Chapter 20 #5
“A used dirt bike was my first bike. And I worked on that one myself, too.” He cocks his chin at the Kawasaki again.
“You want the tension corrected, I have to elevate the back wheel, loosen the axle, back the locknuts off, move the adjusters as needed on both sides, so on and so forth. Check the alignment when it’s all said and done.
” He glances back at me. “ I don’t want to bore you with every detail .
Are you satisfied? Convinced of my competence to handle the task? ”
“There’s a bike jack and a set of paddock stands over there under the workbench. The thirty-two-millimeter wrench is in the middle drawer of that red tool chest beside it.”
Legion immediately goes to work. I watch him move about my shop as if he’s right at home, further grating my nerves in the process.
“You’ve been scarce since crashing the Jokers’ clubhouse,” I say.
He’s got the rear of the bike up on the jack and moves to the tool chest, retrieving the large wrench. “ Idle hands are the Devil’s playthings.” He shoots me another antagonistic grin over his shoulder.
“Don’t start with your bible shit.”
“It’s a common misconception.” His sneer only broadens when he turns to face me, going on as if I expressed an interest. “Only The Living Bible of 1971 imbues the concept of idleness into the translation. It was Benjamin Franklin who first said it. We have Protestant theological assumptions to thank for the misinterpretation of Proverbs Chapter sixteen, verse twenty-seven. What the bible actually says is? — ”
“ I don’t fucking care .”
He chuckles. “Not much of a Christian despite the foundation of your MC, hmm? Did God fail you, too, Savior ? Or have you always been a nonbeliever ?”
When I don’t respond, his eyes narrow on me. “I wonder where your belief truly lies when it comes to the Wiccan ways of your wife .”
My jaw clenches. I know what he’s about to insinuate. I’m not going to play into this mind fuck. “You didn’t come here to discuss theology .”
“No. I didn’t.” He sighs, probably disappointed I didn’t take the bait. “I’m afraid I come bearing bad news.”
“I wouldn’t expect any different from you.”
Legion moves to the opposite side of the bike and crouches to remove a bolt. “It seems your county is not as safe and clear as you hoped.” He puts a little more torque into the wrench, and the bolt loosens. “They’re still operating in your county.”
“Where?”
“I have every intention of showing you.”
I glare at him until he rolls his eyes and continues.
“The salvage yard, for starters. There may be a small cook trailer hidden in the back of the lot.”
Jason Caldwell’s cousin owns that yard … “You’ve seen it?”
“Not yet. Do you think your cop friend is privy? Perhaps he’s on the take .
His wife recently had another child, didn’t she?
That’s three children on a rural cop’s salary…
They don’t pay all that well in these parts, you know.
.. Certainly nothing comparable to what police earn up north… New York, for instance.”
Was that a fucking dig about my financials and Vanna being with Jack Nero? A well-off cop! Does Legion know Jack’s brother recently paid us a visit?
I don’t want him to know I picked up on anything, so I keep my tone level.
“If this intel is accurate, Jason doesn’t know about it, and I’m not going to involve him if it is.
Now, I can’t imagine you like the sound of your own fucked up voice this much, so why don’t you plainly say what we both know you’re hinting at? ”
“ Hinting? I believe I just gave you an exact location.” His sinister little sneer lets me know I’m right about the double speak.
“Well, my night is booked.”
“My, my… what would your citizens say?”
I ignore his obvious taunt and grab the work order papers on the bike I just wrapped up. I can feel his cold eyes on me while I pretend to review, buying myself a few moments to regain my composure.
“I haven’t broken that hero’s spirit in you after all, have I?”
When I glance at him, I’m surprised not to be met with a condescending expression. Hell, I’d even venture to say he seems concerned.
I scoff, “You haven’t broken anything , and you never will.”
Another sneer slices his features. “Brace yourself for the shock of this confession, but… I am glad to hear it.”
“After everything, why would you be?”
“She deserves the best.”
“ Now I know you’re full of shit .”
“Why don’t you make the necessary arrangements and accompany me tonight?” he goes on, ignoring the accusation. “I’m sure you and I could benefit from the bonding exercise in preparation for the coming holiday.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
He shrugs and turns back to the bike. While making another adjustment on the chain, he replies, “Your wife invited me to Friendsgiving .”
“ Son of a bitch!”
“You’ll get no argument here!”
I slam the paperwork down on my workbench and grab the cell from my pocket, about to call her and make my displeasure known, when Legion stands and steps toward me.
“You should know she did so out of obligatory feelings. I’d advise against giving her any grief over the matter.”
He’d advise! “ Obligatory feelings? The fuck did you pull with my wife now?”
“You intercepted the roses I sent. Did you really think you’d be able to prevent me from presenting her with proof of my kept promises?” He chuckles and has the gall to tisk at me. “I brought her the patches I removed from each man’s cut.”
I can feel the rioting pulse in my neck, hear the thunderous swooshing of blood in my ears. “Let me get this straight… You brought physical evidence of your crimes to our home?”
“Nothing says true love like thirteen counts of murder in the first.” He pridefully grins, and a nearly overwhelming urge to slug him in the jaw courses through me.
“Though, do you honestly consider my promises a crime ? Come now, Savior … I know who you really are, despite this valiant attempt at family man … Let’s go eradicate some bad guys , vigilante. ”
“I need to check on my wife.”
“ She’s fine , Keegan.” Legion rolls his eyes at me.
“The gesture earned me an invite to your table. She’s busy baking, hardly distraught .
Besides, we burned them. There’s no evidence of anything at your home.
The only phone call you should be making is to a prospect or a brother to cover your shift. ”
While he rambles on, I shoot Vanna a text.
You invited LEGION to dinner?
Vanna: Wow. He works fast. I was going to talk to you about it tonight.
I angrily type out my reply and hit send.
Consider him uninvited. Next time, I’d appreciate a conversation in advance.
Vanna: I’m sorry. You’re right. But do you really have to uninvite him? He has nobody.
Obligatory feelings. Fucking douche bag! I back out of the text with Vanna and bring up Ford Focus to inform him of his mandatory shift tonight. Then I shove the phone back in my pocket.
“Hurry the fuck up with that chain or I’ll do it myself,” I growl at the sub-human equivalent of a thorn in my side.