| |
Kid
It was late afternoon by the time they arrived back at the Sinners compound. Kid immediately made his excuses and called his men up to his room. There was a black gloom lying over all of them because they thought he was about to tell them Hook was dying. Without treatment he will die, but he was getting the treatment so there was hope.
“What did they say to you? What’s wrong with Hook?” Spider asked the minute the door was closed and locked.
“It’s cancer.” Kid explained the rest quickly. “They caught it early and he’s in treatment so there’s hope for a recovery. It’s going to be a long battle but he’s positive and his brothers have his back.”
Rubbing a hand over his rough cheeks he had a fleeting thought that he needed a shave.
“That’s not all. Hook is stepping down as VP, not immediately but he will be gone in about three to four weeks. Blaze has agreed to step up temporarily but he doesn’t want the job. The club offered it to me. They want me as their VP.”
Dizzy pointed a finger at Scar. “I told you they were treating him like he was important or something. The brothers want him as their VP and were showing him the respect due to him.” He turned back to Kid and tipped his head slightly to the side as he looked at him. “You’re not sure if you should even consider it. I don’t know how the others feel, brother, but I’m telling you to take the fucking job. You were born to lead, it’s in your blood.”
“Wow, Boss, that must have come out of left field for you.” Scar said quietly. “You know I’ve had an almost similar experience. I had no one I felt close enough to in Durban and it was a fairly simple decision for me to make. That’s not the same for you. You have deep roots at the Joburg club with friendships that go back almost to the day you were born. It’s one hell of a decision you’re going to have to make.”
“I’m voting yes, take the job.” Spider was sitting on the end of the bed and he leant forward to look Kid right in the eyes as he laid it out for him and the men around him. “You and I both know that the lifespan of a SAA isn’t very long. It’s a young man’s job. Where do you move once your time as SAA is done? I know Hawk and Ice are going to try and talk you into staying but this is your life, your future, we’re talking about here, brother. What is there in Joburg for you except fucked up memories of the corpse and those two bitches. Take the job, move down here and start a new life. Imagine, a new life, without any fucking bad memories haunting your ass daily. A bonus is your brother waiting for you downstairs, he’s a good man and already has your back. And War could have blown you off and carried on with his life. He didn’t. He brought you in, introduced you to his family and his club as his son. You now have roots here, Kid. Move to Cape Town and build on the foundations left by Hook and Orca and make this chapter your own. The same way you helped Hawk to make Joburg his. We all know he didn’t do it alone, bro. I believe in you, and just saying, if Ice and Hawk piss me off I’m transferring my ass to your chapter. Fair warning, brother.” He smirked and winked.
“I transferred to Joburg because shit at home got out of control.” Buzz suddenly said. “And brother, it was the best thing I ever did. Maybe it might be the same for you.”
Kid opened his mouth but Dizzy got there before him.
“If you take the job I’m coming with you, Boss. I’ll transfer in as your lieutenant so you have a man you know and trust at your back.”
“What?”
“What the fuck, Dizzy?”
“Jesus, Dizz, what about Chris? You okay with leaving her behind? You know how tight she is with you.” Scar sounded pissed.
“Scar, I love Chris, you know I owe her the fucking world. But...I’m struggling brothers. I can’t get over the shit that happened. I’ve tried everything, even going to therapy. But every time I walk into the clubhouse the memories are right there. Hawk knows, I’ve told him I’m thinking of transferring. He’s been thinking of sending me to Durban but if Kid takes the job here I’ll be coming with him. No question about that.”
Scar rubbed his hands over his face and shook his head. “I’m not telling my girl about this shit, you will. Are we clear?”
Dizzy raised his eyebrows at him and smirked. “Don’t have to, she already knows. Discussed it with her ages ago. She actually told me to speak to you before I transfer to Durban.”
The men all started talking at once and Kid raised his voice to shut them up.
“Enough. We’re not discussing this now. I just wanted you to know what’s going on. We need to focus on the business with Murchison and not get side tracked. And just because I know you fuckers won’t stop obsessing about this until I give you an answer, here it is. Yes, I’m thinking of taking the job but I need to discuss it with Hawk first. So, let’s leave it there for now and concentrate on getting home in one piece. I don’t trust Murchison not to try some shit with us on our way home.”
“Are we escorting the trucks back up to Joburg?” Spider asked with a frown.
“Yes and no. Hawk has come up with a plan. It will seem like we’re escorting them but as soon as it’s dark we’ll be getting off the highway. The trucks will continue on with their usual escort. There will be vans and closed bike trailers waiting for us. The Sinners will do the same. Hawk wants us back in Joburg as soon as possible and escorting the trucks will take too long. This way we’ll be home in the early hours of Tuesday morning.”
