Chapter Three #2
Wizard hums. “Still, Texas is a long way from California.”
I shrug. “It’s a high-profile case, and I’m good at finessing shit.”
“Yeah, Stone made it clear he wanted this handled properly. He knew we’d have eyes on us.”
“How did the Mrs. acquire friends in such low places?” Placing my cig to my lips, I flip open my lighter and welcome the rush of nicotine.
“Hah. She doesn’t.” Wizard shakes his head, draping his arm over his knee. “Freeze’s old lady, Blanche, is saving her ass because of the little one. They were friends in a former life.”
“Makes sense. Why so many questions?”
Wizard has never been the chatty type. The former top Enforcer has always carefully measured his words.
He’s more like my men. The Nomads handle the jobs, regular brothers in Kings of Chaos aren’t equipped for.
We get our hands dirty, and then we drift on to the next town to handle other delicate situations.
“Just wondering if other things are being set into motion behind the scenes.”
He’s wise to ask. This world is full of power plays, political moves, and ladder climbing. As much as we tote the lawless lifestyle, it’s a controlled chaos. With so many dangerous men under one banner, it has to be.
“None that I’m privy to. As far as I know, it's like you said, Stone wants it to go well. Maybe he’s thinking of branching out as muscle for hire?”
Wizard grunts. “He’s been seeking out legitimate work recently.”
“How’s that transition going?” Exhaling, I turn my head to blow the smoke away from him and study the area. The gated community makes me antsy. While it makes some feel safe, it reads to me like a pretty prison.
“I’d say it’s split sixty-forty. Most understand this is necessary with the Feds cracking down on motorcycle clubs. But others miss the easy money and old lifestyle that’s dying.
Holding the smoke in my lungs until they crave oxygen, I relish the buzz.
“I get that. Things aren’t the same as they used to be.
But with advanced tech, the need to pin bullshit on someone by our corrupt-ass government, there are no other options.
Above all else, we’re supposed to be a brotherhood living on our own terms. To survive and maintain that privilege, these are the steps we have to take. ”
“Seems like you thought about this.” Wizard leans back against the post.
“Had this talk with my boys. Told them they could stay and adapt, or find a home elsewhere, no hard feelings.”
“Damn. No mincing words.”
“It’s pointless. The outcome will be the same regardless of the delivery. Best not to waste anyone’s time.” The rumble of bikes in the distance ends our conversation.
“Looks like the cavalry has arrived.”
I raise my hand in greeting as the two pull into the drive.
“Shocked Blue let you out of her sight.” Wizard clasps Shadow's hand as they share a half-hug.
“Her due date isn’t that close,” the russet-haired biker mutters as he climbs off his bike and joins us.
“I can’t keep track the way you’re popping them out.” Wizard makes a pop noise with his mouth.
“Ass.” Shadow flips him off. “This is only our second and final.”
“Sure. Sure.” Wizard nudges him with his shoulder. A small smile softens his sharp features.
“When are you having another one?” Shadow throws the question at him.
“Never. We’re good with Vegas.”
Laughing, Shadow pats him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you think that.”
“What? Did she say something to Blue?” Wizards’ eyes widen. His bride, Nevada, is over ten years younger. Seeing him try to keep up with her is free entertainment.
Shadow shrugs. “Seen her making eyes at the babies recently.”
Wizard groans. Seeing the San Mateo chapter slowly integrate families is amusing.
“Good to see you, Gambit.” Echo clasps my hand in greeting.
“Back at you. How’s the newest addition?”
“Full of energy.” Echo smiles. “The kid wakes up in the morning on a ten. I wish I could bottle that energy up and sell it. We’d all be rich.”
“Ain’t that the truth?”
“Shadow and I will take the first shift if you want to head inside. I figure you could calm the family down since you’ve been here all day.
Makes you more familiar.” Echo shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans and shrugs.
His blonde hair catches the moonlight, and I marvel at how much he resembles his old man, Mouth.
A shitty father and worse human, he’d been booted for trying to overthrow the president when he laxed the charter rules and invited multicultural brothers into the mix.
“Makes sense. First sign of trouble, call us out. I don’t trust the husband at all.”
“Got it,” Echo replies, positioning himself in a rocking chair he’s angled to rest in the shadows.
I enter the house and find Emily cuddled up to her mom. The vibe in the house has shifted to something more relaxed. Shoulders dropping, I stroll over and stop a foot from the couch. “You ladies, good?”’
“We’re watching Bluey.” Emily smiles up at me.
