by K. J. Dahlen
Before Charlie’s death, the De Luca crime family never had an associated MC. It meant, there was no club to defend and protect their territory like their enemies had. Which put them at risk; as was made devastatingly evident on the night of 12th December 2008, at Charlie De Lucas’ cigarette operation, a warehouse which lay just outside the border of the San Bernardino, the territory of the Blood and Bones MC.
The warehouse, which stood on the meeting point of three crime families’ borders, was struck by an attack by the Blood and Bones MC from Tijuana who rolled into town and torched the place. It devastated the entire building, the entire operation, and the entire workforce on his staff. Charlie lost everything he’d worked his life for. Then, at ten minutes to midnight on that date, Charlie suffered a catastrophic attack – assassinated – in his own home, by no less than the Blood and Bones club’s President.
Broken, but not weakened, Bruno had blood in his eyes ever since.
Bruno shook his head. “Played his game on the right side of the law his whole life and what did he get for it? Karma hit my family like a bitch.”
In the spring that followed that winter’s night, Bruno along with six other members of the crime family met and formed the Black Devils MC in his brother’s honor. Only four of those original patch members remained today. They vowed to defend the De Luca Family and the town in which they lived against such wholly unpredictable attacks. And they vowed revenge on the Blood and Bones MC. A colossal retaliation was plotted. When it came to Bruno, you could count on that.
Ten proud and prosperous years on, the notorious Black Devils MC had claimed stake over a much wider area. Bruno’s whiskey operation ran across 15 miles of docks and shipyards. It employed the brothers and hundreds of residents of the town indirectly. Bruno not only brought great wealth but great protection to himself and Coronado.
Changing the subject to something pleasant, Bruno asked, “You remember the day I found you?”
Jaxson nodded. “Like it was yesterday…two weeks after you formed the club.” He smiled.
Bruno sat back down; hands steepled as he cocked a brow at Jaxson and gave a rare smile. “That car you stole was totalled!” He broke into laughter.
Jaxson bit his lower lip in embarrassment.
“Yep, I remember, kid, you raced into my compound –terrified – lights and sirens blaring behind you.”
Jaxson nodded. “I’d have got locked up inside if it weren’t for you and Marco that day. I was on my final strike with the cops. I’d have been facing the state pen if you hadn’t have been there.”
“You would have been out on your ears with your mom too. She was going to kick you out, you remember?” Bruno chuckled in his throat and leaned back in his chair as he felt himself start to relax. “Still remember the surprise on your face when I police officer let you off. ‘Mr. De Luca’, you called me from that day on. It took you three years for you to call me Bruno.” He stared at Jaxson thoughtfully. “And you sure were fearless even then. Carjacked that GM before you even knew how to drive. Knew on the spot your club name would be Jax. After that, I turned Jason Coltrane, the young rebel-without-a-cause, into the notorious Jaxson Coltrane of the Black Devils MC. You’re damn lucky I spotted your potential; don’t think you would have ever liked life on the straight and narrow.” Bruno added with a look of smug satisfaction on his face.
Jaxson nodded again. He had often wondered what his life would be like had he not joined; the life of the Black Devils was all he knew. His mother warned that he was ‘selling his soul to the devil’ but Jaxson had never regretted his decision.
Bruno continued, “Saw myself in you from day one. I’ve always had an eye for raw talent. I had only wished over time, my Antonio would emerge as something greater.” He paused and looked down at the desk for a moment. “Well, that apple fell a little further from the tree. It’s hard on my heart to say it but…” He took a deep breath. “What can I say? He’s my son, and I love him. And I wish there were another word.” He shrugged his shoulders, dismissively. “I can’t risk sacrificing everything I have built here.”
The truth was, Jaxson knew as well as any of the brothers that he and Bruno were uncannily alike. And as president, Antonio would make too many errors for the club to function.
“Want another drink?” Bruno poured them both a double. He took another swig of whiskey. “I know you’re smarter than to throw away everything you have worked so hard to achieve. You’ve honored your commitment of loyalty you made to me ten years to this day, and now I am going to repay my debt to you, Jaxson Coltrane. My club will be your club come Friday, with a nice fat paycheck I should add. And you sure could use a new bike to match your impressive new job title, courtesy of the company of course.”
