Gambler

by KJ Dahlen

Deke looked at Trapper and the other two. “And your men know what to look for to tell if he’s been here before or not?”

  Guenther nodded. “Sinner always leaves his own tells behind. He marks his way in and out along with any areas of interest he notes along the way.”

  “Show me,” Gambler demanded.

  Trapper and the other two split up as each man checked every window and door in the club. Trapped shouted out and everyone crowded around him as he pointed to the top of the window. There was a tiny nick in the wood, man made with the sharp edge of a knife. “That’s one of his tells. He’s been here and not long ago.”

  “I got another one over here,” one of the other men called out.

  Everyone went over and found another nick on the door to Deke’s office.

  Deke threw the door open and they searched his office for any sign of invasion.

  Trapper found one over beside the closet.

  Deke growled as he opened the closet and searched through the shelves. He knelt beside the safe and searched the door. He found a small nick in the steel. “Fuck!” Deke swore and slammed his hand down on the top of it. “Fucking hell, he’s been here as well.” he turned to glare at his men.

  “Which means he plans to come back,” Trapper explained. “He knows he’s running out of time here. He might feel he’s been here too long as it is. He knows you know he’s here and he knows you’re hunting him. He’ll make his move soon.”

  “And by the gods, we’ll be ready for him,” Gambler announced in a venomous tone. “But we protect the women and children. I’m not giving him free access to get his fucking hands on them.”

  “We’ll move them to the basement before tonight,” Deke stated. Then we’ll lie in wait for the bastard. He may get in easily enough but he isn’t going to get out that easy.”

  “Let’s get things set up.” Bones nodded. “We need to get ready for the bastard.”

  Trapper grasped Deke’s arm and growled, “You don’t get to kill him before the tribunal. We want our say on the record. We demand justice for what he did to the Unholy.”

  Deke pulled his arm out of Trapper’s hold roughly. “You’ll get your due and your fucking tribunal but first we have to get the bastard.”

  Trapper smiled an evil smile. “Oh, we’ll get the mother fucker.”

  The day dragged on, morning turned to afternoon. Reeva, Gator’s wife oversaw the huge meal with many of the brother’s old ladies helping and coffee was served afterward.

  Finally, evening afternoon turned to evening. Then, the darkness of the night swallowed the compound. Inside the clubhouse, the men waited for the diversion Wes warned them about.

  Finally, the shadows exploded with a bright light as another flaming arrow arched through the night sky. It landed on one of the cabins behind the clubhouse and men scrambled to put out the fire it left behind.

  Then another flaming arrow hit another house and more men scrambled to fire the second fire. Forming a line, they battled the blazes.

  But the men inside the clubhouse waited with impatience. They wanted to be outside saving their homes and families instead they were inside waiting for a man to show his hand.

  They didn’t have to wait long. With a snick of the window at the back of the clubhouse, they heard soft footsteps walking down the hall. They heard door after door down the hall open and then close as Sinner made his way toward them.

  Then the last door opened and they all heard a woman scream. Gambler got to his feet. He recognized that scream. It was Paige’s cry. But she was supposed to be down with the others in the safe room.

  Raine tried to hold him back but he could barely hold him.

  Black Jack had to stand in and shake his head before Gambler stopped.

  They all watched as Sinner and Paige came the rest of the way down the hall and stepped into the main room. Sinner stopped and listened in the darkness for a moment before he called out softly, “I know you motherfuckers are there. I can feel you breathing. Turn the lights on, so I can see who you are.”

  No one moved for a moment then Sinner growled and held Paige tighter. Using her for a shield, he called out again, “I will kill this bitch if you don’t follow my instructions.” He twisted her arm behind her back and Paige called out in pain.

  Suddenly, the lights came on and everyone was blinded for a moment.

  Sinner shielded his eyes and looked around the room. His eyes grew huge when he saw everyone standing there. He paled when he saw the members of the Unholy standing against the wall.

