“So, why are we still breathing?” Buster asked.
“Because I'd like to say, fuck Jake Dodd. In fact, I'll help you take the fucker down. And when it's all over, we're good. Even. In fact, I'll sweeten the pot. I'm getting a little tired of Detroit. Been thinking of relocating to a warmer climate. I'll leave you my files.”
“And I'm just supposed to take your word for it? We're supposed to believe that you're just going to walk away and hand us the world?”
“Why wouldn't I? As business relationships go, we've had a good one. I'm not a simple fucking street thug like Jake Dodd.”
“You got a personal beef with Dodd or something?”
“Not with Dodd. With his sister, but that is a story for never,” Joseph replied. “So, are we going to do one last thing together or what?”
Buster inhaled a deep breath. There was no way to put this to a vote. The decision was on his shoulders. Every one of his men trusted him to make a decision he wasn't sure that he trusted himself to make. If he chose wrong, he'd essentially kill the one thing he'd sworn to protect. “We've got a deal.” The tension in the room remained but lowered some as the two men shook hands.
Joseph turned his head, said something to the three men in a language Buster didn't understand. Fear washed over him. It could be the order to mow them down, but instead, the men turned and left the room.
Train let out a laugh. “Well, I didn't see that coming.” He continued to laugh, and then Ace joined in. It was nervous laughter. Maybe even borderline hysterical. Buster found himself chuckling along with them. The tension in the room was gone. The cards had been laid out on the table, so to speak, and they were going to walk away with what they'd come here for.
“This isn't funny.” Edge cleared his throat. “Well, at least it's not funny for you.”
All eyes went to him. Buster wanted to walk over and strangle him, especially when he saw the gun in his hand. “What's that supposed to mean?”
Edge didn't answer. Instead he simply raised the gun and fired. Joseph Miller, caught off guard, was hit dead center in the chest. And all hell broke loose. Smoke returned fire, narrowly missing Edge, who dived for cover behind a row of half decayed pews.
Buster fired but missed Smoke, who was behind one of the pillars on either side of the aisle. There was a chance the gunfire would bring them back, so he got Train and Ace's attention and motioned towards the door. They got what he wanted immediately He caught sight of Danny trying to get behind Smoke, so he went around to the other side.
Edge was still behind them. Rock was back there, too, but he had no idea where Monroe had gone. But Buster didn't think that he'd have turned and run. He wasn't that sort of man. “Fire in the hole!” Train's shout made Buster crouch down and then an explosion rocked the walls.
Three shots rang out. “He's down,” Danny called out. “Think this place is about to come down, too.”
“It's time to go. Now.” Train was already running towards the door.
“Go!” Buster roared the words as a chunk of ceiling fell near the altar. He'd barely made it out the door, all of his Brothers in front of him, when the entire place crumbled like a house of cards. “Jesus Fuck!” He ran his hands over his hair. “What the fuck was that, Edge? Give me one reason I shouldn't take your head off right here and now. We could have done things peacefully and got what we wanted! This didn't have to happen.”
“There is no we.” Edge stood about five feet from anyone else.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Rock exploded at his friend. “You almost got us killed back there.”
“I said, there's no us.” Edge lifted the hand holding his gun and fired. The bullet hit Rock straight in the head, blew the back out. And then more shots fired, from the dark where no one should have been. Buster scrambled for cover. He saw Train go down, hard. He wasn't sure the man would get back up.
A car screeched to the curb, and Edge got in. Buster fired at the retreating vehicle, sure that he'd made contact at least once. He didn't get a plate. He didn't need to because he'd seen the car before. It was Jake's car. It would seem that Jillian wasn't the only one who had gone over to the dark side. And once again, Buster hadn't seen the hit coming.
“We've got to get the fuck out of here. Call Maggie, Train needs a doctor.” Danny walked over to him. “We can't take him.”
Buster looked down at Rock. It was an image that would remain burned in his mind for the rest of his days. There was still a look of shock, surprise that his best friend would have a gun on him. One could only hope that it had been over so quickly Rock had no chance to realize his best friend had taken his life. “Got to get his bike out of here, too. And fast. Go,” he added when Danny hesitated.