“I love riding, make no mistake about that, but I wasn’t looking forward to spending the next two days on the road following a slow as shit truck.” Buzz said.
“None of us were.” Scar grinned. “This way I get back to my old lady sooner than I thought. I like it.”
“We’ll pull out of here tomorrow at ten to meet the trucks at the yard. I need you to keep your eyes open and to be aware of every single thing going on around you. The Sinners will take the front and we’ll bring up the rear. I don’t want them taking bullets for us. We’ll take it nice and easy and wait for Ziggy’s signal to get off the road. I suspect it will come around eight or nine o’clock tomorrow night. After that it’s hopefully clear sailing all the way home.”
“When do you think Face and her crew will get to Joburg?” Dizzy brought up the subject he had avoided thinking about all day.
“I’ve got no idea. They didn’t give us an indication of when they would be heading out.”
They didn’t stay in his room long after that. Heading down to the common room they joined a couple of the officers and War and his family for dinner. Keeley sat sulking at the table but no one gave her a second glance. Could it be that this was normal behaviour for her? When War first spoke about her that wasn’t the impression he had given him. He had called her sweet and a good girl. She was so far from sweet and a good girl it wasn’t even funny.
No sooner had that thought crossed his mind when she spoke directly to him.
“I’m so sorry I was rude to you when we met. I...I didn’t know what I was talking about. Maybe we could start over?” She asked softly.
Kid had been hoodwinked by his whore of a sister too many times to fall for his brand new little sister’s shit. So he just shrugged and continued eating his dinner. He didn’t have to wait long for her to try again. That fucking little voice she put on irritated the shit out of him.
“I...I didn’t know he...he was a bad guy. He seemed so nice and his family was so nice to me.”
Kid’s head jerked up but so did every single man’s head at the table. Marcia had given a shocked gasp as she turned to her daughter.
“You never said you met his family. Why not?” War clipped out.
“Daddy, you never asked.” She said in a baby little voice and Kid could see it irritated Rock as much as it did him. The man lost his patience and put his big hands up right in front of his parents’ faces when they tried to talk, shutting them down. Kid could see they were shocked at his behaviour.
“Stop, Keeley, just fucking stop with the stupid little voice that has the folks believing all your bullshit. You’re sitting at a table with men who aren’t your mommy or daddy. We don’t fall for your baby bullshit like they do. And I can’t blame Dad, you are his baby girl but you’ve been using it to get away with shit for years. It stops right here right now. I won’t allow you to fuck my parents and my club over because you’ve got a hot twat for a man who sells woman and children into sexual slavery.”
The shock and horror on her face was very real and her blue eyes immediately filled with tears. The voice was back to normal but filled with tears when she spoke.
“They...they are human traffickers? I didn’t know! They were so nice and treated me like I was going to be part of their family. I didn’t think it was strange that they wanted to know all about my family and I...I told them about you.” She threw her hands up fearfully as Rock cursed viciously and erupted out of his chair. “Nothing about the club! I swear I didn’t tell them anything about the club! I don’t know anything anyway. I just told them my dad was the president of the Sinners Sons MC and...and that my brother was in the club as well.” She got a little of her bravado back as she threw her hair over her shoulder and snarked at him. “Not that you’d ever trust me with anything you do around here. You think I’m a child and not to be trusted.”
Rock’s hands slammed down on the table and glasses and cutlery rattled as he leant over it towards her. “Which you just proved to be the truth. You’re not to be trusted. Once this lockdown is over you will be escorted off the premises and you won’t be welcomed back unless either of our parents are with you.”
War snarled angrily. “Rock, calm the fuck down, you’re going too far with this”
Rock whirled around to face his president. It was obvious to everyone that it was the club’s SAA addressing him now and not his son.
“Prez, did you inform your daughter that her boyfriend ordered a hit to be carried out the night he was supposed to stay at your house? Is she aware that by giving him the code to the gate she gave him the means to enter your house and kill you in your sleep?” Rock’s voice was as cold as a storm wind straight up from the icy region south of the country.
“What?” Keeley whispered. “He was going to kill dad? Why? Why would he do that? He said he loves me. He asked me to marry him!”
Rock laughed mockingly and shook his head. “Wake the fuck up, Keeley. He doesn’t love you. He used you to get to dad and the club. Alexander Harrison’s family is marrying him off to someone else. Not that she wants to marry him, but that’s a talk for another time. For now, hear me when I tell you, he was fucking with your head. He does not love you. He despises you and thinks you’re weak and useless. Which you proved to be true when you sold your family out to that cocksucker.”
