by Chiah Wilder
Wheelie just grunted and took another gulp of coffee. The aspirin had started kicking in and the explosion in his head was beginning to subside.
Tigger lifted his fist and looked down at Wheelie’s hand, and then bumped it lightly. “No hard feelings about last night. It was fuckin’ stupid of me to have started shit up with you over a chick. No bitch is worth two brothers fighting over her.” He winked at Rosie when she put the plate in front of Rags.
“Thanks, Rosie,” Rags said.
“Anytime. And after you’re done, I can provide the dessert.” She bent over and kissed him deeply on the lips. The men whistled and she giggled then walked away.
“Save some of that for me, sweetcakes,” Tigger said over his shoulder.
Rags took a big bite out of his sandwich and chomped noisily. “How was she?” he asked Tigger.
Confusion crossed Tigger’s face. “Rosie?”
“No, Brenda.” Rags picked up his beer and took a drink.
Shaking his head, Tigger quirked his lips. “A total let down. I mean she’s got these fantastic tits. They’re big and firm and soft and all kinds of awesome, but that’s where it stops. One of the worst fucks I’ve had in a long time. What a damn waste. In her case, the packaging is way better than what’s inside.” He splayed his hands out on the table. “Now, when I see her at Ruthie’s, all I’m gonna think about is what a lousy fuck she is.”
“That sucks. I’ve been wanting to take her out,” Rags said.
“Believe me, dude. Wanting is way better than getting in this case.” Tigger glanced at Wheelie. “So no hard feelings? You still good with watching and helping out with my old lady when I’m gone?”
“Yeah.”
“When are you taking off?” Animal said.
“Day after tomorrow. The poker run takes us to Vegas, and Skeet, Cruise, and me are gonna stay a few days to party.” Tigger pointed at Wheelie. “Don’t tell my old lady that. She thinks I’m doing the run the whole time. She doesn’t know I’ll be in Vegas.”
Wheelie clenched his jaw and jerked his head.
The front door opened letting in a gust of dry, hot air. Loud voices, laughs, jangling chains, and heavy footfalls filled the room.
Wheelie looked over his shoulder and saw Panther coming toward him. The president of the San Diego chapter had a huge smile on his face. “Your bike’s fuckin’ awesome. I’d been hearing a lot about it.” He gave back the keys to Wheelie.
“Glad you enjoyed the ride. It cost me a shitload of dough, but it was worth every cent.”
“Hawk can do any customizing you want. He keeps us all happy,” Banger said.
“I saw what he did to his bike at Sturgis last year. Fuckin’ wicked. He gave me the name of a buddy of his in Orange County who does customizing for Harleys. I’m gonna check him out when we head back tomorrow,” Panther replied as he followed Banger to the bar.
Wheelie pushed away from the table and stood up. “I’m gonna head out.”
“Not up for a ride?” Klutch asked, taking Wheelie’s seat.
“When you going again?”
“In a couple of hours. We’re gonna have dinner at the roadhouse.”
Wheelie rubbed the back of his neck. The roadhouse was at the top of Ghost Pass—a favorite ride for the experienced biker. The road was narrow and snaked up and around in hairpins until it leveled out at the top. It was one of Wheelie’s favorite rides. “I’m in.” Shoving his keys in his pocket, he walked over to the couch and sank down on the soft cushions. Stretching his legs in front of him, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
Chapter Eight
“Twenty thousand and your problem is over,” Tucker said.
Russ squinted against the glare bouncing off San Diego Bay; the rhythmic sound of the gentle waves splashing against the dock as speedboats raced by comforted him. “That’s a lot of money.” He took out a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket and tapped out two, handing one to Tucker before cupping his hand and lighting his.
“You want me to kill a man. A biker. That’s not so easy. The price is for the kill, but you’ll still have to pay expenses to and from Colorado.” The cigarette dangled from the corner of the stocky man’s mouth.
