Chapter Eighteen Gambit
Chapter Eighteen
Gambit
I lied. The word echoes in my head. She turned her back on me and sent me on my way to face a life dedicated to a toddler who wasn’t hers.
Everything she did was to give me the life we dreamed of together.
And I didn’t question it. I was so damn butthurt, I ran off with my tail between my legs to lick my wounds.
My pride wouldn’t let me reach out. And she fucking knew that.
I was out here playing checkers while she played chess.
It’s mind-blowing how long she held this quietly, accepting all the shade people from town and my own family threw at her.
She’d never even told Lotte. Our love wasn’t a false narrative; she put that shit in action at a great cost to herself.
The rage I feel has nowhere to go. I didn’t even ask her where the money came from.
She’d been stuck in that house with her hateful father until she could get her education and get out on her own.
Pacing on the back porch, I light a cigarette.
I need something to help me siphon off the energy coursing through my body.
Did her father threaten her? Is that why she kept quiet?
I can still remember her father looming over us behind the screen door, rifle in hand.
Was she scared for her life? I thought the answers would bring me peace.
Instead, they brought more questions, and disgust with myself for taking things at face value.
Leaning against a metal beam, I close my eyes and let the rush of nicotine hit. I don’t know what I want to say to her.
I walked out before I destroyed the room around us. Counting to ten, I exhaled. The door opens, and I turn toward it.
“Brother. I got a present for you.” Shadow walked toward me with a wide grin.
“Better be good. It’s been one hell of a day already.” I say, eyeing the man who looks far too happy.
“We found your boy; Todd.”
“Shit.” I grin. That’s exactly where I want to take this anger. I stand eager to start a hunt.
“Did we pick him up yet?” I drop my butt and put it out with the toe of my boot.
“No. We’re watching him, though.”
“Where’s he hiding?”
Shadow laughs. “Oceanside beach.”
“Idiot. How was he found?”
“Dumb luck. Wiz’s old lady was out there with the kids. He went to join them and about shit himself.” Shadow chuckles.
“Oh, I can’t wait. Did the boss-man give any rules?”
“Never let him resurface.”
“Oh, I have just the spot for him.” I rub my hands together.
“Let me call War. I want both of us on this.” Information is an exhausting process.
The physical brutality and mental tactics take a toll.
This way, he’ll be under pressure nonstop.
It’s also no easy task to dismember and properly dispose of a body.
“Hey, Brother,” War’s gravelly voice greets me.
“We need to take a trip to the beach.”
“Oh yeah?”
“A little detour on our way to Mayhem Valley.”
“Name the time and place.”
“Oceanside shaved ice cart. I’ll bring the van. No advertising or bikes.”
“Been a long time since we took a trip like this.”
“Yeah, and I’m looking forward to it. I owe our guest of honor some serious hospitality.”
War chuckles. “I love to see a master at work. See you in fifteen.”
Hanging up, I nod at Shadow. “Who’s got eyes on him?”
“Wizard called in my kid. He blends well with the general public,” Shadow says bashfully.
Snickering, I nod. “Not a bad thing. We can’t all be retired punks. This new generation is coming through with degrees and the ability to walk in both worlds.”
“It’s what it takes to make it anymore.” Shadow shakes his head. “Shit’s so much about appearance and money. We’re only catching hell now to distract from the other crimes happening and the corruption among this police force.”
“And yet, they’d identify us as criminals when all we want is to be left to our own devices. I know I’m old because I’m saying the same shit the old members used to.” I laugh.
“No one stays young forever. It’s what makes youth special. You never realize what you have until it’s long gone. It’s one of the saddest human flaws.” Shadow shakes his head, and I see the wisdom that comes with parenthood.
The thought sends a pang of regret through my body. She’d missed out on motherhood. Can we make this right?
“I’m going to tell my girl I’m headed out and not to wait up.”
“You know D is going to look after her now. Maybe he’ll keep her busy with the brothers coming in for treatment.” Shadow shrugs.
“The old man is probably going to be happy to have someone to talk shop with,” I say with a laugh.
Walking inside, I make my way to the dorm.
Inhaling, I knock and brace myself to deal with a hysterical female.
Pushing the door open, my stomach drops into my steel toes.
The room is empty. The bathroom door is open, so I know she’s not in there.
