20. Chapter 20
Leigh
“Guess I missed all the excitement last night,” Hammer said as I approached him at one of the poker tables.
The crowd was light since it was midday. Some of the guys were probably at work, some still sleeping. But Rogers, who looked like Captain America, Bama, and Butterbean, a huge fucker with a buzzed head and a baby face, sat with him. The classic rock music was so low it was almost indiscernible.
Bama was like me and worked where he was needed. With all the shit happening, he’d been holed up at the clubhouse, with Linny, or driving around Sofie.
“Did that little fucker give you my fine?” I asked when I got to the table.
Hammer was relaxed into his chair. The others sat straight or leaned on the table.
Hammer nodded. “Yeah. And they told me you’d be in touch. You know what I gotta do then?”
Bama, who had been leaning on the table, straightened. “Prez, he didn’t come to chill. He came to get her.”
Hammer stood. “Stay out of it, Bama.”
Bama started to stand up, too, but I put my hand up. “It’s all good, man. This ain’t about you.” I squared my shoulders. “I knew what would happen if I came up here. And I’d do it again, if she asked.”
Hamner ran his hand down his face. “I was clear, brother.”
“I know. Fair is fair. I showed back up, didn’t I?”
“Well, let’s go then.” Hammer turned and headed to the door that led down what used to be the service worker hallway.
We all followed him down to one of the rooms that used to be storage for the casino. It was now where we interrogated people. Normally when someone went in, they didn’t come back out.
Rogers waved me to the middle of the poorly-lit room before he closed the door. Hammer was pulling open the cabinet that held various items that helped loosen lips.
I pulled my cut off and Rogers took it for me, then I pulled my shirt over my head and balled it in my fist.
Bama grabbed a chair from the side of the room and put it in front of me. “Sorry, brother.”
I flipped it around, sitting and bracing myself on the back. “Not your fault. Let's get this over with.”
Hammer walked over with the cat ‘o nine with black and red leather straps and black handle. “Ten licks.” His mouth was a straight line.
Looking up, I said, “Hustle up. It’s cold as fuck down here.”
Hammer sighed then addressed the others. “Leigh was told he’d be fined and flogged if he came here before I said it was okay. He came. He paid the fine. Now he’s taking ten licks.”
Butterbean and Rogers stood, watching. Bama crossed his arms, looking at the wall past me.
Hammer slowly walked behind me, so I dropped my shirt between my thighs then gripped the back of the chair. “I’m ready.”
I drew a deep breath, then blew it out hard when Hammer laid the first lick down. Bama flinched, but the others saw it coming.
Taking another deep breath, I waited for the next hit.
Crack.
The air forced from my lungs again. It stung, but wasn’t the worst thing I’d endured.
By the sixth, though, it burned and my arms trembled a little as he laid the next down. But I didn’t make a sound, and didn’t move my body.
My jaw clenched and my knuckles were white as I took the next one.
Crack.
My teeth grinding was like nails on a chalkboard. But my back was buzzing. Not quite numb, but the space between fully feeling it and only feeling the connection of the leather to skin but not the heat of it.
Crack.
I focused on a deep breath, ready for the next.
Crack.
My eyes closed as my body shuddered. Another deep breath.
Crack.
Blowing out the breath like I’d been holding it for minutes, I still gripped the chair tightly as I took a few deep breaths.
“Debt is paid,” Hammer said from behind me.
My back burned and my skin was practically vibrating as the endorphins wore off.
The door to the cabinet closed and Hammer walked beside me, sticking his hand out. My jaw clenched, but I grabbed his hand, and he pulled me up.
“Look, rules are rules. Next time–”
“Won’t be a next time, prez. But I get it. I could have given you a heads up.”
He was still gripping my hand. “You’re welcome back.”
I squeezed his hand, leaning closer. “You get a little chubby from that shit don’t you?”
He grinned but didn’t answer me. Instead he asked, “How’s our girl?”
Squeezing harder, he smirked but then said, “Your girl. How’s Glenda?”
I let go of his hand then reached back to get my shirt. I hissed as I worked it down my back, trying to avoid touching my raw skin.
Rogers handed me my cut and I eased it back on, blowing a big breath through my nostrils. “She’s gonna be okay.”
“Good. We got problems, so we need you back in the saddle.”
Rogers cut in. “Prez. Let's go to the office.”
I followed them out, adjusting my back as I walked, trying to get it to stop stinging and my shirt from rubbing against it.
“You good, brother?” Bama asked as he walked with me.
“Glad it’s done. What’s going on?” I asked.
“Fucking Scorpions.”
Filing into the office, we all took a seat and I adjusted until I could stand the sting on my back.
“Informant told us the Scorpions have been sniffing around about twenty miles from here, asking questions about the Bastards,” Hammer said.
“Any leads on what they’re asking for?” Butterbean asked.
“So far no, but we got someone working on that.”
“Have they set up shop again nearby?” Bama asked.
“We think so,” Rogers answered. “Just trying to figure out where.”
“What do we do now?” I asked.
Hammer looked at me. “I want extra hands on deliveries. Don’t go outside our perimeter without talking to me first. Should have details in the next couple of days and we’ll check it out.
If you see or hear anything, though, report back asap.
We may call Church soon so be on alert.” He flicked his wrist.
Rogers stood up and we all followed suit. Hammer stopped me as I got closer to the door, though. “Hey.”
Turning, I answered, “Yeah, prez?”
“I don’t like having to do that shit to my brothers.”
I shrugged, but immediately regretted it as my shirt moved over my back. “Rules are rules, prez.”
Hammer, stared up for a beat, then said, “It wasn’t just about you showing up here, though.
You had your head up your ass, hadn’t been by until I told you not to, you and Bama got into it, then you flew off the handle at me.
You need to understand I wouldn’t loosely throw out punishments for one fucking misstep. ”
My chest filled with a deep breath and my fist balled, but I nodded. “You’re right.”
“We all love her, but club first. It’s not just for us but for them, too.”
He was right about that, too. But me putting the club first was how all this shit got so bad. There had to be a way to balance it. “I won’t make her feel like second fiddle, Hammer. I can honor my duties and her.”
He slowly nodded. “As long as you make the right decision when it counts.”
“We good?” I asked. I couldn’t try to explain what I meant to him. I’d do right by the club, but not at her expense again.
“Yeah. Just keep your phone handy. I won’t call ya ‘til I need ya for sure.”
“Thanks, brother. I’m gonna see if she got all her shit and get it back to the house.”
“So she’s staying with you, then?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
He nodded. “Well, better get to it, then.”
I finally left the office and walked the back way to get to the main hall. But I stopped when I was passing the tall windows that overlooked the pool in the back. “What the fuck?”
Glenda was out there with Linny, Allie, and Pinkie. They were dancing around a fire pit they must have dragged onto the concrete around the pool.
Bama caught up to me and stopped. “What the fuck are they doing?”
“Beats me. You wanna help with the boxes?” I asked.
“Yeah. And listen, you were right.” He held out his hand. “We good, brother?”
I took his hand, pulling him close. “We’re good. Just don’t touch my back.”
He patted my shoulder, then pulled away. “Let's go move this shit before they decide to sacrifice one of us.”
Looking out once more, I grinned. I sacrificed myself for her comfort already. I’d sacrifice my life if it meant hers was happy and safe.