— "Tommy’s father is the deputy. I am sure he’s not sitting at home, waiting for some news. "
— "The mayor either…"
— "So, Ash will give them a hand, " I said. He won’t be able to sit and wait. "
Mona looked at me pensively again, but I knew what was on her mind.
— "Give him one day. Tonight, we’ll find him, so he won’t have time to do something stupid."
I understood exactly what she meant. Ash might be smart, but he still acted according to his instincts. Rage and the desire to know the truth would push his limits, and he might lose it. In that case, he was likely to act out, not thinking about the consequences.
— "Why doesn’t Jerry take care of it? " I said, surprised. "He is so close to Ash. "
— "Your father must take care of something very important. Emergency or not, deals are deals, and he must take care of business. "
I noticed a touch a disgust in her voice. One of their brothers was at his lowest, and the club didn’t have enough time on its hands to take care of it properly. The motherly figure of the group couldn’t accept it.
— "He had to take a few guys with him to help him out, but Casey and Gale are already driving through town to get some info on the kids. "
I nodded. A man walked in the office, and I handed him his bill with a fake smile. I didn’t know how I could pretend like that. Deep inside, I wanted to scream my pain. Feeling so helpless was unbearable. I felt for Ash, his sister, and her husband. And my little guy… Where could he be?
I gave his change to the customer, and as soon as he left the office, I erased that stupid smile from my face. It was almost painful.
— "When I think about Tommy… My god…," I whispered.
— "Did you meet him? " Mona asked.
I looked up. My reaction seemed to puzzle her.
— "Yes. He came with his parents to the stand on Christmas eve. This boy is adorable. Ash told him a big lie and Tommy invited me to see his show, " I said nostalgically.
My mother in law looked at me, but her expression had changed. Then she smiled sadly.
— "It was very kind of you to attend it, " she said.
— "Yeah. Tommy was the space dragonfly…"
We laughed for a few seconds, but soon, the tragic of the situation hit us. I sighed and sat on a chair behind the desk. Mona was sitting on my father’s armchair. The workshop was less busy, so she had time to do some accounting.
— "I don’t know how you manage to stay focused…"
Without looking up, she explained.
— "I survive because the world doesn’t stop, and things need to be taken care of. "
I thought about her words, admiring her sense of commitment. I envied her. My pain and fear were growing, and I wouldn’t have been able to act the same way. Her mental strength was unbelievable. When the ship was sinking, she was fighting to maintain order.
— "Stay here and cry won’t help, " she added. "So I do as usual and try to help the club as much as I can. And if you don’t have a better idea, I would suggest you do the same. Your father needs us, Joe. "
I could only agree, but her words hurt a little. If her outspokenness upset me sometimes, she didn’t mean it. She was like my father. Both were rough diamonds, and time wouldn’t change anything. I watched her working on her accounting spreadsheets, as I was trying to concentrate on my work. There were only two cars left in the workshop. We would close in about an hour. Maybe my genes were responsible, but a plan started to emerge in my mind.
— "My father is lucky to have you, " I said sincerely.
She stopped working and tilted her head.
— " I see everything you do for the club. "
Like politicians ‘wives, Mona was as solid as a rock. She was always faithful and strong, so my father could count on her, and share his doubts and fears, when things got heavy. When he couldn’t confide in his brothers, Mona would listen in the privacy of their home. The emotions he had to hide in their presence could be expressed in front of his wife. She never judged and showed no fear. When his day would end up late, I was sure she was there to listen to the doubts he couldn’t share with his men because he needed to maintain the image of a proud and reliable president, who believed in their future. He worked for them. She worked for them and her husband.
— "Thanks, " she said before going back to her task.
Still, she had taken the time to smile at me. Mona didn’t know how to react to compliments, especially when they were unexpected and sincere. I decided to let her alone, as she had a lot on her plate. I was concerned for my father despite this woman’s strength, which would battle all the demons on earth. No matter what could happen, she would be by his side. I asked a last question, before walking back to the workshop to ask about the previous two vehicles.
— "The business that Jerry needs to take care of… Is it risky? "
Mona sighed, and I understood I was bothering her, but she accepted to answer, probably because she had noticed my concern.
— "It’s always risky, Joe. Get used to it. "
I nodded. We looked at each other, and I realized how much she loved him. He was risking his life every day, but she accepted it out of love, even if she didn’t know whether he would come home at night. Death and incarceration were part of their routine, but she had decided to stay. And so did I.
I took a deep breath before standing up. Mona stopped me.
— "Joe. Things are not always simple, but your father is happy to have you here. After the rain comes the sun. "
I thanked her with a smile and left.
CHAPTER 18
Jerry
When I arrived at the meeting point with Billy, Hanger, and Bigma, I couldn’t concentrate. While we were away, the others would drive through town, trying to get some info on the kidnapping. I had also asked them to look for Ash. It was a safety measure, while we were taking care of business out of town. I wanted to help our brother, but the club had to honor its commitments, no matter what. Business was essential. It was a question of survival. I stopped on the dirt road that Callum had mentioned, when he called. Billy had done an excellent job. It was nice to be able to count on his wisdom and experience, when I needed a hand. He was essential to the Wild Crows.