  “Sinner, it’s been a while,” Guenther finally spoke breaking the uneasy silence.

  “Guenther, boys, can’t say I ever expected to find you guys here of all places,” Sinner said the words while his eyes searched out the room for an escape route.

  “Let my woman go.” Gambler growled.

  Sinner smiled then glared at the man. “Your woman? Huh, so little Paige grew up and got herself a man.” He twisted her arm again and when she refused to cry out, Sinner wasn’t impressed and he twisted a little harder.

  Paige finally cried out and it took both Raine and Black Jack to hold Gambler back.

  “She was mine long before she was yours.” Sinner snarled.

  “No, she’s always been mine. She never wanted you remember?” Gambler spat.

  Sinner sneered at the other man. “She thought she was too good for the likes of me back then, but she wasn’t. She dropped so far down that she got together with you didn’t she?”

  Gambler glared at him. “If she had stayed with you that might be the truth but at least I didn’t take a child to my bed.”

  Sinner growled but didn’t move. “I want out of here,” he announced instead.

  “No, you don’t get to dictate what you want here,” Guenther stated.

  “I’ll kill this woman,” Sinner told them all.

  “You go right ahead.” Gambler growled. “Then there’s nothing between you and the rest of us. We’ll kill you where you stand.”

  Sinner tightened his hold on Paige and thought for a moment, then he looked into Gambler’s eyes and saw something there he knew he could use. “What are you suggesting?”

  “A challenge,” Gambler called out. “You meet me one on one, a fight to the death. If you win, you walk away. If I win, I won’t kill you but you will stand the tribunal and accept the punishment they pass down on you.”

  “Fucking hell!” Sinner yelled. “That’s not much of a choice now is it?”

  “You’re between a rock and a hard place at the moment,” Gambler stated the obvious. “This is your only way out. Take it or leave it.”

  Sinner snorted. “All this for your woman? Are you fucking nuts? No woman is worth facing certain death.”

  “That’s your opinion, not mine.” Gambler growled. “Paige belongs to me and me alone.”

  Sinner looked around the room he saw the rage on everyman’s face. Rage and hatred. He finally looked at Gambler again, “And will they all agree that if I win, I get to walk away free and clear?”

  Gambler looked at each and every man there. He could see they didn’t want to but finally they all agreed. Gambler finally turned to face Sinner. “They all agree but first, you let her go. Then you and I will dance, but you let her go unharmed.”

  He grabbed Paige and held her tightly. One hand went to her breast and he squeezed her flesh hard. Then he whispered in her ear, “I’ll be back and the next time we meet, your hero won’t be around to save you. Next time, you’re mine.”

  With his free hand her yanked her face to his and kissed her hard, then he pushed her away.

  Gambler caught her and held her close briefly before he passed her over to his brother Raine. Gambler squared his shoulders and faced the man he wanted so badly to kill. “We fight hand to hand, no weapons.”

  Sinner had to grin. “That’s fine. In fact, I’m pretty good at hand to hand.”

  Gambler glared at him. “So am I. I guess we’ll see who the better man is when all
is said and done.”

  “You wanna do this in here then?” Sinner smiled.

  Gambler shook his head. “No, outside where everyone can see you.”

  “You wanna fight in the dark?”

  “Deke has lights.”

  Sinner’s cold smile widened. He motioned toward the door in a sweeping arch. “After you big man, after you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The men went out into the yard drawing everyone’s attention. The fires were almost out by this time and when Gambler and Sinner came outside everyone including the men inside formed a circle.

  Wiley flipped the outside lights on and the area became bright as day.

  “The deal was no weapons of any kind,” one of the Unholy shouted out.

  “I don’t have any,” Gambler shouted back.

  “No you may not, but I know Sinner does,” Trapper called back. “He carries brass knuckles in his pocket and a blade in his boot.”

  Sinner twirled to glare at the man calling out his little secrets. Two of Deke’s men stormed him grabbing him by the arms while another brother stripped him of his hidden weapons. Besides the knife in his boot and the brass knuckles, he had a small dagger tucked in the small of his back.

