“Shut the fuck up,” Siege tells him. “You’re ignorant for thinking you can come into our territory and set up a fuckin’ meth operation without us retaliating.”
“Look, we didn’t know this was Savage Legion territory. We know how to pay tribute. We can make a deal.”
Siege makes a slashing motion with one hand to shut him up. “No deals. Only choices. I’m in a generous mood today. So, I’m gonna let you choose your own fate. The thing is, you’ve only got two options. I can either drop you where you stand or I can leave you for the cops. Your choice.”
The one who seemed to be speaking for them grumbled, “That’s not much of a fucking choice.”
Another one speaks up. “I’ll take my chances with the cops.”
Several others chime in with their agreement. Finally, their leader agrees as well.
I can hear Rigs on the phone, talking to our police contact. His voice low and professional, giving coordinates and making it clear this would be a bust for seven men looking to set up a meth lab on the outskirts of town. Harvey will come collect what’s left and file it however it needs to be filed in order to keep these men off the streets of Las Salinas.
Siege turns to Rider. “Destroy any drugs they’ve managed to make. I doubt it would be safe for human consumption anyway. But leave what they’re cooking now as evidence for Harvey.”
“You got it, Prez.” Rider seems happy to be tracking down drugs and destroying them.
I step back, finally able to relax. Rick stands off to the side, hands shoved into his pockets, gaze fixed on the ground. I know he’s embarrassed, but I can’t help but think there is a lesson to be learned in all this.
Siege approaches me, stops close enough that I can hear him without anyone else needing to. “Good job sussing out this setup,” he says. “How did you know it was here?”
“Saw the smoke and decided to investigate. Once I caught a whiff of it, I knew exactly what we were dealing with and called it in.”
“You did good work.” Sparing a glance at Rick, then back at me, he adds, “Get him outta here. This is why we don’t bring prospects on missions.”
I accept the order with a slight nod. “Yes, Prez.”
Truth be told, I feel good about what we did here. We kept our town clean today. That’s our job. We take off on our bikes and pass Harvey’s cruiser as it pulls off the road. I feel good about what we did here today. We’ve done our share of keeping Las Salinas safe from a meth epidemic.
Rick is quieter now, keeping his distance and matching my speed without crowding me. I have the uneasy sense that the real storm in Rick’s life hasn’t began but I can feel it coming. When it does, no amount of protocol is gonna keep him safe.
***
When we pull into the clubhouse, he doesn’t get off his bike right away. I know my best friend well enough to know when he wants to talk. He finally says it. “I fucked up back there.”
“You did,” I say. We agreed long ago not to lie to each other to spare feelings. He’d be upset if I lied to him.
There’s a pause before he says, “I didn’t mean to. I just have a hard time staying still for long periods of time. I have this restless energy that needs to get out.”
“I know,” I tell him. “The thing is, if you don’t learn to contain it, you’re gonna wind up dead.”
A short silence spins out between us. “If I could, I would. You have to know that.”
“I know that you’re a smart man. If you set your mind to something, there’s nothing you can’t do.”
“Maybe,” he replies dejectedly.
“Look, you have to decide how much you want to be a member of the Savage Legion. If you want that patch and the belonging and the brotherhood that comes along with it,” I say sternly. “Then you have to stop acting like everything is fun and games, get focused, and discipline your mind so you can discipline your body. If you don’t want the patch enough to do all that, then step back.”
“You’re right,” he says quickly. “I just wanted to be useful.”
When we finally walk inside, the smell of coffee and breakfast is waiting for us. A few prospects are scattered around, tasked with watching the clubhouse while the brothers were out saving the world.
Larry, another prospect, walks over. I can tell by the look on his face that he knows about my friend’s fuck up and is dying to bring it up. Before he can open his mouth, I give him my breakfast order and tell him to make it for two.
Rick glances up at me. “Thanks for that. I wasn’t really in the mood to deal with Larry this morning, you know, on top of everything else.”
“Don’t worry, bro. I’ll always have your back.”
