by Brook Wilder
When it was his turn, Hammer let the officers walk him through the intake process as well. He’d been arrested before and had hated it then as well. This time was worse because Jaden was twisting in the wind and his whole crew was being locked up. Knowing it was all because he was betrayed by the woman he loved made it a hundred times more hurtful. Yet, he bore it with a quiet Dignity he didn’t quite feel.
When his opportunity came, Hammer called his attorney. To his credit, the older man responded immediately. George Cavanaugh ran a small law office. It would take his legal team days to get their head around the charges being levied against him and his crew. God only knew how long it would take to get all the motions filed with the court. Hammer had no idea if they even qualified for bail at this point.
Sitting alone in his cell, Hammer finally had time to think. Too much time to think, in fact. He replayed every moment of his son’s disappearance over in his mind. After mulling over his relationship with Alina, he came to the conclusion that because they were from different worlds, the woman could never be trusted.
Her panicked actions had brought his whole world crashing down around him. Did she even care? The honest answer was probably not. The last couple of outings had probably taught her an important lesson in how not to live the rest of her life. No, she’d not risk messing up her nice, ordered life by taking a chance on making a life with an outlaw. She was probably already putting this whole unfortunate situation behind her, now that she’d appeased her conscious by making sure Jaden was safe. Why had he fucking trusted her?
Chapter 23
All The King’s Horses
Meanwhile Alina had dropped off Bull Dog, Copperhead and Twinkie at Bull Dog’s house. Though his mother had been surprised, she agreed for them to stay for a few days. She’d kept Non with her, hoping his brother would be released soon. The teen was clearly to terrified to lose it. He didn’t talk and refused to eat. Alina reassured him several times that she was working on getting Jaden released to her care. That was the light at the end of the tunnel for Non and they both knew it.
A few carefully chosen phone calls garnered her information on Jaden. He’d been placed in state’s custody. That was definitely not acceptable. It hadn’t taken much convincing for CPS to agree for him to stay with her. She was a well-respected teacher with no criminal record in a small city with limited resources. CPS made a house visit the same day and she’d been able to pick him up from the children’s shelter the following morning.
“I still don’t understand why they gave me to you?” Jaden sounded genuinely confused.
“You don’t have any family to take responsibility for you.”
“That doesn’t explain why they chose you.” He sounded miffed.
Alina flipped on her blinker and attempted to switch lands as she struggled to come up with an explanation.
Non who was buckled safely into the backseat beside Jaden answered for her. “The state doesn’t like to spend money on undesirables, like you and me. People like us cost the state a lot of money if they keep us in a shelter. A lot of times, we get into fights and it costs them even more money in medical bills and building repairs. If they can get a family member or friend of the family to take us in for free, then they don’t have to pay anything.”
“Oh, that’s okay.”
Alina was curious. “Why did you think they allowed you to come home with me?”
“I thought it was because they thought you were with my dad.”
“I am with your dad. Remember, he told you all about that.”
“Well not anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“I spoke to him on the phone last night and he said he wishes he never met you.”
“I think you might have misunderstood him.”
“He thinks you called the cops on us.”
Alina almost swerved off the road. Glancing nervously into the rear view mirror, she denied the accusation. “I would never do anything to hurt your father or break up your family.”
“Whatever.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get it straightened out.”
“When can we visit him?”
“I don’t think he’d want you to visit him in jail. He’ll probably be out soon anyway.”
“He said since so many of the crew all got arrested at the same time, it’s slowing his lawyer down. He doesn’t know when they’ll be getting out.”
“I’m sure this all some kind of mistake.”
Though she said the words, she was slowly shriveling up on the inside. Why it hadn’t occurred to her to wonder who called Child Protective Services before now. Since the moment Jaden had thrown his father’s suspicious in her face, it was all she could think about.
None of Kingsmen or their women would have called the authorities. They were all pulling together to help find Jaden. She was also reasonable certain that none of Jaden’s friends would have even known to do something like that. She’d never told Dianne about the situation with Jaden, so she wouldn’t have even been aware that he was milling unless Marlow had spilled the beans. She couldn’t see Marlow doing that. That left Brian.
White hot anger flared through her at the thought of him promising he would be confidential then going behind her back to call CPS. If he really felt that was necessary, why hadn’t he at least given her a heads up?
She’d known better than to call CPS, because the last time the police had come. She sickened at the thought of what they would have found at the clubhouse. There would have been bloody clothing, the brother’s hadn’t had a chance to dispose of and weapons. God, she couldn’t begin to imagine what they might have found. The police raid could not come at a worse time. It was conceivable that they all might end up with jail time.