I left the vehicle first, and stepped onto the dry ground, looking for my Irish partner. He was late. Billy joined me, followed by Bigma and Hanger. The silence made me nervous. The metallic silo, above our heads, was our only companion. When the sound of an engine grew louder, I relaxed. Soon, I saw Callum’s face on the passenger seat of the van. The driver was his left-hand, Emery, if I remembered well. He always looked so pompous. They parked next to our vehicle, and didn’t lose any time. With his bald head and his sharp features, the king of Irish weapons shook my hand, smiling widely. Physically, he was not intimidating, as he was shorter and thinner than most of my men, including me. But he was sharp and intelligent, which helped him run the Irish Blood Brothers ‘club successfully. They had conservative opinions and their political views were questionable, when it came to religion or race. Many religious people supported them with a few neo-Nazis. They were very different from the tolerant folks that lived in the area. It didn’t matter. Business was the only thing that we shared. In our world, there were no altar boys. We were outlaws. Everyone exchanged greetings, and we started to talk.
— "Do you have the full order? " I asked Callum.
— "It’s all here. Two hundred Glocks and a hundred Colts M4, exactly what you’ve asked for. "
— "Perfect. Load them, " I screamed to my men. "Marcus, give me the money. "
The tall black man brought a heavy satchel full of cash, and put it down at Callum’s feet, before backing down. The president of the Irish Blood Brothers only grabbed it, after thanking my friend, but I noticed contempt in Emery’s eyes. I clenched my jaw and looked at him dryly. He held my stare, before spitting on the ground. What a coward! I let out a small laugh. Then, Callum tappe
d my shoulder, visibly satisfied with the pile of cash he had just counted.
— "It’s all good, Jerry. It’s always been a pleasure. "
— "Indeed, " I replied nicely.
My men finished to load the truck with the wooden boxes full of weapons. We knew the Irish always put some screws and automotive parts above the guns that we had to pay for, as a safety measure. If the police stopped us, it would be helpful.
I shook my partner’s hand one more time, and a few minutes later, we all went back to our vans. Our meetings were always brief. So far, we hadn’t run into any trouble with the feds. Hopefully, things wouldn’t change. I started the engine, and we followed the Irish. Our meeting point was a dirt road, located in the valley, a few miles from Walnut Creek. It seemed like the right choice, as the leader of the Blood Brothers lived in San Jose.
It would take us about half an hour to drive back home. All that we had to do next was to organize the delivery to Suerte. Trying to save time, I looked for his number in my contact list. I gave Billy my cell, so he would make the call to the leader of the Bandoleros. Not stopping at the workshop would diminish the risk. My friend dialled the number, and I heard Diego Ramirez take the call, as I was driving. Billy put him on speaker.
— "Yeah? "
— "It’s all good, Suerte, " I reassured him.
— "Glad to hear it. "
I could almost hear him smiling, despite his strong accent.
— "It’s perfect. We were holding a meeting in Modesto. Maybe driving to Stockton wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. "
—"Works for me. "
— "We’ll be there in half an hour. I’m sending you some info. "
— "Ok. We can in an hour. "
— "Ok. "
Suerte hung up abruptly, so Billy kept watching the screen, waiting for directions to the meeting point. The day would be long, but it was better to come home late and not have the weapons in our possession. Keeping them in storage was always bad news. Suddenly, the phone rang, and Billy told me where we would meet. Suerte had chosen an abandoned barn at the end of W. Muller Road. It was located beyond the city limit of Stockton. This town was perfect for trafficking. It was known for its many warehouses, where containers were awaiting shipment to Oakland. Our little business was nothing compared to what was going on there.
I took the I-680, eager to get rid of the weapons and to get my money. As I was about to take the ramp, a car came out of nowhere, and hit our van without slowing down. I kept driving straight to avoid ending up on the side lane.
— "What the fuck! " I screamed.
Instinctively, my men grabbed their guns, ready to fire. The problem was we were on the highway, and it was packed. We could cross path with a highway patrol car, and our van was loaded with boxes full of weapons which the Bandoleros were expecting. Frustrated, I grunted and saw the vehicle driving toward us. I had time to see the men inside. Both were white, tattooed, and they were wearing sunglasses. I didn’t know who they were. These idiots were laughing, so I rolled down my window to point the nearest exit. The passenger with long hair laughed even more, and pointed his gun at me through his open window.
— "He’s going to fire! " I screamed, just as I exited the highway.
I heard the shot, but luckily it didn’t hit the tire. I run a stoplight, avoiding an older man, who was driving through the crossroads. I needed to find a deserted area to put an end to this, since I couldn’t get rid of them. I hated when things were not settled. The Jaguar was following us, and I had to drive faster, so it wouldn’t hit us. In my mirror, I saw the head of a third idiot, who was holding a rifle through the window. It was pointed at us.