Shit. This guy knows how to sweet-talk a person.
“When my boys vote you in, the first thing I’ll do is get you heading all local operations. You know the business forward and backward.”
“Sure, boss,” Jaxson agreed as he bowed his head slightly and stared down at his drink. He needed to try one more time to bring this coming disaster out in the open “And, what about Antonio…you think he’ll be mad?” He picked up his whiskey and sipped it again.
Bruno exhaled hard and leaned forward toward Jaxson. “The club needs to be my priority, and it wouldn’t be safe in his hands. He’ll just have to live with that.”
Yes, Jaxson knew he would get the same damn answer, but he had to try. “I understand.”
“You’ve done an excellent job for me, worked harder than anyone else to make this club something I’m proud of. Anyone else would be...” he paused. “…Unsatisfactory. The bottom line is that this club won’t survive without the likes of you and me. This is your time Jaxson,” Bruno stated with conviction.
Jaxson’s eyes fell to the desk again, for what felt like a brief moment.
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. “You’ll be fine.” Bruno opened the door and paused, then gave a quick glance back at him. “Make sure the guys know their jobs for Thursday.” His voice fell back to its usual emotionless and militant tone. “And keep them out of the pub on Wednesday night. I don’t want any mistakes because they’re still hung over.”
“Of-course,” Jaxson responded.
On that order, Bruno turned and walked out.
4
The whole situation was one fucked up mess.
Jaxson felt as if he would let Bruno and his brothers down if he didn’t take the role as president, which would put the future of the club at risk. The issue was… should he take the position, he knew the consequences that followed might be even worse. All the things that would constitute warning signs had already occurred. Whether Antonio blew today, next week, or next month, he would be out to get him for sure. With Jaxson as president, Antonio would be a dangerous man with nothing to lose.
Jaxson stayed inside the office a few minutes longer to gather his thoughts and prepare for the interrogation Antonio would throw his way. He heard the steel latch clatter as the main door slammed shut behind Bruno.
After a few minutes, Jaxson emerged from the office into a room that felt unnervingly tense. The men sat in silence until the sound of Bruno’s engine had left the parking lot. As soon as Bruno rolled out of the lot, Antonio lit up a cigarette and sat on the arm of the couch where Jaxson had been – waiting. His dark eyes squared-down on Jaxson. His free hand clenched into a fist by his side, as if he tried to resist the urge to fly at him in a fury.
Fuck.
Antonio was already dangerously worked up.
Dino and Jaxson exchanged a look. They knew they needed to leave before he got out of control.
Too fucking late.
Antonio stormed up close to Jaxson. His clothes smelled strongly of motor oil and gasoline. Pissed as hell, he sneered through gritted teeth, “Guess you’re President now. Guess we don’t even have a say in this. Guess I don’t even have a say in this.”
His words caused everyone in the room to still.
>
Jaxson kept his voice level as he replied, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. None.” Jaxson turned his attention to the group, “We need to be ready for the shipment on Thursday. Whiskey is passing through and we’re going to have to be careful. No going out to the bar the night before or it’s my neck on the line, am I clear fellas?”
Everyone nodded.
Everyone except Antonito, he looked livid. “You heard damn well what I just said! What the hell did my father just say to you?” His voice a warning now.
Dino interjected, “You need to learn when to shut your fucking mouth,” he shouted, defending Jaxson.
Jaxson held up a hand at them both. “It’s nobody’s business but ours.”
Antonio took off his jacket and tossed it on the counter.
Jaxson’s mind swirled as he tried to come up with anything he could do to get the motherfucker to back off. He knew Antonio wouldn’t let this fly. “We weren’t discussing anything except our plan for Thursday. Rod is into Bruno for fifty-grand, and he’s paid nothing back. Bruno wants his money that’s all. If his guys help us out with this shipment, we’re even.”
