“It’s true. Both about the reports and about him saying a lot of shit.”
“It’s just his mouth,” Roach said and looked at Ahab, who was walking next to Bull and Mace a bit ahead of them. “He talks a lot, but he comes through when it counts.”
“He was your sponsor?”
“Yeah. He was the only one who didn’t call me ‘son,’” Roach answered with a smile. “I fucking hate being called that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Tommy could certainly see why some would call Roach ‘son.’ He was young enough to be a lot of the members’ son. He was even younger than some of the actual sons—by over a decade.
When they got back to the clubhouse, the only thing Tommy wanted was a fucking shower and to lie down for a while. His shoulder was hurting like hell, and he hadn’t had many hours of sleep the night before.
“Brick called,” was the first thing Sisco said when they stepped into the clubhouse. “He wants us all at the hospital.”
“All of us?” Ahab asked.
“Yeah. You, Slug, and the kid, too,” Sisco answered Ahab with a nod towards Roach, and Tommy bit the insides of his cheeks to not laugh at Roach’s very visible sigh. “Your chick is meeting us there,” he said to Ahab.
“She’s not… You know what, fuck it,” Ahab sighed. “Can we have a shower first? I doubt I’m the only one who wants one.”
“Half an hour.”
Tommy sighed, too, and he just barely had time to say ‘hi’ to Felix and Billie before he had to leave again. He wanted to talk to her, to make sure she was okay. What had happened could, possibly should, make her change her mind about being with him—possibly even about letting Felix anywhere near him. He didn’t think it would, though, and he wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing.
*
Tommy still felt more dead than alive by the time he arrived at the hospital. Bear was waiting for him outside hospital chapel. He found it ironic that they’d chosen that place for the meeting.
“What’s the word on Eliza?” he asked.
“They just took her to surgery.”
“Surgery?”
“Yeah…” Bear said, and clear his throat. “Not sure exactly…”
“I don’t need to know,” Tommy interrupted him. He didn’t want to know. Just the thought that she needed surgery was bad enough. The first info they’d had on Eliza had included a broken nose, the cuts on the inside of her thighs, then the very vague and ominous mentioning of ‘vaginal and anal injuries.’ “How’s Mel?”
“She’s being Mel. In the good way.” He nodded towards the chapel. “Get inside. Brick should be here soon.”
Niu was already waiting with her two bodyguards, and the rest of them were there, too. It was just Brick missing. They all waited in silence; somehow it felt wrong to talk.
When Brick finally arrived, he looked more dead than alive, too. His attention immediately turned to Niu.
“Make it short,” he said.
“Of course.”
“Did you not see this coming?” Brick asked, and the man who was usually the epitome of calm was about to lose it already. “How the fuck did you miss an attack like this one? You said they’d attack all your allies.”
“Yes. And us, too,” Niu answered. “I know that Roberto has been your contact, but from now on, it’ll be me. I understand that this may cause some concern.”
Brick didn’t let her finish. “Honestly? Right now I don’t give a fuck who I’m talking to. I just want to know that you are on top of things, and if shit goes down, that I’m really fucking high up on your ‘to call’ list.”
“We didn’t see this coming. Why we didn’t, I don’t know, but I can tell you that two of my sisters are missing. One in Mexico, and the other was last seen in New York, my brother, Roberto’s right hand man—I believe you’ve met him—is dead, and there are some people higher up in the chain who are missing and probably dead, too. So let me assure you, we are all very eager to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
There was a dead silence in the room after Niu’s heated speech.
“Okay,” Brick said. “What will happen next?”
“We’re at war. This set it off, but it has been moved to Mexico, and I’m sure most of it will take place there, at least initially. Right now, everyone is collecting their people around them; I’m going there, too. I’m sure you understand that I can’t make any guarantees, but I can assure you that any indication we have of that changing, you’ll know. This was an attempt to cut off our supply lines, both for weapons and our income, something I’m sure you’ve already figured out.”
