"Are we really doing this?"
"Sticking to the rules? Yes."
Southpaw gave us specific instructions about how we're meant to conduct ourselves when on a job. You never know if there's some fancy ass camera or microphone somewhere... We need nicknames to keep ourselves safe and keep the upper hand during any potential prosecution.
It's not like it's impossible to get into trouble. Look what happened to Sinclair...
Ruger gave me a new patch with my club name "Zeb" when I finally patched-in last summer. It feels good to finally make this official. I never thought I would find a place amongst civilians when I got home from Libya. The club is as much of a family as the Army with just as much drinking, but a lot more fun and fucking around.
Reed rolls his eyes. "Condom is about five minutes out. Think we should bust in there?"
"The cops might be on their way."
"Not with all the protests going on these days."
There's always protests going on these days, it seems. Nothing ever changes. It's still $7 for a dozen eggs. I still have to fight with the VA to get proper treatment for the missing eye. It's not a one time thing to lose an eye. I've had to change everything about my life.
Shit, that bullet might have taken out a piece of my brain for all I know...
Hog shrugs. "So what? We let these guys bleed out?"
Condom beats the clock. Hog and I only get a chance to wander around the cars checking out the scope of the damages before Magnum's bike wheels around the corner. He looks pissed before he takes his helmet off. The man has anger issues, I swear.
It doesn't help that California has been on fire for a whole week and he lost at least 15% of his properties to the burn. Scary shit happening out there.
"I tapped a police radio," he growls. "Someone reported gunshots around this area. Was that completely necessary?"
"They got Bear upstairs," I respond to Magnum. Best if I handle the dialogue with Magnum and not let that redhead's temper enter the conversation. Magnum strides closer to me, forcing me to inhale the strong stench of whiskey as he peers into the Chrysler's front window.
"Who the fuck are these people?" he growls. "I need to get started on the drive to LA."
I shrug. No clue. If I had to guess, I would say they were mobsters. But I'm not an expert on any of that Godfather shit. The guys we shot just look like stereotypical guidos.
Magnum grunts disapprovingly and runs his hand through his hair. Frustrated. Nervous. Not drunk enough. I can't really tell. Reed's dumb ass responds with idle conversation.
"Riding the bike all the way out west?" Hog asks. "Shit."
Magnum fumbles around his jacket for a small pistol, answering Reed as he loads her up.
"No. Packing her up on the back of the truck," he responds. "But I need to get going. We have the club meeting in a few weeks and Southpaw insists I attend."
I nod along with his reminder about the club meeting because I'm looking forward to a few days of getting piss drunk and getting into trouble. I'm no Shaw, but I don't mind a bit of gambling.
"Newbies getting patched in," Reed says agreeably. "Well. Better head upstairs and see if Ethan's dead or not."
Magnum smiles. Reed has a dark sense of humor. Most of us do. We grew up living rough with a strong sense of family, but a stronger sense of independence and freedom.
It's a good sign that Magnum doesn't seem worried.
"Bear's smart. I trust he's found a way to hold them off."
"Only one way to find out," I point out. We enter the building, three giants standing in the landing of an old Boston condominium building with hardwood flooring stained a deep mahogany and plush red carpet on the steps.
It's so quiet, you could hear a bullet drop into a chamber from three floors up. Eerie. Blood rushes past my ears and every sense heightens. I wish I could pretend to hate the thrill of the hunt.
The army changes you. That much is true. It's hard to explain exactly how much to civilians. I wouldn't even bother trying.
"Which condo?" Hog whispers, scanning the foyer for clues. I find the list of mailboxes and scan the names. Magnum and I say the answer together, but I don't know how his drunk ass figured it out without checking.