“Yeah, you forgot to mention how he plans to put you in charge of all local operations,” Antonio snapped back.
“He’s fucked in the head,” Dino muttered under his breath.
Jaxson growled, “I fucking told you what he said—”
“Let’s cut through the bullshit Jaxson.” A dark expression crossed Antonio’s face as he cut Jaxson off. “We all know what he was talkin’ to you about. So spill it,” he demanded, furiously.
“Goddamn it. You heard what I said. And if you have a problem with that, you know where the door is.”
With nothing to say, Antonio turned his back on Jaxson and walked through the open doorway to the bike shop area. Inside, he knelt down tinkering with his bike – sulking. As Jaxson attempted to discuss plans for Thursday with the guys, he revved the motor over Jaxson’s voice in a pathetic attempt to work him up.
This guy is fucking ridiculous. He has no business being so damn cocky. Jaxson shook his head, swallowing his laughter. No respect.
As Bruno’s only blood relative in the Black Devils, Antonio thought he was untouchable. The thought of him ever becoming president of the club Jaxson cared for so much for was, in a word—unfucking-thinkable. Jaxson suddenly understood why Bruno refused to allow this clown to become president. De Lucas Empire would fall at his hands…if he didn’t get himself killed in the process. At that moment, Jaxson felt a strong impulse to protect the integrity of the club he was proud of, no matter what.
The air around them was saturated with the promise of violence. Jaxson wanted nothing more than to grab that skinny frame of his by the throat, rough him up, and straighten him the fuck out. But that little boy wasn’t worth the effort.
Grabbing his jacket, he signaled to Dino that it was time for them to leave. As the pair headed out the door, Jaxson shook his head, and glared a warning at Antonio.
Antonio’s eyes flared back, and his jaw ticked.
Leaning in close to Antonio, Jaxson growled a word of advice, “A little respect goes a long fucking way.”
5
Nobody ever said life in an MC would be easy. Not even close.
Outside, the sky had turned heavy and bleak. As they walked back to their bikes, Jaxson turned to Dino. “Fuck. He’s pissed as hell. If right now is anything to go by, shit’s going to hit the fan on Friday.”
“Forget that asshole. Let’s go for a drink. There’s always a good woman at Juanita’s. A few beers and some female company is what you need. It’ll take the edge off,” Dino advised.
“I don’t feel like it. Not tonight. Anyway, I like a woman with some self-respect.” Jaxson scoffed. “You know I don’t like those girls being passed around by all the guys, it just isn’t right to me.”
“Come on just to ease the pressure. Have a little fun.” He cocked an eyebrow at Jaxson, a devilish glint in his eye. “You’ve been working too damn hard. You’ll get yourself burnt out.”
Jaxson thought for a moment. “Fine, but just a quick one.”
They rode side by side. Jaxson watched from the rear view of his Harley for any sign of Antonio following after them. By the time they reached the biker’s bar, a light rain had begun to fall. The sky had become overcast and grey, the clouds heavy. As he cut the engine and jumped off his bike, he could hear few drunken revelers pile out of the place.
“Looks like we made it just in time,” Dino remarked.
“Yep,” Jaxson agreed, as they tossed their cigarettes and hastened towards the bar’s entrance.
Walking in, the room felt warm and stuffy, filled with the sound of the regular band who sang a perky tune, and the phlegmy laughter of hardened smokers. It was a typical biker’s bar inside – burgundy plush, stale-odor, smoky – and it was busy, mostly with young men with abundantly tattooed arms and chests who wanted to be taken on as prospects.
Antoinette, one of the two blonde and heavily made-up barmaids, recognized Jaxson’s face as he stepped through the door. Eagerly, she made him a drink then made a b-line for his table, whiskey, and coke in hand…since she knew it was his favorite. “It sure has been a while, Jaxson. We’ve missed you down here,” she said, cheerfully, with a seductive grin. Jaxson turned to her, just about to sit down, and she gazed back, handing him his drink.
Dino arched an eyebrow in Jaxson’s direction, encouragingly.
