Wild Crows - 2. Revelation : english version

by Blandine P. Martin

  — "No, but I guess I'm about to hear it, " he said, placing his elbow on the counter and holding his mobile phone in his hand.

  I watched him. He couldn't be much older than me. He was the manager of this bar called El Niño. It was situated on the freeway, on the outskirts of town, about ten miles from the Devil's. I laughed. Everything was spinning around me, but I still drank my whiskey straight down. My head ached, so I laid my cheek on the counter.

  — "You are sweet, " I whispered.

  — "You are too, Joe, " he answered. "I have to close. The problem is that you're in no condition to drive. "

  Tired and completely drunk, I laughed out loud.

  — "You are right about that! "

  I raised my index finger, while thinking I was pathetic.

  He was still speaking to me, but I couldn't understand a word he was saying. It felt like the volume of his voice was getting lower and lower or as if I was becoming deaf. It was logical. My sight was already severely affected. Feeling slightly ashamed, I smiled stupidly, as the alcohol was running through my veins and kept me in a good mood.

  I heard a glass being slammed on the counter. I lifted my head and saw Riley, who seemed to be the nicest guy on earth, pushing a glass towards me.

  — "Come on, Princess. Drink this! It will help. "

  I watched the glass hesitantly. I felt almost nauseous in front of the odorless liquid. Where was my whiskey? Riley laughed and wiped his hands with a hand towel.

  — "My little family is waiting for me, so hurry up, please. Someone is coming to pick you up."

  Suddenly embarrassed, I obeyed, raising my hand to apologize for my behavior. The water helped me to wake up. I smiled, knowing I looked stupid, but I didn't care. If I had planned to get drunk in a familiar place, I would have chosen the Devil's. I had ended up in that bar, after driving for a few minutes, because there was nothing special about it, and I knew I would only meet strangers. My first intention was just to drink to Mack or something like that. But then, I had ordered drinks after drinks, while I was sympathizing with locals. They had left after a few hours, sitting at the bar. I didn't do the same. Being drunk helped me feel better. I heard a door being opened behind me, and I tried to turn around to see who was coming in so late. I was so drunk that I had to grab the counter, not to fall from my stool. Riley greeted the man. I found it strange he would accept a new customer, as he had been trying to get rid of me for half an hour.

  — "Evan asked me to escort the young lady…" said a voice I immediately recognized.

  — "Please take care of Miss Whiskey, " replied Riley.

  Upset to be treated like a piece of furniture, I tried to look up, but the effort was too great. My cheek fell back on the counter, and all I could see was a pair of used black boots. I giggled. I put my chin on my crossed arms, trying to face my friend. Before I could say a word, his large hand was wrapped around my wrist.

  — "I’m taking you home "

  The deep blue of the eyes caught my attention, which was a great achievement given my state. Was he there to help me?

  — "We’ll take your car. I'll come back tomorrow to get my Harley. "

  His face was grave. He was only there to help me, but I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. I gave in. Willing to show him I could make it on my own, I freed my wrist from his grip, but as soon as my feet touched the ground, I realized I couldn't stand.

  — "I think I'm gonna need a hand," I whispered to my friend, who had caught me before I fell on the floor.

  With a sigh, Ash let out a laugh.

  — "Bye, Riley, " I said without turning my head.

  My savior was right: riding on a motorbike would have been a terrible idea. I would have ended up on the asphalt, before reaching the stop sign at the end of the parking lot. Ash asked for my keys, which I found after going through my bag, while I was sitting on the ground. I handed them to him. He turned on the engine of the most beautiful Comet on earth. I put my hand on his right arm.

  — "I don't wanna go home…"

  I took a deep breath and tried to explain. I was so tired and so drunk that I had a hard time finding the right words.

  — "I can't sleep. That's the reason I came here tonight. "

  Ash gave me a bewildered look. He seemed puzzled. I wasn't talking Chinese…why didn't he understand? Did I become fluent in Mandarin thanks to Jack Daniels? I sighed.

  — "Let me sleep on your sofa. I'll leave in the morning, boss. "

  His raised an eyebrow and started to drive without a word. I was relieved. I was so sleepy.

  Later, I heard a screeching noise. It was the car door. I let out a grumble, but I let him pull me out of my Comet, as I wouldn't have been able to stand up by myself. I was drunk as a skunk. Ash was still holding me, as I was trying to reach his comfortable sofa, which was right in front of the TV, playing Janice Joplin's video clips.

  As soon as I managed to lie down, I smiled stupidly.

  — "Take this, " my friend told me.

  On the coffee table, he placed a bottle of mineral water along with some Advil tablets. Then he sat down in front of me. I realized he had covered my legs with a soft blanket. I couldn't complain about the service.

  — "Thanks. "

  He smiled coldly. Still feeling weak, I managed to sit up straight. I watched his face, but I couldn't tell was he was thinking.