The thought of them all sitting behind bars seemed so wrong to her. Granted they certainly weren’t boy scouts. The Kinsmen had killed during the attempts to rescue Jaden but the killing hadn’t been indiscriminate. It was necessary to save a child’s life and the Kingsmen hadn’t started what had turned out to be a full on gang war. Miguel Sandoval had made that choice all on his own. To the best of her understanding, he was still smarting from Jaden’s mother choosing Hammer of himself. That grudge had been at the heart of the whole matter. Jaden grabbing Twinkie had just been the catalyst to begin another round in his never ending grudge war.
The thought of Hammer jumping to the conclusion that she’d been the one to turn them all in made her blood boil. Why would Hammer assume it was her instead of one of his club whores? None of them had risked their lives standing by his side on the front lines of this little skirmish, yet she was somehow the one to be suspicious of. The reason was obvious. She was the outsider. The one who wasn’t from their world. A sense of hopelessness set in as she realized, there was absolutely no way for her as a woman to earn their trust. She’d done her best and when push came to shove, they’d thrown her under the bus.
“I want to see him.” Jaden’s voice broke into her own skewed thoughts as he repeated his earlier request.
“I see if I can work that out. We should probably call the clubhouse on the off chance that the police let anyone slip through the booking process.”
Grabbing her cell, she hit her contact list and scrolled down to the Kingsmen icon. Seeing the modified skull design staring back at her was like rubbing salt into an open wound for her, but she hit it none the less.
Shelby answered. “Kingsmen Automotive Repair. How may I help you?”
“Shelby, it’s me. I managed to get Jaden released to my custody. Did any of the guys get released?”
“Nope. As far as we can tell they kept the lot of them. That’s never happened in the club’s history, you know.”
“I can’t imagine what they found during the raid.”
“Me and Tiffany had already burned the bloody clothes and the brothers are pretty persnickety about cleaning the blood from their cuts. They would have found the weapons and small amounts of weed locked in the a
rmory. Don’t know if it will be enough for them to get real time but it might be.”
“Are you there alone?”
“Yep, it’s just me and the girls. We’ve got the front gate locked down tight and haven’t seen any of the Grim Crew. Maybe this whole thing is over.”
“Why would the Grims still be after the club if all the brothers are in jail?”
“You’re right. They’re probably having the celebration of their lives.”
“Do you need anything?”
“We’re running low on provisions. Today is normally shopping day and they guys don’t leave us with much cash. We’ll try to get by somehow.”
Since they were on speaker phone so she could drive and talk, the boys were listening in. Jaden spoke up.
“Grab the company van and meet us on Trow Chow Boulevard. We’ll break open a cache. That’s why my father made them.”
Alina nodded to the boy. “We’ll head that way right now. There’s a coffee shop on
Trow Chow. We’ll meet you there in an hour.”
“Roger that and thanks.”
Jaden answered. “No problem.”
After disconnecting, Alina looked at Jaden in her rear view mirror. “Tell me what to do and I’ll retrieve the cracked Buddha.”
“How the hell do you know about that?”
“I know you father doesn’t approve of the language, Jaden.”
“His judgment hasn’t been the best lately.”
Alina eye flashed to his briefly before she spoke. “Do I actually need to keep telling you that I didn’t call CPS?”
“You mean this time?”
“You and father must have had a nice long talk.”
“He’d never leave me in the dark. Especially about someone who could get me killed.”
“Jesus, your both intelligent, meticulous, suspicious bad boys, know that.”
There was a ghost of smile from Jaden. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Sighing her frustration, Alina explained. “When you first went missing, I did go to your father and he wouldn’t give me any information so I did call CPS. I was worried about you. But after I got to know him and found out what was going on, I tried to help. I got shot at twice trying to find you. Each time your father used his body to shield me. I’d never turn on someone who saved my life or someone who had to do dark deeds to save his only son. I don’t know what kind of person you think I am give me some credit for being a decent human being.”
Jaden glanced at Non for a brief moment before the other boy leaned over to whisper something in his ear. “You just go in and asked the old man behind the counter for the crackled Buddha. Don’t say cracked Buddha, say crackled Buddha. It will on the top shelf, behind the counter where no one else can touch it.”
“It’s that simple?”
“Yep. Only speak to the old man though. And if they give you any grief or ask you any questions ignore the question and repeat that part of the nursery rhyme about the King’s men in humpty dumpty.”
“All the king’s horses and the all the king’s men.”
“Yes. Exactly that. They’ll probably give you grief cause there’re expecting a brother not a bitch.”
Alina rolled her eyes at how casually Jaden and his father used the term bitch in reference to a woman. She felt she should call him on it but then again if his father didn’t see the wrong in it who was she to rock the boat. Her heart ached as she realized she had no right to parent Hammer’s son like he was her own. Fighting back the tears she headed towards Trow Chow.