Russ stared out over the bay watching speedboats, water skiers, and sailboats glide over the blue water. On the other side, people gathered around several artists as they sat in front of easels painting water and cityscapes. Against the pale blue sky, seagulls swooped through the salty air, squawking to one another as they dive bombed just below the water’s surface to catch their prey.
“Let me see what I can do,” Russ said.
The dark-haired man stood up, his beady eyes darting back and forth as if he was making sure no one had heard their conversation. “You know how to reach me.” Tucker turned away and rushed down the wooden planks.
For a long time Russ just sat at the table, occasionally shooing the waiter away with the flick of his wrist. Mallory had the money. She’d inherited some from her parents when they’d died a few years before, and she was doing well in her real estate business. He’d have to come up with a plausible scenario that would convince Mallory to hand him at least thirty thousand dollars; she was ditzy but she wasn’t stupid. He’d need money to pay for Tucker’s expenses, and having a few bucks for himself would give him a bit of freedom from asking Mallory for money every time he needed it.
It’d been three weeks since he’d been set free and there wasn’t one day that he felt safe. The anxiety from worrying when and if Wheelie would strike was killing him, and he was a nervous wreck. Even Mallory had commented the night before after he couldn’t get it up while they were in bed. I have to kill the bastard in order to have peace of mind. It had occurred to him that maybe Wheelie had moved on and wasn’t gunning for him, but he just couldn’t be sure, and that was the worst part of all: the uncertainty.
He left ten dollars under his beer bottle and went to the parking lot and slid into the canary yellow Mustang convertible Mallory had bought for him the week before. He started the engine and headed to their three-bedroom rental on Ocean Front Walk.
“I thought you’d be home later,” Mallory cried out from the balcony.
Russ put the car keys down on the counter then opened the sliding screen door and stepped out. Mallory, clad in a white bikini, lay on a chaise lounge, taking in the rays while sipping on a large glass of iced tea. It was her favorite drink, and Russ never knew anyone who drank as much tea as she did.
“I was anxious to get back to you. I missed you, sweetheart,” The lie tumbled out smoothly from his mouth.
She pulled her sunglasses halfway down her nose and smiled. “You’re so sweet, baby.”
He sat on the chair across from the chaise and looked over the balcony. The boardwalk was teeming with people, and the beach was cluttered with colorful towels, volleyball nets, chairs, umbrellas, and men, women, and children. The waves rolled in long white fringes; over and over they caressed the sand, casting a spell upon him.
“Was it a good meeting?” Mallory’s voice broke the spell and he glanced at her.
“I think so. I need to look at some things and crunch some numbers, but it sounds like it could be a great business that would make a lot of money.”
She took another sip of tea. “What kind of business is it?”
“We’d set up a virtual shopping center. Other vendors would pay rent for a space. Sort of a mini version of Amazon.” It surprised him how easily the bullshit flowed out of him. “Of course, it’d take a chunk of change for upstart costs. I don’t know. The man I met with is putting in thirty thousand dollars and he wants me to do the same. I’d get back the investment in about six months or less. The potential to make twenty to thirty thousand a month is not unrealistic.” He stood up and went into the kitchen, retrieving a pitcher of tea from the refrigerator. Back on the balcony, he refilled Mallory’s glass.
“Aren’t you the best?” she said, sweeping her fingers across the back of his
hand. “I can invest in the business. You need to do something, and I know you’ve been trying to get a job but haven’t had much luck.”
“I couldn’t take your money,” Russ said as he sat back down.
“You wouldn’t be taking my money. I’d be investing. The same as if I were buying rental properties or investing in stocks. My brokerage firm does all sorts of investing for me. I’ve got the money and you’ve got the brains. How can I lose?” She stretched out her hand and grabbed his shirt, tugging him toward her. She kissed him then pulled back. “Maybe we could have a little bit of fun before we go out for dinner.”
All of a sudden his dick tightened and he knew that he’d satisfy her the way he should’ve the night before. Everything was taken care of, and the tension that had been a congealed ball of anxiety in his belly slowly unraveled.
