Chapter twenty-seven:
present day
Jesse
I breathed in the humid, early morning air and walked toward my bike. My head felt like it had been hit by a sixty-foot truck and now my brain was just rolling around inside my skull.
Casa and Dom sat on their bikes next to mine as a prospect waved and then took off in a truck. I reached them and Casa stood up and pulled me into a hug, slapping my back harshly. When I pulled away he was smiling, a large, shit-eating grin covering his face, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes today.
“You ready to bounce?” he asked.
“Fuck yeah,” I replied, taking my helmet and sitting on the seat of my bike. I looked over at Dom, his expression blank and his gaze faraway. “You okay, brother?”
“Yeah, just tired after being up all night with your attorney.” He lit a cigarette. “Man knows his stuff. Not sure how he turned you attacking an innocent man and almost killing him into you defending yourself, but he pulled it off. Gonna have to keep your ass clean until your hearing in a couple of weeks, though, but you should be okay. I hope.”
I nodded. “Laney okay?”
“Nah, brother, she’s a fucking mess,” he replied with a heavy sigh, like it was him that would have to sort out this whole fucking thing and not me. “And I’d keep clear of Charlie for a while if I was you—she’s out for blood after what you did. You really fucked things up this time.”
“Nice of you to break that down gently for me,” I said and he shrugged. “I can trust you, can’t I?” I asked, and from the corner of my eye I saw Casa watching us both intently.
Dom turned to glare at me. “What are you fucking getting at?”
“Just making sure you ain’t got shit that you’re keeping from me is all. I trust you, like I trusted Butch, and I’d hate for that trust to be misplaced.” I felt shitty speaking out of turn to him, but I had to. Those things had to be said, and I had to gauge his reaction.
Dom scowled darkly at me, his eyes finding a little fire. “You got something to say, you say it. Don’t be creeping around that shit like a peeping fucking Tom. Just spit it the fuck out.”
I knew as he spoke, in the way his shoulders sagged and his eyes held the same pain as mine, that I could trust him, and that my guess was going to be correct.
“Now’s not the time, but when this shit is over, we need to talk,” I said, slipping my helmet on and turning away from him.
“About?” he dared me.
“Butch,” I replied, looking across at him.
Dom fell silent before swallowing and looking away.
I looked over at Casa, who looked confused as fuck as to what was going on, but I wasn’t going to tell him, despite how much I needed someone to talk. Butch had kept certain things a secret for a reason, and for some reason Parker had told me. I wasn’t going to let either man down. Because if Butch said I would look out for Parker, then that’s what I would do.
“Go back to the clubhouse, brothers, I’ve got shit to do,” I said to both men as I started my bike.
Casa’s eyes widened and then he barked out a laugh. “We’re coming with you, Jesse. Who knows what you’ll do next you crazy motherfucker!” He laughed again, but I could tell he was nervous because my behavior was becoming more and more irrational. What he didn’t know, though, was that that shit was over. I was thinking clearer than I had in months now.
I shook my head. “I don’t want either of you a part of what I’m about to do. It’s safer for you both back at the clubhouse,” I replied.
“I’m going with you,” Casa pressed. “It’s not up for debate, Jesse.” For once all his humor had gone, and instead he stared at me straight-faced and serious as fuck. “Whatever it is, I’ve got your back. You want to get Laney back? I’ll help. You want to go finish that other guy off? I’m packing. You got shit to blow up? Let me make a call so we can pick up supplies along the way. I’ve got a shovel in the bed of my truck and a map that’ll direct us to the perfect spot to bury a body that’ll never be found. Whatever it is, I’m down for it—always have and always will be.” His forehead was pulled into a heavy frown, his words clipped and to the point, and I knew he meant every damn word of it.
“Brothers for life,” I said.
“And my life for my brothers,” he returned and held out his hand.
I took it in mine and nodded. I looked at Dom, who started his bike as his only reply.
“You sure?” I asked him.
“Promised Butch I’d watch your back.” He shrugged. “But you mind filling me in on what’s going down?”
“Seems like my brother made a lot of people promise things,” I said with a shake of my head.
