by Wilder, L.
August leaned over and laid her head against my chest. Damn. There was no better feeling than having her close to me. I kissed her on the forehead as I whispered, “You know … you still get to me.”
She glanced up at me with a soft smile. “I love you.”
“There you go again.” I leaned towards her and gave her a brief kiss. “Couldn’t love you more if I tried.”
The End
GUS
Satan’s Fury MC – Memphis
L Wilder
CHAPTER 1
Gus
We are only as blind as we choose to be
—Maya Angelou
1994
Club life isn’t for everyone, but for me—it was everything. I started prospecting for Satan’s Fury MC when I was twenty-one years old, and right from the start, I knew there was no other place for me. I dedicated my life to the brothers of the Washington Chapter—my family. Through the years, they taught me everything I needed to know—not just about MC life, but about the kind of man I wanted to be. I wanted to be a man who demonstrated loyalty, pride, and grit. I wanted my brothers, and those around me, to know that I was someone they could trust, that I would always hold true to my word, and that I’d never waiver or show signs of weakness when it came to my commitment to the club and its prosperity. I’d felt honored that my brothers had seen those very qualities in me when they voted me in as their sergeant-at-arms. I thought I would end out my days there with them in Washington, but Saul, the club’s president, had other plans for me.
We’d just been dismissed from church when Sauk asked me to join him in the bar for a beer. I followed him over to the counter, and after I grabbed us each a cold one and sat down next to him. He took a quick pull, then said, “Butch called last night. He was just checking in, and we got to talking. We both think it’s about time for us to start gaining some territory down south.”
Butch was the president of the original Satan’s Fury chapter in Utah. At the time, their chapter was twice the size of ours, and it was steadily growing, with at least six prospects ready to patch in. Butch and Saul created Fury in their vision, and I was curious to hear what they had planned. “Sounds like a good idea. What do you have in mind?”
“Right now, we have chapters in Washington, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and as of recently, Kansas, so it makes sense to keep moving further south.” He pulled out his pack of smokes, and as he lit a cigarette and continued, “I’m thinking it’ll probably be Memphis, but there’s always Little Rock or Birmingham.”
“Memphis is thriving, and it’s sitting right on the Mississippi River.”
“That’s what I was thinking. We looked into some local chapters there but aren’t sure they’re worthy of the Fury name. Butch and I both agreed that it would be smarter to send some of our own down to get things started. Check out surrounding clubs and see if any might be worth patching over. We just need someone we can trust to make it happen.”
“Okay, so what does any of this have to do with me?”
“Everything.” He took a drag off his cigarette and smoke billowed around him as he continued, “We think you’re that person, Gus. You’ve proven your loyalty to the club. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and you’re a born leader. We both think you have what it takes to get things rolling down there. That is … if you’re up for it.”
“I’m up for whatever you need me to do. You know that.” While I was flattered that Saul asked me to take on such a vital task, I didn’t let it go to my head. I knew a lot was taken into consideration when they chose me, like the fact that I was not only experienced, but I was single with no strong ties to outside family. Regardless, I was grateful that I’d been chosen to lead the new chapter, and I’d do everything in my power to make it a success. “I’m just going to need a little direction here. What exactly is it that you’re wanting me to do?”
“We’d want you to go there as the president of the new chapter and get things started. Find a location for the clubhouse, check out other clubs, and look for potential patch overs. Draw in some new prospects. Establish some work fronts. The whole nine yards.” When Saul saw the look of concern on my face, he smiled and said, “Don’t worry. We won’t be shipping you out there alone. Butch will be sending one his best to be there at your side, along with a few members and prospects from both chapters.”
I couldn’t hide my enthusiasm when I answered, “I’d be honored, Prez.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“You have any idea on when you want this to go down?”
“The sooner the better.” He put out his cigarette and continued, “I’ll get back with Butch later tonight and let him know you’re on board. We’ll talk it over, and once we have more of the details sorted, we’ll discuss it with the others during church.”
“Thank you for this opportunity, Prez. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. That’s why you were chosen.” Saul finished off his beer, then stood to leave. “Best get your things in order.”
Giving me a pat on the shoulder, he walked out of the bar, leaving me alone with my thoughts. It was hard not to feel pumped about the opportunity I’d been given, but as I sat there thinking about all the things that would need to be done, I started to question whether or not I was prepared to take on such an overwhelming endeavor. By the following morning, Saul confirmed that Memphis would be the location for the new chapter. At the end of the week, the brothers threw us a kick-ass farewell celebration, wanting to wish us well and congratulate me on my new position as President of the Memphis chapter. Once I’d recovered from the festivities, I packed up the rest of my belongings and headed south.
My mind was racing as I drove down the interstate. While I was eager to move to Memphis and get things started, I was feeling a little apprehensive. There was a lot weighing on the success of this new chapter, and I didn’t want to let Saul or my brothers down.