Buster took one last look, wished he'd been able to make things happen differently, but they needed to play the cards that they were dealt. Rock had known that. He'd known the risk. He'd paid the ultimate price. His sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. Somehow they were going to figure this out.
He heard the sound of sirens, faint but no doubt coming to the scene at full speed. “Leave the bike,” Buster called. “Ride. Now.”
<#<#<#<#
It was barely noon, and the day had already been much more interesting than Buster would have liked. He had a raging headache and the undeniable urge to punch something or someone repeatedly. When Manuel showed up without Maggie, it took all his restraint not to punch him. With Maggie being two days overdue, he wasn't dragging her out. Instead, he'd brought a tall, skinny guy who worked at the morgue.
Train hadn't seemed to mind. The guy got to work, and Manuel got down to business. “Word around town is that Nightshade is out of the game. The Wild Cards are calling the shots now.” He laughed. “I see you're short two patches.”
“Rock didn't make it back with us.” Buster knew that he had to be upfront. “And Edge, well he's not a patch any longer. In fact, he's a dead man walking. He just doesn't realize it yet.”
“It's rough, having someone flip on you.” Manuel looked around the bar. “Gonna be rough to keep yourselves on the map, but The Street Kings' have your back. You can count on us.”
“We appreciate it.” The words were inadequate. Without Manuel and his men, he wasn't sure that Nightshade would survive. He wasn't sure that they would with him, but it would be a better shot. “I've got guys trying to figure out where he is.”
“So do I. Got a lead on a warehouse downtown. You want to ride with me? Check it out?” Manuel offered.
“You mind if we swing by my place first? Check on my Old Lady.” Buster had tried her phone several times, but she rarely heard it if she was sleeping. She'd better be sleeping, or he was going to be pissed. Seriously pissed. “Monroe, ride with us so that you can ride back with Caroline.”
<#<#<#<#
Buster heard the music before he got his key in the lock. It was loud enough that there was no way she'd hear the door. It pissed him off. He could be anyone, the lock was good but not infallible. Manuel and Monroe waited outside while he walked into the living room and shut the music off. “Caroline!”
He found her in the basement, her arms full of the sheets that they'd slept on the night before. She jolted at the sight of him and pulled out her headphones. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“Why are you wearing headphones and blasting the music so loud that you can hear it from the street?” He watched, and appreciated, the view of her ass as she bent over to put the linens in the dryer.
“What are you talking about? I wasn't playing the music. I've had my headphones on listening to a book on tape.” She pushed a button on the dryer and turned to face him. “It's nice to see you alive.”
“For the moment,” Buster closed the distance between them, cupped her face with his hands. “Are you sure that you didn't forget you turned the music on?”
“I'm positive. It's weird though.” She frowned. “And do I even want to know what 'for the moment' means?”
“It's a long story
. I'll let Monroe fill you in when he takes you back to the bar. You're not staying here. It's not safe.” If she hadn't turned the music on, it meant someone was in the house, someone who wanted their presence to be known. It could be Dodd, it could be Harris. The possibilities really were endless.
“I've got to go somewhere with Manuel. I'll be back when I can.” Buster would have gladly told her everything, but there wasn't time. “Go and get your stuff.”
“Wait,” she reached up and wrapped her hands around his wrists. “There's something I've got to tell you. A few things, really. I guess you didn't see the note under the remote control on the coffee table. Harris came here, told me I needed to go with her to identify a body. She heavilly implied it was Jillian but it wasn't. It was Rock but you knew that already, didn't you?”
He nodded. Buster didn't realize his grip had tightened on Caroline's face until she released his wrists and pushed at his chest. The mere idea that Harris had come to his home, taken her and made her see Rock when any officer who'd ever arrested him could have done it filled him with rage. “Fuck. I'm sorry.”
“It's fine. You're just strong. Look, there's something else that she said, she saw us that night outside the bar when we....” She trailed off. “And it doesn't matter. What matters is she's still watching Nightshade.”
