Chapter Seventeen #7
Cherry leaned forwards and took a flash picture of Kastle’s face.
“Wonder if he’ll recognize you with the warpaint.
” He texted the image to Busk and Ruger, and then to Salty with a request he show it to Sir Loin.
He stared at Kastle, who was staring at his phone.
In less than a minute, the device buzzed with an incoming message.
“Well, well, let’s see what he has to say.
” Cherry made a production of unlocking the phone and navigating to messages.
“Huh. Seems you have told one truth this day.” He leaned back, throwing an elbow over the seat beside him.
“I’m not hearing truth with the other parts of your story, though.
Gonna have to convince me.” He gestured towards Kastle. “You may begin.”
“Fuck, you are a hard nut to crack. Is it the Navy part that’s chapped your jarhead ass?
We can’t all be excellent, you’re punching above weight, I think.
Nate gave affirmative feedback that I was known to him.
Did he give me a bad review? Shit. Is he still pissed about Tanya Greenwood?
That was way back in our senior year. Get over yourself already, Nate.
” Kastle stared at Cherry. “That’s not the name you prefer for him, is it?
He’s got a club name, no doubt. That I don’t know, and it saddens me to no end.
” He slouched slightly, pulling both shoulders towards his chin.
“Will you stop trying to loosen the fucking tape? You aren’t getting out of that mess without losing some hair and probably skin. Stop wiggling.”
“Can’t blame a man for trying.”
“Fucking can. Do. Stop wiggling.”
“Okay. So the C4, you can check it, the Navy has the serial numbers posted on internal boards.” Kastle paused and looked sideways at Cherry. “I’m assuming you can get at that info.”
“Will not confirm nor deny.” Cherry thumbed a short message to Salty.
Cherry: *Get info from Ricky*
Salty: *Yas boss*
He knew they were watching the screen in the other room, knew they’d probably pulled Sir Loin in after he’d confirmed he was the Nate Hadley, and was well acquainted with Kastle.
“Let’s say I take you at your word, that you weren’t aiming at any IMC members. That your only reason to be in the area is to avenge your daughter.” He paused, watching Kastle’s face. “How long ago did your daughter pass?”
“A day is too long. I’d always heard that parents aren’t supposed to bury their children, didn’t know how right it was. That bastard breathed air months longer than my baby girl, but you better believe his last breaths were imbued with all the rage in my body. I’m a big guy. I had a lotta rage.”
Cherry’s phone buzzed twice and he looked at the screen.
Ricky: *Checks out, and fyi ASMC is blaming IMC for the member found drowned in his own piss today*
“You drowned him in his own piss?”
Kastle’s chin jerked up. “They already found him? Shit. I’m losing my touch. He shouldn’t have surfaced until tomorrow at the earliest.”
Ruger: *Agree to cut him loose*
Busk: *Agree to let him go*
Cherry thumbed a message in response: *Affirmative.*
He moved to a different message thread.
Cherry: *Reassemble the bike unless there’s something new to report*
Salty: *Nothing of note.*
Salty: **
“You just dropped about a ton of tension. All good on the outside front?” Kastle nodded at the door. “We going out that way, or am I misreading the situation?”
Cherry pulled his knife and flicked it open. Kastle’s eyes flared just the barest amount.
“We going out front now?” His voice had gone up an octave.
The two strides to put Cherry at Kastle’s back happened fast, taking the restrained man by surprise.
Kastle breathed out slowly. “What was the verdict, jarhead?”
Cherry ran the blade over the tape where it held his arms to his torso.
The flexible material peeled back as it was sliced.
“How did you know I’m Marines, frog?” He moved to the other side and made the same cuts, then stepped back a stride.
“Try and move around, let’s see what else I need to cut to get you outta there.
Boys used most of a roll of tape, from the looks of it. ”
There was a loud ripping sound as the man shoved both arms out in front. He yelled and tried to pull his arms free, to no avail.
“You’ve got the look. Always watching. Had to be military, Marines seemed the right pick given the Semper Fi patch on your vest. Need my arms cut, at least one of them. Can you get the tape off my back?”
Cherry went around the front and sliced in the middle of the tape Kastle had pulled forwards.
He then backed off again. “Nice catch with the patch. I’m done cutting, though.
You’ll have to get the tape. All of it. I might have gotten an order to dump you alive, but there wasn’t anything about coddling you. ”
“Coddling, huh?” Kastle grunted as he peeled the tape off his arms. “This feels about the opposite of coddling.”