Brick’s only response was a nod. Niu’s blank face when Nmembe tortured a man had been scary, but now he was seeing another side of her. The woman radiated authority in a way he’d previously only seen in generals. Her entire body demanded their respect, but, despite what he’d seen earlier, she wasn’t frightening. It was more as if it was natural to her that men almost twice her size did whatever the fuck she told them to do—which they probably did. Considering she was a woman in a fairly high position in a cartel, it was probably more or less required of her to act the way she did, but he still found it impressive.
“How big would you say the risk is that they’ll try again?” Mitch asked.
“At the moment, they’re gathering their armies in Mexico just as we are. They’re creating a wall around them, since they’re expecting retribution. Our organization is bigger than theirs. Not by much, but still bigger. This was their attempt to gain the advantage. It’s in our interest to keep your organization intact, not mainly due to my father’s respect for you, or that we’ve been in business for so long, but because without the money our trade brings in, we lose this war. War is expensive. So again, I can assure you: any indication of problems heading your way, we will warn you and assist as much as we can. What we need you to do in return, is keep your end of the bargain and deliver our goods.”
“Will shipments be a problem?” Bull asked. “As in, will you be able to get the amounts over the border?”
“Yes, and you’ll be the first to find out if that changes. Obviously, it’s a priority. As I said, wars are expensive. Money will be a priority, which means your shipments are a priority.”
Brick gave her another nod, and he raised an eyebrow when she approached him, holding her hand in front of her. He took it, and holding his hand, she put her other hand on top of his.
“I truly am sorry for Eliza, Brick. Let me know if there’s anything we can do other than doing our best to assure nothing happens to you or your family again.”
It was a surprising gesture, one Tommy hadn’t expected, and he could see that Brick appreciated it.
“Thank you.” He turned his eyes to Nmembe, still holding Niu’s hand. “And thank you.”
Nmembe simply gave him a nod.
“I’ll leave you to discuss now,” Niu said after letting go of Brick’s hand. “I will be in touch shortly, and I’ll be back as soon as we have a more set plan for both the war and how we will communicate. I’m sure you understand that we’ll have to be even more careful than usual from now on.”
“I have a question,” Bull said, and Tommy hoped Bull, for once, managed to be diplomatic. “Why is he changing contact now? I know you’re his daughter, but you must understand how this looks from our point of view. Anyone else and I’d be really fucking suspicions.”
‘That would be a ‘no’ on the diplomacy,’ Tommy thought to himself with an inward sigh.
“I know how this looks,” she answered, “which is why I’ve asked him to contact you in person. The reason is that he’s in charge of all major operations in the cartel now. We lost some key members yesterday.”
She left the room, and Tommy couldn’t help notice the looks Mitch and Mac were exchanging. Then Mitch turned to Brick.
“Do I think they’re fighting among themselves while they’re fighting a war?” Brick mumbled, and Tommy realized he was los
t again. Those guys always had discussions he couldn’t even begin to follow. “I don’t know if it was planned or if they just took the shot. Or if it was coincidence.”
“How high up was he before?” Mac asked.
“Pretty fucking high up,” Bear answered. “I don’t think it would take that many of them.”
“Once again for those of us who almost took the short bus to school,” Mace sighed. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“If Roberto’s sudden promotion is by design or a coincidence,” Brick answered in a tired voice.
“You think the entire ‘attacking our allies’ was just a covert operation to hide the fact that he’s taking over the organization?” Ahab asked, since he was apparently smarter than Tommy, and the realization annoyed him.
“He’s not in charge, so if that’s the case it probably wasn’t his plan,” Bear answered. “But if that’s the case, and he’s still alive, he was in on it.”
“Fuck,” Mace muttered.
“Would they do that?” Roach asked. “Sell us out?”
“Without a doubt,” Brick answered.
“And if that is the case?” Sisco asked. “Where does that leave us?”