  Both men stripped off their shirts and began circling the other. Gambler’s body was the more muscled and even as they began to move, his limbs were more toned and limber than Sinner.

  But Gambler wasn’t fooled for a moment. Sinner had a certain grace about him. The man knew how to fight, he also knew how to dodge a hit coming at him. He came back with a sucker punch and nailed Gambler’s jaw.

  Gambler staggered from the blow but never faltered, instead he swung back, and Sinner went flying from the force of the blow.

  Sinner kicked out and tried to trip Gambler but he danced out of the other man’s reach. Sinner got back up to his feet and stumbled away briefly. He turned to face Gambler.

  Gambler could see a bruise on his cheek and a line of blood down his cheek. He smiled at the sight and Sinner paled.

  “That’s right fool. I’m gonna pound you into the fucking ground, feet first. You got a lot to answer for.”

  Sinner sneered. “What the fuck do I have to answer for big man? Huh? Tell me, what do I have to answer to you for?” He danced away trying to distract the other man.

  “Well for one, the beating you gave a seventeen year old girl who couldn’t fight back. You damn near killed her all cuz she wouldn’t give you the time of day.” Gambler spit out his disgust.

  Sinner nodded his head at the charge. “Yeah, I beat her. The fucking cops dragged my ass to jail and all I was doing was trying to get to know her. Since when is that a crime?”

  “No means no, you crazy bastard!” Gambler let his fist fly.

  Sinner caught it full force in the middle of his face. The bones in his nose shattered on impact and Sinner dropped to his knees. Blood spurted and poured from his nostrils and Sinner was almost done right then and there but Gambler backed up a bit and allowed him to get his bearings again.

  Sinner got back on his feet but his head wasn’t as clear as it had been a moment ago. “You motherfucker.” He growled at the other man as he spat a mouthful of blood out onto the ground.

  Gambler just smiled and motioned for him to come on.

  Sinner roared and charged at Gambler and again, Gambler’s fist shot out and slammed into his jaw. Sinner flew five feet back and landed on his ass in the dirt. Gambler came over to where he was lying and hauled back his foot. Letting loose he slammed his steel toed boot into Sinner’s ribs. “How does that feel fucker? You used your boots on my woman! You like that, huh?” He kicked him again.

  Sinner could barely catch his breath and pain radiated over his entire body. He felt three ribs snap and suddenly it was very hard to breathe. His face went white and his lips turned pale blue before he could suck in enough air to make his lungs work again. “You fucker, there ain’t no woman worth this,” he whispered in his agony.

  “Paige is worth every bit of this and so much more, you dumb mother fucker,” Gambler swore at him. “Either stand up and fight me or call it. It’s your choice, loser.”

  “Call,” Sinner whispered as he curled into a fetal position.

  “Just what I thought.” Gambler looked disgusted. “You’re a fucking pussy.”

  Sinner got a sneer on his face and slammed the heel of his boot on the ground. A small blade shot out of the toe of his boot and he swung it at Gambler’s leg.

  Gambler saw the movement just in time. He lifted his own leg and smashed his boot down on Sinner’s leg. Sinner screamed loudly and hoarsely as his tibia bone snapped in half. He half curled upward to reach for his leg. His flesh was torn and the ends of his bones were sticking out through his skin and jeans.

  “I hate a man that fucking cheats!” Gambler screamed in fury. “But for some men that’s the only way they know how to win.” His foot snapped out and connected with Sinner’s jaw and this time, the blow put Sinner out for the count.

  Gambler walked over to his brother and his dad.

  Raine handed him his shirt back.

  Gambler looked over at his President and asked, “Now what?”

  Deke smirked looked over at Guenther and nodded. “Now, he’ll face the tribunal. At dawn, he’ll answer for his crimes not only against us but against the Unholy as well.”

