Benz

It had taken six months. But we were set up.

The two idiots that Officer Peck had arrested were quickly replaced and the rats were sniffing around the docks to get a flow of New Jack Swing into Port Az.

Each time we’d let it in and then contained the damage. Finally, after the six months, we were going to see the next step in the chain.

I was tailing the mid-level guys. They’d been supplying the low-level assholes that Bear allowed to operate in Port Az.

But they had to get their shit from someone, somewhere.

I wasn’t on my bike, but in a nondescript minivan. Not my favorite look, but it worked. No one noticed a family vehicle driving here and there.

I was parked and ready to watch. My job was to see who met the middle man. We were slowly working up.

I wasn’t going to interfere with their deal either. That would be the guys set up in Port Az today, later.

I was here to watch and take a few photos and bring them back to Bear. We’d figure out who was pulling the strings and decide from there.

I was expecting Tico Dawes, Prez of the Hawks in Loredo. We knew the Hawks were trying to get into Port Az. This would be the proof.

My two middle-men walked into the restaurant and sat. I still had a good view. A good half hour later their lunch date arrived.

It sure as hell wasn’t a Hawk. I was surprised. I was also more concerned than I’d have been if it were a Hawk trying to encroach.

Something way bigger was looming over our town.

I took a few photos and watched. Part of me wanted to go in there and beat the shit out of all three.

I wanted to tell them to drive out of Port Az and keep going.

But I knew my job.

This was going to be harder than we thought. The meeting busted up. The two middle-men drove off in the other dude’s car. They had switched. That was one way to get shit into Port Az. Trade vehicles. Simple.

I picked up my phone.

“Maddox, Benz here, yeah, meeting’s over. They’re headed back to Port Az with a trunk full.” I gave him the vehicle description.

Maddox and Domino, two of my brothers, would track the vehicle and its contents. The operation was expensive. That was for damn sure. But we’d voted on every aspect of it.

The MC was going to contain and control.

I sent the picture of the meet up to Bear.

I drove back and parked the family van at the shop.

It was there for an oil change or some shit. The actual family would have no idea they were helping keep New Jack Swing off the streets by allowing a little drive.

I threw the keys to Moose.

“Thanks, kid. All done. Make sure it’s detailed.”

“Yep, gotcha Benz.”

I walked into the club and back to Bear’s office. I guessed we were okay.

He’d tried to make things right with us. I tried to be my old self.

For six months I’d done nothing but club business. I kept my nose out of everything else. I didn’t have a taste for it.

At all. I didn’t know if I ever would again.

I sat down and Bear was looking at his phone.

“Well, this is going to be a shit show.”

“Yeah? Is that who I think it is?”

“If you’re thinking it is Ricardo Pilar, then yes.”

“Yeah, a South American boss right outside of Port Az.”

“We’ll handle it.”

“Yep.” I didn’t have time or interest in any other conversation. With anyone.

“Look. You’ve been a real dick since, well, since that girl.”

“A dick?” I supposed it was true.

“You don’t have a drink with us at all. You ride for hours, alone. Even Axle is worried about it.”

“You sound like an old lady.”

“Yeah? Well, that’s the fucking point I guess. You’re still thinking about Jen, aren’t you?”

“It’s really not your issue. You were right about me not getting tangled up with her any more than I was. I’m fine.”

“Look. I’m sorry. I fucked up. I shouldn’t have ordered you to kill her. We passed that yet?” Bear’s capacity for saying ‘I’m sorry’ was low. I appreciated the effort he was putting in.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Axle, Mama Bear, Kade, they’re all up my ass about you.”

“Are we done?” I said sharply.

“Yeah. We’re done,” Bear sighed.

I had given up Jen.

I had done everything to protect her and the club. I had gone against Bear. It had been the right thing.

But I was dead inside. Bear knew it and so did my brothers.

I had no idea how to change that.

I rode, worked on club business, and watched the hours tick down to night. That was my life since I’d pushed Jen out.

It was probably going to be my life for the rest of it until one of my runs on club business got me killed.

Dying for the club. That was what I was looking forward to.