Chapter 43 #2
After a quick visit to the heads, I grab my beer and return to church. It seems quiet and smaller without our visitors, like they’ve taken some of our energy with them.
Bullseye and Saint haven’t appeared yet, so I question Freak. “Any further updates on Tempest or Genie?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, but I’m going to the hospital to visit once we’re finished with this shit.”
“I’ll come along,” Paint states.
“Wearing that fuckin’ sling? Oh no, you’re not,” Freak growls. “Remember, we’re playing this as a fight between two brothers.”
“I could have gotten injured separating them,” Paint argues.
But Freak’s adamant, and shows him his middle finger.
“I’ll come with,” Winchester offers. “After all, I was with them all night. Won’t look odd if I go back again.”
I’d like to offer, but I’m torn. I’ve got a family now I need to keep tabs on, and anyway, we’ve already agreed, going en masse won’t support our story.
Prez enters, closely followed by Saint, and all brothers stop talking.
Tiredly, Prez bangs the gavel again. “Church is back in session.” He passes a hand over his eyes. “Saint and I have spoken to Big Daddy, he’s not fuckin’ happy.”
“Fuckin’ understatement,” Saint murmurs.
After a quick glance at his VP, Bullseye resumes, “He’s worried California’s too close for comfort when there’s a big cartel involved. He’s hoping it won’t spread beyond New Mexico and Arizona.”
I’m not the only one to grimace. It’s not the done thing to upset the national prez. There’s a rumour he’s got an electric chair in his basement, and no one wants to find out if it’s capable of being plugged in.
“So, after the asskicking,” Bullseye’s set jaw tells me it had to have been bad, “he agreed he’s got two guys, Lunatic and Hardcore, who’ve got some construction skills. He’s going to send them across to us to help with the rebuilding. They’ll be here in a couple of days.”
A tired cheer goes up from all of us.
“Any spare bikes to send our way?” Rattler puts in, a bit hopefully in my view.
“I didn’t actually admit they totalled our bikes,” Bullseye admits, giving a wry shrug.
“While we’re on that subject, Woody, can you speak to everyone, make an assessment of where we stand as to our rides?
Brothers, the rebuilding of the barn is going to hit our coffers, so you will have to contribute to replacing your bikes if that’s what it takes to get you back on the road.
Stalker? Can you run through the books and look at our reserves, so we know what we’re dealing with?
” He pauses and looks around. “In my opinion, getting a roof over our heads is our main concern. Unless we want to take a vote, all brothers, club girls, and prospects rent off compound.”
“Bikes or housing?” Rattler looks aghast. “I want both.”
“There’s another problem we need to address. We’re down to just one prospect,” Freak reminds Prez.
I sit forward and let my eyes rest on Words. “Jester told me our funeral director has a couple of gravediggers who are interested in the club.”
Now Words is the centre of attention. He shrugs. “Yeah, but until recently, we had three prospects, so I didn’t want to bring it up. And they’re weird fuckers. Unrelated, but hell, they look like twins, dress the same, talk the same…”
“Fuckin’ homos?”
“You know what, Rat? I didn’t think to ask.” Winchester glowers at him. “As long as they do their work, I don’t care about their sexual preferences.”
“Doesn’t bother me one way or another if they could be a good fit for the club,” Prez says. “Can you vouch for them, though, Words? Don’t want another Griz situation.”
“They’ve worked for me for five years,” Words confirms. “Both are in their late twenties and have no affiliations I’ve ever seen. And they know how to keep their mouths shut.”
“I suppose they’re already good at one prospect duty.” Rattler grins widely. “Burying bodies.”
Bullseye sits back and steeples his hands.
After a moment, he says, “Okay, Words. Arrange to bring them in, and I’ll have a conversation with them.
Saint?” The VP’s head snaps to look to his side.
“In the absence of Genie, can Pippa do a deep dive into their backgrounds?” When Saint replies in the affirmative, Bullseye continues, “So for the rest of today and tonight, we’ll concentrate on getting the clubhouse to rights.
Win, Rat, can you measure the windows and go buy new glass?
Oh, and the doweling to fit it.” After the two men nod, he carries on, “Tomorrow, Paint, I know you’re one-handed, but you’ve got a good eye.
