Chapter 10

 

Dragon drops onto the couch next to me before lighting a cigarette.

“How’d that meetin’ go?” He asks as I bring my cigarette up to my lips. I don’t really want to discuss this, but it is Dragon.  I turn to look at him.

“Bullshit, as always. You ever feel like you’re suffocatin’ in shit?” That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling lately. Martin has that hold over me and I can’t figure out how to break it.

“All the time, brother. Life has a way of doin’ that to you. We make the best of it, though. Roc, you know I got your back. Whatever the fuck it is, however high up it goes, I got you.” I nod my head and bring my beer to my lips. I take a long pull before looking back over at him.

I tell him, “I know. This isn’t a club issue, though. As long as I can handle it, I will. I won’t drag my brothers into more shit than needed.” Dragon shakes his head but I see the grin on his face.

“I know you won’t, but that offer is always on the table, Roc. I mean it. Don’t let shit get too far gone before askin’ for help.” He says, before shoving off the couch. I let all that sink in as I watch him walk away.

I know they would help me out but I don’t know how far Martin’s reach goes. I know the threats he’s made to me. I can’t let my brothers go down for my fuck up. A fuck up I made so many years ago. I scan the room before my eyes catch on Devil’s. He’s watching Angel as she cleans up the main room. The look in his eyes is feral.  I know Angel’s been around for a while but she’s still young. I’ve never looked at her being anything than the club whore she puts herself out there to be, but judging by the look on Devil’s face, he has. His eyes track her every movement. It amuses me to watch him so lost in someone. Devil is a tough son of a bitch with an exterior made of brick but that look right there, that’s something deeper. He must feel my glare because his eyes come to meet mine. I won’t push him on that shit. I just raise my beer in a silent salute. He nods once before turning away from me.

“What’s up?” Ghost asks when he drops down next to me.

“Do you believe in fate, Ghost?” He seems to ponder that for a minute before opening his mouth.

“Sometimes, I guess. Fate can be a shaky thing, ya know? You think you’ve found somethin’ great, but it’s ripped away in the blink of an eye. Sometimes you just have to rock fate’s boat, brother.” I lay my head back and let that sink in. Is that what Aria is? Could she be fate knocking on my door?

 ***

I stake out this Malcolm idiot from the front seat of my truck. I want a quick kill so I can get the fuck out of here. The thing that pisses me off the most about this shit is that I don’t get paid. Yeah, insane, right? I want to be paid to kill people? I know guys that make good money doing this type of shit.  Me? I do it to keep my ass out of prison. Consider the irony in that situation. I spot the guys coming out of the restaurant. There’s only two of them and this street isn’t that busy. It should be a quick shot, and I’m gone. If only my plans worked out that way. I climb out of the truck, checking the gun in the back of my jeans as I walk toward them. As I’m about to walk up the sidewalk, I suddenly stop.

“What−the−fuck?”  I whisper the words to myself when I see the woman’s face that comes out behind them.  Her eyes instantly find mine. Pure confusion etches across both our faces. I shake my head before turning to get back in my truck.

“Roc. Hey, wait a second.” I don’t know what to say. Why is she everywhere I am? Why is she always there when I need to handle something? Is this some kind of sick coincidence?

“Roc!” She yells again. This time her hand lands on my shoulder before I drop my head forward.

“How do you know about this?” I don’t turn to look at her. She has to be involved somehow. That’s the only explanation as to why she’s everywhere.

“What? Know about what?” I spin around to look at her now. Her eyes are wide but she’s confused.

“How do you know about me?” I growl between my teeth. Aria tries to take a step back but I don’t let her. I grab her shoulders before spinning her around, slamming her against the side of my truck.

“Tell me!” Hollering in her face, she blinks back tears that fill her eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She’s lying. She has to be lying. She’s here. She was there, outside Martin’s office. A man’s voice comes from behind us.

“Everything ok, Aria?”  I glance over my shoulder to see Malcolm standing there with the look of fear etched across his face. What the hell is going on? I release my grip on her before grabbing the gun from the back of my jeans.

“You don’t know? Huh? Well, watch this.”  Aiming it right at Malcolm’s head, I pull the trigger.  Malcolm’s blood splatters as his body drops to the ground. Aria’s screams pierce the silence. I spin around quickly to grasp her shoulders.

“Tell me again−how you don’t know anything!” She can’t look at me. Her body trembles in fear. What the hell am I doing? Running my hand through my hair, I can hear the sirens. I grab Aria and shove her into the truck before climbing in behind her. This night has gone to complete shit.