My pulse pounds violently in my ears as I stare at the dead paramedic. Suddenly, I’m not a twenty-six-year-old man standing in Pipe’s garage, begging his club to help him save the girl he loves. I’m the young boy standing in the butcher shop, watching the mayhem unfold. Like Sally flipped the switch on the grinder, Jack’s flipped the switch when he pulled the trigger.
Rising to his full height, he turns his dark eyes onto Cobra.
“Have your woman walk the good doctor through whatever it is she needs to do to keep Nico breathing,” he orders calmly.
Cobra stares at him silently with wonderment.
Trying to calculate his next move, itching for a glimpse into his tortured mind.
What will he do and say next?
There is a method to crazy and only Jack knows it.
“Did I stutter?” he asks.
Quickly, Cobra snaps out of his trance and speaks into the phone he’s holding against his ear. Kneeling next to the frightened paramedic, he starts to ramble off instructions. Satisfied, Jack turns his attention to the rest of us.
The transformation from lunatic to dictator, is uncanny and one might wonder how this same man was bird watching ten minutes ago.
“That was Yankovich,” he says. His eyes sweep the perimeter of the room before settling on me. “He’s got your girl.”
I swallow the lump in my throat as I stare back at him, waiting for a plan of action—praying he’ll grant one.
“Says he’ll give her up as long as I bring him you,” he reveals, taking a step closer to me. “He wants Cain’s son.”
Lifting a hand to my cheek, he studies me. His eyes bore so deeply into mine, I wonder what he sees.
“Take me to him,” I say. It’s not much of a demand and more like a plea.
“Oh, believe me you’re going,” he says, giving my cheek a firm pat. Glancing over his shoulder, he eyes the band of brothers behind him. “The question is, who’s coming with us?”
“We go wherever you go,” Blackie replies instantly.
Jack smiles as he turns around.
“Always quick to lay it on the line,” he comments. “While I appreciate that, there are some things I should make clear.”
“We’re listening, Parrish,” Pipe says.
“Yankovich is watching every woman associated with the club. His parting words to me were that Reina looks good holding my son. That means right now there is a strong possibility he has a man parked in front of my house. It also means, there’s likely one parked in front of each of yours as well,” he turns to Blackie. “It means, if Lacey is showering, he’s watching.” His gaze settles over Pipe. “It means, when Layla serves her children supper, he’s watching.” He looks at Riggs. “When Lauren pushes that boy of yours on a swing, there’s a man watching them.” Next, he turns to Deuce. “He’s watching Ally too, probably picturing reminiscing about his time with her.”
Deuce’s jaw clenches and Stryker fists the back of his cut.
“Now, if you’re riding with me, we round them all up and put them on lockdown at my house. Someone needs to stay behind and watch over them.”
“I’ll stay,” Needles offers.
“I will to if you need a second but, I want this motherfucker too,” Bas says.
“Needles, you stay. Bas, I’m going to need you to direct me,” Jack replies.
“I’ll stay with the woman,” Bianci offers.
Sighing, Artie crosses his arms.
“My men and I are at your disposal. We’ll protect your family.”
Jack nods his head in appreciation before turning back to the club.
“If any of you want to walk, now would be the time to do so. If you have a shred of doubt, if you think I’m too crazy to fulfill my duty as the leader of this club, now is the time for you to leave. Take your fucking cut off and go. I won’t hunt you. I won’t kill you. This is your pardon but, it’s the only one you’re ever going to get so use it wisely.”
My eyes drift over the faces of the men I’ve come to call my brothers. It’s hard to believe that I’ve seen every one of them smile at one point. That they are capable of jokes. It’s hard to fathom that they aren’t natural born killers fueled by the ice in their veins. And, as they all step forward it’s inconceivable that they’re all not fucking crazy like Jack.
“We’re doing this my way,” Jack announces, sweeping his eyes around the room. “You don’t ask questions, you just do as you’re fucking told.”
“The Bulldog is coming out, aye?” Pipe questions.
“He’s hungry,” Jack responds before continuing. “No bikes.”
“What are we going to do? Fly?” Riggs questions, pulling the sunglasses from his face.
“You ever drive a bus before?”
“Do I look like Ralph fucking Cramden?”
“Saddle up Ralphie boy, today’s your lucky day. Now, go pull them off the lot. We’re going to need two. Maybe, three.”
Riggs rolls his eyes but walks over to the peg board and grabs the key ring for the buses before jogging toward the lot.
Jack turns to Pipe.
“How deep did you bury those pipe bombs?”
Lifting an eyebrow, Pipe crosses his arms against his chest.
“What’re you asking me, Parrish?”
“Would it be quicker for you to craft some more or are the ones you took out of here accessible?”
“Jesus, fuck, what are we doing?”
“Answer the question, Pipe,” Jack growls.
“If I got three guys digging, we’ll get them out in under an hour but, they’re in Staten Island.”
“Then, I guess you better get your ass over the Verrazano,” Jack mutters, pointing to Stryker and Cobra. “You two go with him.”
Next, he turns to Deuce.
“A couple of weeks ago, you and I had a talk,” he starts. “You get what I asked of you?”
“I’ve been carrying it around in my back pocket waiting for this day to come,” he replies. Jack smiles at the response.
“Very good,” he praises. “Now, grab every fucking weapon you can find and load those buses.”
“Where do you want me?” Blackie questions.
“Riggs can’t drive two buses, you drive the other one.”
“I belong with you,” he argues.
“No, you don’t. If something happens to the both of us where does that leave the club? You drive the bus.”
“What are you driving?”
He juts his finger toward the ambulance.
“9-11 what’s your emergency? I got a dead Russian.”
Blackie nods.
“Impressive, Parrish.”
“Never doubt me, brother. I may be a fucking lunatic but, I’m a manipulative motherfucker at heart,” Jack claims before turning to me. “And, then there was the man of the hour left standing on unsteady legs.”
“You’re riding with me,” he says, advancing toward me.
“I’m ready when you are,” I retort.
“You’re lucky I quit smoking,” he says, waving a hand in front of his nose. “No one light a cigarette around this kid, you’ll blow him up.”
“You poured gasoline all over me.”
“Are you waiting for an apology?”
“Nope, just stating the facts. In case you forgot,” I reply.
My tone may be brazen and maybe I’m being naïve but, I don’t think Jack intends to kill me. For whatever reason, I trust Jack Parrish. I trust him to help me bring back Kelly safe and sound. The revelation of who I am is hurtful and my deceit another knife in his already wounded back but, he’s not like Sally. He’s not looking to teach me a lesson. Beneath the crazy, is a man who understands people make mistakes and while forgiveness may not be his strong suit, he knows when it’s warranted and when it’s not.
Stepping away from me, he turns to the paramedic removing a bullet with a pair of pliers. To the father kneeling over his son, holding his hand. Closing the distance between them, Jack stands behind Wolf and lays a hand on his shoulder.
“Take care of your boy,” he tells him.
I watch as Wolf glances up at him.
Brothers.
Not by blood but by choice.
“I’m sorry for lying to you,” Wolf croaks.
“I’m going to bring your niece back,” Jack promises. “I’m going to end this shit Cain left us all to die in and then we’re going to talk. You and I, we’re going to lay Cain to rest,” he adds, dropping his hand back to his side.
Glancing around the room, he draws in a deep breath and reaches into his pocket. Pulling out the orange prescription bottle, he unscrews the cap and knocks back his daily dose of Lithium. Tossing the empty bottle across the room, he claps his hands together.
“Let’s ride,” he shouts.