Did she run away? Where would she even go?
A lump forms in my throat. Spinning on my heel, I power walk to the kitchen like a seventy-year-old mall walker.
The room is empty too. Where the fuck is that girl? Right now, I don’t have time to chase her if she runs.
“You looking for your gal?” The wizened voice catches my attention. I pause to see the older man still hooked up to the nearly empty IV.
“You seen her D?”
“Yeah, she’s talking to one of the Biker Bunnies about feminine shit.” He shudders. “She started talking milky discharge, and that’s when your lady friend stepped in. Bless her soul.”
I laugh. “Tell her I had to go take care of club business, but I’ll be back late tonight or early tomorrow. Viking is at her disposal if she needs anything.”
“I’ll keep her busy. I came this way ‘cause I have appointments to keep. I figure this will be a dry run for her.”
“Sounds like a plan, D. Don’t work too hard, huh?”
“I’m going to work my brain and let the old body rest for once.” He taps his forehead.
Saluting him, I return to leave the leather vest inside, add a black beanie to the outfit, and grab the keys to the black van with the constantly rotating license plates from the office with the key rings.
I let my mind focus on the task at hand. It’s a hell of a lot less complicated than the tangled web Rowan and I are wrapped in.
War approaches in a pink polo shirt, blue jeans, and a ball cap. I burst into laughter. “What the fuck?”
“Hey, you want me to blend in; this is how.” His massive shoulders shrug. Even in casual gear, he stands out among the beach goers. The hustle and bustle is busy for this time of year. The sound of waves crashing, and the salty scent of the ocean do nothing to cool my temper.
“I don’t know if you could ever be unnoticeable. But yeah, this screams rocker yuppie, not biker.” I snicker.
“Then my job was done well.” He pops the collar of his shirt. Who is this man actually having a sense of humor?
“Did this come from Jess’s shop?” This has to be the work of his new wife.
His lips tick up. “Maybe,” he mutters.
I laugh. “Please tell me this isn’t some freaky role-playing shit.”
“No, you weird-ass fucker. I don’t ask if you and Bayou Barbie dress up and fuck on air boats.”
“No, too much wind in all the wrong places.” I shake my head, thinking about bugs in delicate bits.
“You’re actually scaring me right now. Sounds like you tried it.”
“Boy, ain't nothing romantic about getting your tally whacker chomped off by a gator, cause you’re fooling around and not paying attention to your surroundings.”
War laughs. We watch as Wiz approaches. Blue baseball cap pulled low, he stops on the side of the truck. “Our boy is flirting with some young girls under the pier. I can’t tell if he’s waiting for someone or thinks this is a safe space to exist in,” Wiz explains.
“Either way, he’s coming with us.” War cracks his knuckles.
“Let’s hit him with the kidnapping for a bachelor party. We can do frat boy stupidity well enough.” I shrug.
“Let’s be authentic and grab some beer. I got cash.” I pull out the wallet and we find a stand that sells us a few overpriced mid-level brews.
Weaving our way through the crowd, I add extra swagger to my steps. I catch sight of the blonde menace who nearly got me haunted. The boys take his left and right, and I come up behind him, hooking an arm around his shoulders.
“There he is! You ready to celebrate your last day of freedom?”
“W-what?” He sputters. Trying to wiggle free, he cries out. “Help!”
“Oh no, bro. No help for the groom to be,” War adds, slapping his back.
“We’re tasked with bringing you in for the night, and we’re going to keep our promises,” Wiz adds.
“It’s going to be a night you’ll never forget,” I promise.
The crowd moves back, laughing and cheering us on.
“No. Don’t let them take me,” Todd pleads.
“Should’ve thought this through before you gave her that massive ring,” I crow. Wrapping my hand around his mouth, the others hook his arm and lift him. We carry him away as he squirms, trying to buck our hold.
“It’ll all be worth it when you see her at the end of the aisle,” Wizard yells, keeping up the ruse. When we get to the van, I pat him down, taking both of the phones he has on his person. I open the back, and the others toss him in. They close the door, which only opens from the outside.
“You want a turn with him first, or should I?” War asks.
“Save the next round for me. I’ll require tools.”
I hand the phones to Wiz. “Get this to Specs and let him see what he can find.”
