by Kara Hart
“For Courage.” I said.
Bruce shook his head. “For Lane and the Hell’s Wheels. Let’s restore your name to the glory it once held.”
Rust
“What the hell was that back there?” I asked her as we stepped outside, still in a state of disbelief.
“It’s called the woman’s touch. It’s one of the many powers we possess, Rust. Don’t you know we secretly rule the world?” She winked at me and stepped on the bike. “Get on. I’m driving this time.”
“Like hell you are. This is my baby.” He bent down and kissed my forehead, massaging my head, while holding me close. “But I’m proud of you. Don’t think I’m not. What you did back there was fucking incredible. And I know you’ll lead us to victory.”
She pushed her butt back against the leather seat and smiled, “We’ll both lead each other to victory. And when we do, you’re taking this ass in the back and tearing me apart. I want to feel you like I’ve never felt you before. You got that, sir?”
“Is that a fucking order?” I laughed.
“It is. And it’s practically the only thing I’m looking forward to.”
“Ay ay, captain.” I saluted.
I started the bike and zoomed around the corner. “Just go north, it’s not far from here. Past the Zapata Skull Mountains.”
“Dynamite road?” I asked her, making sure I knew where the hell I was going.
“Yeah. When you reach the end, there’s a medium sized shack on the left. That’s where he’ll be.”
“Got it.” I zoomed toward the mountains in the distance. From what I heard, a shoemaker’s wife went missing up there. They never found her. I never really paid any mind to it, but the mountain had been practically deserted for decades. The only people who lived there were meth heads and glue-huffers. It only made sense that her supplier lived up in that desolate rock.
When we finally hit the end of Dynamite Road, I saw our destination. It was an old wood shack, and it looked like it had been abandoned for years. Outside was a man, smoking a pipe, while wearing the clothes of a chemist. He took one look at us and shook his head, grabbing at a gun on the ground. He aimed it directly at my face as I pulled up.
“State your name!” he called out.
I raised my hands over my head and shouted, “Put down your weapon partner. We come in peace.”
Jackie stepped off my bike and yelled, “Well if it isn’t Glen Parkins.”
The man smiled. “In the fucking flesh!”
“Come here!” Jackie said, running and hugging the man. I was left in a state of confusion. Who the hell hugs the guy who makes your drugs? Then again, she did get the purest of the pure. Who was I to judge?
“Who’s this loser?” the man asked.
“Excuse me?” I said, putting my hand on my holster.
“HA-HA!” he cackled. His voice was raspy and thick, like it had been torn away from smoke, whisky, and the fumes of all those drugs he pushed. “I’m just messin’ with ya! Jeeze, this guy is somethin’ else, ain’t he?”
Jackie laughed and looked at me as if to say, “Just play along.” I shook my head and reluctantly took my hand off my gun holster. “We need to talk.” Jackie said.
“Talk? I hope it ain’t something serious. Regardless, let’s go inside. Feds are everywhere these days. Everywhere.” We walked up to his half-sunken in door and he opened it. There were rats, dust, and an old refrigerator. It didn’t make sense that this was the place Jackie got her drugs.
“What the hell? Where is everything? I thought you said this is where he cooks the product.” I scratched at my head, completely baffled.
The man laughed and pressed a button. Suddenly, the floor moved and opened up, revealing a hidden set of stairs leading down into the basement area. “Down here.” he said, winking.
Well I was flabbergasted, I’ll tell you that much. Truly bewildered. Jackie turned to me and whispered, “He worked on this place for nearly a decade. It’s a fucking work of art.”
We finally got to the bottom floor and I quickly realized just how big the place was down there. It was about the size of a bar. “Welcome to my humble abode.” he said with pride. It was state of the art, that’s for sure. Clean too. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“I normally don’t show this to people, obviously. But if you’re with Jackie, I trust you. Now, what’s on your minds? How can the doctor be of service?” He sat down in a chair and crossed his legs, adjusting his glasses.
Jackie stepped forward. “Things are dire with my crew and I need your help. My father’s dead.” she said. The man leaned forward and rubbed his eyes.