“Rock, that’s enough.” War finally interrupted his furious tirade as Marcia held on to her sobbing daughter.
Rock turned to his president and nodded before slowly subsiding into his chair but he didn’t stay silent. He let them all know where he stood.
“She needed to know what she has done and that there are consequences to her actions. You’re great parents, don’t get me wrong, but you spoilt her and indulged her endlessly. It can’t carry on, and you’re going to have to make some changes. And I stand by my ruling. She goes once lockdown is over until she has learnt what it means to be a part of this family. The Sinners Sons MC family.”
“I know what it means to be a part of this family.” Her voice was soft but there was a hint of temper to it.
War answered before Rock could because it was obvious Rock was ready to lay it out for her again.
“If you knew what it means to be a part of this family how do you explain what you did, Keeley?” War’s voice was filled with disappointment. “You ignored several of the rules we have in place to ensure your mother’s safety. You hid your relationship with an enemy of the club then brought him into your mother’s house. I don’t know if you realise what could have happened or if you just refuse to acknowledge it. His people could have entered the house and killed your mother then waited until Rock and I arrived and killed us as well.”
The tears were back and turned to full out sobbing. “I’m...so...so...sorry. I...I...I don’t...know why I...lis...lis...listened to him. He...he...lied to me. I’m sorry, so sorry.”
War looked at his wife. “Baby, take her to her room to rest. I’ll be up in a second.”
Marcia nodded and Kid saw tears glistening in her eyes as well. It had to be fucking difficult to listen to a much-loved child fall apart after realising she had fucked up.
The silence around the table was heavy as Marcia escorted a still sobbing Keeley out of the dining room. War waited until he was sure they were far enough away before he turned to Rock, fury all over his face.
“The next time you presume to do my job for me I will punch you back down to prospect, do you understand?” He snarled viciously.
Any other man would have crumbled but not Rock. His back was ramrod straight as he faced his president and father.
“Yes, Prez.” Rock bit out through clenched teeth. Shoving his plate away from him he stood. “I’m no longer hungry.”
He turned to Kid and he saw deep anguish and rage in his brother’s eyes.
“You should be fucking glad you’re walking away from this tomorrow. I would if I had the chance.” With that he shoved his chair away from him and stalked out of the room.
Shock and fury battled for the upper hand on War’s face, fury won. “What the fuck!”
“That was a mistake, War. He was doing his job and you know it.” Burn warned.
“He overstepped his job description. And he’s my son and should have allowed me to deal with our family problem.” War barked at Burn.
“You’re wrong, Prez.” Wheels tried. “He was doing his job. Protecting you and the club.” Wheels shrugged. “You and your old lady have always been blind to her faults, this time is no different. She almost got you and Marcia killed, Prez. You can’t lose sight of that fact.”
“None of you understand, you can’t. Until you have children of your own you won’t get it.” War gritted out.
The men sat silently looking at their president and Kid knew he had to try and explain something crucial to War.
“I know there’s no way Rock is ever going to forget what happened at this table. As far as he’s concerned you chose Keeley over the safety of you, your old lady and the club. And then you humiliated him in front of his brothers.” Kid said quietly as he stood and gently moved his chair back under the table. “I’ve been where he is now and let me tell you, hate is but a small step away. You need to fix this or you’re going to lose your SAA and your son.”
With that he left and went looking for Rock. His brother needed someone who understood exactly how he felt.
And Kid did.
He found him outside at the fire pit with a bottle of brandy in his hand drinking straight from the bottle. As he sat down next to him Rock started talking.
“They thought they were only going to have the one kid, me. Then mum fell pregnant with Keeley and they were over the moon happy. It wasn’t an easy pregnancy and she almost lost her several times during the eight and half months she carried her. When Keeley was born they were told there would be no more children, it was too dangerous for her health.”
He drank deep and Kid waited patiently for him to continue.
“I was ten at the time. The only child of the club president and his old lady and fucking spoilt but I wanted my little sister and along with everyone else adored her. She was such a sweet little girl. Always helping and with such a soft heart. It changed around puberty. Her group of friends suddenly changed from a nice group of girls to entitled little rich bitches. And her favourite words became ‘I want’. I want a phone. I want a credit card. I want a new room. I want a pool. I want a car. And my folks gave her everything she wanted. All she had to say was, I want.”
He shook his head with a sad look on his face.
