Dark Instinct

by Jayne Blue

  Her coming up to the third floor was pretty fucking innocent. She was just bringing me what the club had delivered.

  And I’d been an asshole. I knew that.

  And I felt guilty for it.

  “I’m going for a ride.”

  I left him there and I left his advice on my attitude in the rearview.

  I decided a trip to the MC was probably due. I didn’t want to drink or whoop it up, but I could deliver the papers back to the MC myself.

  I rode to the MC and walked through the bar first.

  Benz and Kade were there and their faces registered surprise to see me. I used to be a fixture here. It was my home; it was my Dad’s home. But since Olivia I’d barely shown my face.

  The place was more familiar to me than the museum I lived in with my freak show of a family. But all I could feel was hollow when I tried to be a part of the MC. I didn’t care what they decided. I didn’t really care what they voted on.

  I didn’t care.

  I was a member in name only. Eventually my Prez, Bear, would push back and I’d be out.

  That was probably the next stop on the road I was on. The club didn’t need my bullshit and I couldn’t forgive what this life had brought to my sister. The situation was toxic.

  Benz and Kade came up to me. The hopes on their faces made me feel bad. Guilt again. It suffocated me. Signs that I wasn’t who anyone wanted me to be were everywhere I looked.

  “Brother! Good to see you in here.”

  Kade and I bumped shoulders. His grip on my hand was tight.

  Benz repeated the gesture.

  “Finally going to have a beer with us?” Kade asked and I shook my head.

  “No, I’ve got the papers Fitzie dropped to the house. I think Bear and EZ want to get this deal done fast, buying some new bar? Anyway, here they are.”

  “Fitzie!” Benz called out and the skinny probie that was the near-daily courier for club shit I needed popped up from around the corner and skittered over. He was eager, helpful, friendly, and so enamored of becoming a Saint that he did every fucking thing we asked. I couldn’t remember a time I felt like that.

  It must have been a lifetime ago when I was their age. Fitzie, Toby, Moose – we had about half a dozen kids who wanted to patch in right now.

  “Get this to Bear tonight,” I said.

  “Will do, Maddox. Anything else?”

  “No, you’re good.”

  And Fitzie nodded and hustled off. His enthusiasm only made my lack of it more pronounced.

  “Hey, Harlow’s former assistant just started at your place, I heard.”

  “Oh, Miss Plumb, yeah.”

  I wasn’t into any small talk.

  “Nice kid but she’s getting married to that little douchebag that’s running for council, what’s his name?”

  “Perry, I think. Another one of the Perry’s trying to get the government salary.”

  Benz was about as anti-establishment as it got.

  “She’s marrying a politician?” I was surprised.

  “Yeah, Harlow and I’ve met him, once or twice. Polite and shit, but like talking to a piece of Wonder Bread with a superior attitude.”

  “Hmm, lovely.”

  “If you don’t want a beer, how about you come on a ride with us? Word from Jen is that there’s a couple of armed idiots out there causing some harmless but illegal bullshit. We’re going to keep an eye out.”

  “What’d they do?”

  “Stole an ATM and then, last night, knocked off a convenience store.”

  Jen Guffy was a straight and narrow cop but she wasn’t stupid. She knew that if you wanted to police in Port Azreal you had to have The Dark Saints on your side. She knew it so well that she and Benz were joined at the hip. Benz and Kade were both more domestic these days than I’d ever have imagined.

  “Bear know about this?” I asked.

  “Yeah, show of force time, petty criminals trying to grow a set. It would be hilarious if it didn’t piss me off so much,” Kade said.

  “I’ll do few hours. Where you want me?”

  I didn’t intend to participate in a patrol with the MC but shit, I could ride around. I was going to do it anyway. Small time armed robbery was something the MC didn’t tolerate.

  “Handle the new section near The Watering Hole area. You know, that nicer place? The last thing we need is the hipsters getting spooked,” Benz said, and he was right.