You work with Short,” he pauses to catch my eye, “and the prospect and sort through the bikes. See what’s salvageable and what’s not. ”
“With all due respect, Prez, I’d like to check mine out myself. If it has to be anyone, I want it to be me who sends her to the graveyard.”
Bullseye grimaces, then acknowledges Freak’s point.
“Yeah, Bro, I feel you. Kind of want to do that myself. Okay, we’ll all go out, see what’s what with our rides.
Pick out what can be fixed, and get them over to the shop.
The rest, Paint, Short, and Knight can strip for parts.
I want all the damage cleared and out of sight in case anyone comes calling. ”
“Can we get the club girls to sort out the clubhouse? Then we can get right on that now.”
Saint leans forward. “I agree it’s a priority to move the bikes. Once a brother has either taken theirs to the shop or agreed otherwise, they can come in and move the heavier items inside.”
“Okay,” Prez relents. “Then after that, we get to demolishing anything left standing of the barn and clearing ground. If we’re getting help from other chapters, we want to be ready when they arrive.”
Words puts up his hand. “Er, Prez. There’s something that might be as pressing.
With the barn gone, as well as our accommodation, all our belongings were inside.
I, for one, haven’t any spare pants, and my spare suit must be ash.
I’ve got one at the funeral home, but it’s the button-downs I’m worried about.
I need to look the part when I’m conducting funerals. ”
“Brother’s made a good point.” Rat points his finger at him. “I need jeans, boxers, and t-shirts. Without fresh clothes, we’re gonna start stinking once we get started with the manual labour you’re proposing.”
Winchester snorts and wipes at his bare chin. “I’ll need a razor and toiletries.”
“You’ll just have to grow a beard.” Rat, sitting next to him, nudges him hard. Winchester shows him his middle finger. “Or aren’t you able to? Have your balls not dropped yet?”
“I’ll show you my fuckin’ balls,” Winchester roars, planting his fist in Rat’s side.
“Shut the fuck up!” Prez bellows. “Rat, keep your mouth zipped and your thoughts about Win’s balls to yourself.
We’ve got enough to be dealing with, without you setting everyone at each other’s throats.
” He points his fingers at his own eyes, then directs them toward Rattler, who makes a show of zipping his mouth.
“Fuck, this is getting complicated. Bikes first. Then make a list of what you need and your sizes, and we’ll send a couple of the girls into town to get the necessities. Might not be what you’d choose for yourself, but at least we won’t be smelling our own stench.”
Rat chooses that moment to open his mouth, but sinks back in his chair as Bullseye’s stare levels on him.
I’ve been keeping quiet. All my clothes and shit are safe upstairs, something I feel guilty for, so I haven’t wanted to remind them.
But there is something else no one’s thought of.
“I’m going to vacate my room upstairs, make room for a couple of brothers to use it.
And I can accommodate another two at my house, if they don’t mind sharing Trip’s queen-sized bed, or if so, use the sofa.
” The broken springs they can find out for themselves.
Beggars can’t be choosers. Grateful nods come toward me, but I haven’t yet finished.
“But where are we going to put any out-of-towners who’re coming in to help us?
I’d suggest tents, but it’s November, and while the days are still warm, it’s starting to get cold at night. ”
Heaving a heavy sigh, Bullseye again turns to Saint. “Think Pippa could start ringing around and seeing if the town’s motel has any vacancies for a few nights?”
Again, Saint raises and lowers his chin, then observes, “Christ, what a fuckin’ mess. The MDMC haven’t managed to take us out, but I’d like to kill them all over again, and this time make it fuckin’ hurt until they’re screaming for their mothers. They’ve hit us, and hit us fuckin’ hard.”
“I hear you, VP.” Bullseye sounds tired, then his face tightens, and strength comes into his voice.
“But we’re still alive apart from one casualty, while they’ll never cry for their mothers again.
And we’re going to build back better. This is just a bump in the road, Brothers.
We will survive. We will get revenge. Nobody fucks with the Kings.
” He pauses, then brings down the gavel, presumably before anyone can point out another problem. “Church fuckin’ dismissed.”