“Drowned him in his own piss? How’d you even accomplish that?”
“Catheterized him for a day as I poured water down his throat. I got three liters fast. Just enough to fill up the lungs.”
“Got your vengeance.”
“Yup.” Kastle reached behind him and yanked on the tape still attached to his back.
“Gonna be a bit before I grow all my hair back.” He turned around to face Cherry.
“I have no ill will about anything that happened in this room. No harm, no retribution.” He touched his face, fingers exploring the split skin.
“Even this. I was giving them hell before they knocked me out. Now if you have some bandages or something, I wouldn’t turn one down. ”
“We got a guy who can throw a stitch or two at that.”
“Handy. You must have enough injuries to make it worth it to hire a med tech?”
Cherry laughed. “Oh, he’s not a med tech, he’s a member whose father was a vet. Picked up a ton of handy skills.”
“Well okay then.” Kastle held out the bundle of tape. “You want this?”
“Nope, you can put it in the garbage just outside the door.”
“And you’ll be at my back the whole way?”
“You know it. This is my club, man. My family. I’m not going to take any chances with their health and wellbeing.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less, jarhead.”
“Get those frog feet moving.”
“Sir, yes, sir.”
Outside the door Sir Loin was waiting and he smothered Kastle in a hug that looked like it released a hundred pounds of air out of the man.
“I just heard, brother. I’m so sorry. But you got him.”
Cherry walked past them, hearing only mumbles after that.
Salty gave him a mocking salute, and Cherry punched him hard in the arm.
Busk and Ruger stood side by side on one wall of the big room and Cherry headed that direction.
By the time he’d made it there, only Ruger remained.
His expression seemed strained, and he had dark circles underneath his eyes.
“Prez. You’ve looked better. You okay? What in the hell is going on with you and Busk?”
“He had to go home. Nothing more and nothing less. I’m fine, brother. Mind your own.”
“If it didn’t impact the club, I would. I’m not the only one who’s noticed our Prez and VP can’t stand being in the same room with each other.”
“Leave it, Cherry. I’m not at liberty to tell you anything else. Me and Busk are fine, no worries there. Calm the masses if you get a chance. If there’s anyone else who’s said something. I’m not sure but what you’re the only one.”
“Oh, I will pass on the message, Prez. No worries there.” He paused, taking in the exhausted aura from Ruger. “You really do look like shit, brother. We help carry each other’s load. If you’re needing help and not asking, then you’re leading with a bad example.”
“It’s been a rough couple of weeks, but things are going to be fine now. Maybe Busk will give you more info, but maybe not. I’m going to sleep like the dead tonight, and by tomorrow I’ll be chipper as always.”
“I hope to see the evidence tomorrow.” Cherry glanced at the family reunion still underway. “Kastle is a cool customer. I wasn’t sure about letting him walk, but now it feels like the best option. Sir Loin is a good judge of character, I’m sure he’ll let us know if anything turns sour.”
“Yeah, he’s a good one. So are you. Nice job.” Ruger looked at Cherry. “You tagged Ricky Parrado for info. He’s good, I don’t know why we didn’t think of looping him in on some things before now. Your guy is bringing good things with him. Tell him we all approve.”
“Soon as I get home, I’ll tell him.”
Two hours later, Cherry rolled the bike to a quiet stop outside his house. There was a light on inside, glowing brightly from the kitchen. By the time he’d dismounted and turned for the door, it opened and Denis stood framed by the light.
“Hey there,” Denis called as he made a come-here motion with his hands. “Get your fine ass over here, I’m in a kiss deficit for the day. Time to get caught up.”
Cherry gladly went into his arms, finding Denis’ face tipped down exactly as needed for a kiss.
It started slow, a tasting, a nibble, a stroke of the tongue, then it turned into a deeper, more urgent pressing of their lips together.
The kiss was nearing out of control levels when Denis pulled back.
Cherry chased his mouth before pulling Denis tight against his body. They were both breathing heavily.
***
Denis
The kiss lingered in the air between them, heavy with unspoken promises.
Denis leaned back, his breath uneven, eyes glinting under the porch light.
Cherry’s hands stayed firm on Denis’ hips, anchoring him as if letting go might unravel something fragile.
Two figures caught in the glow of a single bulb.
“C’mon,” Denis said, his voice low, a little rough. “Let’s clean you up and head out. I’ve got plans for us tonight.”