  The Saints kept the drugs and violence away from the tourists and cash. Maybe beating some heads in, like I’d done at The Wayside, would make me easier to live with at The Castle. I may as well take my rage out on strangers.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to double up?” Kade asked and I shook my head no.

  “This about as much togetherness as I can take.”

  The three of us drove off in different directions. We’d be loud and menacing for a few hours so any little thugs who thought of fucking with Port Az would think again.

  I rode the streets again, alone. This time though, my eyes were open. I was focused.

  I rode for a few hours, in the nicer sections of Port Az. Benz took The North Side, and Kade had the streets surrounding Cups, the sports bar. I had abdicated most of my participation in The Saints, but at least tonight I’d get a few brownie points. It might keep Bear off my ass, and maybe even Sarge.

  Look, kids. I’m patrolling!

  It was almost eleven – not late really, for a Friday night – when I saw three dudes in dark hoodies. They got out of a shitty car and were walking with their heads down.

  Except that was clearly bullshit. They had trouble on their minds.

  I cut the lights on my bike and parked it. I got off and picked a spot in the shadows. I’d watch to see if I was right. I knew I was. There was something off about these three. If things went right, I’d fuck up their night.

  I saw them zone in on something, and their pace quickened. The combination of their dark clothes, hoods up, and the way they looked around raised my antennae even further. They were going to cause trouble. Trouble was my specialty.

  I followed the trajectory they were on. A few yards ahead of them was a city bus stop. It was dark, and there was only person waiting.

  A person in a little black dress.

  I immediately recognized the pretty little thing wearing it.

  10

  Tracy

  I traveled light: one small purse, one lightweight wrap. I had to hustle to get to the bus stop near The Castle, but I made it.

  The bus would take me a block away from the restaurant. I took a seat toward the front and looked back. The Castle was something else. I tried to sort out the day as the bus rumbled to the newer section of Port Az. The Watering Hole was the ‘in’ place to go right now if you wanted a fancy dinner.

  The bus stopped twice to let more people on and off and in less than twenty minutes time we’d reached my stop. I was getting good at riding the bus. Take that, Uber!

  I had three thousand dollars in the bank thanks to selling my car. I could take the bus all day long if it meant I was 3-grand closer to my goal of getting my parents out of hock.

  It had been a strange day, navigating Maddox, Sarge, and the nasty day nurse. But I’d done it. I also thought about the rent I wasn’t paying and the gas I wasn’t pumping. This money would add up quickly, I hoped.

  It was a good job. It was the right call. And honestly, I thought I could help Sarge and Olivia.

  Sarge was clearly lonely, and needed care. He was weak and stubborn. I was certain he wasn’t going to be asking his son for help. I wouldn’t if I were him.

  As for Maddox the Younger, I was rattled by his temper and his territorial behavior. I guess it wasn’t much different than a dog with a bone. On the surface, his bone was the den. He’d barked like mad when I’d invaded it.

  I knew that wasn’t it though. It was tied to Olivia. They both were. She was suspended between life and death and so were the rest of the Maddox clan.

&nbs
p; I didn’t think I could do a thing about Maddox the son, but Maddox the Father. Sarge? I could make sure he had nutrition, a nice home, and conversation. He was happy to talk to me; that was something.

  Maddox the Son? I didn’t have a clue what to do there other than stay away. I thought about his piercing eyes. I could feel them on my skin when he looked at me, or through me. His emotions were raw and out of control. I suppose staying out of his den was my best bet. But since I was living in the house, I didn’t know if I could stay out of his way all the time.

  I walked the two blocks to The Watering Hole to find Ted already at a table. He didn’t stand or offer to help me with my chair when I approached.

  He seemed as gruff as the hermit biker I’d just run away from. And he did not seem happy to see me.

  “You’re late.”

  “I didn’t factor in the two stops,” I said and opened up the menu. I was rather hungry after a day of housework and cooking and emotional whack-a-mole.

  “Why didn’t you just Uber?” Ted’s tone was clipped.