  — "How did Riley know we knew each other? "

  — "He has been Evan's friend since they were kids. I was having dinner at my sister's. Riley called my brother in law to tell him that a drunk woman was pretending to be Jerry Welsh's daughter. He wanted some help to send her back home safely... "

  — "Shit... "

  — "He didn't know what else to do… He lives in an apartment above the bar. "

  — "I would have called someone, " I replied.

  — "If you say so, " Ash said. "And would you have asked this someone not to drive you home? "

  I almost felt offended, even though I knew he wasn't judgemental.

  — "It was my backup plan. "

  Ash laughed. Then, he disappeared before coming back with a beer. I extended my hand, but he didn't hand it out to me.

  — "I think you've drunk enough. "

  — "You're not my dad. "

  — "I agree, but I like my sofa. If you could avoid throwing up, it would be nice, " he said with a forced smile.

  I protested, but I drank some water, as my friend sat on the coffee table. I moved a little, so he could sit with me on the sofa. He looked at me thoughtfully before joining me. He quickly drank his beer.

  — "So? How did you end up knowing where I was? Why did you come? "

  — "Evan told me that his only option was to put you in jail. I convinced him to let me take care of you. He was relieved, and I guess you are too. "

  I realized he had saved me from spending the rest of the night in a cell. I owed him one.

  — "The next time to get drunk, don't tell everyone you are the daughter of the Wild Crows' president…"

  — "I didn't, " I protested.

  — "Don't mention the club, especially when you're not in control. "

  — "There was no risk…"

  Ash gave me a dirty look, and I didn't protest.

  — "OK, " I finally said before drinking almost the whole bottle of water.

  — "I would be a good idea to keep this episode to ourselves. Your father has more important things to deal with. "

  He seemed lost in his thoughts, and I agreed with his decision.

  — "I guess I am old enough not to tell about my whereabouts to my parents. "

  — "I was talking about picking you up, so you wouldn't end up in jail and you sleeping at my place. "

  — "Oh, OK, " I acknowledged.

  Was he concerned people would talk behind our backs? It surprised me. I realized I didn’t know much about Ash. We didn't say a word. My drunken mind had trouble thinking straight. Would it be wise to open my heart and
tell him about what bothered me, even if it would make him relive the dark moments we shared? Would it be better to keep my thoughts to myself and try to deal with it on my own? Being drunk made the choice easy.

  — "I didn't want to impose, Ash. It's just that… I have trouble sleeping at night. When I am alone at my place, I just can't. If I hear a noise, I must get up and go to my window to watch the parking lot. I am terrified. Everywhere and all the time. If I hear a sudden noise or I see someone I wasn't expecting... I start panicking. And it's even worse if a guy gets too close to me... "

  I swallowed hard, and Ash looked away.

  — "Since… what happened, I am not myself anymore. I think I'll never be. "

  The dark-haired man finished his beer, before staring at the bottleneck.`

  — "Life changes us. "

  He looked at me.

  — "You can stay here for the night. Tomorrow, we'll drive to El Niño, and I will get my bike back. "

  — "Thanks. "

  He was so mysterious. I could only guess life had been hard on him. The wall he had built to protect himself seemed to be impossible to break down. I put my hand on his shoulder and gave him a crooked smile.

  — "I am trying to erase my memories. I don't want to remember those guys or Mack when he… but I can't. "

  I was shaken. I laid my eyes on Ash, and I realized my words had touched him.

  — "I saw you at the ceremony. "

  My remark caught his attention.

  — "I wanted to make sure you were safe. "

  His voice was icy, and I didn't believe him. He was there because he wanted to say goodbye to Mack, despite what he had done. I knew it. Still, I didn't say a word, as it wouldn't have changed his attitude toward me. I just laid my head on his shoulder. This physical contact was soothing.

  — "I hit bottom when I was locked in this cell. " I said looking pensively at the bottle in front of me… "You were all I had left. I felt safe in your arms, do you understand? "

  It might have sounded stupid, but it was real to me. Alcohol was a strong motivation, and I could say things I wouldn't have said under normal circumstances. I paused as I started to relive those horrible moments. I felt overwhelmed by my emotions. I took a deep breath and spoke softly.

  — "You took me home, and you stayed by my side, without saying a word. To me, it feels natural, now. After all that happened, I feel close to you, and you are my rock. Nothing can happen to me when you are around. "

  He didn't speak, but he put his arm around my shoulders, and I could feel how much he cared for me.

  — "You see, Mona's tablets can't make me forget everything, even though they are pretty strong, " I said laughing.

  — "Mona's tablets? "

  I was relieved he just wanted to speak about this.

  — "Yeah, she gave me some antidepressants. They really get you high. I never took some before, but they're great… they keep me smiling. "

  Ash burst out laughing, and I looked at him.

  — "Antidepressants, whiskey, and lack of sleep… it's an explosive mix! "

  It was my turn to laugh. I moved, so I could come closer to him.

