Chapter 47 #2
“Well, we’re here now,” Rhino says in his customary growl. “We’ll put you on the right track.”
Lunatic and Hardcore exchange glances and frowns. “Think we’ve already got it in hand.”
Rhino snorts. “We own and run Gold Wings Construction. We’re the experts in saying how shit like this should be done.”
“And we’re continuing the construction business started by my dad.” Lunatic’s face has tensed, and his hands have formed fists. “The family business goes way back. We know our fuckin’ shit.”
“I won’t work with fuckin’ amateurs who don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Both Lunatic and Hardcore look incensed now and they both step forward…
“Brothers!” Bullseye steps between them and snaps, his voice cracking like a whip, getting their attention.
“Lunatic and Hardcore have come up with plans we’ve approved.
But we’d welcome your input and ideas, as long as the proposals are within budget and fit with our needs.
” He shakes his head. “I might not be an expert in this field, but the plans we have look pretty comprehensive to me. Why don’t you take a look at them and see what you think? ”
Worried, I glance down at Trip, but with his ear defenders on, he hasn’t picked up on the argument, and is still transfixed on watching the clearance that is continuing.
For a moment, I think the Georgia and California Kings are going to come to blows. But it’s Token who snatches the offered laptop and walks off, closely followed by Rhino.
Lunatic bristles, his shoulders come back, and his eyes flash fire. “Looks like you got the fuckin’ experts now. If you don’t need us any longer, we’ll ride home.”
I want to bash their heads together, and then do the same thing to Rhino and Token.
But Bullseye, showing he can have the patience of a saint when it’s necessary, placates them.
“Your ideas and the work you’ve done are sound.
But it doesn’t hurt to have other eyes on them.
I’d rather you try to get along with the Georgia guys, but if it doesn’t turn out, you can return to Big Daddy and explain how your feelings got hurt.
We’re all fuckin’ Kings and should be able to work together. ”
I think I can back up my prez. “They’ve had a long fuckin’ trip. Cut them some slack. They brought a brother called Blitz with them. He’s currently passed out in the clubhouse. Seems he doesn’t like flying, so they had to dope him up.”
Lunatic snorts out a laugh. “For real?”
“Truth.” I chuckle along with them. “Bronwyn’s got her eye on him now.”
Trip pulls at my hand. Looking down, I ask, “What do you want, little buddy?”
He points to the digger that’s just been turned off. Shading my eyes from the setting sun, I see it’s Freak who’s at the controls. “You want to go see it?”
Trip’s nod fills my heart. “Freak?” I shout and wave to get his attention. “Trip wants to see the digger. That alright?”
“Send him over,” Freak shouts back. And I do, while inwardly thinking it’s a dichotomy that the man I most trust with my son is our violent and threatening enforcer.
Still, my eyes track Trip’s path until he’s close to Freak, and I only relax when the enforcer swings him up and into the cab.
Rhino and Token choose that moment to reappear, and all at once, the tension is back.
“Plans are solid,” Rhino reluctantly states.
Token leans over his shoulder, and his finger stabs at the paper he’s holding.
“We just have a couple of suggestions. If you extend the footprint a little,” waving his hand over the diagram he shows where he’s talking about, “you can add a laundry room, maybe a basic kitchen, somewhere the brothers can make themselves snacks without having to enter the main building.”
Hardcore and Lunatic look at each other, then begrudgingly say, “We didn’t think of that. Makes sense.”
Rhino holds out his hand. “Apologise if you think we were overstepping, but we’ve been burned by so-called experts before. Can tell you know what you’re doing, Brothers.”
Hardcore glances at Lunatic, who gives a raise and dip of his head. He takes the offered hand. “Can understand that, Rhino. It’s going to be a pleasure to work with fellow professionals.”
Bullseye exchanges a grin with his VP, then he addresses the now-reconciled protagonists. “We’re losing the daylight. Sorry,” he raises his chin toward Lunatic and Hardcore, “but it’s going to be pizzas again. I’ve just texted the prospect to order a load in.”