I arch a brow, completely lost.
Tracy laughs. “It’s an Australian kid’s show about a family of dogs.”
“Say what now?”
Emily giggles. “Come watch.” She pats the cushion beside her.
An hour later, I admit this show is a pretty good one. They’ve managed to pepper in jokes for kids and parents alike. I don’t trust the quiet calm that’s fallen over the house. The Slick Rick lawyer never showed his face again? That doesn’t fit his profile.
Emily is pressed against her mother, asleep with her mouth parted slightly as she snores quietly.
“You’re good with kids,” Tracy whispers.
“I have a little sister who used to follow me around like a shadow.”
Tracy giggles. “That explains it. Do you have any children of your own?”
“That’s not the life for me.” I shake my head.
“By choice?” She studies me. I frown slightly. I don’t like the attention. She bats her lashes, raising red flags.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Tracy.”
She places a hand on my arm. “Am I? I feel safe with you around.”
“I want to help you. No woman or child deserves what you’ve been through. Don’t confuse that with anything meaningful.”
She flinches, dropping her hand. “Oh. I misread.” Fuck yeah, you did. Her cheeks flush, and her shoulders slouch. “But the whole flirting and cher thing you did earlier...”
“I’m a Cajun, it’s who I am.”
“Shit,” she whispers.
“Don’t sweat it, her. The Cajun charm wins everyone over eventually.” I thicken my accent, and she smiles.
“I can see how that would be true.” The lighthearted tone in her voice takes me back to long days on the bayou.
Steering the small boat through the overgrown waterways with Lottie and Ro.
I never would’ve guessed the girl who felt like a second sister once would become my heart.
Somewhere along the dishing trips, nutria hunts, and campfires, she grew into those big brown eyes and killer curves.
We went from being forced together because of my sister to locking lips every chance we got.
The memories still make me smile. She was my unicorn.
An innocent untarnished by the harsh environment that surrounded us.
She wore rose-colored glasses for both of us.
Food wasn’t always easy to come by, but we had a community that took care of each other to balance out the hard scrabble life.
Glass shatters, interrupting the silence.
Tracy cries out, and Emily screams. On my feet, I run toward the sound.
Removing the gun from my back holster, I turn off the safety and move toward the noise.
I reach the first door on the left in the hall and kick open the door. Glass crunches in Emily’s room.
Moving to the hall, I stand across the hall from the door, barrel aimed. The door swings open. I catch a glimpse of a masked man clad head to toe in black and pull the trigger. A bullet buries itself in his shoulder.
“Son of a bitch.” Leaping back inside, he kicks the door shut.
I back up against the wall. Listening, I hold the gun up.
Glass plinks onto the ground. I kick the door open, dart inside.
He tumbles from the window, clutching his arm.
Blood smears on the wall, and I find him falling out of the house.
I jog toward him. A shot explodes in the night, and I hit the ground. The bullet skims by my face.
Poo Yie!
Breathing heavy, I crawl across the room, careful to stay out of the line of fire. More shots ring out. Reaching the wall, I rise slowly. A black SUV with blacked-out windows and no license plate peels off.
“You want us to trail them?” Shadow asks, breathing heavily. His eye is swelling, Wizard has a split lip, and Echo is holding a hand over his ribs.
“No. We guard the family. The rest is someone else’s worry.”
“Check on the family, we’ll get things together here,” Wizard says, nodding toward the door.
Clicking the safety back on, I tuck my weapon into its holster.
“Tracy?” I scan the area.
“I’m here.” Her voice is low and shaky. I run toward the sound.
“Where are you?”
I walk down the long hallway, listening for her voice.
“In my room.” Pausing at the door in the center, I push her door to the master bedroom open.
I take in the California King bed with a pink comforter, piles of blankets and frilly pillows. The bed is empty. Spinning I look at the vanity and dressers. The bathroom door is wide open, and the tub and shower stalls are empty as well. “In the closet,” she croaks.
Rushing toward the walk-in closet, I try the handle. It’s locked. A twinge of pride wells up at her actions.
“It’s safe.” The door unlocked, and I slowly push it open.
Emily’s sobs are loud and pitiful.
“They’re gone?” Tracy whispers.
“Yeah.”
“He did this, knowing we could’ve been harmed.
” Her eyes are alight with an inner fire I hadn’t seen previously.
She stands on wobbly legs, holding Emily to her chest. Her tiny fingers are wound in her mother's mussed hair, and she’s wrapped around her like a blanket. “I’m done. What do you need me to do?”