“What?” he asked. “Lane? Jesus fucking Christ. When were you going to tell me?”
“There hasn’t been time, Glen. There’s a war going on. A war within the ranks of Courage and Hell’s Wheels. Don has taken a sizable amount of my men and pitted them against me with the Darkhorse gang.”
“Does this have anything to do with that explosion I saw in the distance? Keep me out of this. I don’t want no part in a war. Looked like cops were having a field day with that one.” Glen sighed.
“Yeah, well, we have people to deal with all of that shit. Luckily, my name isn’t attached to the club. I just run it and take the money.” I said.
“Right.” Jackie said. “We just need a small favor from you. That’s it. If you come through on this, we’ll pay you double on the next three shipments.”
“Double?” I asked. “Who said that?” Jackie hit my arm to shut me up.
“Just tell me why you’re here.” Glen demanded.
Jackie perked up and smiled. “We need you to sell to the Darkhorse gang.” She said.
Glen took off his glasses and whispered, “Excuse me?”
“They’re going to find you. Don’s a captain. They know where you operate. And when they do get you, they’ll force you to sell to them. What you’re going to do is taint the product.” she said, crossing her arms.
“Fuck. I knew getting into this business with bikers was a risk, but I never thought I’d get mixed up in one your gangster turf wars…” he said, shaking his head with sorrow. “I never wanted to hurt anyone. Never. I can’t poison my stash. I can’t!” The prick actually started to sob.
I slapped him and got out my gun, holding it against his face. “Get ahold of yourself. Be a man!” I shouted. “It’s not like you were selling fruit and veggies to the people. You’re selling lethal drugs! Meth, speed, MDMA. You’re going to have to wise up. Because if you don’t, those Darkhorse bastards are going to control you for the rest of your life. Got me?” he nodded.
“I got you.” He angrily said. “And I’m going to help you out. But I ain’t doing it for you. I’m doing it for Lane. He was the most honest boss I had ever met. He was going to change things. Fuck, I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Jackie put her hand on his shoulder. “Well he is. He’s gone forever. And we can’t look back. We have to continue moving forward. You have my word that I’ll continue my father’s legacy. I’ll be a just leader, just like my father. I promise you that.”
“I know you will, Jackie. You were always a good kid growing up. You never faltered. Look, I’ll taint the shipment, but I won’t kill no customers. I have a formula. It’ll leave the user sick for three days maximum. That’s all I can offer. I don’t want any extra payment for it though. I don’t get paid for poison. Just make sure the Darkhorse learns their lesson. Those sons of bitches need to regret the day they tried to take over this town.”
I shook his hand. “You’re on the right side.” I said. “If we have our say, the Darkhorse will be gone for good. Thanks Glen.”
“Yeah, well. Don’t thank me until it’s all said and done. You never know what could happen. Shit, what if they just kill me? Then what?”
Jackie shook her head. “They won’t kill you. They need your recipe and expertise. Without that, they have nothing. You hold the power, Glen. Remember that.”
“I hold the pow
er.” he whispered in understanding.
Jackie
It wasn’t long before they got to Glen. Word spread far and wide that the Darkhorse gang was about to release an unstoppable weapon. A drug so pure, you wouldn’t need to buy from anyone else, ever again. It sounded too good to be true.
Of course, when Bruce heard the news, he questioned us right away. “This is that plan you were cookin’ up, right?”
I nodded. “Yes, it is. It’s going to completely weaken their credibility, Bruce. No one will want to buy from them again.”
“What exactly is in it? You killin’ off these customers?” he interrogated me. It was clear he still didn’t trust me.
Rust leaned forward, rudely answering for me. “No deaths. That was a guarantee from her manufacturer. He says he’s got some formula. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it sure as hell ain’t good for business. Makes you sick I guess.” Bruce just sat there, staring off into space, while nodding his hairy head. He stroked his beard and hummed to himself.
“Let’s hope for the best I guess. Word on the street is, they hit the market today. And we better be prepared.” he said, combing his beard.
“So what were you thinking?” I asked him.
