by Tara Lynn
“Is Cavil dead?” I asked. “Let me see him.”
To his credit, the boss’s expression didn’t veer from calm. He snapped his fingers. One of the men in the shadows brought something scraping towards the light.
Cavil’s body emerged, head first. He was covered in red from a wound in his neck, but there was damage on the rest of him that indicated he hadn’t gone fast.
The muscle dropped him face first before the boss like a proud cat, and the guy waved him back into the darkness.
“And the rest of the chapter is gone?” I asked.
“This is right,” the man said softly.
I whistled like I was impressed. I was in a way, but more pissed. I’d seen far better men die in service for petty shit in Afghanistan, but it didn’t dull my anger. Redwood had been full of men I was prepared to call brothers. I wouldn’t have put on this cut otherwise.
“How is it not on the news?” I said. “There were twenty men in that chapter.”
“There are none now. It was easy to get them out of their town to a more isolated place. All it took was a trick to bring them to war, to a battlefield that could later be covered with a few mounds of earth. The town is not missing their presence.”
They’d pulled the same shit we’d tried. “Well, say what you want to say. Or shoot me if you prefer.”
“There were two more of you,” the man said.
“We didn’t see much sense in giving us all away that easy.” I traced my probate patch. “I’m just the junior one.”
It was a tricky ploy - making myself seem unimportant. It could make killing me useless, but it could also mean my severed head would not be too harsh a message. Cartel men were flat out killers, not soldiers or bikers.
“We are sent here to propose a deal,” the boss said. “There are several other towns where you and we compete. You will transfer your business to us in these towns and we will let your operation at this central one live.”
“And if not?” I said. “Let me guess. We go to war.”
“It will be a war you cannot win. Simple, yes?”
“That, I do not know.” I flicked my patch again. “Newbie - remember?”
“Well, then, newbie,” the boss said. “You at least understand my English. Pass it on in the simple way that you know.”
“That’s it?” I said
“One other matter.” The man studied his fingernails. “Your Redwood chapter president told us everything. We know this war was started by people from your town. We cannot let you all leave.”
Under the cone of light, everything sharpened in my vision. Life or death hung in these next moments. If not for me, then for my guys outside.
“You’ve got your blood,” I said. “Twenty man sized bottles of it.”
“So we will not need much more,” the man said. “One will do. You hold the message, so it will not be you. Tell me which one to kill.”
My mind flashed a vision of the future. The cartel wanted the Liberated to lose much of their meth operations. They were offering me the chance to sign Reggie’s execution. In one bloody stroke, I could take everything I wanted, without even really wanting it. If I did nothing, that’s what would happen.
But Christina weighed on my shoulder: You’re blowing with the wind.
Was I just the badge on this cut? Just a guy on probation talking big, but laying low?
She deserved someone better than that, even if that meant I never walked out.
“You’re not killing anyone,” I said.
The man ticked his head. “No. One of my men will.”
“Snipers?” I said. “Maybe they’re good. Maybe our guys are faster.”
“So I will send these men out. If you don’t pick one, it will be both.”
He was seconds away from ordering it. I had to go big. “It should be me,” I said. “I’m the one they sent to Redding. I shot at your guys.”
The boss’s eyes widened. “You did this for them?”
“I did. I didn’t want to though.”
“No?”
I clasped my hands and went for my pitch. “You know what I want? I want the Liberated out of the meth business altogether. You can have it.”
“Then why is it that you are joining them?”
“I’m not joining. I’m re-enlisting.” I swiped my probate patch. “I was a full member before, and then I left. Now I’m back, and I can help you get what you want. It’s what I want too.”
“I do not have a reason to believe you.”
“Let me give you two, then.” I stuck up a finger. “First, I’m not just in the Liberated. I’m the President’s son.”
The boss stepped up and looked me over. I didn’t know if he knew what Lorne looked like, but he seemed satisfied. “That is not proof you can help us.”
“The second reason is that I’ve already helped. Those two guys I shot at? I was supposed to kill them.”
“Why would you not do this?”
“Because that’s not what I want this club to be.”
The guy sneered. “I come here demanding obedience, and here you are offering me your balls.”
I chuckled. “Balls? I walked in here alone didn’t I? Don’t mistake conviction for strength. I have other plans for the club. I’m just backing away from a fight I don’t care about.”
I didn’t have any idea of what part of this promise I could deliver. If I was lost in the wind before, any arrangement with the cartel would have me blowing between two hurricanes. But I could make it work.
If I survived this next minute.
The cartel man glanced up at the light tray. I could see things spinning, but I needed to bring it home.
“I let two of your men live. You can do the same for me.”
The guy twisted his lips a while, then started to nod. He glanced back at me and tipped his head. “Ok. We will be in touch.”
“Can I go?”