I’ll call Tucker in the morning. The sooner I get rid of Wheelie the better.
Russ grasped Mallory’s wrists and pulled her up as he rose to his feet. He wrapped his arms around her petite frame and kissed her deeply while his hand slid inside her bikini bottoms.
“Let’s finish this in the bedroom,” he said thickly.
Things are definitely looking up.
Leading her inside, he closed the screen door behind him.
Chapter Nine
“Lizzie called off. Did you want me to stay for another shift?” Miranda asked, tapping her long nails on Wheelie’s desk.
“Again? That’s like the third time this week,” he said, glancing at the calendar. “It’d be a big help if you could cover her shift.”
“Sure. I need the overtime, and I don’t have much of a life.” The dark-haired cashier turned away and walked out of the office.
“I have to find someone to replace Lizzie. She’s mediocre at best and this shit she’s pulling isn’t gonna work,” he said to Animal, who sat slumped in one of the leather chairs, fiddling with his phone.
Animal looked up. “Hire my sister. She needs a job and she won’t fuck up ’cause she knows I’ll kick her ass.”
Wheelie laughed. “How old is she?”
“Eighteen. She just graduated from high school and has been trying to get a full-time summer job but hasn’t had any luck. She’ll like the overtime.”
Opening the bottom drawer, Wheelie took out a folder. “Tell her to fill out this application.” He handed it to Animal. “If she can add, smile, and show up, she’s got the job.”
“Cool. I’ll bring it back to you tomorrow.” He looked back at his phone. “You said you needed help unloading some shit.”
“Yeah. A shipment of car accessories came in, and it’d be a big help if you could unload everything while I inventory all of it.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
Wheelie stood up. “Let’s go get the boxes.” He started toward the door when his phone rang. “Hang on. It’s my mom.” Wheelie sat back down and swiveled his chair to face the window. “Hi, Mom.”
“How are you, honey?” His mother’s voice sounded tired.
“Fine. Are you okay? You sound wiped. Al been treating you all right?” Al was his stepdad. His mother had married him a few years after Kendra had been murdered. He seemed like a decent man, and Wheelie was happy his mother had found someone because she’d been so lonely and miserable for such a long time.
“Al treats me like a queen.” There was a smile in her voice.
“He should. You deserve it.”
“When are you coming to Denver? It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen you that Al and I were thinking to come visit with you and then go to Aspen. It’s always so pretty this time of year in the mountains with all the wildflowers and greenery.”
“That’d be cool. Let me know when you’ll be here and I’ll take a couple of days off. I’ll show you some of the sights off the beaten road. I know Al likes ghost towns. There’re a few around the county that tourists don’t go to. They’re pretty rad.”
“That would be nice. Al would really appreciate it. He doesn’t think you like him very much.”
“He’s fine. As long as you’re happy, I’m good. You know me, I’m not that friendly with most people.”
“I told him that. You have a girlfriend yet?”
“You asked me that a week ago and the answer’s the same, Mom.”
A long pause.
Something’s up. “What do you want to tell me?”
“Am I that transparent?”
“What is it?”
An audible sigh. “He’s out.”
Ice ran through his veins as every muscle in his body stiffened. “They let the sonofabitch out early after what he did?”
A soft sniffle. “Isn’t it awful. I couldn’t believe it when they called me. He only spent nine years of his sentence behind bars. Kendra is gone from us forever.” Her voice broke.
Burning rage ran through him, replacing the shock from just seconds earlier. “Don’t cry, Mom. I’ve got this.”
She suddenly gasped. “No. I don’t want you to do anything. He’ll get what’s coming to him someday. I don’t want you getting into any trouble. I couldn’t handle it if I lost you. I pray every day to God for your safety, and for the strength to forgive.”
“God forgives. I don’t. Don’t worry about me, Mom. I’m good.”
“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”
“Where’s the sonofabitch at?”
