“I wonder if they’re releasing failed bait dogs too.There are way too many skinny pit bulls down by the warehouses.”He looked around the group.“Ace and I want to take a little ride down that way.It doesn’t have to be club.”
Twisted scoffed.“As if.I’ve already heard from Wrench and Po’Boy because it’s going to be a dual-club thing.”
Jock looked slowly around the circle of men assembled here for no reason other than he’d said he needed them.This is the good stuff.This is the family I’ve always wanted.“Brothers, thank you.”
“Goes without saying, but Baton Rouge would be all in on this if you need.It’s not too far for a casual warehouse run either.All you ever have to do is ask.”Cherry shrugged.“We kinda like dogs too.And fight rings inevitably bring greater scrutiny from the law, whether that’s local, state, or federal.Something none of us wants.”
Pony grinned.“Hey, anybody here old enough to remember when Jimbo had that fundraiser for a bunch of dogs?”Jimbo was Twisted’s grandfather and a past president of the IMC, one of the founders.“My daddy said it was a regional deal.I was barely patched into the-club-that-shall-remain-unnamed—”
Wildman coughed, hand cupped over his mouth, and Jock made out the words “Vicar’s Wrath,” a club long ago disbanded and folded into IMC.
“Asshole,” Pony continued.“I was gonna say two of the rescued dogs wound up at my house.Best dogs I’ve ever owned.”
Twisted smiled, the expression a little more wistful than Jock could remember seeing before.“Jimbo was the shit, man.He could dissect a prospect using damn few words and assail an enemy with a preacher’s skill, wrapping a lesson in sharply cutting language.I remember that fundraiser.We did a poker run, open to all clubs, and also had a 50/50.I wanna say Po’Boy won that.Probably half paid for his bike.”
“We should do that again, get ahead of the need.If there is a fighting ring, there’ll be a lotta dogs to rescue.”
“Dogs that are all going to need spay or neutering, deworming, vaccines.If we can cover all that shit, it lowers the bar on adoptions.”Jock felt a thrill of excitement.“I’m down for a poker run.If we get enough clubs signed up, we could do alternating bars and clubhouses for destinations, winding up back here at the end of the day.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea.”Twisted pointed two finger guns at Jock.“I’m glad you’ve got the time to plan it, too, brother.Bam.Bam.You’re on fire today.”
“Fine, I’ll do it, but I’m picking up Maynard today, so I wanted to let you know I won’t be in the garage for a few days.Want to make sure he gets settled in at home with Tank.”
“Seriously?I want that fuckin’ bike done by whatever run this winds up being.”Twisted looked annoyed, then broke into a wicked grin.“Maybe I’ll need to borrow your bike until my new one is finished.”
“Fuck you, Prez.Not happening.”Jock shook his head.“Nope.”
Twisted threw back his head and laughed, then held his hand out for a fistbump.“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“Are you without a bike to ride?We can sort something, boss.”Pony looked concerned.“I know Penny’s bike is running, though.”
“No, I am not without a bike to fuckin’ ride.I just bought a new one a few weeks ago and haven’t been able to ride it yet.”
“You got a bike without even a test ride?”Wildman looked mildly amused.“Unlike you, my friend.”
“Garage rot.I picked it up at an estate sale for pennies.It’s going to be beautiful when complete, though.Isn’t it, Jock?”
“Oh, maybe.I’m only doing the mechanics of the thing.”
“No, you’re doing the whole thing, asshole.”Twisted’s brows dipped deeply, creating a furrow between his eyes.“Whole thing, Jock.It’s all on you.You better be doing what we’d talked about.”
Jock grinned.“Yes, I am, boss.It’s gonna be pretty.”
“Fuck yeah.”Twisted kicked back in his chair, balancing on two of its legs.“Now this run.Let’s do it pretty quick.Far enough out to make sure we get commitments from the clubs we want to invite, but not so far that it’s forgotten before it even happens.Let’s say two, maybe three weeks?We can call the clubs today.It being Sunday, they’ll likely all pick up.”He let the chair fall back onto all four legs.“Now works for me.Nice suggestion, Jock.”He grabbed Jock’s shirt sleeve, pulling him to his feet.“Let’s get rollin’.”
“Glad you’re ready, Prez.”He followed Twisted into the office room in the front, the only place in the clubhouse with a phone line.
“Wrench,” Twisted shouted, already having dialed the phone before Jock could fully enter the room.“We got a good thing going, my brother.”
And so it went for the next while, Twisted making each call, Jock taking down information, and Twisted yelling at everyone who walked by to come in and help.After a couple hours, the room was filled to bursting, and Jock walked out to take a break.He looked at the time and scowled.He still had to pick up Maynard from the vet and then manage the greeting between the two dogs.
He stuck his head back into the room and pointed at Twisted, who was on the phone with yet another MC president.
“What?”Twisted didn’t bother covering the speaker.
“That’s your last call, Prez.That’s Retro, right?”
“Good to hear you again, Jock.”The president of the Bama Bastards MC over in Alabama spoke loudly.“Glad to hear we’ve got a good cause for a fun run.”