  “Well, I’m trying to save.”

  “Yeah, well, I left the campaign HQ early to meet you and I’ve been sitting here. You know it looks bad if I’m sitting alone.”

  “I’m five minutes late. Not that big of a deal.”

  “Look, appearances are a big deal in my world.”

  “Ugh.”

  I really didn’t want to fight with Ted.

  “Don’t show your emotions to these people, please.” Ted was in a mood. Great. And all I’d done was be five minutes late.

  “So, Ted. How was your day?”

  I felt like changing the subject was the best play.

  “Interesting. We’ve been invited by Congressman Disalle to go on a golf weekend. It’s in two weeks.”

  “I just started my new job.”

  “This is important. Disalle’s a friend of my parents; he knows the right people. He’s critical to my campaign.”

  “Your local city council campaign?”

  “It’s the big picture you’re missing here, Tracy.”

  “Oh.”

  I felt a ball of anxiety form in my stomach. The food, which I’d been very interested in shoving in my face, suddenly seemed disgusting. A golf weekend? I couldn’t afford that.

  “You’ll look cute in the golf skirt and I’ll impress him with my swing. It will be fun.”

  “I really think I can make a difference with this new job. It was so interesting today.”

  “Also, there’s a charity thing next weekend. I got the tickets from a donor. We need to go to that and it’s formal.”

  He wasn’t listening. At all.

  My parents had made this impossible. Ted saw me as someone who wanted to do the fancy things, and could afford it. In reality, I’d just been happy that I had exact change for the bus that day!

  I stopped trying to share anything I was thinking or feeling about my day with Ted. He wanted to talk events, donors, speeches, and plans. And my role in these included, wearing a skirt at golf, and getting a better dress then I had on tonight.

  I liked supporting Ted, usually. Today, after the day I’d had? I wished it was a little less one-sided.

  I nodded and smiled and picked at my bread. This had been a mistake, coming out to dinner. I probably should have made like Sarge and eaten some food on a tray in my room.

  A couple of people came to the table and shook Ted’s hand. Ted didn’t introduce me and I didn’t care. I was ready to leave. I felt myself getting smaller and smaller in my chair.

  “Ted. I’m done. Can you take me home?”

  “What? We’re supposed to go for drinks with…” He mentioned some name I was supposed to recognize but didn’t.

  “I’m tired.”

  “Oh, look, that’s the manager of the ballpark. I think I need to go say hi.”

  He stood up.

  “Ted?” I was a little shorter and terser than I meant to be. He looked at me with confusion.

  “What’s your problem?”

  “I want to leave. I’m tired.”

  “Well, just wait a few minutes I’ve got to go say hi.”

  “Forget it.”

  “Good.”

  He hadn’t listened. He’d just waited for his turn to talk. There was a big difference.

  Ted walked away from the table. He loved nothing more than to schmooze people and he’d planned a night of it for what I thought was going to be a nice dinner with my fiancé.

  I was done, tired, over it. Ted would be better without me tonight anyway. I was going to be hard pressed to charm anyone.

  I’d got here on my own and I’d leave on my own. I watched Ted shake hands, smile, and laugh. He was good, very good, at meeting and greeting people. His face looked like the kind of face that you get when you buy a picture frame. Perfectly perfect, never a hair out of place.

  I was completely out of sorts and I knew it. It was best if I got air, got space, and got home to bed. Ted was happy talking to people and I was happy calming angry dogs. I shot him a text. I watched him read it distractedly. He looked over and gave me a quick nod. That was that.

  I walked into the night air. It had gotten chillier and darker since I’d left work. I pulled the thin wrap around me and set out to the bus stop.

  My thoughts turned from my day at The Castle to Ted.

  I’d upended my life, just so my parents didn’t have to tell anyone that they’d over-promised to Ted and his family about how grandiose this wedding was going to be. And right now spending time with Ted was the last thing I wanted to do.

