Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
The One-Thirty-Eight
L inc had his hands wrapped around a slightly sweating glass half full of beer as he just stared ahead at nothing. Cyrus sat next to him and flagged down Maggie for a shot of whiskey. She offered one to Linc. He declined.
“Want to talk about what you did back there?” Cyrus asked.
“I saved Nova’s brother. End of discussion. I should have went with her just now. Followed her.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“She wanted the moment to herself. With her brother. And mother. It’s complicated shit.”
“Most family is, Linc,” Cyrus said.
Linc glanced at Cyrus.
Don’t bring anything up now, Prez , Linc thought.
“Look, I know you love that woman. It was written on your face the second she showed up. You two have a past. Now you found your way back to each other. If we weren’t such asshole outlaws, it would make for a good love story.”
“I think it’s okay for the bad guys to fall in love,” Linc said.
Cyrus laughed. “You say mushy shit like that too loud and you’ll find yourself without a patch and a cut.”
“The only way the cut comes off is if I’m dead,” Linc said.
“Cheers to that,” Cyrus called out. He stood up and whistled. “Everyone shut the fuck up!”
Priest whistled too, except his sounded like a damn grizzly bear ready to attack. Nobody really knew where Priest came from. He was built different. And everyone who met him was convinced he had two sets of vocal chords with the sounds he could make.
The entire clubhouse fell silent. They all stared at Cyrus.
“Just wanted to say I appreciate everyone’s support through some of this shit going on,” Cyrus called out. “It’s not easy. The road isn’t a straight line. But we’re always here. And we’re not going anywhere. Someone put a bullet in our VP ’s shoulder and he fucking acts like nothing happened.”
“Linc the legend!” Darrow hollered.
They all started chanting Linc’s name. Four of the deecee s there all lifted their shirts and shook their tits. Linc lifted his beer glass and nodded.
“But nobody sit back and relax just yet,” Cyrus said. “Top priority now is finding out who tried to take out our VP .”
“Can’t wait to see what Priest does to them,” Fitz said with a big smile.
Priest cracked his knuckles. Cyrus made everyone take a drink, which basically symbolized putting the Nick situation at rest. It was done. It was over. Time to move forward.
Linc understood it. He just needed Nova here with him to feel it. His Nova. His Novaleigh. His girl.
Fuck… the love of his life.
“You’re not drinking enough,” Maggie said with a smile.
She placed a full beer in front of Linc. He was far from being in a mood to have Maggie flirting with him. Linc punched the glass off the bar, letting the fresh beer spill and the old glass shatter. It gained some attention. Not too much though.
Priest had gathered up four deecees and told them to get on a pool table and have a one-thirty-eight . Slade asked what the hell that was.
It’s a sixty-nine… twice!
That had gotten an uproar from the clubhouse.
Sure enough, the four deecee s dropped their panties and thongs, climbed up on the table, and configured some way to make sure they were all going down on each other. It was a hell of show to witness, but for Linc, he had something else on his mind.
It had been too long since Nova left the clubhouse. Even if she decided to stay and visit with her mother or work on issues… no text? No call? Linc walked across the clubhouse and Darrow chased him down.
“What’s wrong, brother?”
“Nova,” Linc said. “Something feels weird. I’m going to backtrack to her mother’s house.”
“Don’t go alone,” Darrow said. “Hey, I have an idea. We can use a new thing I have. It’s an illegal… location program…” Darrow grinned. “Wherever her cell is, we’ll find her.”
Linc gave Darrow Nova’s cell number. Then he looked over his shoulder. Half the clubhouse stood at the pool table, marveling at the four wet cunts being licked and slurped on. Slade made eye contact and quickly abandoned his post, joining Linc and Darrow.
“What is it?” Slade asked.
“We’re going to check up on Nova,” Darrow said.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Slade asked.
“He’s got a gut feeling,” Darrow said.
Linc hurried out of the clubhouse for his motorcycle. Darrow and Slade were right behind him. Linc fired up the growling engine and took off. That left Darrow and Slade hurrying.
“Fuck!” Slade yelled.
Guy’s got a death wish coming anymore, Slade thought.
Darrow trailed behind, riding with one hand, using his phone with the other to track down Nova’s cell. Linc rode hard and fast. Slade throttled his ride and kept pace.
As long as Darrow didn’t lose sight of the other two, he didn’t worry. It took him only a minute to ping Nova’s cell. He knew the program never failed. And he didn’t like the location… at all…
Darrow put his phone away and made his ride scream into the wind. He sped right up and cruised by Slade and caught up with Linc.
“I know where her phone is!” Darrow screamed at Linc. “Follow me!”
Darrow took the lead and rode to the location of Nova’s phone. They ended up on one of the back roads in town. Linc knew there was zero reason for Nova to be here. He gritted his teeth, wondering if Darrow’s tracking program had failed.
But then he saw it… It being the back of Nova’s SUV. Pulled off the side of the road, slightly angled, the front right pressed against a now caved in guardrail.
She fucking crashed , Linc thought. His heart sank. He pulled over. He was almost off his motorcycle before it even stopped. He threw his bucket helmet up off his head and behind him. Legs pumping as fast as they could go, Linc reached the SUV in seconds and ripped open the driver’s side door.
Nothing.
Nobody.
Nova was nowhere to be found. Linc climbed up into the SUV and he saw Nova’s cell on the floor of the passenger side. He backed out and turned. Slade and Darrow were right there.
“What is it, brother?” Darrow asked.
“She’s missing,” Linc said.
Saying those two words made it feel like his legs were about to give out.
Slade grabbed for Linc. “Hey, relax…”
“They took her. Fuck. They took her!”
Linc didn’t mean to spit at Slade. He then pushed away and ran toward his motorcycle.
“Shit,” Slade yelled. He took out his phone. “Darrow, you go with him. I’ll catch up.”
“What are you going to do?” Darrow asked.
“I’m going to give Chief Dick a call to come do something about this SUV. Don’t need someone rolling up on it and calling the actual police.”
Darrow nodded and ran to catch up with Linc. Linc was already on his motorcycle. Engine roaring. Turning and going back the way he came. Back to the clubhouse. Linc needed his outlaw brothers.
Of all the bad shit that could happen in life… in this life of law bending, motorcycle riding, violence…
… Nova was the last person ever who should experience the darkest sides of it.