Chapter 5 - Finn
FINN
Expect the unexpected in life, right? Well, hot-blooded Chloe from Edgewood was definitely that. In a good way.
I smiled as I drank my coffee at sunrise.
The sun was barely up, but beautiful nonetheless.
I was kicking back at the shoreline, just me and my bike.
It was a big day. I'd called the crew in for a club meeting.
If the task force was coming for us, we needed to be prepared. They wouldn't catch us with anything.
As I let the coffee hit my system, I grinned at the memory of Chloe's screams as I put the cock down on her. I'd wanted her back in high school like she wanted me; we just didn't get around to it… but we made up for it, that's for sure.
I let the citrine glow of the sun hit my tattooed body. I checked my watch. Seven a.m. I knew Pops would be up, and it was my job to protect him and my brothers. I re-sent a reminder message to the group for a club meeting.
My father came to mind, Frank 'the Bulldog' Finley.
Shot in cold blood protecting his clan by a dirty fucking gang member.
I missed him every day, but somehow I knew he walked with me.
At first I was angry about his death, and seeing my mother cry herself to sleep for months on end was pure torture.
I sought retribution at every turn, but it ate me up inside, which is why I'd started lifting weights and boxing.
Pops had taken me aside one day at the club as I stormed in from a ride.
He'd clamped his hand around the base of my neck.
"Son, you gotta do something with all that rage in your heart, otherwise it will eat you alive.
If you don't, you'll end up in the ground.
You can't go around shooting everyone you think killed your father.
We'll get the guy. Patience is the key." He'd winked. "Go run it off or somethin'."
Pops had seen a harrowing day or two at the club, as had my father.
They'd known the biker life longer than me, but I'd learned from the best. I drained the last of the coffee in my cup and threw it in the trash.
He was right; they got the guy. The little prick was from a rival club keen on the takedown. Didn't end well for him.
I sat on my bike and called Pops. "Hey Pops, it's Finn. Are we ready to go tonight?"
"Sure are. I alerted the warehouse already to start relocating the guns. We can't afford for us to get disbanded. Plus, we don't know if the task force will change the dates. They could switch it and sneak up on us. We need to be prepared for the hit."
"No arguments from me. See you tonight," I added.
"Good, see you later on."
The clubroom was tense that night. Every one of us had a drink in front of us. All thirteen plotting around the deep cherry oak table to keep the family legacy safe.
'To protect thine own' was the motto. The low industrial club lights cast shadows over us as Pops laid out the blueprint to our warehouses and gun storage points. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"So fellas, we all know why we're here. We got the Albuquerque task force trying to take a run at us.
This ain't nothing we haven't seen before.
Back in '78, me and this man's father"—Pops squeezed my shoulder—"had to outrun and outsmart New Mexico police.
.. back then they called it Operation Steamboat, so I want you all to listen up and listen real good. "
Pops's intense stare and laser-sharp eyes meant business.
"We need to secure these warehouses. We not only have the cops on our ass, but we got that son of a bitch Savage from the Devils MC breathing down our necks for our guns.
" He slammed his fist on the table as I watched my whiskey swish around in the glass.
Axle spoke up. "I heard through the grapevine that the one I ran off the road, Killer they call him, is in the hospital with a broken leg." He snickered, revealing his ego. A few of the guys lifted their glasses and sneered with him.
Pops glared at him under the amber light.
"It's going to take a lot more than that to bring them down.
We're talking about a task force. Axle, I want you to move these guns from these three locations.
" Axle's cocky grin turned to surprise with the clip over the ears that Pops gave him.
Pops pointed with his stubby fingers to the three spots on his makeshift map.
"I hear you, Pops. I'll take Rush, Shadow, and Havoc on a night run with me," he advised solemnly. "Where are we storing? Is it temporary or a new permanent location?"
Pops looked to me for assistance. I spoke up.
"I have three new spots, but we're going to need to move the guns out of state.
We can't keep 'em here. That task force is brutal.
We got our Santa Fe connections storing them.
Trucks coming on your go-ahead, Axle. Are you ready to move as soon as Sunday? " Sunday was two days away.
Havoc, Shadow, and Rush gave him the nod that they were ready. "Yup, we got you covered. Time and date and we'll help load 'em out."
I nodded grimly. "Hoagie, inventory? Are we looking good?"
Hoagie downed the last of his drink and replied, "Yup, everything’s accounted for. We still have customers to deliver to, so move carefully, fellas. Shit is to proceed as normal. Let's make this shift quick and painless. Given the hit we took on the warehouse location, this is a good move."