“She's not watching that closely or we'd be in cuffs right now.” Buster wasn't surprised that the woman would still have an eye on them. “Next time that she comes knocking, don't answer the door. Got me?”
“Got it.”
“Now give me a kiss and go get your shit.” Buster could see that she was scared, no matter how she was trying to hide it. The fact that she tried to hide it made him love her even more, if that was at all possible. “I'm sorry that you had to see Rock like that.” Harris was going to get what was coming to her for that; he wasn't fucking around. “And I'm sorry about not telling you about the vasectomy sooner. I should have. I can have it reversed.”
“No,” she said quickly, leaned in and kissed him. “Don't do that.” She pulled back. “I need to turn the oven off, too. I was making dinner.”
“I'll take care of all that. Don't worry about it, and don't let Train guilt you into baking. He doesn't need cookies. I have solid intel that he's got a hoard of them up in his room. He was hurt.” Buster didn't want her to walk into that blind. He let that take the front seat, pushed her response to his offer to the side.
“I've got a few dozen frozen and hidden in a Lean Cuisine box in the freezer at the bar. As long as that box has been there, no member of Nightshade has looked inside.” She was really smiling now. “How hurt?”
“Just a little mosquito bite,” Buster replied. She nodded, and he knew she knew that it was more serious than he was letting on. Caroline was a very smart woman. “Make sure he stays in bed.”
“Like I could actually stop him if he tried to get out. I'll do what I can.” Caroline stretched up to brush her lips against his. “I think that I'm going to wear that little red thing you like tonight, so make sure that you come home.”
<#<#<#<#
The warehouse was in a part of town that had been falling apart. There were no neighbors around, just a pack of dogs Buster suspected had once been pets. The warehouse stood out like a sore thumb. Every part of it, at least on the outside, was brand new. Still shiny. Not discreet at all. If this was where The Wild Cards were operating out of, Jake didn't give a rat's ass about being discreet.
He was already convinced that he was at the top of the food chain. Buster was going to make him realize how absolutely wrong he was about that fact. With Nightshade and The Street Kings united, The Wild Cards didn't stand a chance, but they had to be smart about it. They couldn't strike now.
Manuel brought his bike to a stop. “He's one cocky son of a bitch.”
“His father was one cocky son of a bitch, too,” Buster replied. “He's the one who ordered the shooting that killed my kid before the first breath.” It wasn't common knowledge. Manuel stood up straighter. “Nearly took me down, too, but in the end, well I'm here telling the story, right?”
“Sorry about your kid, Brother. I can't even imagine it. My girls are everything, even if they are pissed that they haven't been able to play outside or have friends over.” He chuckled. “I hope you and Caroline have boys. I think that they're easier.”
Buster lit a cigarette, stared at the warehouse. “I don't think kids are in our future.” Caroline's quick protest to getting the vasectomy had surprised him. He'd seen the way she went gooey around babies, and puppies.
“She freaking out? My old lady freaked.” Manuel chuckled. “Gonna share that pack or what? But yeah, she was all freaked out. Went to the doctor and got an implant. As much as I love her, I really wanted to strangle her that day. Fucking thing lasted forever, but it gave her a chance to come around to the idea.”
“What made her come around?” Buster asked.
“She realized it wasn't all blood and bullets. Saw that we were making a nice life. Between us, she's having another. She's superstitious, doesn't like it widespread before the first trimester is up. Little tip, humor her. Especially once she's actually pregnant.”
“I've got movement.” Buster pointed towards the building. “Two guys, red SUV.”
“Let's follow 'em. See where they go. I'll get a couple of cars over here. See if we can't get us a couple of informants.” Manuel grinned. “I got somewhere we can take 'em.”
“Tell your guys to be careful,” Buster cautioned. “Harris told Caroline that they're still watching.”
“Maybe she's still watching, but it's not sanctioned. Took a while, but we've finally got someone on the inside. The powers that be have been very clear that she stays the fuck away from Nightshade.”
