Chapter 4 #2
I got nothing left for that man.
A stupid girl.
It’s an insult.
A big ‘ol fuck-you from the Feds.
And he let them do it.
Not that I was gonna cut Brick any slack about this shit—a rat, is a rat, is a rat. Maybe, before I did my time, I’d have listened to his argument.
It’ll keep us all out of prison.
They’re gonna pay us.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
But after Whitefall, fuck that. Hell, no. No fuckin’ way.
Rats are the lowest scum of the earth.
And I’m in a club with forty-seven of them.
Diesel appears at my side, matching my pace as I head toward the Dyna. His massive frame blocks the sun, casting me in shadow.
"This isn't what you think," he says, voice pitched high enough for me to understand that this is his assigned role in the charade we’re playin’. "I need to tell you something, Legion…"
I sigh, blowin’ out a breath. “OK.” I play my part too, because I know every set of eyes is on me now. Including Brick’s. All the Feds.
I am the weak link and they need me to turn or whatever they’ve set up here, it all goes to shit.
“He’ll wave the fine. He just… wants you on board, ya know?”
I stop walking because I’ve reached my bike. I look Diesel in the eyes. I want to hate him right now. I want to cuss him out and call him a traitor.
“Patched in,” I say. “What a fuckin’ joke.”
“I got you,” he says. Sighin’ a bit. “I felt the same way.”
“Until?” I look behind me, watching Brick watch me. All the Feds are laughin’ and jokin’. Like splittin’ up brotherhoods is just something they do on Tuesdays.
“Until they gave me no choice.”
I look back at Diesel. “Is that what this is? They’re gonna kill me if I don’t pay up?”
“No. Brick... he doesn’t want that to happen, Legion. He gave you the fine knowing you can’t pay so you’d—”
“Agree to be the rat with him? With you? With all of you?”
“Look,” Diesel says. “I don’t like it any more than you do. Do I wanna be a rat? Fuck, no. But do I want Mama Jo to go to prison for shit I did? Another ‘fuck no’.”
“Is that what they’re threatening, then? The families?” I picture Ratchet and June. Their little ranch. Six kids, the dog, all of it at risk.
If I had that, I guess I’d turn too.
But I don’t have that.
I got nothin’.
“Let me ask you somethin’, Diesel. And I want the truth now.” I look him in the eyes. “If I say no, you still got my back? Or was that nothin’ but words to you?”
He lets out a long breath, lookin’ over his shoulder at Brick. When he looks back at me, his words are low again. Meant only for me. “I got you.”
I press my lips together and nod. “OK. Good to know.” The sun beats down on my neck as I swing my leg over the seat. The engine roars to life beneath me, the familiar vibration traveling up my spine.
As I roll away from the garage, I scan the compound one last time.
I ride away from the clubhouse with nowhere to go and twenty-four hours to live.
Because I won’t ever be the rat.
I’m never gonna be the rat.
I’d rather die.
And if I’m gonna die, then I got business to take care of.
Almost two hours later, Rimrock Academy appears over the ridge like something from another planet. All perfect sandstone buildings and manicured lawns. Green in a state that's mostly dust and dirt. The kind of place where the grass gets watered twice a day, no matter how much it doesn't rain.
I slow the bike as I approach the gate, suddenly aware of how I must look. Three-day stubble. Leather cut with the Badlands patch. Blood still under my fingernails from Butch, even after washing my hands.
The kind of man they build places like this to keep out.
The guard booth is manned by a guy in a pressed uniform who straightens when he sees me coming. His hand drifts toward something under the counter. Not exactly subtle.
"Help you?" he asks, eyes flicking from my face to my cut to my bike and back again. The bike idles so loud, I can barely hear him.
"I'm here to see my sister. Mercy Kane." My voice is loud and rough. "She's a student."
The guard's expression doesn't change. "You're not on the approved visitor list, sir."
"I'm her brother. Her legal guardian." The lie comes easy. I was her guardian, before Cash took her.
"I'll need to see some ID."
I reach slowly for my wallet, careful to telegraph every movement.
The last thing I need is to get shot by some trigger-happy rent-a-cop.
My license is new, at least. Savannah pulled in some favors while I was recovering and got it renewed in the mail.
Something that didn’t impress me much when she handed it over, but makes me feel the loss of her even more, here in the moment.
He takes it, studies it like it might be fake, then picks up a phone. The conversation happens without me. A low voice I can't quite make out. But he never takes his eyes off me.
The minutes stretch. One. Five. Eight. Ten. The sun beats down on my shoulders, and sweat trickles down my spine.
I keep cool. Waitin’ it out.
There’s no way I’m leaving here without seeing Mercy, and these people have to know that.
How can they cut their losses when Legion Kane shows up at the gate?
Let him in.
Finally, he hangs up and points down the drive. "Go ahead. Park at the main building and check in at the office." He hands back my license. "Visitor pass will be waiting."
"Thanks," I say.
