“The asshole’s probably gone underground with that kid pulling through. There’s no way he’s gonna hang around with all the heat on him.” Hawk rubbed his face. “But we know that’s not gonna stop him, right?”
“He’s obsessed with my little girl, and it seems he’s got something against me. He’s not gonna stop until we stop him.” Banger turned to Hawk. “Find out how many damn purple Corvettes with a white racing stripe there are in the state. I want to know the profile of each and every damn owner.”
“I’ll also check Nebraska, Wyoming, and New Mexico, just to be sure. I’m with you—this isn’t any random shit.”
“It’s sounding like some fucked-up vendetta,” Throttle said. “Now that’s gonna be hard to figure out who you pissed off, Prez. It’ll be easier to find the owner of the damned sports car.”
“You’re right. I’ve pissed off a shitload of people, but I don’t want my Kylie suffering for shit I’ve done.” Banger took a gulp of beer.
Jerry narrowed his eyes. “We know the fucker’s a coward. Going after a beautiful young woman to get back at her dad is chickenshit.” Jerry looked away when Banger threw him a quizzical look when he said “beautiful” to describe Kylie. It just slipped out.
Still staring at Jerry, Banger said, “Let’s put it to a vote, because I’m gonna need everyone in on this. I’m gonna ask you all to keep an eye out for the bastard, and for Kylie. I want to find him, and this may be my personal problem, so if some of you don’t want any part of it, I’ll understand. No worries.”
“Kylie’s like our own daughter,” Bear said. Several of the older members nodded in agreement. “Count me in.”
Many voices echoed Bear’s sentiment, and when all was over, the membership voted to find out who was targeting Kylie and snuff him out. When the gavel hit the table adjourning the emergency meeting, the brothers made their way to the great room to unwind. Jerry started to walk out when Banger called him over.
“What’s up?” Jerry shoved his hands in his jeans’ front pockets.
“You don’t need to get too involved with this situation. You’re busy at the grow store, and I want you to keep your eye out at that trailer park and see what’s going on with that couple the Skull Crushers were staying with.”
Jerry wanted to tell Banger that there was no fucking way he wasn’t going to be involved in finding the SOB who’d been scaring Kylie, but he just nodded. He knew Banger was testing him, especially since he’d slipped and called Kylie “beautiful” a few minutes before.It could’ve been worse. I could’ve called her a “hot babe.”He sniggered under his breath. “Okay. Whatever you want.”
Banger’s eyes hadn’t left his once. Staring back, Jerry said, “Are we done here?”
A long pause ensued, neither man making a move until Axe came into the room. “Hawk said you wanted to talk to me.”
“I do.” Banger’s steely gaze shifted to Axe. “Jerry and I are done.”
Jerry tilted his chin and left the room. As he stood guzzling his beer, he made a vow to find the asshole on his own and make him pay for what he’d done. Leaving the empty beer bottle on the bar, he walked out into the bright sunshine. He rode in the direction of the trailer park; he wanted to make sure no more Skull Crushers were lurking around. He was pretty sure the couple the other guys had stayed with was cooking meth. He’d check it out and let Banger know.
As he rode, he thought about Kylie. It had become a habit to think about her most of the time. In a few days, she would be home for the summer. He couldn’t wait to hold and kiss her; he’d missed her too much, and that was a first for him.
Jerry had trouble getting close to people. He chalked it up to being bounced around in foster care for most of his childhood thanks to a drugged-out mother, and a father who was in prison more than he was home. After Jerry and his siblings were taken out of Wanda’s house, he’d heard that his dad killed a woman he’d been shacking up with. He’d been incarcerated ever since he’d pled guilty to second degree murder.
A couple years back, Jerry had received a letter that was postmarked Cañon City. It was from his old man, who’d been sitting on his ass in prison for the previous eleven years. In all the time Jerry was dealing with growing up in the foster care system, he hadn’t heard anything from his dad. It was like the man had forgotten his kids existed. He’d thrown the letter away—unopened—never to receive another one, which suited him just fine.
He’d never belonged to anyone or anything until he began prospecting with the Insurgents when he’d turned twenty. Even though it fucking sucked to be a prospect, and the brothers treated you like you were a piece of shit on their boots, he still felt the tie that bound the members together. It was something he’d never seen, and when he’d received his full patch, he couldn’t believe the camaraderie and closeness the brothers had for each other. It was the first time he understood what it felt like to have a family. Loyalty, love, and trust were integral to the brotherhood, and he embraced it wholeheartedly. He’d been craving it and he didn’t even know it.
The light feeling he experienced when he thought of Kylie coming home for the summer dissipated as he reflected on the club. Him fucking her wasn’t just about Banger and how pissed he’d be; it was about losing the only real family Jerry ever had. It wasn’t so easy to think of walking away. Besides, he’d never forgive himself if Banger and Kylie drifted apart.
Rounding the corner, he rode through the open, rusted gates, parked in front of Wanda’s trailer, and went inside. It was definitely in better condition than it’d been when he was last there, but there were still magazines, empty pop cans, and a few dishes in the sink. Kelsey came out of her room and smiled when she saw him. “Hi.”
“Hey.” Jerry frowned at her too-short shorts and tight tube top. “How’ve you been?”
“Bored. My boyfriend’s gone.”
“Who’s that?”
“The guy who was staying with Randy and Dolores. He just up and left with his friends. They think the cops were on to them because they just left all their shit behind.”
“That asshole I saw the last time I was here was your boyfriend?”
“Not at that time, but we got friendly and started hanging out. I miss him.”
“I’m sure you’ll get over it.”
“She always does,” Wanda interjected. “She’s got a different boyfriend every week. I tell her to enjoy it while she can because when them wrinkles start in, the men don’t want you. Can’t blame them. Who the hell wants to fuck a dried-up prune? You wouldn’t, would you? I bet the whores you screw are real pretty with their made-up faces, high heels, and low-cut clothes that show off their boobs.” She laughed and took a sip from her cup. “This is such good coffee.”
