“If the Demon Riders are in on this, you can count us by your side. I’ve been itching to take Dustin and Shack out for too long,” Banger said.
For a couple of seconds, Steel was overcome with admiration. His brothers were still chanting, and his Insurgent brothers were willing to lay their lives on the line to help him and the Night Rebels out.This is what brotherhood is all about.“Thanks. I’ll take you up on the offer of support. We’re gonna find out who the local distributor is and take care of him.”
“I’ll get back to you with the info,” Hawk said. “Glad Chenoa’s back on track.”
“Thanks.” Steel stared ahead as a bittersweet feeling filled him. Isshe back on track? For how long? Fuck.Steel hung up and the members discussed the particulars for another thirty minutes before he adjourned the meeting.
As he was walking out of the meeting room, Paco came beside him. “Do you have any idea who this local fucker is?”
“I’m not sure. Since the food stamp angle came up, I’m wondering if that asshole Roy’s involved.”
“Roy?”
“Mika’s asshole that she’s shacking up with. He owns that overpriced grocery store by the rez. He’d make a huge profit by buying the cards for pennies on the dollar. Then he can turn them around to get cheap groceries for his store and charge out the ass for them.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Mika’s had several of her food stamp cards go missing in the last eight months. I don’t know, there’s something about him that rubs me the wrong way.” He pulled out a couple of joints and handed one to Paco. “I’ll tell you one thing. If I find out he’s the one who’s distributing smack in Alina, I’m gonna make sure he dies a slow, agonizing death. If he did that to Chenoa, I’ll be damned if I show any mercy.”
Paco grasped his upper arm. “I hear you, and I’ll be right behind you.”
When they entered the main room, it was already packed with brothers, club women, and several hang-arounds. Music blared from the overhead speakers. “What’re you drinking?” Paco asked as they walked across the room.
“I’m not staying. I want to visit Chenoa and have dinner with her.” Steel pulled out his leather gloves. “I’ll see you later.” He and Paco bumped fists, and then he left the clubhouse.
As he raced down the road, he almost called Breanna to see if she wanted to tag along with him at the rehab center, but he decided he needed the time alone with Chenoa. He hoped Mika wouldn’t be there; he wasn’t in the mood to talk to her. She continued to insist that she and Roy live together. A few nights before, they’d had a big fight over it, and he wasn’t in the mood to rehash it.
He pulled into the rehab center’s parking lot and parked his bike, relieved not to see Mika’s car. Striding into the lobby, he went to the elevators and pushed the third floor. Chenoa’s door was slightly ajar when he got to it, so he knocked softly and then went in. Chenoa wasn’t there. He opened her closet door and saw her clothes hanging on plastic hangers. He went back in the hallway and spotted Dr. Turner. The doctor waved at him.
“Where’s Chenoa?” he asked.
“She’s in group therapy.” The doctor lifted his arm and looked at the watch on his wrist. “She should be out in about fifteen minutes. She’ll be glad to see you.”
“How’s she doing? The fucking truth.”
A small smile twitched on Dr. Turner’s lips. “She’s doing great here. The first couple of weeks were intense, but the drug’s out of her system. The worst thing with addiction, especially with opiates, is the psychological pull of the drug. As long as she’s in a controlled environment, she’ll do really well, but the true test will be when she leaves rehab.”
“I fucking know that. Is she strong enough to fight it?”
“I honestly don’t know, Mr. McVickers. Each case is unique to the individual. I wish I could give you more assurance, but with any addiction, the urge is always there. I hope Chenoa is strong and can resist it, but only time will tell.”
“Not the fucking answer I was looking for.” Steel clenched his fists.
“But the only one I could truthfully give you.”
Steel nodded. “That’s fair.”
“Dad!”
Steel whirled around and saw Chenoa dashing toward him. She flung her arms around his neck and he lifted her off the ground, hugging her tightly to him, her legs dangling and kicking against his thighs.She’s so light. I wonder if she’s eating enough. I’m getting her a double cheeseburger for dinner.“How’s my sunshine?” He kissed her forehead, then put her down.
Chenoa giggled. “I’m fine, especially now that you’re here. Let’s go to my room.”
When they entered, she sat on the small couch and gestured for him to sit next to her. The couch faced the window, and he could see the bluish tint of the San Juan Mountains filling the horizon in the distance as he sank down.
“Do you remember how I used to take you on long rides around the mountains?”
“Yeah. It was so awesome. When I get out I wanna go again. I can’t even remember why we stopped doing it.”
