Pope
He fell off the chair and hit the floor with a thud. For a split second, no one moved. No one could.
Then I was across the room and kneeling beside him. He’s out cold. Cas is on his other side and checks for a pulse. He nods when he feels one and I slap his face twice.
“Rick, brother, come on, wake the fuck up,” Cas urges.
As if he could hear Cas’s demand, his eyes slowly flutter open and confusion sets in.
“What happened?” he asks.
“You said you had a headache and then you crashed,” I tell him.
“Help him up into a chair,” Cas says, taking one arm as I take the other.
Once he’s seated, I get him a glass of water and Cas hands him a couple of his pills he’s always carrying around these days.
He takes them and downs the water and slams the empty glass on the table. He’s frustrated and I don’t blame him. I know he struggled being in the hospital but I thought he was doing well since he was discharged.
“You’re staying here tonight…”
He cuts Cas off looking like he’s been delivered a blow to the gut, “I’m fine now, I want to go,” he assures our president.
“I know you want to but we want you alive, you need rest. I should’ve listened to Kyla.”
Ricky groans and says, “Don’t tell her about this,” he begs.
“Too late,” Sparky mutters, looking over our heads.
We turn to find Kyla standing in the door way.
“You don’t want to hear it, but I told you so,” she sighs.
“Not now, Ky,” I warn.
Cas stands and goes over to her.
“He’s not coming with us tonight, watch him and if this shit happens again, you tell the brothers that are staying back and they’ll get him to the hospital.”
“I’m right here, no need to talk about me like I’m fucked.”
“Hey,” I say, getting his attention, “You asked my daughter to marry you, don’t fuck it up so soon ‘cause you won’t sit out for one night.”
He looks at me and I can see the pleading in his eyes. I happen to like the fucktard who loves my daughter so I want him around. Maybe one day I’ll admit to him that I’m glad she’s with him. She’s already proved she could do worse.
“You’ll still be there when we take them out, no one will take that away from you. We just don’t need you crashing out again when we’re grabbing the college prick.”
“Fine.”
I can understand his disappointment. If it were me, I’d be pissed and unapproachable, more than I already am.
“I’m going to crash on the couch as I’m not needed for now,” Ricky grumbles.
Kyla and I follow him and while she faffs around him, I lean against the door frame.
“Babe, can you fix me a sandwich please?”
I’ll give him credit, he isn’t out right telling her to leave him alone, he’s learning fast and trading her a distraction for a few moments of peace.
He offers me a smile and I nod, both understanding he isn’t being a dick.
“I like having you around, rest up and don’t fuckin’ die on us.”
He barks out a laugh and nods, “I’ll try.”
I head back into the kitchen and Kyla is slicing a tomato.
“Hey, look after him and don’t throw this in his face.”
“I won’t, but I was right,” she says.
“Women usually are,” I grunt and head outside.
I head for my bike as brothers prepare their rides and undo my side bag. I take out my trusty balaclava and roll my neck. I’ve never failed a mission wearing it and I don’t intend on returning tonight without Kyle. Next, I dig out my flick knife. I doubt we’ll need anything more intimidating for a college cunt.
“Thomas?”
I turn to the voice that I’d do anything for and Sally stands nervously, with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Don’t you start worryin’, woman.”
I close the distance between us and I wrap my arms around her. Her fingers latch onto my belt and she looks up at me.
“You’ll be the one worrying if you refer to me as woman again.”
“I’m sure I will be,” I agree, stepping away from her, hiding my amusement.
“I heard Cas say to dress down so I laid out a clean shirt and hoodie for you on the bed. And…”
“And what, darlin’?”
“Colleges are crawling with CCTV, be careful. Not that I’m worrying,” she smiles.
“I’ll be careful, if a bullet hasn’t take me down, a camera stands no chance,” I wink.
Over the next few hours, I stay outside and keep to myself. It’s different this time, back in the day while we were waiting to leave, the time didn’t feel like it was dragging because Oak would be rallying around riling up the brothers, making sure everyone was ready mentally and physically. The club now is raring to go but, like I said, it’s not the same.
The sun set an hour ago and my skin is crawling to be on the road. I clock the time, five minutes to nine.
Five minutes before we leave.
Noah and Niall come bounding out of the cabin, I tip my chin, signalling for them to come over. I’ve known Noah for years, he’s a good man, loyal and strong. I don’t know much about Niall, I suppose tonight he can prove himself to me.
“We’ll drive the van and steal a car when we’re close to the college. The place will be crawling with cameras and we don’t want any comebacks. We’ll wait for him to leave and then pick him up.”
“Pick him up how?” Niall asks.
“By any means necessary,” I grunt.
The plan is simple, it doesn’t take a genius to follow it. They both take in the plan and I go to find Cas. The sooner this show begins, the happier I’ll be. All this sitting around is driving me crazy.
It doesn’t take long to find him in the kitchen with Alannah, sharing a quiet moment between them. He holds his hand gingerly to her stomach. The last time anyone saw him this soft with his wife, she was pregnant with Leo.
I clear my throat, as much as I don’t want to interrupt, the need to leave is overtaking me.
Cas’s hand drops from her stomach and points towards the door. I make my way out as he kisses Alannah goodbye.
The brisk night air hits my face and I realise how numb I was earlier not to have noticed the temperature dropping.
“She’s pregnant,” he grins, closing the door after him and keeping his voice down.
“Congratulations, brother. She’s a fine momma.”
“Yeah, she is,” he boasts, “Are you gonna be okay being a brother down tonight?”
“We’ll be fine,” I assure him.
“When we picked up Melissa, I acted like I was in Danny’s club. It might work for you too.”
“It would be easier if he came willingly,” I hedge.
“But, if he doesn’t, there’s no harm in throwing a punch or two,” he smirks, “Head out, and I’ll meet you next at the Mill.”
I leave my president, I don’t seek out Sal or Kyla to say goodbye. They know I’ll be back.