Luckily, I wouldn’t have to take on such a huge responsibility alone. Moose, along with his old lady, Louise, their two-year-old daughter, Rayne, and Cyrus from the Utah chapter, as well as Bane, Widow, Half-Pint, and T-Bone from ours, were following close behind me as I continued towards Memphis. Once we got to Tennessee, they would be right there at my side to help get things rolling.
As soon as we hit the city limits, we found a place to stay and set to work. I’d like to say that everything went exactly as planned, that we didn’t have a single hiccup, but I’d be lying. We ran into one obstacle after the next, but thankfully, it wasn’t anything that couldn’t be handled. We kept pushing forward, and after a few weeks’ time, we’d started to make some real progress. We’d purchased an old train depot that was located on the east end of downtown right on the banks of the Mississippi River. The place needed some work, but it was the perfect size and the location couldn’t have been better for our clubhouse. After spending the entire day busting our asses on some of the renovations, we all met up at one of the local pizza places to grab dinner.
The waitress had just brought over our drinks when Moose turned to me and asked, “You got any thoughts on what you want to do about the exterior fence?”
“It’s gotta be at least a ten-feet with electric gates at the front and the back.”
Moose was in his early thirties, and big as a fucking ox with bulging biceps and tattoos from head to toe. He was the Utah chapter’s enforcer, and I’d learned early on that he wasn’t a man who was afraid to speak his mind. I wasn’t at all surprised when he argued, “You sure we’re gonna need all that? Back in Utah, we only have a six-and-a-half-foot fence, and with the additional barbed-wire, it’s been more than enough.”
“Yeah, and it’s located on the outskirts of Davis County in a fairly safe neighborhood. That’s not the case here. Memphis has gangs at every corner.” My voice grew more forceful as I told him, “As soon as they realize that we’re encroaching on their territory, they’re gonna be out for fucking blood, so if that means we have to put in
a ten-foot security fence with barbed-wire, install a high-tech security system, and have guards posted around the clock, then that’s what we’re gonna fucking do.”
With an almost defeated expression, he nodded and answered, “Understood.”
“We’re getting close.” Trying to ease the tension, I told him, “It won’t be long before we’re out of that fucking hotel and into the clubhouse.”
“Can’t happen soon enough,” he grumbled. “I can barely breathe in that tiny box of a room and having Louise and Rayne in such close quarters isn’t helping.”
“At least she doesn’t fucking snore like T-Bone,” Cyrus complained from across the table. He was Louise’s brother, and while he was barely twenty-one and the youngest of the mix, he wasn’t the least bit intimidated by anyone sitting at that table. Cyrus spoke his mind and didn’t give a damn who he pissed off. “It’s like I’m sleeping next to a fucking bear.”
“Who said she doesn’t snore?” Moose chuckled. “Hell, your sister’s been sawing timbers since the first night.”
“Yeah, well, the snoring’s one thing, but the gas he’s been letting blow all week is another. It’s like something died in his fucking gut.” Cyrus yawned before he added, “I haven’t slept worth a damn since we got here.”
“It’s not that bad,” T-Bone, the jokester of the group, actually sounded a little bothered by Cyrus’s comment. He’d only been prospecting for a couple of months, but in the short time he’d been with us, T-Bone had proven himself worthy as a brother, never failing to make himself available when we needed him. His eyes narrowed as he continued, “And just so you know, you’re not exactly easy to live with either, brother. Your clothes and shit are all over the floor, and there’s never any clean towels. I don’t get it. What the hell are you doing with them? Do you take three fucking showers a day or what?”
Before Cyrus could respond, our waitress came over and placed our pizzas down on the table. As everyone started to fill their plates with food, Cyrus turned to me and asked, “So, what’s going on with the diner?”
We’d bought a small place right on the corner of Beale Street, but we hadn’t started working on any renovations. “Nothing right now. We need to make a final decision on what we’re going to do.”
“Louise says simple is always better.” Moose added, “I’m telling ya, brother, she knows her shit. Give her a few months, and with Cyrus’s help, she can make a real go of it. Daisy Mae’s will be the talk of the city.”
I looked at the others and asked, “You guys good with Daisey Mae’s Cafe?”
“An all-American-style café with checkered tablecloths and pictures of all the great legends of Memphis plastered on the walls: Elvis, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Morgan Freeman, Cybil Shepherd, and Isaac Hayes. Hell, yeah. No one would ever suspect that it’s a front,” Bane agreed.
When the others nodded in agreement, I said, “Then, it’s settled. Daisy Mae’s it is. Tell Louise to get the ball rolling.”
“Consider it done.”
“Before she gets started, we’ll need to make sure the electrical and plumbing is up to code,” Half-pint warned. Over the past few weeks, his experience with all the ins and outs of construction had been invaluable. For a prospect, he’d saved us a lot of headaches. “And once we get a construction plan together, we’ll need to get the necessary permits.”