“Missed you too Ann, but not tonight ok? I’ve got too much on my mind. Thanks for the drink, honey.”
Undeterred, she sat down in the chair beside him, resting her head on one hand and leaning downward slightly, giving him a good show of her breasts. “Why so blue baby?” she asked.
Taking a sip of his drink, Jaxson sat back in his chair, two fingers pressed against one the side of his head as he rubbed his temple.
Dino joined the conversation, “Give yourself a break, Jaxson. We’ll talk to you later Ann. Gotta get this guy smiling again.”
“Oh, alright. See you later then Jax.” She jumped up and swept a finger through Jaxson’s hair as she walked away.
Unable to break his mind away from the situation with the club, Jaxson shifted the conversation back, “Bruno is certain he wants me to take over. Antonio sure is pissed that he isn’t getting the credit he thinks he’s due.”
Dino burst out laughing and nearly spat out his drink. “Credit he’s due! You gotta be kidding. For what? For being a lazy, dumb-ass coward? Antonio spent his past six years at the club shying away from work, then blames you for every last one of his failures. You know as well as I do, the only reason Bruno don’t kick him out is that he’s his son. Sure, Bruno’s not your father, but he took you in for a reason; wouldn’t surprise me if he had this planned from day one. So, to hell with that shithead loser.”
Jaxson couldn’t say anything to counter that. Dino was right. “I guess.”
Dino frowned. “You practically run this club anyway. Let’s hope you do become president brother. Otherwise, the club won’t survive, if you’re going to worry about anything that should be it…not that fucking clown. Just think, in a year or so, you’ll be worth a goddamn fortune.”
Jaxson sighed thoughtfully, “I guess I’ve just been thinking on shit recently, that’s all.”
“About what?”
He went quiet for several seconds. “Well, you ever think about a life outside of the club?”
Dino laughed. “Our life is the club. Fucking great isn’t it!”
“Yeah. But it’s no place to settle down. Like say a guy had a wife and kids, is it?”
Dino stared at Jaxson wide-eyed, in disbelief. “You’re pulling my leg, Jaxson Coltrane! Don’t tell me you’re going soft on us.”
“No! I didn’t mean anything by it. But you can’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind at least once. Don’t get me wrong, I love my club, and I love my ride. But maybe it would be something I would enjoy.”
&nb
sp; “I suppose. Well, De Luca has a family too, don’t he?”
“I guess. But the hell some of those kids have been through. It’s not safe or right. It’s no wonder Antonio turned out broken.”
Dino paused for a few seconds, and then nodded in agreement. “I think he was always just fucked up in the head.”
Jaxson chuckled in his throat then cast an eye to the door. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that cocksucker flies through that door, any second now, looking for a fight. Knowing that son of a bitch, he would have followed us here looking for trouble.”
“If that little clown thinks he can take you on, good luck to him. You’d wipe the smile off his weasely little face so fast. Shit. He’d be so embarrassed, he’d never set foot in here again. So quit worrying.”
Jaxson smiled.
“Boy, are you cute!” Kim, the second barmaid, interrupted and sat down on Dino’s knee. The two of them started chattering and giggling, leaving Jaxson alone with his thoughts.
He would be damned if he’d let Antonio ruin this for himself, the boys, and this town. He cast a proud eye around the bar, packed with locals, enjoying their evening. To an outsider, the club was a low-life, unwanted subclass. But the boys had always treated this town with the respect it deserved. The reign of Bruno’s MC had lifted Coronado and defended it from its surrounding territory, silently. If it ceased to exist, the outcome for these people would be pretty much beyond imagining. Although the Brothers lived in a world that didn’t altogether seem to want them around, each of them could be quietly proud of what they did—and they were. Adjusting to life with a new president would never be easy, but for the sake of everyone involved, himself and the brothers would have to make it work.
Just as Jaxson started to contemplate leaving for an early night, he spotted a young woman standing in the foyer. He liked what he saw and couldn’t take his eyes off of her. As she entered, it was obvious that she hadn’t just caught Jaxson’s eye. “Damn Girl.”