  — "I had to let go, just for one night. "

  — "Next time, you can just come to my place, " he said in a severe tone. "It's more private than a bar in town, and my sofa will always be there if you need it. "

  Smiling, I nodded.

  — "And if you are not here? "

  — "Just call me. "

  — "OK, boss. "

  My eyelids felt heavy, and I drifted away. I could hear Morpheus' soft voice calling me, and it was impossible to resist.

  — "Hey, Ash," I whispered.

  — "Yeah? "

  — "One day, they will be yours…"

  — "What are you talking about? "

  — "Your jacuzzi, the sweeties, and the barrels of whiskey! "

  — "Yeah… I'm more interested in the whiskey, but I can't say no to sweeties. "

  I laughed. Only him had this power to comfort me like my mother used to, when she was still around. I fell asleep rapidly.

  *

  My head was pounding. I woke up, and remembered everything that had happened on the night before. I felt slightly ashamed. Looking around, I straightened up. I realized I was alone. My legs were weak, but I stood up and started to walk in the corridor.

  — "Ash? "

  I felt a cold drift, and that was how I discovered there was a back door. I walked toward it, and went outside. I opened my eyes wide, when I saw a river. I couldn't believe that such a beautiful green setting was hidden in Ash's neighborhood. California was known as a state which suffered from chronic draughts, but there, the shadow cast by the sequoias protected this little gem.

  — "Coffee? "

  He startled me. He was sitting at a wooden table, hidden on the side. I nodded and joined him on the bench to enjoy the view.

  — "That would be great…"

  The first time I visited him, the lights in the corridor were turned off, so I hadn’t noticed that garden.

  — "Yeah, not bad. I like coming here." Ash said, as he poured some coffee into my mug.

  The heat of the dark-brown liquid felt good against my hands, and I smelled its aroma. It was so hot that I burnt my lips when I swallowed it, but it didn't matter. It would undoubtedly be helpful to cure my hangover.

  — "Thanks, " I said. "For everything…"

  The fifty-year-old man looked at me, and smiled briefly.

  — "You're welcome. "

  We drank our coffees without speaking, listening to the birds and the streaming water. Strangely, it wasn't awkward to remain silent. It felt natural. I enjoyed this simple moment of happiness, being surrounded by nature, and it made me realize that these little moments were what really mattered. After drinking the last drop, I stood up.

  — "Shall I drive you to the Niño? "

  — "Let's go! " Ash said.

  We drove without sharing our thoughts. Ash got out of my Comet and walked to his Harley. I followed him. It was the least I could do, after all he had done for me. He put on his helmet, and I was pleased to hear the distinctive sound of his engine. I smiled. I felt stupid, but I was becoming addicted to this sound. He kicked the stand, looking at me. Behind his sunglasses, I couldn't see his blue eyes. He looked so intimidating, almost cold.

  — "Easy on the tablets, Joe. And it goes for the whiskey too. "

  He left before I could say a word. I probably should have apologized to the owner, but I didn't feel like going in. I went to my car instead, as I kept repeating Ash's words in head. I sighed and started to drive back to my place. It was time for me to get my act together. I had to.

  CHAPTER 9

  Jerry

  I had asked my brothers to come early. We had a lot to discuss and it was urgent. I was the first to arrive, and I unlocked the Devil’s door. I just had time to pour myself a cup of coffee, before sitting at the club’s table. After a few minutes, I heard the noise of the door downstairs, followed by footsteps climbing the stairs. Foxy, Gale and Bigma were the first ones to enter the room. Then came Billy, Casey, Hanger, and finally Lazar. Ash arrived ten minutes later, as I was about to start the meeting by slamming my gavel on the wooden surface. I didn’t mind. To be perfectly honest, I thought he wouldn’t come. He had been beaten up badly during his detention. I would have understood if he had taken some time off. I was happy he had decided to join us. My brother was a real tough man. He took the chair on my left side like always, and Billy was sitting on my right. The gavel hit the table, and I announced the first topic of the day.

  — "Hello, and thank you for coming. It was short notice. Sorry about that. We need to talk about a few things, some more sensitive than others. "

  I looked around, and I fixed my eyes on Ash.

  — "First, we agreed with Sheriff Thompson that our invention to free Joe and Ash from the Russians would be kept secret. It was our deal: she would take all the credit for
catching this bastard of Kasabov, and we would get Ash and Joe back, safe and sound. The matter is settled, and it’s not our business anymore. They were questioned, and the story ends here. At least, officially, " I added.

  There was a meaningful silence. My men knew me well, and I could see the desire for revenge in their eyes. I smiled heartlessly.

  — "Unofficially, that’s another story. This afternoon, I am meeting Frankie in Reno. Two of his men are still incarcerated at Karson. I am confident I will make a deal with them to eliminate this bastard. Any comment? "