“Well, I’d suggest we put our men on every street corner that we can. We’ll pay the cops extra to turn a blind eye. Then when shit hits the fan and word gets out, those users will come crawling back to us. They won’t have a choice.”
Rust perked up and smiled. “So we’ll dominate the market. Darkhorse will be forced to scramble. Don won’t be able afford any new weaponry and their credibility will be completely shattered. It’s a good plan, guys. A damn good plan.”
I agreed with the men, but we would have to wait and see. In the meantime, we had to lay low in the Courage strip club, drinking shots of whiskey and praying for the best. These were tense times, but they were also hopeful times. There was a lot to be thankful for, and once that whiskey hit your bloodstream, you felt pretty damn good to be alive.
“Let’s put a tune on the jukebox, shall we?” Bruce announced. “Plan’s always put me in a dancin’ mood!” He put on an old tune from the 1970’s, grabbed my hand, and pulled me onto the stage. “Dance with me honey!” he cackled.
He spun me around and lifted me up in the air. Rust downed his glass and screamed, hootin’ and hollerin’. It was hilarious to him. “Don’t drop her, Bruce!” he yelled.
“I would never drop a pretty little thing like her!” Bruce laughed, eyes half-closed.
“Hey! That’s my wife you’re talking about!” Rust said, leaning back in his chair and falling backwards. He rolled back onto the ground and sobbed with laughter.
“Where’d you learn to dance like this, Bruce?” I asked him.
“My bitch of an ex-wife. She taught me everything. Of course, she also took everything from me as well.” He spun me around one more time and fell to the ground, wheezing.
“You okay, old man?” Rust came running up to help him.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Don’t you go calling me an old man. I’m as young as I ever was. I just smoke more now.” he jokingly said.
“Right. You just smoke more now.” Rust laughed. “Well I guess we better rest up for a bit. That’s enough fun for right now.”
But, of course, that was too much to ask for. Within minutes, Bruce’s cell phone went off. “Yeah, what is it?” Bruce drunkenly slurred into the receiver. “Doctor? Oh shit.” He covered the phone and whispered, “It’s about Johnny!”
“Yeah? He what? Well, God damn! We’ll be there in a second!” he exclaimed, hanging up the phone.
“What is it?” I asked him. “Is he alright?”
“Woman, it’s your lucky day! Johnny woke up from his coma last night. He’s in stable condition.” Bruce slapped his hands together loudly and grinned.
“You bein’ for real, Bruce?” Rust asked him.
“Have I ever lied to you, boy? Hell yeah, I’m being for real. Our boy is alive!” He grabbed another shot and threw the glass at the wall, shattering it into a thousand pieces.
I ran up to Rust and wrapped my arms around him, kissing his warm lips. It took a moment for it to all hit him, but when it did, he was floored. “Johnny’s alive? Johnny’s alive! Oh, baby, can you believe it?” He stomped his feet and held me near him.
I pulled away from him and looked him in the eyes. “Baby?” I asked him.
“We’ll talk about it later.” He smirked, wild-eyed and drunk.
I kissed his cheek and sighed playfully. “Come on, you fool. Let’s go congratulate the man on staying in this world. I’m driving.”
Rust
“Johnny? Can you hear me? Blink if you can hear me?” I whispered, looking at my old best friend and ally.
“I’m awake, you idiot. Of course I can hear you.” He shook his head. “I see you took my girl.” he laughed, looking at Jackie.
“Yeah, well, there’s a lot you need to catch up on. I just can’t believe you’re here. I mean, you’re really alive!” I was dumbfounded. When he first got in that hospital, I was convinced he was done for. Usually when you’re admitted for a bullet to the gut, you ain’t comin’ back to reality.
“Well, here I am, asshole.” He gave me the best smile he could give.
Out in the waiting room was that boy again, the one that ran off in a hurry last time I came in to visit Johnny. He was looking at me funny, staring me down. He was the one who tried to swing at me. The one who’s nose I broke. Yeah, that son of a bitch. Shit. I had nearly forgotten about him.
