The military was far too big for me to just casually ask who her father was. That would be like learning someone was from the state of Tennessee and expecting to just know them because of that fact. But it sure was another point in favor of our budding… something.
“Yep. Was in the Gulf War. Didn’t like to talk about it much, though. Said he hadn’t served as other people had.”
It would probably have been better if I hadn’t shown up for service at all, either. After what happened...
Despite the dark places that my mind seemed to want to drift, I was surprisingly at ease for the next dozen minutes before Axle showed up. Part of it was that it felt like we had regained our mojo back, and I suppose part of it was the knowledge that reinforcements were on the way. It meant that by the time the sight of two massive headlight beams from the tow truck showed up, I felt sure I would see Kaitlyn again.
“That’s my ride,” I said as it pulled forward. “Thanks for coming out.”
“Of course.”
We shared an embrace without hesitation, and neither side seemed to want to let go. It almost seemed like Kaitlyn was collapsing into, not fighting against, my arms. I rubbed her back some, and she did the same.
When I pulled back, I almost felt like I could have kissed her. The way each of us lingered on the other, it felt like that wasn’t unrealistic to expect.
But with Axle coming close, and with the way the night had gone, it didn’t feel like the timing was quite right. And the last thing I needed to do was take a risk that ultimately pushed her away.
“I’ll see you around,” I said.
Axle pulled up and hopped out. Briefly, he and Kaitlyn exchanged a look, but neither said anything to the other. As it was, Kaitlyn was in the car before Axle had even made it all the way over to me.
“You with her?” he asked.
“Just working to get her to work for us.”
Axle grunted and squatted down for a look at the tires.
“Jesus,” he said. “Saints?”
“I’m almost sure of it. I was in the bar with her, saw two of them. They walked out, and though I didn’t see them do anything, I know the fuckers did it.”
Axle just shook his head.
“Brewskis is never supposed to have this,” he said. “This is bad. Let’s get you back to the shop. I’ll call everyone.”
“Let me call Lane,” I said. “You get the bike on the flatbed.”
Axle agreed, going to work on rolling up the bike and stabilizing it. In some respects, it was kind of a miracle that a flat tire was the only bit of damage that occurred—they could have just as easily destroyed the engine, the fuel tank, and much more. Perhaps this was their way of keeping the damage limited but noticeable, a sort of warning, but I was still fucking pissed.
I dialed all the officers, having no trouble reaching Red Raven, Father Marcellus, and Butch. I requested an emergency meeting, saying something had happened. I wanted to see how they’d respond.
Regrettably, they all responded in line with their character. There was going to be no catching anyone off guard.If there even is...
Lane was the only one I had not yet reached. But he’d come.
I hopped into the passenger’s seat of the tow truck. Axle drove me back to the shop in silence, the two of us fuming at the audacity of the Saints’ move. Now that Kaitlyn was gone, now that I knew she was safe, I didn’t have to worry about controlling my emotions. I didn’t have to put up a stoic front. I could show how fucking angry I was.
But that also meant that the memories of what had happened in Iraq, what had happened in the lead up to the most tragic day of my life... those all also came to the forefront. And it was not lost on me how similar what had happened then was happening now—a poke in the side from the enemy as if testing us. If all unfolded as scripted, then our leader would demand retaliation. We’d warn against it. We’d go in. And then...
“We’re here,” Axle said loudly.
I didn’t know if he picked up on the struggle that I was going through right there. Still, as a fellow veteran, he had to know when someone else was going down the rabbit hole of emotional struggle and issues. I hopped out of the truck as Axle called out to some prospects to bring the bike into the shop for repairs. Lane, apparently having already gotten the news from someone else, was waiting for me at the entrance.
“Church?” I asked.
“Right now,” he said.
* * *