“I’m on it. I’ll see you boys back at the club.” Wizard salutes, and we climb into the car.
Todd rushes forward, and War greets him with a fist. His head jerks back. Blood sprays from his nose. Todd cries out, cupping his face. Eyes watering, he tries to back away. War follows him into the back, and I start the engine.
“It’s time we have a chat.” War slams him into the side of the van. He slides down to the floor.
“I don’t know anything. I just administer medicine to the community with needs.”
“Wrong answer.” War clocks him again.
The thud of fists against flesh, and pain are the soundtrack to my drive. An hour and a half later, we’re in the isolated forested area. I pull the car in front of the old hut used to slaughter animals during hunts.
Parking the truck, I back up to the entrance of the cabin. I walk around the back and open the door to reveal a nearly unconscious, battered, and bloody Todd.
“Still nothing?” I ask.
“He sometimes tells the cops where and when people might be.”
“Isn’t that Boy Scout behavior?” I peer down at him. “You’re a regular good Samaritan.”
“I don’t know anything.” Todd moves his head from side to side.
“Well now, you already lied to us once, so nothing you say holds value.” Reaching into the back, we drag him across the floor like a dead animal.
“What do you want? Coke? Meth? I have connections.”
Ignoring his weak offers, we march him to the front door.
I push it open and we enter. Despite the cobwebs and dust, it’s still in decent shape.
Bare wooden walls smell like pine and dust. It’s not a place to relax, it has one sole purpose, and it shows.
Carts full of zip ties, and tools of the trade wait for me in the storage closest.
“Hang him up?” War asks.
“Yeah. This is going to take the works.”
“Works? What works?” Todd catches his second wind, trying to free himself from our hold.
“I’d save my energy if I were you,” I suggest.
He freezes. “Why?”
War laughs. “It’s better if you find out in real time. Anticipation only makes it worse.”
“You sure you don’t want to share anything with the class, Todd?”
“I was approached. They targeted me, busted me down, and told me I’d get out of doing jail time if I just shared a bit of information on people of interest.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere.” I pat his cheek. We drag him over to a chair. War retrieves ropes from the trap door stash hidden in the floorboard under a rug under a bed in the small room.
He sucks in a breath of air. “I never meant to get in this deep. But the detective who put me on isn’t on the up and up.”
Working together, we truss him up like a turkey. Secured to the chair, he looks up at us through swollen eyes.
“Let’s talk about the cop, Todd.” Crossing my arms, I study his face.
“No. I can’t. He’ll kill me,” he whispers.
“And you think we won’t?” War asks.
“I can’t,” Todd insists.
“I understand you need more motivation.” I walk over to the black toolbox, War brought out with him.
“Moti- What motivation?” He tries to turn to look behind him. I take my time, rattling the case and sifting through tools. I chose a slender metal piece meant to go beneath fingernails and under cuticles.
“Let’s see if I can take your mind off what the cop might do, and what I’m actively doing. Grab his hand and hold it still.”
War grips his wrist and puts his weight down. I slowly wedge the piece under his cuticle and work it deeper.
He grits his teeth and tries to pull back. I carefully go over each finger. Blood dribbles freely, and I grab the salt. Pouring it into his wounds, I listen to him swear.
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know. Please. Just let me go. I’ll disappear and you’ll never hear from me again.”
“No, we won’t,” I agree, snapping the pliers in front of him.
I grab the edge of the fingernail on his pinky and pull. His screams bounce around the space.
“I’m not going to stop until I wring every piece of information I can use out of your skull. How long that takes and the level of pain you endure for me to get to that point is completely up to you.”
I continue to pull until he’s begging and spilling every bit of information he can think of, like a teacup with a crack in it.
Satisfied, I end the job with a forever smile, and we begin the painstaking process of unmaking a human.
By the time the body is buried, cemented deep, and we’ve scrubbed all the evidence, the sun is coasting across the skyline.
The rays burn my eyes as I make the drive back to town.
Dropping War off at the home he shares with Jess, I continue back to the clubhouse.
I can’t deny the way my heart lightens at the thought of Ro waiting.
We used to joke about being the real-life Storm and Gambit from X-Men, always there for each other and able to withstand anything life through at us.
Is it too late to make that dream a reality?