Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Fish
C yrus walked tall and pissed off.
Staring at one of the security cameras, showing his teeth.
“What is it, Prez ?” Slade asked.
“Linc and Darrow are with someone,” Cyrus said. “She showed up to the gates, threatening to call the police on us.”
“Who is it?”
Cyrus turned his head and looked at Slade. “Remember Marcus?”
“The scumbag that kidnapped Nova…”
“That’s his woman,” Cyrus said.
“Oh, fuck,” Slade said.
He took off running for the clubhouse door to get outside. Situations like these it was best to keep Cyrus out of it if they could. Hell, even Linc should have been back in the clubhouse. Better to keep the President and the VP out of messes like this one.
Some sad woman showing up, pissed off that her man was dead? That was not the problem of Sins of Fire Real Anarchy West. And it never would be.
Slade didn’t see the baby in the woman’s arms at first. At least not through the security camera. When he saw the baby, he felt his stomach sour a little. But this was the life. If you were an outlaw or part of a gang or just ran the streets, thinking you could make a living, the risk…
“I’m not trying to start something here, guys,” the woman said. “I just need… help…”
“Hey, talk to me,” Slade called out. “I’m the guy you talk to. Not them.”
Slade nodded at Linc. He walked toward Slade.
“She doesn’t know much,” Linc whispered. “Just that Marcus was running for someone. Even if she called the police she’s got nothing.”
“She’s got a baby.”
“Yeah,” Linc said.
He kept walking. Darrow stood with his arms crossed, looking massive and mean.
The woman looked at Slade. “I swear I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m sorry I said I’d call the police. I just needed to get in here.”
“I don’t know what you want from us, sweetheart,” Slade said. “We aren’t a bank. We aren’t a food pantry either. I don’t even know why you’re here.”
“I know Marcus was involved with something,” she said. “And I know it had to do with you guys. I’m just… I’m lost right now… okay?”
Slade eyed the baby. Dark brown eyes. A messy top of dark hair. Chewing on his pointer finger. The little guy took his finger out of his mouth and pointed to the clubhouse.
“Fish! Fish!”
Slade looked over his shoulder.
There was an old, faded skull sign that hung next to the clubhouse door. At one point in time the sign had been new and had the SOFRAW name and logo on it. Hearing that baby’s voice made Slade curl his lip.
“I know it’s bad,” the woman said. “I know that Marcus was a bad person. I left him. I took the baby and left.”
“What’s the baby’s name?” Slade asked.
“This is Armond. Named after my grandfather. I’m Marie. I’m a good person. I’m a good mother. Marcus showed up a few days before something bad happened to him. He was all worked up. Said he got a new job and was going to make a lot of money and he was going to buy us a house. I could tell he was messed up.”
“Showing up here like this will get you hurt, sweetheart,” Slade said. “We don’t want that.”
“Fish,” Armond said.
“Yeah,” Slade said, looking at the baby. “ Fish , huh? Can you say lion ? How about cat ?”
“Cat!” Armond called out.
“Sorry,” Marie said. “I think he likes you. We have this animal book at home. He loves it.”
Slade noted the look in Marie’s eyes. One of pure desperation. Looking to shakedown the club for some cash. Looking for someone to take over the roll as daddy …
“Listen to me, sweetheart, that little one in your arms is giving you some extra patience,” Slade said. “I’m sorry for your loss. I didn’t know him personally. I have no idea what happened to him. I can tell you this—showing up to places like this and demanding things… it will catch up to you fast.” Slade reached into his pocket and took out a folded up collection made up of five twenty-dollar bills. “This is it. This is me giving money personally to you. To make sure this little animal lover has some food. Got it?”
Marie looked ready to cry. “I’m so sorry to do this. I’m so lost right now.”
“Lost is okay, sweetheart,” Slade said. “Dead isn’t.”
Marie took the money. Slade sensed the genuine emotion but he also knew this game. Even giving Marie two pennies was a stupid idea.
“Fish!” Armond said again.
“That’s right, kid,” Slade said.
Marie turned and walked back to her old, beat-up car. She buckled Armond into his car seat and then she left the clubhouse. Virus and Dolph manned the gates, along with prospects Bram and Drix.
“Who opened the fucking gates for her?” Slade yelled as he walked toward the gate.
Bram puffed out his chest. “It was me. She said she was going to call the cops.”
“Yeah?” Slade asked. “And if she offered to suck your dick, would you have unzipped your jeans?”
“I would have,” Dolph said. “Did you see her? I bet she’s a great fuck.”
“Where the fuck were you two?” Slade growled at Virus and Dolph.
“Gate stays shut,” Slade said. “Don’t ever do that again. Or I’ll put a fucking bullet in the back of your head.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Bram said.
“There is no I’m sorry in this world,” Slade said. “You feel sorrow and you’re already dead. Want to hand over that leather cut right now, asshole.”
“No,” Bram said.
Slade looked at Drix. “Teach him a lesson. He fucked up.”
Drix nodded. He didn’t hesitate for a second to punch Bram in the face. Bram stumbled. Drix went for him again. The second punch sent Bram down to one knee. As Drix went for more, Slade turned away.
“Fuck,” he growled to himself.
He knew he shouldn’t have given Marie any money at all. Too late now. Slade needed to shift gears in his mind.
Fuck it.
Marcus was a piece of shit trying to get on the good side of SS13 . He kidnapped Nova, wanted to kill her, and met his fate. The Reaper he danced with put a knife through his heart. That’s how it went in this life. End of discussion.
Next up on Slade’s list was to prepare for running security for some rock concert tonight. Normally the prospects and enforcers or other low level members would handle it, but as Slade told Fitz, he wanted to be there in person.
He thought about the three sisters. One dead. One as a groupie for the rock stars that passed through town. And the other one more of a mystery than anything. The mysterious one gave Slade the most intrigue.
Slade always had a soft spot for complicated women.