Chapter 5
Jack
I was of the mind–set that leaving my gang back in the city to come and lay low out here was messy. Normally when guys start running away like that, with their tails in between their legs, things get nasty.
Fortunately for me I’ve got something money can’t buy. Loyalty.
At least that’s why I thought anyway.
I pull up to Teddy’s for my shift, letting the Harley sing for a minute while I finish my cigarette. As soon as I walk into the garage, the boys look up at me funny and I know something is wrong.
“Call me suspicious,” I say as I put my things down on the side. “But my ears are burning.”
Apart from myself and the owner Teddy, there are two other guys working in the shop. Joyce, and ‘Nut’, some dumb prick that Joyce grew up with. We’re all connected to club culture in one way or another. Teddy did a stint in the state pen a couple years ago with my right hand man Deacon. That’s how I ended up getting the hook up down here.
Teddy’s a few years older than me, Joyce and Nut are a few years younger. For the most part I get on with everyone. Bikers are bikers, wherever you go. There’s something I don’t like about Nut though.
“Jack.” Teddy’s blunt attempt at breaking the silence just ends up making it seem even quieter. “Can you come in my office for a minute? Need to talk to you.”
“Sure thing boss.” I walk across the workshop towards Teddy’s office, passing Joyce and Nut.
“You in trouble now big guy.” Nut whines nasally.
“Go fuck a fork Nut.” I growl back at him. Nut looks like he’s ready to shit himself while Joyce bursts out laughing.
Teddy closes the door behind me and sits down at his desk, motioning for me to join him. I sit down opposite him, barely fitting in the small wooden chair.
“What’s on your mind?” I say as I pull out a cigarette. Teddy pulls one out too and we both light up.
Teddy raises a hand to his face and scratches at his brow.
“I had a call from your buddy Deacon earlier.” He pushes out a lungful of smoke and brushes a hand across his silver beard. There’s a yellow border near the mouth from years of cigarette smoke. Teddy’s a big guy, not as big as I am mind, but I can tell he’s definitely spent time being a strong arm in his local bike chapter.
“Deacon?” I nod silently. “Trouble at home?”
“Something like that.” Teddy pulls out his phone and puts it on the table gently. “Here. My phone records all incoming calls automatically for business purposes. So clients can’t back out of verbal agreements.”
“Smart.” I say.
“Necessity. Too many people try to fuck me over.”
“I find it hard to believe anyone would try and fuck over a senior member of the Crows.”
“You’d be surprised at how fucking stupid some people are.” Teddy laughs and pushes at something on his phone. His own voice starts playing out loud:
“He’s not due in today.” Teddy’s voice says. “Want me to take a message?”
“Yeah.” Deacon’s voice answers back. “Tell Jack I’ve got bad news for him.”
“Okay.” Teddy’s voice pauses, waiting for the rest.
“Notorious belongs to me now. And if Jack thinks he can come back and take it, he’s got another thing coming.”
“Hold up Deacon. I thought you two were friends?”
“Were. That ended the moment Jack took off with his tail tucked between his legs. Made the gang look weak.”
“Okay.” Teddy pauses again.
“And another thing. We’re coming for him. And anyone that protects him.”
“Is that a threat?” Teddy’s responds, calm and collected.
“It’s a warning. You’re a good friend Teddy. I wouldn’t want something stupid like this to come between us.”
Teddy laughs. “So what. You want me to fire him? That it?”
“I’m not telling you how to run your business Teddy. Just giving you a heads up.”
Teddy pushes the screen again and the recording stops. I take a pull of my cigarette and blow out another lungful of air.
“He never did have good telephone manner.” I joke dryly.
Teddy stares at me for a moment then bursts out laughing.
“Alright, cut the shit Jack. You heard the call. Do what you have to do.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” I stand up. “Been a pleasure working with you.”
I hold out my hand to shake and Teddy looks at me like I’m crazy.
“So that’s it? The legendary Jack Shadow gonna run off again?”
“This is my fight Ted. I don’t want to drag you into this.”
“I couldn’t give less of a fuck.” Teddy says, standing up to meet my eye line. “No offense Jack, but I’m not afraid of a guy like Deacon. Without you Notorious are nothing. Everyone knows that. I’m just surprised it took that dip shit Deacon this long to stage a mutiny.”
Much as I hate to admit it, Teddy’s right. On the outside I might look like a river of calm, but on the inside I’m a fucking inferno ready to explode. Deacon has been my best friend since we were six years old, and this is how he repays me? I should have seen it coming. There were warning signs from the beginning. I was just naive enough to ignore them and hope it wouldn’t come to this.
“No offense to you Teddy, but I can fight my own battles.” I roll my head on my shoulders, cracking my stiff neck.
“You don’t have to tell me that Jack. Quite a few of the Crows seem to know about you and the shit you’ve done. I’ll admit you weren’t on my radar before you came down here, but I know enough about you now to respect you.”
“Like wise.” I say nodding back to Teddy.
“Here’s the deal.” Teddy stubs out his cigarette and walks round the table to meet me. “We’ve got connections up in NYC with a few clubs, and we stand to make some brownie points if we help push Notorious out the picture.”
My fists clench hearing someone talk about sabotaging my family like that. But then I realize they’re not my family anymore. Deacon’s turned the club on me, and there’s a target on my back.
“So we’re willing to stand by you.” Teddy holds his hand out for a moment. I look at it and think my options through.
“I appreciate it. I’ll try and sort this out myself though before I let you get involved.”
“I’m already involved Jack.” Teddy says as he opens his office door. “But I get what you mean. Do what you have to do. Just don’t let it fuck with your work hours. You’re too good a mechanic for me to let you go.”
We walk out the office and I laugh gruffly. “Don’t tell me that’s the only reason you’re doing this? Must be plenty other gear heads round here looking to work a shop.”
“You think club politics is complicated? You’ve obviously never tried recruiting decent staff.”
We both laugh and I walk past Joyce and Nut. They look keen to hear the outcome of our meeting.
“So what’s the story boss?” Nut whines at Teddy. “We letting go of this faggot or what?”
I stop and turn around, and see everyone looking at me. Nut has a smug expression on his face, while Teddy and Joyce realize they’re about to witness a murder. I look at Teddy and he gives me a slight nod. I walk up to Nut and he looks at me, the whites of his eyes growing. “Aw come on Jackie boy, I was only messing–”
I bury my fist into his face and Nut goes flying backwards, tripping over the counter behind him. He’s up on his feet immediately, holding a hand over his blood soaked face.
“You fucking cock sucker! Do you know who I am?! My uncle will fucking ruin you!”
“Shut the fuck up.” Teddy growls. “Your uncle won’t do shit. Learn some fucking respect.”
Nut looks at Teddy in surprise, shocked to see his fellow club member isn’t automatically backing him up.
“He’s right Nut. Stop being such a fucking square. You’re not even a full member of the club. We don’t have to do shit for you.” Joyce scoffs in disbelief.
I shake my hand off. I’ve got to hand it to Nut, he’s got one thick fucking skull.
“Alright enough of the shit.” Teddy sighs. “Let’s get to work. Nut go wash yourself up then get rid of this fucking blood.”