  Guenther nodded his approval, Wiley and another brother from the Unholy dragged Sinner away. They tied his hands and feet together then removed his boots. Then they secured him to a pole outside.

  Both men took up positions on either side of the downed man while the others went back inside the clubhouse.

  Deke went over to the bar and grabbed a bottle of whiskey and some glasses then went to sit down at a table where Trapper, Guenther and Sam were sitting.

  Pouring out the whiskey, he raised his glass and waited while the others did the same. “To justice finally served.”

  “In reembrace of the fallen brothers,” Guenther called out.

  All four men slammed the liquor down their throats.

  Trapper poured the next round. “To Tate, PeeWee and Shorty.”

  The clubhouse was crowded but it was a good crowded.

  Deke looked around and noted the happy vibes. The nightmare Sinner had brought to them was over, well almost over. They still had the tribunal to get through in a few hours but then their lives could go back to normal.

  Raine had gone down to get his family and bring them back upstairs now that the threat was gone. When they got to the main room, Cricket stopped and stared at the men sitting with Deke and Sam.

  Guenther and Trapper stared right back at her.

  No one said a word then Cricket turned and walked down the hall to one of the bedrooms. After getting her children settled, she went over to few belongings Raine had managed to salvage from the fire. Everything wreaked of smoke but he did manage to find a few things they could salvage. She’d gone through the bag earlier and now she was glad she did. He did find a small wooden box she always had with her. Taking it out, she looked down at it and felt tears burning in her eyes. She refused to let them fall however, instead she got to her feet and carried the box back to the main room.

  Raine looked at her but she wouldn’t say a word. He followed her not knowing what to expect.

  Cricket walked over to the table where Guenther and Trapper were sitting with Deke and Sam. She went over to Guenther and handed him the small box.

  He looked up at her in surprise. “What is this?” he asked.

  Cricket hung her head for a moment then told him, “My sister was not a nice person. She was cruel and mean at the best of times but she was also dirty and rude and when she wanted something, she didn’t let the fact that it didn’t belong to her stop her from getting it by any means fair or foul. While she had little to no affection for anyone besides herself, she liked pretty things. She was also a thief. If she couldn’t get men to give her things, she just took them when n
o one was looking. The night your woman was mugged, she lost something she cared for very much. I didn’t find out about this until much later and we were already gone from New Jersey at the time but it was Cordy who assaulted her. She wanted what was in that box so she took it. She hurt your woman for something she had no right to take. I’m so sorry for what she did but I never knew how to get it back to you before now. I never wanted you to come looking for us.”

  Guenther looked at the box and then opened it. Inside was a necklace he’d bought his ole lady about ten years ago. It was something very special to both of them and it celebrated the news he’d gotten earlier when he was told she was carrying his son. The mugging put his woman in the hospital and almost took the life of his unborn son.

  When she was mugged, the necklace went missing and it broke her heart. Their son, Charlie was almost eight years old now and he knew she still missed the necklace he bought her all those years ago.

  Guenther smiled as he looked at the necklace, then looked at the woman who had returned it to him. “Thank you child. My ole lady will be very happy to get this back. At one time it meant a great deal to her and soon, it will again.”

  Cricket turned and went over to Raine.

  He wrapped his arms around her.

  Deke stood up. “Cricket...”

  Her gaze swung over to him.

  He stared at Raine. “Can I speak to her for a minute?”

  Raine narrowed his eyes at him.

  “It’s okay, Raine,” Cricket said as she stepped to the hall and Deke followed.

  She turned and faced him.

  He let out a sigh. “I am sorry.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “For what?”

  He shook his head and chuckled. “Man, you females do not make things easy.”

  She bit at her lip.

  He looked her in the eyes. “I treated you badly. I shouldn’t have. You are my family. You saved my children. You took your place here and earned everything you have. You are a strong, faithful, courageous woman. And I apologize for any grief I may have caused you.”

  Her eyes widened at his long, heartfelt speech. She didn’t know Deke had it in him. “You were protecting your club. Your family.”