Chapter One
Present Day...
The heavy iron door swung open with a groan. A single man stepped out into the heat of the day and he paused to look around the area.
Then with the same loud groan, the heavy door shut. The echo was the only sound in the air as dust swirled up around the door.
The lone man stepped away from the walls of cement and mortar. He moved across the gravel of the entrance.
Now two men stepped around the corner from the parking lot.
The man just released from the prison stopped and stared at them.
They saw him and stopped.
All three men now grinned.
“Chewy? Finn?” The ex-con asked. “What the hell are you guys doing here?”
Chewy chuckled. “And just where did you expect us to be on the day you finally get out of that damn hell, brother? We’ve been waiting for you to walk out for over ten years. And you know that. That little fucker Robbie set you up good and tight didn’t he?”
Virgil Rogan or better known as Banger just spent ten years in an 8 by10 cell because Robbie Pierce lied to a judge and made him pay for a crime Robbie committed himself. Virgil’s smile went cold. He held out his hand.
Almost instantly, one of the other two handed him a piece of leather.
Banger put his cut on and pulled it down to cover his chest and stomach.
The leather had been waiting for him all this time.
And even though Banger had bulked up behind those cement and metal walls, the leather still fit him.
He looked over at his brothers, Chewy and Finn.
“Any word on the little puke?” he asked.
Finn shook his head. “Not in the last five years. I followed him over to Troy five years ago and then I trailed him back to Boston.” He shook his head. “He’s seriously whacked, brother.
Chewy snorted as he added to this, “Yeah, but Boston streets became safe again. Apparently, this pukehead had been making his marks by slicing up women. Stabbing them 23 times then carving the word whore in their backs while watching them bleed out. That takes a certain kind of crazy to do something so sick like that.”
Banger nodded. “Yeah, but that’s just the kind of guy Robbie was, wasn’t it?
A special kind of crazy. And I just spent ten fucking years paying for his crime.
I need to find out what happened to him.
” He sighed hard, “But first I have to check in with Boxer. Then I’m going to find the one woman, Robbie has hated since he was a kid, maybe she’ll know what really happened to him.
Maybe she can finally answer some questions I’ve been thinking about for ten very long years.
I think she’s got a lot to tell me and a lot to answer for.
” He paused then asked, “Anybody seen anything of Jeremy lately? He done disappeared a long time ago. Maybe he thinks it’s safe to come home again. ”
Chewy and Finn both looked at him in surprise.
“What you want with that loser?” Chewy finally asked. “He never was more than just a mean bully.”
Banger glared at him. “That prick stole something from me over ten years ago and I want it back. And I’m gonna get it back before I kill him.”
“And if someone already beat you to the punch?” Finn asked.
“Then they better not ever let me find them.” Banger snarled.
Chewy motioned toward the parking lot.
They all walked over and stopped at an old truck. In the back was Banger’s old ride.
Banger just stared at it for a long moment then asked, “Does she still run?”
Finn smiled at him. “You know it, Boss. I’ve kept this ride safe and running for the last ten years. I knew you’d want it as soon as you walked out. Tuned it up just last week. She runs like a top.”
“Who does the second bike belong to?” Banger asked.
“She’s mine.” Funn nodded. “Thought we could ride back to Boston together. Chewy’s driving the truck.”
Banger nodded then went around the back of the truck.
Finn joined him then slid the plank down.
Banger climbed up into the bed and slowly backed his bike down the plank and twisted the handlebars to clear the plank.
Finn backed his bike down as well.
They both got settled on their rides and Banger held out a hand for the keys.
Finn dropped the key into his hand.
Banger closed his eyes as he turned the key and heard the roar of his engine in the stillness of the parking lot. The engine flooded the peace and Banger began to smile. He loved the sound of his own engine and he was grateful Finn had kept it up all this time.
He screamed out of that parking lot and he chuckled out loud for the first time in ten years. Finn just shook his head and followed his lead. Chewy growled at both of them then got into the truck and sped off after them.
An hour later...
They finally saw Boston, then turned toward Quincy.
After a few miles, they all pulled into a private road about halfway between the two cities.
Banger slowed down and rode along the driveway carefully. He remembered every pothole and dip. After a moment, he had to smile. He remembered this road and he finally felt like he was coming home.
He rounded the last curve and pulled to a stop.
Directly in front of him beyond a chain link fence was the clubhouse and he searched every inch of the building that was home.
The front doors held the emblem of the club.
Two screaming falcons with their wings outstretched, claws spread, both Falcons reaching to snatch the skull they were fighting over.
He looked down at the cut and lifted one of his hands to brush his fingertips over the patch on the front. The cut had been embroidered with his club’s name and rank: Banger, VP Screaming Falcons—Boston Chapter.
The front gate opened and he rode his bike slowly through the opening.
Finn followed as did Chewy.
Just as they all shut off their engines the front door opened and a huge man stepped out.
He looked like he’d ridden hard and been put up wet.
The moment he saw Banger, he smiled widely and hurried down the steps.
He paused then stopped beside Banger’s bike.
He just stared at the man on the bike. “Hot damn, you’re out? Finally?”
Banger grinned. “Yup, I walked out of the that fucking place for the last time. I’m a free man.” He inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly. “Damn, the air smells so fresh and so free.
The big man held his large hand out to him.