“The club was going through some heavy shit and I was largely left to my own devices. My dad no longer had time to come to my rugby games so I stopped playing. I got into all sorts of trouble to try and get his attention. Nothing worked. At sixteen Burn found me at a drug den and helped me to get my shit straight. He taught me to shoot, to fight and how to stand my ground. He was there when I needed advice about my addiction, girls, sex, all of it. My dad was too busy with my mum and Keeley to notice I had a problem or that I had grown up without his guidance.”
Rock held the bottle out to him and he took it and swallowed down a burning gulp. He continued his story as they shared the bottle back and forth.
“I don’t want you to think our dad’s a bad guy. He’s not. I know he loves me, I do. He tried to reignite his relationship with me when I started prospecting but by then it was too late. I kept our relationship shallow, the way it became after Keeley started demanding all his attention. We get along because we have my mum and the club in common. I admire him as a president and as a brother. For the rest...” He shrugged sadly.
Kid knew he shouldn’t because it was going to cause shit but he asked anyway. He asked because his little brother needed him.
“Would you like to come to Joburg with me tomorrow, brother? There’s a man I’d like to introduce you to. Bulldog Walker, he’s my father more than the fucker whose name I carry ever was.”
“Are you serious?” Rock looked shocked.
“Fuck, yes. I like you, Rock, and I would like to get to know you better. I want you to meet my club brothers and hang out with them. And there’s a bonus if you decide to come.” He nodded towards the building next door. “They will be there too.”
Rock suddenly smiled wide. “Hell, yes I want to come with you.” The smile disappeared. “But he’ll never give permission for me to go with you.”
Patting him on the back Kid grinned. “You won’t be asking, I will. And I can be very persuasive, brother.”
Looking at the smiling man beside him Kid knew he had made the right decision. Rock needed a bit of distance from his family and this would be the ideal opportunity. He felt sure there was a brother who could step up and cover for Rock for the next few weeks.
Holding a hand out to Rock they shook and then he helped his brother up and to his room. He was swaying wildly by the time he got him upstairs and settled on his bed. Looking in his bathroom he found headache tabs and set two plus a bottle of water on the bedside table before he left.
He had a president to see.
War wasn’t in his office or the common room and finally one of the prospects told him he was upstairs with Marcia and Keeley.
Fuck. Drawing in a breath he ran up the stairs and marched down to the door to the presidents’ suite of rooms. After knocking he waited and steeled himself for what was coming.
Marcia opened the door, her smile a tiny sad thing.
“May I speak to War for a second please?”
She waved him in and Kid stepped through the door but didn’t move further into the room. He could hear Keeley sobbing and the rumble of War’s voice.
“Please, have a seat.” She grabbed his elbow and tried to lead him into the small sitting room but Kid stayed where he was.
“It’s just a quick word I need, Marcia.”
She was just about to insist on him taking a seat when War walked in, looking tired and somehow old. He felt sorry for him but not sorry enough to not ask for what he wanted.
“War, sorry to disturb. I need a quick word.”
“What can I do for you, son?”
“I want Rock to come home with me tomorrow. You need distance from each other and I want to get to know my little brother.”
Marcia gasped and when he looked at her she had a hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes.
“I...fuck, that’s not something I can..” War started but Kid didn’t let him finish.
“He comes home with me and you and Marcia get time to deal with Keeley. And Rock gets the time he needs away from the three of you. He needs this, Prez. I wouldn’t have come to you with this if it wasn’t vital that he get away for a while. If he stays you’re not only going to lose your son but you’re going to lose your SAA. The way he’s feeling he’s about ready to walk away.”
He didn’t beat about the bush as he gave it to his father and fuck, the hurt in the man’s eyes was fucking huge.
“I failed him, Kid. Somehow, somewhere, I failed him.” He dropped his head and stared at the floor before he looked up and there was determination in his eyes and on his face. “Okay, you take your little brother with you and you keep him safe. While you’re gone I’ll sort Keeley’s shit out and when he comes home we’ll sit down and sort things between the two of us. I want my son back.”
Drawing Kid into his arms he hugged him hard. “Thank you, son. Thank you for taking your brother’s back. I promise we’ll sort this out and we’ll be a family the way we’re supposed to be. Not this fractured disaster we’ve got right now.”
Kid nodded and looking in his father’s eyes gave him what he knew he and the man in front of him needed. A connection.
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll take care of him, I promise.”
War grabbed him, hugged him hard and slapped his back once.
“See you boys in the morning.” He mumbled as he stepped away.
Kid had to get out of there and quickly walked out.
In his room he texted his prez to let him know he was bringing his brother up for a visit.
He didn’t wait to see if his prez answered him.
He would check in the morning.