“Food’s food.” Hardcore shrugs. “As long as it’s not got pineapple on it, I’ll eat anything.”
“Oh fuck.” Prez makes a show of getting out his phone, then barks a laugh. “You’re okay, ain’t ordered anything with fruit in it.”
Prez’s piercing whistle stops all brothers working, and they follow his hand signals, telling them it’s time to stop work for the day.
On returning to the clubhouse, I don’t immediately see Bron, but Ace is in the kitchen along with Trixie, and I’m happy enough to leave Trip with them.
Then, when going to fulfil a normal bodily function, I come across the strangest thing – men queuing for the heads.
Who would have believed it? But I suppose we’ve got nine extra bladders needing emptying, and some are even using the ladies’ restroom instead.
My turn taken, piss situation resolved, I enter the clubroom, and the first thing I notice is Blitz, now sitting upright, rubbing his temples.
He’s studying the faces of people walking in.
When he spies his travelling companions, he launches to his feet – then abruptly sinks back down as he’s moved too fast for his well-deserved spinning head.
The second time, he gets up more slowly. “You.” He points at Token. “You fuckin’ drugged me.”
“Yeah?” Again, Rhino speaks for his brother. “What else were we to do when you insisted you were going to open the door while the plane was cruising at thirty-seven thousand fuckin’ feet?”
“I was looking for a parachute—”
Rhino bursts out laughing. “Hate to break it to you, Brother, but commercial flights don’t carry parachutes. The only emergency equipment they have is life rafts.”
“Life rafts?” Blitz starts shouting. “What the fuck type of airline did you put me on? We were flying over fuckin’ land, for fuck’s sake. Knew those things were death traps.”
“If you’d opened the door, you’d have killed us all. And the other passengers.” Token, when he speaks, has a melodic voice, unlike the growling tone of his brother.
“Fuckin’ life rafts?” Rapidly shaking his head, Blitz seems fixed on that one thing. “That does it. I’m getting hold of a bike, and I’m fuckin’ riding home.”
“You afraid of flying?”
Blitz swings around to address the speaker, and probably to deliver a few choice words, were it not for Rhino’s overloud whisper, “That’s the Arizona prez.”
“Aww, fuck.” Blitz shakes his head. “Bikers are meant to have two wheels underneath them, not,” he indicates Token, “thirty-seven thousand feet of fuckin’ air.”
Bullseye slaps him on the shoulder. “I feel you, Brother.”
Bronwyn, who’s appeared and who has curled into my side, addresses the flight-wary King. “If you don’t fancy a nearly two-thousand-mile ride, I can get something for you that will help your anxiety.” She reads his expression. “Just a suggestion.”
“Or,” Rhino says. “We can just feed you gummies again.”
“Prez?” our prospect shouts. “Incoming. I tried to stop her…”
But he failed. The broken gate didn’t help, and while he’d have used force against a man, he probably felt he couldn’t against the woman who’s barging her way in. As we all swing around to face the newcomer, it’s my old lady who recognises her first.
“Mom,” Bronwyn gasps.
Fucking hell. Over the past week, Bronwyn’s come into herself. She’s shown me and my brothers the strength she’d always hidden before. While it was her dad who physically abused her, her mother had been complicit, and fear can be deep-rooted. I don’t want anything to set her back.
I hug her to me, trying to imbibe some of my strength into her. First, I feel her shrink against me, then experience her tightening muscles as if preparing for a fight.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” she demands, her voice steady and strong.
“Where’s your father?” she asks. “He’s disappeared. He hasn’t come home.”
“How the fuck would I know?” Bronwyn replies.
“Language,” her mom snaps, then sneers. “Should have guessed you’d be here with these reprobate bikers.”
Bronwyn cuts her off. “I’ve no idea where Dad went, and what’s more, I don’t want to know. I’m free of both you and him.” She pauses, then adds, “He’s probably off fucking little girls who aren’t allowed to say no.”