“Yes.”
The man stood with his arms clasped. He had the bored look of a communications officer. He might have command of these guns, but he probably wasn’t far up the command structure either.
Still, something about the detached way he stood there made me flare hot. This guy had talked about snuffing us out of Freemont as if we were bugs. That did not sit right with me.
“I should give you a message too,” I said.
His eyebrows lifted just lightly.
“I’m helping you cause our interests align, no more no less. Just in case you plan on trying anything in Freemont, I wanted to let you know: It’s not gonna be that easy. Not on your side.”
The air shifted in the room. I could almost sense fingers brush by triggers. The boss frowned as if he had smelled something bad.
“One town is no different from the other. The people will not care you are gone.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Freemont and the Liberated are one and the same.”
I didn’t want to push it so I flashed him my biggest smile and shrugged. “It’s just something to consider.”
I headed back towards the door and the thin line of outside, before he could truly consider any big changes. The guards stepped in my path just as I reached the exit. I stared straight ahead, hands balled into useless fists.
One of the guards glanced over my shoulder. After a moment, he moved aside.
I’d spent years in the desert, but the sun had never seemed more bright as I came out of that warehouse. The two guys weren’t in sight, but I jogged a zigzag over to the loading bay and saw Reggie peeking out past the concrete.
He smiled as he saw me. It might have been the first time I saw a genuine version of that look from him.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
“They want us to kill ourselves,” I said. “But let’s get out of here before we discuss that.”
We hopped on the bikes and roared out onto the road as one. We rode back through the same small quiet town we’d passed on the way here, but shadows crept out of every wall.
What fate had I brought to Freemont? Things were a hair’s breath away from becoming worse than back when I’d left. It wasn’t me who had chosen that path. It probably would have happened without me. But I’d pulled the trigger. I had to own that.
When we got back to the shop, I told Reggie about the Cartel’s demands. He snorted, until I added the bit about how he wasn’t supposed to make it back.
“They let us go, cause you let their guys go?” he said.
“Blood for blood.” I left out the rest of my negotiations.
“Oh they’ll get their blood,” Reggie said. “They’ll just have to look down their bullet-ridden bodies to see it pooling at their feet.”
He spat on the concrete. Torrance came over though and clapped me in a huge hug.
“Bro, Reggie won’t say it so I will. You saved our goddamn lives. I’m so fucking glad you’re back.”
“Thanks man,” I patted him until he finally let go.
Reggie studied me the same way the Cartel boss had done. Then he held out a hand.
“You did good, little Carter. You did good there.”
It was the first time he’d called me by any part of my name. It couldn’t be easy, admitting it was the same as the President’s. I clasped his hand. “Thanks, man,” I said. “I’m gonna head home now and take care of a few things.”
“Go on, then.”
I roared blindly back to my house. All the pent up stress rattled down through my arms. I could barely keep the handlebars straight. Inside, I flung open the cabinets till I found the one with the whiskey. I flipped on the TV, and drank from the bottle waiting for it to dull out the noise.
Things had been so easy when I’d arrived. Now I’d have to shovel dirt just to get back to the hole I’d started in. I stayed there, arms trembling on the armrest, even as the sky darkened behind the blinds.
I had no appetite, but I knew from serving that I should get down some food. As I waited for the oven to warm up, someone rapped at my door. I doubted the Cartel would knock, but I went over and checked instead of opening.
Christina’s pretty head bloomed large through the peep hole. She looked like a cool dab of ointment.
I flung open the door. She had a fearful face on, but it vanished and she shot into me with a hug.
“Thank god you’re ok.”
The warmth of her flooded into me deeper and harder than anything a liquor bottle could offer. I held her to me, afraid of standing on my own and showing her how much I shook.
“I’m ok,” I said. “Nothing really happened. I’m surprised you heard.”
“Lorne and Reggie have been talking about it for hours. I was just in my room getting some books, when I heard them mention you.” She pulled away and looked up at me. “You stood up to a man with a gun? Why would you do something like that?”
Her mouth was just inches from mine. I could almost taste the sweet cherry of her lip balm. All I wanted was to sink into her, to comfort myself in her concern. The street past her was empty, but I took no chances.
“Come inside,” I said, easing her in and shutting the door.
“What were you thinking?” she insisted.
“I’m thinking I didn’t come here to get people hurt,” I said. “Whatever else you may believe about me, know that I want what’s good for this town. I’m not going to run away from it anymore, which means doing whatever it takes to keep it safe.”
She didn’t respond, just kept peering up for more. But there was nothing more to give her, not yet. Maybe I’d never tell her about the deal. I didn’t want her to get dirty on my account.