“It would mean there’s not an actual war,” Mitch answered. “So as soon as they’re settled in their new positions, the ‘war’ will be over and it’ll be business as usual. It would also mean that our old ladies and kids are disposables as far as they’re concerned.”
“How will we know?” Tommy asked, stunned by the idea that the people they worked for might’ve done it all in an attempt to hide killing their own just to be able to take over the organization.
“We’ll know if the war continues,” Brick answered. “Not sure what the fuck I hope the outcome of this will be.”
“There’s a third option,” Mitch said. “They knew it was coming and just seized the opportunity. But it would still mean that we’re disposable since they didn’t warn us. In that case, we’ll probably never find out.”
“Unless the war ends tomorrow, which would be a pretty clear indication, then we won’t find out either way,” Brick said and stood up and turned to Mitch. “I want you in on all the meets with that woman. You need to get to know her and learn how to read her. It’ll be easier for you if you’re with me initially.”
There had been hints, small indications, but Tommy didn’t think Brick had ever been so clear about his intentions to let Mitch take over. There would be a vote, of course, but he couldn’t imagine anyone voting against Mitch. He was the obvious choice. Still, he didn’t like the idea of Brick stepping down. What the Greenville Marauders was, and to some extent the entire club, was in big part due to Brick.
No one commented on what had been said, and Brick gave Mitch and Mac hugs.
“I need to get going. They didn’t think the surgery would take long.”
They’d all known shit was coming, but they’d all thought that the shit would be because the European Smiling Ghouls were about to detach themselves from the US Ghouls. Even the cartel knew that one was coming, but Tommy assumed that any such plans would have to wait. The cartel’s involvement had been vital in those plans.
Brick left, and Tommy looked around at the others. They all looked like he felt. Not defeated, not scared, but something else. Determination, he decided. They were determined. No matter what was coming, they’d deal with it, and they’d deal with it together.
“I need shuteye,” he said and stood up. “Any idea how long the lockdown will continue?”
“We’ll wait to hear from Roberto, but I’d say people can go home later today,” Bear answered. “Judging by what Niu said. You can all catch some sleep. We have some Nomads on the guard for today, but they’re leaving tomorrow.”
There wasn’t any need for him to point out that the Greenville Marauders would be on guard at the hospital from then on; it was understood, and no one would mind. It was just how it was, and Tommy liked that. When he’d woken up at the military hospital in Germany, he’d been alone. There had been people around him, but no one he knew. He’d never in his life felt lonelier than he had then, but he knew it wouldn’t happen again. Just as they’d all been around to keep Felix company, and later him, they would be there for Eliza—if she wanted them to. He wasn’t so sure about that.
*
The clubhouse was still packed, but he found Billie and Felix in the kitchen.
“You look like crap,” she said and stroked his cheek. “Bring Felix to your room and take a nap. He needs it, too.”
He looked at Felix. “Wanna get some shuteye with your dad?”
“Not really,” Felix muttered. “But Mommy said I had to.”
“Come on. We can put on a movie and relax. If we fall asleep, we fall asleep.” He picked him up and took Billie’s hand. “Think you can come with us?”
“Yeah. Let me just finish up here, and I’ll be there.”
He carried Felix back to his room, put on Monsters Inc., and lay down behind Felix. He just barely made it past the opening scene before he was asleep.
The next thing he remembered was Sisco slamming the door, telling them it was okay to go home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
S.P.O.R.T.S
oOo
TOMMY REALIZED THE LOCKDOWN hadn’t lasted for more than two days, but it felt like a lifetime since he’d left the Jensen house just after promising Felix they’d work on his bike when he got back home. So much had happened, and in a way his life had been turned upside down—again.
The first time, finding out he was a dad, had been a nice change. He couldn’t honestly say that he’d wanted a kid, because he hadn’t even considered it. Now that he had Felix, he couldn’t imagine life without him—or Billie. But he still wished those two changes had come in the opposite order.
