“Take a seat. You’re going to learn everything about this puppy.”
I pulled the chair next to me out for Ryder.
He sank while Abel watched with amusement.
“The Nano is a locked-breech, striker-fired, double-action only pistol with no manual safety,” I began, watching as Ryder tried to focus on something he knew nothing about. “First things first: field stripping.” I held the gun in my hand and went step by step on how to take the gun apart. “Remove the magazine and make sure the chamber is empty.”
Ryder scooted closer to get a better look at what I was doing as I let the mag fall into my hand.
“Next you have to depress the striker deactivation button, which is over here on the right side of the grip frame, near the rear, to uncock the striker, which is this right here. Then you turn the disassembly pin on the right side of the gun, here, just above the trigger, approximately a quarter turn counterclockwise. Move the slide forward off the frame, and then lastly, you remove the recoil spring assembly and the barrel—and there you have it.”
I swiftly put the gun back together and handed the firearm to my son. “Now it’s your turn. You need to be able to take it apart and put it back together correctly and quickly before you even think about shooting the damn thing. Practice makes perfect.”
* * *
“Nice one!”I beamed with pride, checking out Ryder’s tight grouping.
It took about a week for me to be comfortable enough with Ryder’s shooting ability to send him off on his mission. I was edgy as fuck. He was calm as hell.
“Thanks.” He grinned as he took the target sheet from me to get a better look at it.
“I think you’re ready.” It was a bittersweet moment. I was proud as all get out of how hard Ryder was working to get ready for what was in store for him and the paternal side of my outlaw core was exploding with elation. At the same time, I knew I was going to have to send him off to fend for himself, and I wasn’t going to be there to protect him like a father should.
“I really am.” He puffed his check out as he beamed over at me.
“So, the Sinners hang around a bar not too far from here called Mac’s. I got you a motel room about a mile down the road from there. Here”—I handed him a duffle bag I had packed—“there are a couple of burners in there, a Beretta APX with the serial number stripped, and enough cash to get you through a little over a week. It shouldn’t take you longer than that. You’re to check in at least once a day. If you go more than 24 hours without a calling in, I’m coming to get you. No text bullshit. Always call and change out your burners often.”
“Got it.” He grabbed the bag from me, shoving it into the saddlebag of his bike.
“Don’t forget: you’re new in to the area, stumbled into the bar. You’ve never been to this part of town. You don’t know any of us.” I sighed—this is it.
“Should I make up a name or some shit?” he asked, getting on his bike.
“Fuck no.” I lit a cigarette. “The less you have to remember, the less of a chance you’ll fuck up and blow your cover. If you tell the truth, there’s nothing to remember when they start in with the standard third degree.” Odin’s words of wisdom rang out in the cool night air. Even though he was a jackass, he had been right a lot of the time.
“Well, here goes nothing.” Ryder was off, and I had a weight in the pit of my stomach that made me want to hurl.
* * *
“This is a bad idea,”I mumbled over the top of my whiskey glass before killing the contents.
“It’s going to be fine,” Abel reassured. “Get that doubt out of your damn head. It’s time to let the guys in on our little plot.”
I got up from the table in the back room and ambled into the main room of the bar. Sending out a loud whistle was all I had to do to call the ranks to church.
Within minutes, all of our men were sitting around the worn oak with cigarettes lit and strong drinks in hand.
“I appreciate all of your patience over the last week. Before we dive into all the crap I have to fill you in on, I just want to remind you that Rave’s memorial service will be here on Saturday, starting at four.” Abel’s face went blank for a few seconds. “It would mean a lot to Crickett and myself if everyone, including your families, came this weekend. She’s been a trooper through all of this and I know she could use all the support she can get right now. She’ll never admit it, but Rave’s passing has hit her really hard, just like I know it is hitting many of you.”
“We’re all coming, brother.” Trent looked around as everyone nodded in agreement.
“That brings me to our big news: we have a mole going into the Sinners organization to get to the bottom of what happened.” Abel didn’t miss a beat in spitting out our secret.
Every man’s eyes grew ten times as they all started mumbling to each other in disbelief.
“How the hell did you pull that off?” Ozzy spit on the floor after questioning our new leader.
I cleared my throat. “Turns out, I have a son. He showed up here the other day and we were able to talk him into helping out the club.”