The boys sat in the back quietly whispering back and forth to each other. Glancing at the boys in her rear view mirror, she realized how fond of them she’d become. Forget about that bastard, Hammer. She was going to miss seeing everyone else associated with the club. She had been growing close to Shelby, Mal and Marlow.
She could easily see why Dianne had warned her off from getting involved with a Kingsmen. The men were rough, aloof, and difficult to get close to. Yet they were also men who’d been thrown away by society and somehow managed to find each other, band together, and make the best of a bad situation. They’d carved out a life for themselves and lived life on their own terms. It was the same kind of mentality that build America in the beginning.
Hammer had been right about one thing. There was no way to straddle the line, keeping one foot planted firmly in each world. That’s what she’d been trying to do this whole time and look what it had gotten her. She’d probably be ostracized at work for her association with the Kingsmen and they’d never accept her either because they’d never completely trust her.
At this point, it wasn’t even a question of where she wanted to be. She wanted to be with Hammer, no matter the cost. The real challenge was stepping completely into their world and never looking back. That mean she’d be having a little talk with Brian.
Pulling into the only Asian antiques shop on the Boulevard, she parked her vehicle. Turning to Jaden she cautioned. “I’m locking the doors. Don’t open them for anyone. I’ll be able to see you through the huge display window in the front. I’m leaving you my cell phone. Call 911 if I get into trouble or if I don’t return but do not get out of the vehicle. Understood?”
Jaden took the phone from her and tossed it effortlessly to Non before nodding his understanding.
Alina stepped into the shop and was immediately assaulted with a variety of scents and sights. There were brightly colored paper parasols, cat statues with one continuously waving paw, as well as tons of Buddha statues staring out from every corner of the room. The air with thickly scented with the smell of incense. When the one remaining customer besides herself left the shop, she heard the tinkling of dozens little bells, which hung in long strands near the door. The whole atmosphere was designed to be exotic and relaxing.
As she walked to the counter, her eyes searched around for an old man. Instead, she found only a younger female. She was clearly of Asian descent and had long black hair and was wearing an eastern style silk blouse. She stopped writing on a long sheet of paper and looked up Alina with a smile.
“May I help you?”
Alina bit her bottom lip as she thought about what to say.
“I am looking for an older man. I was told he owns this establishment.”
“Yes. My grandfather. He is ill. Mercy Medical is where you will find him. If it is business you wish to conduct. I am familiar with all his suppliers and customers. Feel free to ask of me anything that you would have my esteemed grandfather, for he will not be returning to this place.”
Alina went with her gut. “I am here to obtain the crackled Buddha.”
Her eyes got big. “You are not who we were expecting.” Glancing nervously up at the statue, she asked. “Why do you wish to have it?”
“Much like your father, Humpty Dumpty is in trouble and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t seem to put him together again.”
Her eyes shown with amusement. “One moment please.” Stepping onto a ladder she climbed up and then used the shelving along the wall to propel herself over to the statue she wanted. Grabbing a green one that looked like it had a crackled ceramic glaze, she stuffed it under her arm and nimbly climbed back down. Placing the foot high statue on the counter, she spoke softly.
“My grandfather will be pleased to know that his life debt has been cleared. My family’s association with your organization has been agreeable. Please consider us open to providing similar services.”
“I will certainly let the brother’s know. Thank you and your venerated grandfather.”
Pulling a brown paper bag over the Buddha’s head, she slid the statue forward towards Alina. “Go in peace and may your troubles be swiftly resolved.”
“Thank you. May peace be with you and yours as well. I wish your venerated grandfather a speedy recovery.”
“I will let him know.”
Alina took the statue and listened to the tinkling of the little musical bells as she opened
the door. Fresh air hit her in the face and it felt like being pulled back into the modern world from some ancient point in time. Swallowing hard, she opened the door to her Prius and slid into the driver’s seat, reaching the statue back to Jaden.
“God that was strange.”
“What’s strange about old man, Chow? He’s a neat old man.”
“He’s in the hospital. His granddaughter was running the shop. Nice lady but…”
“I’ve met the honorable Lady Chow before. She’s very old school. I like to hear her talk.”
“She mentioned a life debt her grandfather owed the Kingsmen.”
Jaden laughed. “Not much of a life debt. I was with my father when it happened. Some thugs were beating him up in alley and my dad laid them all out. The old man insisted he owed my dad a life debt and made us drink green tea with him from old clay pot. When we began trying to figure out where to put caches, my dad made arrangements with him to hold one for us.”