While they were in the war, Zach and he had never talked about home. It had been a silent agreement between the two of them, and he couldn’t remember it ever having been said out loud, just as he couldn’t remember Zach mentioning his family when they were deployed. A lot of the guys did talk about their families, especially their wives and kids, but there were those who were like Tommy and Zach, too. He’d never thought much about it while they were in the middle of it, but afterwards he’d wondered if it was simply that he had his family with him. He’d had his brother next to him.
There were two exceptions. The first was when Zach had received a letter from Billie. He’d read it, and after finishing it, he’d sparred with the biggest guy he could find. He’d almost won, too.
“What the fuck was that about?” one of the other guys had asked Tommy. “Did he get a Dear John letter?”
Tommy had known it wasn’t a Dear John Letter, since Zach hadn’t had a girlfriend, and when he’d found Zach, he’d still been fuming.
“She’s in trouble, I know she is, the girl can’t even fucking lie in a letter. She’s in some deep shit, and I’m half a world away. I can’t do shit. I can’t help her.’
“How do you know?”
“She was super sweet and nice, talking about how awesome everything is, not a single fucking jab about my masculinity, and not one note about some hot guy. She always writes about hot guys. She thinks it pisses me off.”
“Listen,” Tommy had said. “You know Billie, she’s a tough chick. She can take care of herself.”
The memory of that conversation sucked even more when he knew what Billie’s problem was at the time. She’d been raped, and she was still serving under the man who had raped her. In a way, he was almost glad Zach never found out.
The second time Zach had mentioned family was when he was dying. He’d had a hole in the size of football in his stomach, blood had been pouring out of his mouth and the side of his neck, and he’d asked Tommy to look after Billie. Those were his last words, ‘Take care of Billie.’ Then he’d laughed a little and added, ‘If she lets you.’
Tommy wondered what Zach would’ve thought about his way of ‘taking care’ of her. H
e’d either have laughed or killed him. It was hard to know with Zach.
Felix, Billie, and her parents and left as soon as possible, but Tommy had stayed behind to escort some people back home, so by the time he got to the Jensens’, it was late.
Leah and Clyde were in the kitchen, and he figured it was best to just get that discussion out of the way before he went up to talk to Billie.
“Thanks for your help,” he said to Clyde. “Bear wanted me to say thanks, too.”
“It was in my interest that the clubhouse was safe.” Clyde pulled out a chair at the kitchen table. “Sit down, son.”
It was about what Tommy had expected. Clyde might’ve shut his mouth while they were still at the clubhouse, but he wasn’t going to shut up now. He had questions, and he would demand answers. Tommy figured he’d deserved a few, so he sat down.
“Before you even start, I can’t tell you everything.”
“I know. Mexican soldiers,” he started. “I know what that means. That means cartels. A seventeen-year-old girl who, I assume, was taken to get gang raped… How much trouble are you in?”
“I don’t know. Apparently the main event will be in Mexico, but that doesn’t mean…”
“… That everyone is safe,” Clyde filled in, and he looked at Leah before turning back to Tommy after a sigh. “Fucking hell, son.”
“I’d say I’ll keep them safe, but I doubt you’d believe me, given what just happened.”
“It’s not about that. It’s about…”
Clyde hesitating or not knowing what to say was a very rare sight, but that was what he’d just done.
“About?”
“I’m gonna be frank. Some of your men are absolutely worthless in battle,” Clyde boomed. “Several of them didn’t even know what I meant when I said S.P.O.R.T.S.”
Tommy laughed. “Not many civilians know that one.”
S.P.O.R.T.S. was the acronym for slap, pull, observe, release, tap, squeeze—basically what to do when a rifle jammed. Slap the bottom of the magazine, pull the charge handle to the rear, observe the chamber, release the charging handle, tap the forward assist, and finally squeeze the trigger again.
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