from me.
“Am I right?” he asked.
“Does that work?” I said.
“Does what work?”
“Oh, come on! You’ve been smooth this
whole time. You say that to all the girls. Don’t play dumb.”
“…You really are from Ivory, huh?”
“Born and raised.”
We shared a laugh. Even though I just met him a few minutes ago, I was comfortable around him. I guess that’s what two shots of alcohol could do to you.
“…Blake,” he said.
“Katrina. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Blake.”
“The pleasure is yours.”
“I… I don’t think that’s how it goes.”
“Oh, that is how it goes. Trust me.”
He winked at me. His confidence was so overwhelming that I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“All right, Blake. You sure do know how to make a girl smile. I’ll give you credit for that.”
“I aim to please.”
“First you tell me what’s wrong with my car. Then you grace me with the pleasure of your company. What else can you tell me about yourself?”
“There isn’t much else to tell.”
“Oh, I think there is…”
I didn’t know what came over me. But it had been so long since I’d been around a man and none of them were as interesting as him.
I reached over and ran my hand over the patches on his vest. I trailed my index finger over the text and read it out.
“Needle. That’s an interesting name.”
Blake didn’t say anything, instead turning to the bartender to order himself another drink.
“How did you get a name like Needle?” I asked.
He downed his second shot of whiskey and looked down at me, that same smirk still on his lips.
“What do you think?” he said.
“Needle… Let me see…”
I leaned back in my seat, examining him while I tried to figure him out.
“Needle… I bet you killed a guy with a needle. You look like you know how to handle weapons.”
“Interesting theory…”
“Or… Maybe it has something to do with drugs. No, you don’t look like the junkie-type. Steroids? You cheating there, big man?”
I reached over and playfully squeezed his bicep. I held back my surprise when I discovered it was harder than it looked.
Blake chuckled softly at me and nodded.
“That’s a possibility,” he said. “Working out is always better when you’ve got a little help.”
“That must be it. Or…”