Tony, the club secretary, a suave-looking older man, nodded his head in agreement. "Money is good. Books are clean. I’ll cover any trails I can."
Pops nodded. "All right, that's the three locations down. We got two more, let's bring our prospects into the mix. Time to see what they're made of." He grinned, showing a few crooked teeth.
"Quicks, Shaggy, you guys ready?" I said, looking to them for support.
"We're going to need you. I'm going to lead.
We have fewer guns at these locations but should be okay.
Red and Hawk, I'm going to need you both to flank as lookouts.
I know it's not your usual role, but this situation calls for it. "
"All hands on deck!" Hoagie shouted.
Pops flattened his hand on the table. "You better fucking believe it. Now let's talk about these bitches we need to take down. We're going to hit the Devils, and I want a clear plan of attack before the next meeting, all right? Let's get this covered off first. Payback is a bitch."
A smile stretched my face as the adrenaline ran through my veins. Devils had to pay for hitting our spot. They needed to know who ran New Mexico. Sure as hell wasn't those fuckers.
I grinned a little because the intel came from such an unlikely source; a seductive redhead with a thing for bikers. I found myself thinking of her even as the meeting wore on. I wanted to see her again. To taste the wickedness of her body. To make her purr like a kitten.
Hoagie broke my thoughts. "Finn, did you catch a glimpse of those guys on the road? You know 'em?"
"One. I know about him through my cousin Jessica.
Shank, they call him. Got a couple of teardrop tatts on his neck.
He ran her off the road over on Laguna, Pueblo.
Now she's in a coma. That's why I was trying to pick him off first. If I get to him I will rip his head right off his shoulders," I spat out, feeling the anger rise through my body all over again.
When I saw Jess in the hospital that night with a tube down her throat, I had to restrain the urge to shoot up the Devil's playground. Once again, it was Pops who had calmed me down.
"Cool heads prevail. Let's wait and hit 'em where it hurts. I can't let you go down in the process. I have money. I'm going to make sure Jessica gets back on her feet real quick."
I didn't know the full story about her dealings with the Devils, but she was a stripper at the Drop and Lo, so I had some idea of what went down… didn't matter to me, all I could see was red. That was my family, and I would protect her to the death.
"We got your back, Finn. I say we torch their clubhouse. Ruin their meth op," Axle suggested.
Pops stroked his chin as he tapped on his glass. "I think the task force will take care of that part for us. Then we will just come in and put the nail in the coffin. Shut their rinky-dink asses all the way down."
I sneered and nodded my head. "All right, looks like the meeting is adjourned.
Let's resume here next week to touch base.
Let's keep it smooth. Keep your phones on and be on alert for the next two weeks.
Stay diligent." I paused. "Most of all, protect your fellow brothers.
Cover one another. Cops come around, you don't know shit. Mute. Understand?"
I think I made myself clear as I scanned the band of brothers around the room, the conviction of their hearts staring back at me in the low light.
We bailed out and into the early morning air with our missions firmly entrenched on our minds. Before I mounted my bike, I sent word to Chloe.
I wanna see you. Call me tomorrow. Sweet dreams, fox.
I dropped my helmet down, ready to embrace the chill of the night ride home.
Right back atcha big boy. Ride safe. See you tomorrow.
One and a half weeks later
"They got arrested. Shank and Savage. Couple of others too. Cops shut down their meth lab. Sucks to be them. You happy, Finn?" Axle was on the line and he sounded pumped.
I was beside my girl—well, unofficially my girl and main informant, Chloe badass Day. That's what I was calling her for now. I'd just finished working her over, and she was stroking her nails down my back. I swung my legs to the side of the bed.
"I know," I said rapidly. Chloe looked at me, eager to hear what was going on.
"That's crazy how you knew so quick..." Axle said, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
I looked back at Chloe with a wide grin.
"I have my sources, and they are extremely reliable.
All of the Devils are going down. I couldn't be happier that Shank is getting what he deserves.
Stupid fucks, after the road chase they were in the clubhouse cooking up.
Doesn't make any sense. Must be desperate for funds. "
"You're right. Doesn't make any sense. Their loss, our gain," Axle replied.
"You're 100 percent right about that. I got a few things to take care of, so I gotta run. Stay cool, brother," I said as I grabbed Chloe's waist from around the back. Her hair fell over my back.
I have a lot to take care of.
"You too, brother. See you at the next meeting, Finn. Call me if you need anything."
"I will.”