“You sure?”
“Positive,” Manuel replied as his fingers moved rapidly over the keys of his phone. “My guys should be on their way. Let's see where these bitches are going.” There was no more conversation once they started the bikes, pulled out and began to follow the SUV.
They had to keep a good distance back, let the cars that joined in the pursuit take lead. Buster was ready to crawl out of his skin. They finally stopped in a neighborhood that was full of restored houses, lush lawns. It was hard to see from where Buster and Manuel had to stop to not be seen, but close enough that he recognized Jake as he stepped out onto the porch.
“Stupid fucker.” Manuel shook his head. “They led us right to him. This must be his place.”
Buster considered it and decided this way too easy. There was no way that the truck would go to the place that Jake laid his head. They were getting lucky enough with the warehouse, if it really was what they were looking for. “Can't be sure that this is his place. Can't be sure of anything with this son of a bitch. So, we watch and we wait.”
“I'll have my guys stay put. We'll figure out shifts for them. Keep an eye on here and the warehouse.” Manuel rubbed his hands over his eyes. “And at some point, I've got to get some fucking sleep.”
“Go do that. I'm going to head back, talk to my guys and get the shifts set up.” Buster's mind was already going a mile a minute. There was a lot that needed to be done but first, they needed to figure out how to take care of Rock.
<#<#<#<#
Rock didn't have much family outside of Nightshade, just his mother, Val, who he went to visit at least three times a week, in the nursing home where she spent her days. Buster expected that Harris had been there already, but he doubted she'd gotten anything out of Val. It had been over a year since she'd been coherent for more than a few moments at a time.
“Hey there, Heather.” Buster smiled at the woman working the front desk at the small, residential facility. “How's Val doing today?”
Heather looked up, her eyes rimmed red as if she'd been crying. It answered the question of whether Harris had come through or not. “She's having a good day. A really good day, all things considered. Is it true?”
“It'
s true, Sweetheart. I'm sorry.”
“He always...” Heather shook her head, sniffled loudly. “I'm sorry. Go on back, she's in her room. I just need to take a minute.” She pushed her chair back and ran for the bathroom.
Buster wondered if he should go after the girl. He hadn't realized Rock was banging any of the house staff. “I got her, Boss.” Ace told him. “I'll calm her down.”
Buster left Ace to it, the man did have a way with women, and walked down the hall to Val's room. It was a riot of color, a jumble of things. The wind chimes on the ceiling tinkled constantly in the breeze created by a fan. “Hey there, Val. Can I come in?”
Val smiled over at him. She was pretty and young, just over sixty, but her mind was completely gone. “Are you here to take me to the party? Oh my, I'm not even decent.”
“I can wait. You take your time and get ready.” Buster sat down in the chair near the door. He'd come here quite often with Rock, they all had. He still never knew what to expect. Val was sitting up in bed, a mirror in one hand and a tube of lipstick in the other.
“Be a dear and shut that door. I don't want anyone else seeing me without my face on.” Buster obliged and then sat back down. “There was a blonde woman here earlier, told me that my son is dead. Isn't that the strangest thing? I don't have a son.” Val let out a laugh. “Do I look like I'm old enough to have a grown son?”
“No, Darling. You most certainly don't,” Buster replied. He never really believed that ignorance could be bliss until this very moment. Because of her condition, Val would never really feel the pain of her son's death. “And that shade of lipstick makes you even more beautiful. I didn't think it was possible.”
Val laughed and blushed. The rest of the visit went very much the same way. By the time that he'd risen to leave, she thought that he was her brother and they'd just gotten into a heap of trouble for picking all the apples from the neighbor's tree.
Ace was in the waiting area, reading a back issue of Woman's Day magazine, while Heather was nowhere to be seen. “She went home. Debbie came in to cover for her.” He motioned to the woman at the desk, who appeared to be sleeping while sitting up. “I talked to Danny. All the arrangements for Rock are set. Amelia stepped in, said she'd know what he wanted.”
Through The Weeds (Nightshade MC Book 2) Page 19