“I’m not telling you. I don’t want you to do anything. I told Al I didn’t want to tell you, but he insisted you had a right to know.”
“He’s right. I’m glad you told me. You know I’ll find out where the asshole is, so why don’t you just tell me.”
“San Diego.”
Wheelie had to strain to hear his mother. “Thanks. I’ll try and come out to see you for a couple of days. Listen, Mom, the car wash has been keeping me busy all day, so I should get going.”
“Just promise me you’ll move on and forget I told you,” she said softly.
Wheelie stared at the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Images of his dad hiking on its trails scurried from the dark corners of his mind. Wheelie would walk next to his dad, but Kendra would always run up ahead. She’d wanted to be the first one to reach the top every time. It was so clear in his mind that he could smell the smoky caramel scent from his dad’s pipe tobacco and hear Kendra’s laughter that was soft like the first light of dawn. “I can’t promise you that,” he said in a low voice. “Don’t ask me to.”
“Fuck!” Animal growled, making the images in Wheelie’s brain scatter back into the shadows.
Wheelie spun around and saw Animal throw his phone down on his lap. “I gotta go, Mom. I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’ll call soon.”
“Just don’t do anything that’ll break my heart.”
“Thanks for calling. Say hi to Al.” Wheelie slipped the phone into his pocket. “The fucker’s out.” As he said the words, the shock of them still reverberated through him.
“No shit. That’s not good. If you need help with this, I’m in.” Animal grabbed his phone and stood up. “I hate playing these fuckin’ games, especially when I lose.”
“Thanks, bro. I’ll let you know. Right now we got inventory to do.”
The two men went to the room down the hall, and Animal took down the first box of several and opened it with his hunting knife. Pulling out a pink leather steering wheel cover encrusted with rhinestones, he read, “A-169 PSWR,” and Wheelie plugged the number into his laptop. Item after item, Animal recited the codes as Wheelie typed them in; the whole time, the blackness surrounding his soul grew darker. His hatred for Russ Elmore was like an abscess on his soul that had been festering for years, and the only cure for it was the sharp steel point of revenge. I let you down in life but I’m gonna make it up to you. He intended on avenging Kendra’s death, and nothing or no one was going to stop him.
* * *
The following morning, Wheelie went into Banger’s office. The president sat with
his feet propped up on the desk and his head resting against the back of the chair.
“What can I do for you?” He motioned for Wheelie to sit down.
Wheelie sank down on one of the leather chairs. “I’d like to go to San Diego to lend a hand with setting up the new charter. Breaker and I go way back, and it seems fitting that I’m part of helping him out.”
“That sounds good. We got about ten brothers heading there. Animal came in last night and asked to go. I was surprised about that. He’s the last member who I’d figure would volunteer. The only place he’ll go is Sturgis.” Banger chuckled. “Maybe he heard the way Panther and the other charter members were talking about all the women and their skimpy bikinis. But I’ll admit, it surprised the hell outta me.”
“When do we leave?” Wheelie knew why Animal had volunteered, and his loyalty and love hit Wheelie right in the gut.
“In a couple of weeks. I wanna make sure everyone’s back from the different poker runs and bike rallies. I need the rest of the members here while we’re in California.”
Wheelie tilted his head back then stood up.
“You going to the family picnic tonight?”
“Maybe. I have a lot of work to do, but if I finish in time, I’ll stop by. See you around.”
“Later.”
Not in the mood for beer or talking, Wheelie went out the back way and walked down to the river. Under the bright sun, the water sparkled as it wended it way between banks dotted in colorful wildflowers and tall evergreens. The gentle breeze whispered through the trees while the whistle of birds echoed. There was something about the quiet busyness of nature that comforted and calmed him. He pulled out his phone and called Sofia, well aware that Tigger had left early that morning.
“Hi.” Her voice was warm and sweet like melting honey.
“Hey. Are you going to Clermont Park for the club picnic tonight?”
“Yes. Are you going to be there?” He could hear bubbles dancing in her words and see the sparkling in her eyes.