If only he knew. But that motherfucker never will. It’s taken nearly twenty years but I’ve finally cut myself off. I had to, or I would never get the only memory that seems to have glued itself into my brain of mybaby sister out of my head. I barely remember what she looked like and when I try to reach for it, all I see is her floating face down in that tub.
I shake those thoughts out of my head as Raptor heads out. I should talk to Ink sooner rather than later, given he’s requested it. He’ll be expecting me.
He’s in the kitchen when I get to the clubhouse and we head to the basement so he can go over everything with me. Ink is a huge guy, covered in tattoos with a thick beard and short hair, shaved close to his scalp, which shows off the artwork on his skull.
It’s made clear this is a Stroudsburg operation, and we are only sending along one guy to assist. Felix is highly experienced with making runs which was why he was chosen. Someone else from Hudson’s crew would have fit in better but they’re heading to New York again, so I’m the next most experienced.
“Felix is a fucking idiot,” Ink tells me. “But he knew what he needed to do.”
“Meaning?”
“We’re not spying on anyone. King trusts Mace but this is a run he wants to hear back about. If all goes to plan, there’ll be changes to the Stroudsburg chapter.”
My brow lifts and Ink shakes his head. “Not what you’re thinking.”
Okay, so he’s saying they’ll officially be off leash. It’s been a few months with no trouble, so I guess it’s time. I understand what Ink is saying.
“How much do you want to know?”
“You’ll figure out what needs to come back and what doesn’t. Keep your head down and do what you’re told. Their Road Captain is good at what he does.”
Ink doesn’t need to say Mace will be scrutinizing everything I do. It would have been the same if it was Felix. I agree to be at the Stroudsburg clubhouse at ten tomorrow. It’s a cargo protection run which can get dangerous if rival factions or cops get wind of it. I trust my brothers implicitly when I’m on a run.
Working with the Stroudsburg chapter is different. I’d rather not be doing it, but I have my orders.
When I get back to the garage, there is a beat up Toyota parked outside. I know my bookings and this isn’t one of them, which meansone thing, a fact that is confirmed when I see Chaos, one of the old Kingsmen, leaning against the back of the car. He’s smoking a cigarette and scowling at nothing and everything around him.
Mace is standing in my bay next to his bike with a phone to his ear and his back to me. My fists clench and a ripple of annoyance trickles down my spine at the memory of him climbing into Cassie’s car. It takes effort, but I wipe all of that off my face as I head over.
Mace turns as if he senses me and lifts his chin as he talks quietly into his phone, then ends the call. I’ve always been a good reader of body language and he’s pissed.
“That was Ink.”
“I just got back from talking with him,” I reply.
“He fill you in?” Mace asks. I nod and he glances around, looking out through the front of the garage, probably at Chaos. “What do I owe you for the bike?” he asks, instead of elaborating any further.
We settle the bill, Mace handing me a roll of cash without counting it. He checks the bike over and leaves, Chaos driving the car behind him. Tomorrow is going to be shit.
I’d rather suffer through more nightmares, and that is saying a fuck of a lot about how I feel.
It pisses me off to admit it, but Mace’s Road Captain is good at what he does, not as good as Ink but we can’t all be perfect.
No one seems surprised Mace is gearing up along with the rest of the men, so I figure it’s a thing here. King doesn’t come along on runs.
He hasn’t spoken a word to me and is letting Jefferson, their RC take the lead. There were no other introductions made when we all gathered in the room where they hold church.
They’ve positioned me near the back as a blocker, to work alongside their tail gunner. Our main objective is making sure nothing comes up behind us while we’re making the delivery. Another thing I’ve not been filled in about is what they’re transporting, and I won’t ask.
There are eight people making the run and they seem to be taking a hell of a long time to get their shit together. Mace is talking with Talonaway from everyone else. I can’t help wondering what happened in the car with Cassie last night.
She’s made it clear she is not interested in bikers. Why would she give him a ride? It’s a question I’ve asked myself too many times to be normal. But it’s difficult getting it out of my mind.
“How’s it going out here?” I ask Monroe, one of the brothers from our chapter who moved over here, walking a little away from the main crowd.
“Not so bad, most of ‘em have settled into their new reality.”
“Has to have been hard.”