The gates open and I ride on.
The road curves through campus, past buildings that look more like museums than classrooms. Kids in uniforms stop to stare as I pass. Their whispers follow me like a wake. The bike is too loud here, too dirty, too real among all this polish and pretend.
I find the main building easy enough. It's the biggest one, with stone columns and a clock tower. The kind of place that screams money with every brick. I park the Dyna near the entrance, swing my leg over, and stand for a moment, rolling my shoulders.
Every eye is on me. Students in their pressed uniforms. Teachers clutching books to their chests. A groundskeeper who's stopped his zero-turn mower to watch. I'm a wolf that's wandered into the sheep pen, and everyone knows it.
I give them all a general salute, and make my way inside where the air conditioning hits me like a wall. The lobby is all polished wood and glass cases full of trophies. A woman at the front desk looks up as I approach, her smile professional but wary.
"Legion Kane," I say before she can ask. "Here to see Mercy Kane. I was told there'd be a visitor pass."
"Yes, Mr. Kane." She slides a plastic badge across the counter. "We've notified Mercy's teacher. She should be here shortly."
I clip the badge to my cut, feeling ridiculous. Like putting a name tag on a gun.
But clearly, these people are trying their best to make me happy so…
Then she’s here. Mercy’s quick footsteps pound on the marble floor, running despite whatever rules they have against it. Her face is flushed, eyes wide with fear.
"Legion!" She skids to a stop in front of me, searching my face. "What's wrong? Is it Savannah? Is someone hurt?"
Fuck. It didn’t even occur to me that comin’ here would send a signal like that. "Nothing's wrong, Merce. Everyone's fine."
Her breathing is still too fast. "But you're here. In the middle of the day."
"Just wanted to see you, that's all." I try for a smile, but the lie feels wrong on my face. "I miss you. Thought maybe we could take a walk. If that's allowed."
Mercy's eyes narrow slightly. She's always been too good at reading me. "You never just visit."
"First time for everything."
A woman appears behind Mercy, clipboard in hand. "Mr. Kane, I'm Ms. Holbrook, Mercy's advisor. Mercy can have thirty minutes for her visit, but she'll need to return for her next class."
I nod. "Understood."
"There's a walking path around the quad," she adds, gesturing toward the door. "Please stay on campus grounds."
"Yes, ma'am," I say, automatically.
She’s got the nerve to blush before quickly turning and walking away.
Outside, Mercy guides me toward a stone path that circles a grassy area. She's different already. Stands straighter. Walks with purpose. Her uniform is pristine.
"You look good, Mercy." I mean it. "School treating you right?"
She nods, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "It's pretty fun. I never thought I’d say that about school, but I like it. The food's really good. And I have my own room!"
"That so?"
"Yes, a dorm room. I share it with four other girls, but it's still mine. And I'm in the science club. We're gonna build rockets this semester!" Her voice picks up speed, excitement breaking through. "And I’ve made a horse friend. Her name's Emma. We ride on Mondays and Wednesdays."
I listen as she rattles off more details—teachers' names, books she's reading, the fact that they get ice cream on Fridays. All the little things that make up an exceptional childhood. Things I never could have given her.
"So you're happy here?" I ask, when she pauses for breath.
Mercy looks up at me, suddenly serious. "Are you okay, Legion? You look tired."
"I'm fine." This lie comes easier. "Just been working a lot."
"At the club?"
I nod, not trusting my voice.
"Savannah says you can visit with me on the weekends at the estate. If you want." Her eyes search mine. "Do you want to?"
What I want is to grab her and run. Take her far away from Cash, and Brick, and everyone else who's trying to use us. But that's not what she needs.
"I want you to be happy, Mercy. That's all I've ever wanted."
She's quiet for a moment, thinking. "I am. Happy, I mean. It's weird, but...I like it here."
Somethin' inside me eases at her words. At least I've done one thing right.
"Then this is where you should be."
We walk the path twice, Mercy pointing out buildings and telling me stories about her classes. Normal things. Safe things. I listen, and nod, and try to memorize every detail of her face.
When Ms. Holbrook appears at the edge of the quad, I know our time is up.
"Gotta go," Mercy says, glancing at her advisor. "Will you be there on Saturday, then? At home?"
Home. Which isn’t the trailer. It’s the Ashby Ranch. "I'll try." Another lie. I don't know where I'll be on Saturday. Don't know if I'll be anywhere at all.
She hugs me quickly, fiercely, then pulls back. "Tell Savannah I said hi."
"I will."
I watch her run back to Ms. Holbrook, back to her new life. She turns once to wave, and I raise my hand in response.
The walk back to the bike is longer somehow. More eyes on me. More whispers. I don't care. All that matters is that Mercy is safe. Happy. Better off without me.
I swing my leg over the Dyna and fire it up.
The clock in my head is tickin'.
Hours slipping away, bringing me closer to midnight.
Closer to Savannah.
Closer to whatever end Brick has planned for me, too.