He looked pretty bad too. His nose had healed all wobbly-like, and his eye was still black and blue underneath. I guess I got him pretty good. Jackie saw me starin’ at him and tried to intervene.
“Come on, Rust. Let it go. We don’t need any more inner turmoil. If he’s here for Johnny, then let him be.” she said. Women were always a little more respectable than men. My thoughts, however, were a bit different. I ran outside the room and lifted him out of his seat.
“Why are you here, boy?” I asked him, pressing his back against the hospital wall.
“You really want to do this again?” he said, neck straining against his shirt.
“Do I ever.” I menacingly said. “You don’t scare me. You’re a fuckin’ child. You hear me? Now, I’ll ask you again. Why you here?”
“Why don’t you set me down and I’ll tell you.” he said. I lessened my grip and set his feet on the ground.
“I’m Courage too. Don’t I have no say? Can I not pay respects to a fallen brother?” he angrily said.
“He ain’t fallen, no more. And you never knew the guy. It’s time to go home.” I said.
Bruce intervened. “Rust, come on. We got more important matters to take care of.”
“Stay out of this, Bruce!” I pushed him aside. Bruce shook his head as if that were the last thing I should ever try doin’. I didn’t give two fucks. Once the adrenaline ran through my veins, the world around me meant nothing. Anyone in my way would have to answer for their sins.
“It’s like I said before.” the kid began saying, “You’re a traitor. I firmly believe that. And once all this shit blows over, you’ll be put on trial for what you’ve done. I’ll make sure of that.”
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” I spat. “Say it again. I dare you.”
“You’re a traitor. And if they don’t hang you for what you’ve done, I’ll do it myself.” And then he did what he should have never done. He smiled wildly, exposing the dip inside of his lip. “You ain’t nothin’.” the boy said.
“Watch it…” Bruce muttered, grabbing his gun. I held him back.
“Don’t worry, Bruce. He ain’t worth my time.” I said, walking away. I really wasn’t going to do anything, but it was like his voice was echoing inside my head. “You ain’t nothing.” Fuck it. He had to go.
I wound my fist back in an attempt to punch the lights out of this kid, but I quickly felt the cold barrel of Bruce’s rev
olver securely touch the side of my head. “Don’t you dare.” he said. “Boy, you get!” he yelled at the kid, waving him away.
The boy walked out of the hospital, once again. This time, he turned around and spat at me. “You’ll regret doing that.” he scowled.
“Ignore him. What the hell are you thinking?” Bruce asked me. “You want to create more conflict? Do you?” He shook his head.
I looked at Johnny through the hospital window. He gave me a big thumbs up. “See! Johnny supports me on this.”
“Yeah, well, Johnny’s on a ton of morphine. He’d support just about anything right now.” We walked back into Johnny’s room.
“We can’t just leave him here.” Jackie said. “There’s too much at stake at this point. I’m surprised they haven’t tried anything yet, but we can’t expect them not to. Come on, we’re going to have to get him out of here.”
Bruce looked out in the hallway. Most of the doctors were busy attending to an overdose down stairs. In fact, the only person around us was the janitor. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Bruce, help me with him, will ya?”
Bruce reluctantly agreed, pulling his bed out into the hallway. “I’m going home?” Johnny smiled, looking about as high as ever.
“You’re going home, buddy.” I kept watch as we made our way out the back exit.
“Back to the strip club.” Jackie laughed.
“Hell yeah.” Johnny said. “Home sweet home.”
…
The night was still young. There was more work to be done. When we finally got him back safely, we called a meeting with the captains, and a few other trustworthy men.
Bruce stood before us and said, “I called you all here because we’re in some deep shit. As you know, we are now involved in a war with a guerilla faction and the Darkhorse gang. From what we’ve gathered, the Darkhorse gang is funding the whole thing. However, as Jackie let me know, there may be a light at the end of this tunnel after all.”
One of the captains stood up, a hitman named Liam. “What makes you think they are a guerilla faction? It looks to me as if they’re just a new version of the Hell’s Wheels. Looks like they kicked out their queen.”
