Chapter Twenty-Five
Unexpected Allies
Cane
I was pretty fucking sure I had said, Sauce, wait up .
I was certain of it.
So, every time the speedometer on my bike topped another set of digits, I questioned myself all over again. There were a lot of men in this world who might dare to try me. I accepted that fact. Anyone who believed themselves badass or bulletproof was a fool.
I’d been in the joint, I’d also had a step-father; I knew I wasn’t the biggest, strongest, or hardest motherfucker in the valley. I accepted this, too, but you could trust and believe, there wasn’t a shadow of a doubt as to who the darkest, most thorough, of the Savages was.
Not in my mind, or anyone else’s.
So, maybe he wasn’t challenging me with his defiance, maybe he was running for his life?
We cleared a hundred and I laughed, unable to help it.
“Goddamn it!” I called into the wind, knowing there was no way he could hear me. “I ain’t gonna hurt you, Sauce. Just slow the fuck down!”
I was scared that if I kept pursuing him, he’d end up crashing. So, I let off, giving him the advantage, for now. He didn’t slow, but he didn’t shoot away from me, either. He held it steady, even as we neared the curve. There was a four way ahead. It was the stupidest shit ever. I don’t know what asshat thought putting a stoplight and a four way in the middle of a sixty-five mile an hour expressway was a good idea, but welcome to the Midwest, huh?
“Fuck,” I growled, letting off a little more.
It only created further distance between us.
“He’s gunning for the safety of a cell.” I realized, giving a small round of thanks to the universe when the light switched green moments after it came into view. I began to pep talk whatever powers were listening, “Don’t be no cops. Don’t let there be no cops.”
My speed dropped to forty, and twenty. I safely navigated the turn at the intersection, instead of following Sauce straight. I could cut past the pawn shops and come out by the Felon’s neighborhood. I had a nagging suspicion that he was heading for the nearest dope spot that wouldn’t recognize him. I imagined it was probably a hard mission when your daddy was king.
There was a cop two cars behind me when I reached the next highway light. I sighed, forced to sit there, and play nice, rather than racing to catch up. I sucked my teeth until I realized I could be putting this delay to use.
That girl Ro pummeled had given me her number. I scrolled until I found it and shot her a quick, but simple text.
Where you at?
The response was instant.
Cane?!?!
Fuck, I thought I had time for it. Not if she was gonna play around like this.
No, dumbass. It’s your fairy fuckin’ godmother. Answer the question.
You don’t have to be a dick! I’m at the mall with Dandy.
Not anymore. Fuck off and tell Dandy to meet me at that gym downtown, Devastation.
I locked the phone and shoved it into my pocket when the light turned green. That didn’t stop it from vibrating for the next ten minutes. Over and over again it went off, tickling my ribs and lighting up my chest and vest.
I ignored it and drove sensibly until the cop passed. Then I hauled ass to Bryce Deveraux’s gym. His friends and family called him Dev, he was the Vice President of the Filthy Felons and my brother-in-law once upon a time. He was also the man my brother, Abel, snitched on. Dev and Care’s marriage crumbled after I executed Abel for it, but somehow, despite it all, our friendship survived.
His gym was on the corner of Monroe and Twenty-Second street. It was on the edge of the Deuce’s territory, but the Felons supplied just about everyone with arms, so no one bothered them much.
I was pretty sure everyone but the Double Nickel gang was afraid of starting a war with them, since no one knew just how deep that weapon depot of theirs went, or how sturdy the pipeline of arms really was.
The dope spot was on the opposite corner, across the street from Devastation. It was set up in an apartment above a tattoo parlor. I noticed Sauce’s bike outside the pub at the corner between the two places and hooked a right, letting the bike idle as it coasted around so it wouldn’t spook him.
I pulled into an alley and shot Griz a message.
Tell your girl Dandy to call me ASAP.
The phone lit up a short time later with a number I didn’t recognize, and I snorted, “Ain’t that like him to not bother replying.”
About the time I said it, the top of my screen lit up with a message from Griz. They were so short and rapid fire I didn’t have to open it to appreciate either.
Ain’t my ass.
Party favor.
I laughed and swiped the green.
“Dandy?”
“Yep,” She chirped. “I’m at the place you said.”
“Good, I’m around the corner, but I can’t have anyone knowing I sent you. I need you to go to that pub that Sauce is hiding in across the street. He’s waiting to see if I’m coming to kick his ass or pop him off at the dope spot. I need you to keep his little ass in that pub, get him so sauced he forgets why he came and take him home for the night.”
“Y-you– Uh, Sauce– Yeah,” she stammered.
“Great, tell Dev your mission, and ask him to spot you cash. Tell him, I’m around the corner. I’ll be in the gym if anything pops off, or Sauce tries to leave, okay?”
“Uh–,” Dandy hesitated before, before squeaking out, “Okay.”
“Good deal. I owe you.”
I hung up on her and gave it a few minutes before creeping down the alley and parking directly in front of Dev’s gym. I could feel Sauce’s eyes on me as I went inside, but I kept my gaze on the door and pretended not to notice.
“All good?” Dev asked, from behind the counter.
“Yeah. Did the girl…?”
He saluted me with his chin.
“What do I owe you?”
“I gave her a fifty.”
“Cool.” I slid my wallet out and handed him two twenties and a ten while glancing back toward the big window that spanned the front of the store. It was tinted, so he couldn’t see me watching him, but I noticed Dandy was already in his ear.
“What’s up, you here to stalk, or you want to–” Dev hitched his thumb toward the training area and trailed off.
“Why not? Yell if he moves.” I snorted and headed for my locker.
Dev and I usually worked out together a couple of times a week. He fought in paid matches sometimes, which wasn’t my thing, but I liked to know I could keep up with him. I didn’t realize how intently I was working the bag until he laughed, and hugged it, pulling it out of my reach and staring at me from around it, “What the fuck is on your mind, my dude? I ain’t seen you like this in a while.”
I shrugged, rolled my neck to chase away the tension and finally admitted, “I’m just itching to get to things, I guess.”
“Oh, I can tell.” Dev teased, dancing side to side with the bag to prevent me from hopping back to it. “This bag ain’t what you’re looking to tear into, though, so what’s got ya?”
I snorted and shook my head, slinging sweat off my brow as I grunted, “I’m fuckin’ dying to pop shit off, Dev. You didn’t see Ziggy.
“What the fuck you talking about?” Dev stopped dancing and his expression turned serious.
“The goddamn Deuces got to his ol’ lady. They tore the hell out of her hand and left her face a mess. The way the doctors are talking, it sounds like a whole brain injury. The poor girl doesn’t even remember Zig ‘n Griz taking her to the damn hospital, is what they were saying.”
“Jesus.” Dev slumped against the bag and appeared to be in thought for a moment, before he shrugged, “Well, if ya’ll are going to be warring, they won’t be buying stock off us no more. I’ll not arm them against the Savages or support the assault of a fellow marine’s wife.”
I hadn’t expected that, it knocked the fire out of me for a minute.