Chapter 14 #2
I didn’t know Simmy nearly as well as I knew some of the other men in our organization, even though I worked closely with him since he was Zach Campana’s second-in-command.
It wasn’t just the age gap of roughly ten years, but that Simmy, Cam, and Chi, two others who worked for Zach, kept to themselves most of the time.
It wasn’t that they were unsociable, really, but more that they were focused on their family rather than joining in with ours like Zach had done so seamlessly.
“Admit it. You want a dirt bike now, don’t you?”
“As if you don’t!”
I smiled because he was right. I’d had so much fun today that I couldn’t even compare it to anything I’d done in years.
This entire trip had made me rethink my life in New York and the few things there that I had always enjoyed.
There was something completely different from getting your exercise outside with the wind blowing your hair rather than in a gym.
“Between the paintball antics and now this, I’m feeling my age,” I admitted.
“I’ve used muscle groups I didn’t even know existed, but it’s been fun. We’re all going to need a week off to recover by the time we get home.”
“Are you going to ride some more?” I asked, wondering if we were done for the day since they’d asked everyone to get off the track.
“They said we’re not nearly finished yet, but they’re going to give some of the younger kids a chance to ride. I guess they need to make sure it’s safe.”
“That makes sense. Since they’re smaller, they’ll probably go a lot slower than the others.”
“Did I miss the show?” Cydney, one of Bella’s friends, asked as she walked up with some men I met during one of the biker parties at the clubhouse the other night.
“I’m not sure why you’re so excited to watch a bunch of kids ride around,” one of her friends said. “I’m sure they’re cute and all, but it can’t be that entertaining.”
“You obviously haven’t met the children in Cyd’s extended family,” the man with the name patch that read Dice said to his friend.
When he turned, I saw that his patch said Okie. I couldn’t help but shake my head at their funny nicknames.
“They’re children. How crazy can they really be?” a man named Preacher asked.
“Do you want to find out?” Cydney asked.
“I’m here to watch until they give the all clear for everyone to start up again,” Preacher said.
“No, I mean, do you want to find out live and in person with a front-row seat?” Cydney asked as she motioned one of the Forresters over. When the man got closer, she called out, “Crow, my friend here would like a ride with Griffin.”
The man looked at Preacher in shock before his entire face lit up as he burst out laughing. “Really?”
Preacher shrugged before he said, “Sure. Why not?”
“Koda’s got his out, too, if there are any other volunteers,” Crow said cheerfully as he looked around. “Anyone?”
“Don’t forget about Tristan!” Lark said as she walked up, wearing the same gear as almost everyone else - a bright jumpsuit with a racing logo down the sleeve and on the legs with knee-high leather riding boots.
She looked like a professional dirt bike racer, as did most of the people who had been riding today.
“They just finished rebuilding his engine, and he’s been dying to take someone new for a spin. ”
“Preacher, you’re with Koda. Ziggy? Simmy? Who do you guys want?”
I dismissively said, “They’re kids. How bad could it be?”
“It’s probably like riding those go-karts at Coney Island,” Simmy mused. “What’s it gonna hurt to let the kids take us for a ride?”
“Thanks, you guys. We’re really focused on teaching them manners, and entertaining our guests will go a long way toward helping with that,” Lark said earnestly.
When I glanced at Cydney, she was nodding but gave me a quick smile.
Before Lark walked away, she said, “I’ll let the boys know they’ve got some passengers. ”
“What sort of trouble are you guys getting into?” a man named Boss asked as he walked up with a few men and some women, one of whom was holding his hand.
“Some of the kids want to take on passengers, so we volunteered,” Preacher announced. He looked at me and Simmy before he asked, “Are you guys ready?”
“Sure,” Simmy said as he walked toward the big barn and the wide gap in the fence where the motorcycles and side-by-sides were entering and exiting the track. “Come on, Ziggy. Let’s entertain the kids.”
“I think we’re being scammed, you guys.”
“Why?” Preacher asked.
“Think about how the kids behaved yesterday at the paintball event,” I suggested.
Simmy’s steps faltered before he said, “Shit. I never even considered that.”
“Are these the same kids that gave everyone hell yesterday?” Preacher asked.
“I would assume so.”
“Well, shit,” Preacher mumbled.
“We can’t back out now,” I warned.
“They’re just kids.” Simmy looked uncertain when he asked, “Right?”
“Right!” Preacher agreed.
I decided to ignore my gut and said, “It’s not like they’re giving them weapons again, so at least there’s that. How bad could it be?”
◆◆◆
SIMMY CAMPANA
I leaned against the fence post, trying like hell to get my bearings after stumbling out of the side-by-side driven by the devil spawn these people called a child.
He was obviously some sort of Benjamin Button who had lived through the days of bootlegging liquor and running from the authorities and was now trapped in the body of a prepubescent boy with a cackle that rivaled that of any movie supervillain.
“So, um, how’re things, Simmy?” Luca asked from somewhere behind me.
I wasn’t exactly sure where his voice was coming from because I couldn’t open my eyes. Every time I tried, the world started spinning, and I felt like I needed to puke.
Again.
“What’s the problem?” my cousin Zach asked. “Right before you guys took off, I heard you say that he was just a kid so it couldn’t be that bad. Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a tad?”
I heard an engine coming around the track toward us and winced when I heard a grown man screaming like his life was about to end.
It probably wasn’t, but I could guarantee it was flashing before his eyes right now.
I’d felt exactly the same way, and I assumed I let out the same horrific cries, begging for mercy.
“Who is out there now?” I asked since I hadn’t recognized the voice, probably because the only men I’d ever heard scream like that were ones I was helping torture for one reason or another until they died. Suddenly, I heard the man shout and asked, “That’s not Ziggy, is it?”
“Yep!” Rico said cheerfully. “That’s my brother.”
“Didn’t someone mention that one of Bella’s family members makes video games?” I asked.
“Liberty does,” Matteo answered. “She’s like Bella’s honorary aunt.”
“I know the time frame doesn’t exactly match, but is there any chance she created those Grand Theft Auto games?”
“We used to play those!” Zach reminded me.
“Yeah. Did she make those? I’m pretty sure all the fucking car chases are modeled off the kids around here.”
“Those boys were born decades after that series came out,” Rico reminded me.
“Those children were spawned by the men around here, and my guess is that they were just as bad, if not worse, than their offspring.”
“How was that ride, my friend?” Bella asked.
I opened my eyes just long enough to glare at Bella and asked, “Why do you hate me? I’ve never done anything to you.”
“I don’t hate you, Simmy!”
“When I told you I was going to take a ride with one of those kids, all you did was ask me which one. You didn’t give me any warning!”
“They’re just kids!”
“Are we sure?” Luca asked.
“Do you think there’s some sort of scientific research facility here that churns out feral children and lets them loose on the population?” Bella asked.
“Yes!” I heard Preacher shout from farther down the fence where he’d been trying to get his bearings too. He still looked a little green, and he’d been the first one out on the track. “I do think that’s what’s going on here!”
“Nah. There’s nothing scientific about it,” Bella assured us.
“Then how did they get this way?” I asked.
“Pure luck.”