— "Morons! " Hanger screamed.
I cursed and turned into an alley on my right. I really couldn’t afford to miss my appointment with the Bandoleros, but being chased by these men complicated things. The alley was deserted. All we could see were a few abandoned factories. I kept driving through this no man’s land, trying to escape. I didn’t want to be seen, but I quickly realized it would be the last of my problems. A few yards ahead of me, a brick wall blocked the alley. It was a dead-end street.
— "Fuck! " I shouted, hitting the steering wheel with my fist.
I made a sharp turn, hoping it would surprise the driver. My men were ready for the worst. With their guns ready to fire through the windows, they waited anxiously. The Jaguar appeared in the alley, but the driver had time to anticipate my move. He braked and stopped the car across the alley. We were trapped. I fumed, but it was what it was. Only one of us would get out of the alley alive. Hastily, I got out of the van and run to the back doors, so I could climb in to load my Glock. I asked Billy to join me, while Hang’ and Bigma exited through the rear doors. We exchanged a meaningful look. Our guns were ready, and so were we.
— "What do you want? " I asked.
I wasn’t in the mood for a chat, especially with morons who had fired at us, in front of witnesses, but I needed to know who they were and why they wanted to kill us. We had many enemies. All I needed to know was who these men with their ridiculous tattoos were working for.
— "We want Jerry Welsh! "
I laughed out loud. Despite the carnage at the warehouse, a few members of the Kasabovs’clan were still alive. I felt nauseous, when I recognized their eastern accent. Russians were like weed. They always grew back, even after being eradicated. I clenched my jaw.
— "It’s your lucky day! He’s talking to you! " I said proudly.
— "Come here, you coward! "
« Coward,» me? I let out a laugh full of hate and rage. Bigma did likewise. Would I have to prove them wrong?
— "You and me. We keep our guys out of it. No weapons. Let’s see who’s the real coward. "
There was a long silence before he agreed. I took a deep breath and put my gun down on the ground regretfully. I still had a knife in my back pocket. It could always be useful. Carefully, I walked around the van, followed by the Jaguar’s driver. The size of our vehicle was an advantage. I realized it, when I spotted two Russians, trying to hide behind the Jaguar. I was about to make fun of them, but I decided to keep my mouth shut. My opponent was taller than me and leaner. He must have been in his forties. His head was shaved, and his neck was tattooed with a gun and stars. His glassy eyes were fixed on me.
— "What do you want exactly? " I said.
— "Revenge for Sergei and Dimitri. "
No need to beat around the bush. He had made his point.
— "An eye for an eye, " he said.
— "Then, let’s start, " I said with a smile.
I wasn’t sure that I would win this fight, but I knew that we would all be shot and die, if I backed down. It also wanted my men to find a way out, if things turned ugly. We were outnumbered, which was something to be considered.
I let him hit first. Maybe I was a masochist, but it was thrilling to provoke him with a broad smile, as I walked back to him.
— "Is that all you’ve got? " I said defiantly.
Before he could say a word, I punched him in the stomach. He bent over, and I didn’t lose any time to punch him again, but this time in the face. Then I kicked him in the balls. It wasn’t elegant, but there were no rules in this fight. My only goal was to survive. Finally, he fell to the ground, and I grabbed his throat to strangle him. This bastard didn’t want to die, so he took some sand into his hand and threw it to my face. I spat, but I didn’t ease my grasp, even though I couldn’t see anything. My eyes were on fire, but I would kill him. I grunted like an animal, and soon my opponent stopped fighting me. I was about to win this fight.
Suddenly, one of my men screamed.
— "Jerry! "
I recognized Hanger’s voice, but I was temporarily blind. Still, it was out of the question for me to release my opponent, until I was sure he was dead. I heard a shot, then another one. A burst of gunfire followed. I wouldn’t have been able to say who was firing. I decided my men were a priority, so I let the R
ussian go. I rubbed my eyes and saw a body lying next to the van. Shit! I ran and discovered Bigma on his back, smiling. I lifted his head. Billy was still firing his gun from the rear doors of the van, but only one Russian was aiming at him. His friend was dragging his unconscious boss to the backseat of Jaguar. One of Hanger’s bullet hit him in the shoulder. Words in Russian were shouted out loud, and the gunshots stopped. Then, the black car, riddled with bullets, burnt rubber as it sped off in the alley. Soon, there was silence. Bigma grunted, and I came closer to search for the point of impact. He pointed to his T-shirt, smiling painfully.
— "I’m fine, boss. Just a scratch. "
I took a deep breath. Wearing the bulletproof jackets, as we drove our van full of weapons, was a smart idea. Usually, she didn’t bother with them, but I had asked the guys to make an effort. Our latest encounter with the Mexicans had been complicated, and I wanted to take some safety measures. I had been right. I slapped him on the shoulder, before helping him to stand up. There was no emergency, no serious wound. We had been lucky! We installed him on the back seat carefully, and Hanger sat next to him.
Wild Crows - 2. Revelation : english version Page 12