“Agreed. I already checked all the zoning codes, so we should be able to get the permits without any issue. It’ll pass inspection, but we all know that doesn’t mean a damn thing.” I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. “I’ll go by there tonight and check things out. If all looks good, we’ll get the city inspector to come down to see if he’ll give us the go ahead.”
“While you’re doing that, we’ll head back over to the clubhouse and finish up some painting,” Moose offered.
“It’s been a long day, brother. You boys go back to the hotel and get some rest.” As I stood up, I placed enough money on the table to cover the bill and the tip, then told them, “We’ll get things finished up in the morning.”
“You got it.”
After I said my goodbyes, I walked out of the restaurant and headed towards my bike in the parking lot. Every muscle in my body ached as I swung my leg over the seat and started the engine. I was so tempted to put off checking the pipes until morning, but knowing I’d just end up regretting it, I pushed myself forward. Thankfully, as soon as I pulled out onto the main road, the cool night air started working its magic on me, and it wasn’t long before the tension I’d been carrying with me all day started to fade. I’d always liked riding in the city, seeing all the bright lights and the people wandering along the streets, but there was something about Memphis that took that feeling to a whole new level. Cruising around the birthplace of Rock & Roll, seeing the Arkansas bridge with all its lights, and hearing the Blues down on Beale Street that just got to me like no other city ever had. By the time I made it to the diner, my spirits had lifted, and I was feeling optimistic about our club’s future.
I checked inside and was pleased to see that I was right about the plumbing and electric. They both seemed to be in good condition, and I didn’t see any reason why we wouldn’t pass inspection. Relieved, I locked everything up and headed back out to my bike. I was just about to start the engine when my attention was drawn to a man and woman who were arguing across the street. Something didn’t seem right, so I got off my bike and started towards them.
As I got closer, I was able to see them both better. The woman was young, maybe in her mid-twenties, with long, blonde hair that was pulled back in a high ponytail, and she was wearing a black, knee-length skirt with a black suit jacket. Even in the dark, I could tell she was beautiful. The guy next to her was twice her size and looked like he’d just crawled out of a fucking dumpster, so I couldn’t exactly blame her for being scared. I was just about to approach them when the guy reached out, jerked her purse out of her hand, and took off running. Without even thinking, I started chasing after him. He was fast, really fast. As I raced behind him, I was worried that I might not be able to catch up to him, especially since I was exhausted. But as soon as my adrenaline kicked in, I got close enough to lunge towards him. With a hard thud, I tackled him to the ground and used my weight to keep him in place. Once he’d recovered from the impact, he started thrashing around, trying with all his might to free himself from my grasp. Unfortunately for him, there was no way in hell I was gonna let him go. I yanked his arm behind his back, pinning him to the ground, then said, “Knock it off before I put a fucking bullet in you.”
“What the hell are you doing?” he barked as he tried to buck me off him. “Get the fuck off me!”
Careful to keep it out of sight, I took my gun from the holster and shoved it into his side. “Not going to say it again, asshole.”
“Whoa, man!” He stilled as he said, “I wasn’t gonna hurt ’er. I just needed a few bucks. I’m jonesing something awful and need a fix.”
“So, you just figured you’d steal a lady’s purse? Damn.” My patience was wearing thin. “You’re a real piece of shit,” I growled.
“Done told you. I wasn’t gonna hurt ’er,” he whined. “Just let me go and I’ll get gone.”
“I’m thinking that’s not a good idea.” I pulled his arm back even further, causing him to cry out. “I’m thinking you’ll just do this shit again, and that doesn’t work for me.”
“No, man. I learned my lesson. I ain’t gonna do it again. I swear it.”
“You better mean that.” I jabbed the barrel of my pistol into his side as I warned, “’Cause if you do … I’ll find out and I’ll come for you.”
I picked up the woman’s purse, then eased off him, making sure to grind my knee into his back. He managed to get up, and after giving me the once over, he scurried off. Once he was out of sight, I turned and headed back towards the young woman. When I got over to her, I handed her the purse and asked, “You okay?”
Her voice trembled as s
he replied, “Yes, I think so.”
“Good. I was worried he might’ve hurt you.” I expected her to say something more, but she just stood there staring at me with a stunned look. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m a little shaken up, that’s all.”
“I imagine you are.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking.” She dropped her head into her hands and groaned. “I should’ve known Haley wouldn’t show.”
“Haley?”
“She’s one of the pharmaceutical sales reps at MBC Pharmaceuticals. We were supposed to meet at Morgan’s for dinner, but she didn’t show.” She motioned her hand over to the back lot and continued, “Since I was parked close by, I thought I’d be okay, but then, that guy came out of nowhere.”
“It’s not your fault. Just need to be a little more careful at this time of night.”