Brow furrowed, Hound asked, “A bike?”
“A motorcycle. The Dead Presidents have two requirements: you have to be a vet, and you have to be able to ride,” Eagle explained.
“Had a crotch rocket when I was growing up. I haven’t been on a bike since I’ve been out of the service, but if it helps restore some of my goddamn dignity, I’ll ride a fuckin’ cat if I have to.”
“You gotta stay clean,” I said. “We have a no tolerance policy for illegal drug use. Some of the brothers use weed to help keep their PTSD under control or to manage their pain, but anything stronger than that will get you kicked out immediately.”
Hound nodded, wincing as he leaned against the wall. “Never touched the illegal shit. Morphine is what they’re breaking me of in here and I don’t want to touch the shit ever again. I don’t care how much pain I’m in. It’s not worth it.”
“My chiropractor’s good,” Eagle said. “Fucked up my back once when I was climbing out of a roost. He fixed me up. I’ll see if he can get you in.”
“Thanks, brother. I’d appreciate that.”
The interview was finished, so we all stood. I held out a hand to Hound. “All right. You keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll be in touch. I have a big job at the shop tomorrow, but I’ll swing back by the day after, okay?”
He shook my hand and patted my back. “I can’t thank you enough, Marshall, err… Wasp.”
Eagle, Havoc, and I headed out of the treatment center, stopping in front of our bikes.
“What do you think?” I asked, turning to Eagle.
Eagle was a hard motherfucker to read. His full beard and mustache made it almost impossible to tell whether he was smiling or frowning. The ex-Marine sniper stood a little over six-feet tall. He had his dark hair pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck, and the tank top he wore under his cut showed off both tatted arms. He projected a ‘stay-back’ vibe that those of us who knew him ignored. Link’s sister, Naomi, was the only person I’d seen pull character out of him, and whenever she was around, he was unstable as fuck. The rest of the time, he was like a goddamn stone gargoyle watching over the club.
“Seems like a solid dude who’s been through some shit. Fuckin’ VA. It’s a damn shame we don’t take better care of our vets. I’m worried about him relapsing, though. He fucks up, he won’t get a second chance. Not from us. Gotta make sure he’s coming in at the right time and one hundred percent ready to make the change for good. If he’s not ready and fucks up and gets kicked out… it’ll just put one more thing on his shoulders and I don’t think your friend can handle much more.”
I nodded. Hound had been popping three times the prescribed amount of morphine, and had started getting the shit off the streets to supplement his prescription. It wasn’t like he was snorting coke or shooting up heroine, but it still wouldn’t be tolerated. “Agreed, but I don’t know that he has any other options. If we can’t help him stay clean, who the fuck can?”
Eagle tilted his head in agreement before swinging his leg over his bike. “If you decide to sponsor him, I’ll back you, brother.”
“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.”
Eagle kicked his sled to life and motored off.
Turning toward Havoc, I asked, “What about you?”
“Eagle’s a wise man.”
I nodded. “Hey, how did things go with Julia and your mom? Everyone still alive?”
“Shit.” Havoc chuckled. “I don’t know what the fuck I was worried about. After handling her own parents, Julia didn’t even balk at Mom’s little digs at her cooking and culture. I don’t know what Mom said that finally set her off, but I came in on the ass end of Julia telling Mom she could shove her pot of greens right up her pretentious ass.”
I laughed, imaging the confrontation in my head. The last person who fucked with Julia was now six-feet under. I wouldn’t mess with her. “What did your mom do?”
“Think that’s when she realized Julia isn’t just some weak-ass white bitch who’d cower in the corner and take her beat-down. Julia said, ‘He’s mine, and I’m not letting him go. You need to deal with that and be a part of our lives, or don’t and don’t bother coming back. I love him, and I will protect this relationship at all costs. I’ve already blocked one family from our lives, don’t make me block another one’.”
“Damn!”
“Yeah.” Havoc grinned and kicked his leg over his Hog. “Hottest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I swooped right in there, picked Julia up, and carried her into our bedroom. When we finally emerged, Mom was a whole new person. Friendly, smiling. She and Julia even went shopping together. And when Mom left, they both teared up. Now my sisters want me to bring Julia to meet them.”
“Women,” I said with a shake of my head.
“You’re tellin’ me.”
“I’m glad it all worked out, though.” The good news was definitely welcome after hearing Hound’s story.
“Yeah, me too. Mom wants us to have the wedding back east, so she and my sisters can be involved.”
“Just don’t forget about your brothers. We’ve mostly sobered up from Link’s wedding, so we need a reason to get shit-faced again.”