All that mattered was one thing. “Do you believe me?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter though, does it? I thought the answer to that meant so much. I thought there was too much doubt for me to get any deeper into this crazy thing than I already was. But it’s too late. I’m already deep in to you.” She pressed her head against my chest. “I really hope you are who you say you are.”
I stroked her shoulders and studied her downcast face. I told her exactly what I felt.
“I may have come here on a whim, but it’s more than that now. You think you’re stuck with me. I’m stuck with me too. But for you, I’d start a revolution.” I stroked her dark hair and kissed her forehead. “I may just have to.”
She peeked up at me, eyes full of questions. Instead of voicing them though, her mouth came trembling up to mine and graced it with a gentle touch. We stood there, lips warm against each other.
I wanted nothing more in that moment, and I could accept nothing less. I had her, and we had each other. I would never let that go.
My hands felt cool on her shoulder. They’d stopped shaking.
I traced a finger down her spine, relishing at the way she twitched under my touch. I landed it on the small of her back, filling with desires for something more. Facing death and walking away gives you an appetite for life.
“It’s ok, baby,” I said. “We’re going to be just fine. You’ll see.”
“Alright,” she whispered. “Show me.”
“There’s only one way I can prove it to you now,” I turned her to the bedroom door.
She smiled and weighed on me. “That’s just the proof I want.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Christina
It was amazing how many people you could fit in a place if they didn’t have to be comfortable. Damon’s house almost billowed with heat as a couple dozen leather-clad men and practically-nothing-clad women laughed and drank.
I hung back in the kitchen, staying close to the pizza and chips and booze, away from the noise and the conversation. People would come over and nod at me, and I’d say a few pleasantries and fill my mouth with a sip or a bite.
But now at the entrance to the kitchen, I saw one man that wouldn’t work on.
“Hey there, gorgeous,” Reggie said, sidling down between the cabinets. “I saw you were here, but I was too shocked for words.”
He tried to wrap me in a hug, but I stuck out a hand instead. No way I was going to give him that much.
Reggie shrugged and shook it, stroking my palm with a sweaty finger before I pulled away. He popped open a can of beer, took a sip and savored it, before turning to me.
“What brings you out here anyway?” he asked. “I thought you didn’t like our kind.”
“I don’t like bikers,” I said. “But I’ve got to support Damon.”
“Damon is a biker now,” Reggie said. “Fully reinstated and all. That’s what this party’s about.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s sad, but he’s still my step. And maybe coming to one of these things will teach me how to keep Jason away from you guys.”
“Ah, I see. You’re here for your real brother, not Damon.”
“You say my name?” a more welcome voice said.
Damon’s head loomed above Reggie’s. I hadn’t even seen him come in. He flashed a grin at me, and I hoped I kept from reacting. Reggie spun around.
“Ah, it’s the birthday boy,” he said, tossing himself around Damon instead.
“It’s not my birthday.”
“It is. Today, you are reborn as my brother.” Reggie poked his finger into Damon’ chest. “Your blood is mine now. All struggles are forgotten.”
“That is generous,” Damon said. “But I think you may just be drunk.”
“You may be right.”
I stifled a giggle. I’d never seen this side of Reggie before. He wasn’t that bad when his focus wasn’t on me.
Damon beamed and I wished the party was over. I had my own idea of congratulating Damon and I’d bought a bright red way to do it once we were alone.
It left open most of the spaces I wanted him to get into. I nearly went wet just thinking about his mouth working me below. Not being able to show an ounce of my lust outside these walls made everything that happened inside so many times hotter.
This party was all just really foreplay.
Re
ggie straightened up all of a sudden and clapped Damon on the shoulder. “Just remember what I told you. Stay in line and everything will be ok.”
Damon chuckled. “Alright man.”
But Reggie just clasped him tighter. “Stay in line, alright? This is just the beginning.”
He swiped past Damon and staggered out into the crowd. Damon watched him leave, then turned back with a frown. He popped open a can.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Nothing particular. I may not be a probate any longer, but I’m not a partner either. That was just a reminder.”
I stroked his elbow, getting a flash of the strength in his forearm. I wasn’t all that worried about Damon’s dealings in the club. I knew he would get what he wanted in the end. He had told me more about the the cartel’s threats in that warehouse, but he would a way to handle it. He always had.
Damon glanced over his shoulder, then leaned in and pecked me on the lips. A spark passed between us, a promise of all the energy he had to unleash on me later.
“I’ll see you when this is all over,” he said. Then, he turned around and went back into the crowd.
Storms would come. But then grass would grow. Freemont would remain standing, maybe better than before.
Maybe one day, we could stand in the sunlight in each other’s arms. Maybe on a beach far away, with the waves crashing down on us. Maybe right here in town.
But as I watched his strong back sift away and disappear, firm with the knowledge I’d see it again, I could admit: right now, I had everything I needed.
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In My Stepbrother’s Hands