Her mom’s eyes grow wide, and it’s then she seems to realise she’s got an audience. “Your father doesn’t touch little girls or women. Those stories about him were all made up.”
“Give it a rest, Mom.” Bron rolls her eyes. “Whatever whitewash you’re applying won’t stick.” She waves her hand to indicate the crowd standing around. “The truth has come out.”
“Dada!”
I groan. This is the worst fucking moment for Trip to come running in, Freak behind him, stopping short when he spies the confrontation between Bron and her mom.
Bronwyn’s mom’s eyes open wide. “You’ve got Trip?” she snarls at her daughter. Then she cries out, “Trip, come here.”
Seeing her, Trip stops moving toward me and backs up into Freak. The enforcer crouches down and puts his protective arms around my son.
“He’s not going anywhere with you,” I snarl.
“No?” She gives me a menacing smile. “Well, I’m his mother, and I’m going to take him. If you try to stop me, I’m calling the police.” And fuck me, she’s pulling her phone out of her purse.
“Yeah?” My old lady steps forward. “Why? He’s nothing to you.
He’s not even yours. And there’s always DNA testing that will prove I’ve got the rights to him.
” Even though the men surrounding her include brothers from three other chapters, she’s come so far that she’s brave enough to let strangers hear her story to protect her son.
“Trip’s my child, the result of my own father raping and impregnating me.
You’re never going to get your hands on my son. ”
An audible gasp has gone around. I notice Lunatic stepping forward, Blitz, too, though still a little wobbly. Our Texas brothers are murmuring, what the actual fuck?
Her mom just stands there, all her ammunition gone.
Then she holds out her hands in supplication.
“Bronwyn, you don’t understand. The Mojave Devils have come to me.
Your Dad promised them Trip, and he owes them money if he doesn’t deliver.
With him gone, his debt falls to me. I need Trip.
Just give him to me.” The room has gone silent, but she continues, “Come on, Bronwyn. It doesn’t matter.
Trip doesn’t understand anything. He’s worth nothing. ”
“What the actual hell am I hearing?” The voice is LoneStar’s.
Bronwyn walks forward and slaps her mother hard.
“Trip’s mine,” she snarls. “You’re never going to get your hands on him again.
And as for Dad, I hope he’s dead and burning in hell.
I won’t shed a tear if you go to join him.
” She indicates around her. “Trip and I have a new family, one that will never give him up.” She walks over to the conjoined duo of Freak and her son, and sinks to her knees beside them.
“Trip’s mine.” Leaning over, she places a kiss on his head and slides her arm between Freak’s to hug Trip to her.
“He’ll have love, support, and the affection you never gave him. ”
“He’s an imbecile. He’ll bring you down.”
Trip takes that moment to pull free of Freak’s hold and to clasp his hands around his birth mother. “Mom…ma.”
Bronwyn spins around, her eyes wide in astonishment, before saying first to him, “I love you, my son.” Then, turning to her mother, she hisses, “And I hate you for all you’ve done. Get out. There’s nothing for you here.”
Seeing his job is done, Freak stands. “Leave now,” he demands.
“But the Mojave Devils…”
“Can choke the life out of you as far as we’re concerned.” I have no problem with Freak speaking on mine and Bronwyn’s behalf. In full enforcer mode, he’s a force to be reckoned with and far more intimidating than her mom.
“They’ll come after you.”
I speak then, my voice as menacing as I can make it. “Only if you tell them where your daughter is staying to save your own sorry hide. If they come for her, I promise you I’ll be coming after you, and I won’t be leaving you alive.”
“Best thing you can do is pack up and head out of state.” Bullseye offers her a way out. “And just be fuckin’ thankful we’ve got a conscience when it comes to killing women.” He pauses, then adds, “But I may reconsider if you try my patience.”
She takes one more moment to examine the faces of over twenty Kings who are all staring at her in hatred. And then, thank fuck, she finally turns tail and runs.