  What was happening? How had I put myself in a place that had no resemblance to the life I wanted to live?

  The thought chilled me inside just as the night air chilled my bare legs.

  I sat down at the bus stop and waited.

  I stayed in my head. Which was maybe why I only noticed the three men joining me at the bus stop way too late.

  Two sat down, one on either side of me, and the third stood behind me. They invaded my space in a way that left no doubt that I was in danger.

  All three had pulled ski masks over their faces. I’d gone from introspection and self-absorption to terror in a second.

  “We’ll be taking that.”

  The one on my right put an arm around me and hooked his fingers on my hip. I squirmed but had nowhere to go. I was boxed in.

  The man on my left, the one who’d spoken, had meant he’d be taking my wedding ring. I pulled back as best as I could but that meant moving into the guy on my right.

  I wasn’t stupid. I knew that a ring wasn’t worth my life, but still! It was mine, damn it! Plus, if I gave them the ring, would they actually let me go?

  I needed to run. Fast. The ring would be the beginning of something way worse. I suddenly knew that in every fiber of my being. The man behind me put his hands on my neck and ran a finger up to my halter strap. This is not happening.

  I was pretty much a sitting duck here, but I wouldn’t go down without a fight. The bus wasn’t due for at least five minutes, if it was on schedule. And I couldn’t bet on anyone else walking by.

  I considered my options. If I screamed, would anyone call 911? I had no idea. I decided to go along with them and make this seem easy.

  “Don’t hurt me. I’ll do whatever you want,” I said.

  “Oh, we know you will,” growled the man on my right. He’d released his hand from around my waist. I wasn’t going to wait to find out where he planned to put it next. Screw these assholes. That was my chance.

  I bolted up. Up and out. That’s all I could think. My unexpected explosive sprint out of their grip was an advantage at least. I ran as fast as I could into the street. There were no cars. Damn it! No traffic to wave down at all. I kept running, sprinting, as fast as I could. And I was fast. That I knew, thanks to high school track.

  I cursed my heels but pumped my legs as fast as I could, and I didn’t look to see if they were going to try to keep up. I booked it
like a rocket.

  Then up ahead, there was a blinding light. It came from out of the ally. It was a huge headlight aimed right at me.

  I chanced a look behind me. The three men were catching up. I’d only put a few yards between us. And now their friend on a bike was there to intercept my path! They’d succeeded in cutting me off in all directions.

  The bike screeched to a stop in front of me and I stopped running. I had no way to go, left or right. It was either back to the three stooges or this.

  Then a voice I recognized said, “Get on. Now.”

  A huge hand reached out to me. Oh my God. He wasn’t with them? This man on the bike. Maddox. I didn’t have time to think, my instincts were to get the hell away from the men chasing me. It felt like a ‘better the devil you know’ kind of choice. Though I didn’t really know Maddox, and he’d bit my head off today, it was still the best option. So I took it.

  I grabbed Maddox’s hand. I had no idea how he did it, but he scooped me up and plopped me down in front of him. I was cradled between Maddox’s massive leather encased chest and the handlebars of the bike he rode that impossibly matched his size.

  “Hold on to me.”

  I did as he said, my head buried in his chest and my arms holding as tight as I could to his jacket. He revved the engine and pointed his bike straight towards my three pursuers.

  I realized what he planned. Holy crap! He planned to mow the three men down! Right here in the street. The roar of the engine filled my ears and I squeezed my eyes shut. Holding on tight seemed the only way to survive what was sure to be some sort of awful crash.

  It was shaping up to be a deadly as hell game of chicken.

  Instead of the crash that I had braced for, we picked up speed. Nothing impeded Maddox and his bike.

  I ventured a peek over his shoulder. The three men in ski masks had scattered when they saw Maddox and his massive bike barreling toward them.

  He’d blown past them all and kept going.

  I put my head back down again on his chest. His body was warm and solid. It was like a wall that had protected me from, well … whatever might have happened if the men had caught up with me.