Deceived (11 page)

Chapter Three

Zack returned from his tour of duty disillusioned. Even the old saying ‘war is hell’ doesn’t seem to convey the true horrors of the experience. Watching men you’ve come to love like brothers having limbs blown off from a land mine or shot to death by sniper fire tends to turn your sensitive barometer way down. The only way Zach felt he could get through his second tour was to desensitize or else he’d go crazy. He put his life on the line many times for his fellow comrades, and would have died for them as many died for him. But eventually, amid all the chaos of death and destruction, something clicked. Many veterans come back and seek help for PTSD, and others are able to work through it on their own. But Zack didn’t want help, as he didn’t think he needed it. His turn into the darkness came not from the ravages of war, but when he received the news from home that his brother was dead.

He and his brother Zane were close. He looked after him when his father took off when they were still in grade school. Zach became the man of the house then at the tender age of 11. Zane was eight and his mother had to work two jobs to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Since she wasn’t home much, Zach cooked meals, helped his brother with homework and tucked him in at night.

But as the two brothers aged, Zane took with the wrong crowd. As much as Zach tried to steer him the other way, the more Zane rebelled. Eventually Zach gave up. He wasn’t Zane’s father and the responsibility was wearing on him. Since the recession had hit the area, jobs were scarce, so Zach decided to join the army with its promise of a huge sign up bonus. At least he’d be making a monthly paycheck, of course that meant also being shot at. Zach didn’t join the army out of a sense of duty; it was more of an escape and a way to make a wage.

Yet, he hadn’t counted on how the war would change him. You can only see so much violence before it no longer affects you. Emotions turn cold as a survival mechanism kicks in. Or maybe it was already in Zach and it took surviving a war to bring it to the surface. His brother Zane had turned cold, and he never saw a day of combat. But hearing about his brother’s death was the last piece of the puzzle emerging from Zach’s inner being. He turned a corner, and once he did, there was no going back.

Once he was discharged, four months after his brother’s death, Zach looked up some of Zane’s old gang. He was told from the remaining members of the Hell Hounds that it was believed Zach and the other three men were killed out of retaliation for the murder of the KOBMC’s VP. Of course, they neglected to tell him of the butchering of Rose, not that it would have mattered much to Zach at this point.

So Zach decided to work slowly, build up his own gang until they were strong enough to take on the KOBMC. In the meantime, they needed funding, so since the police department was full of lame asses, why not take from the rich in home invasions. Most of the burglaries were done when occupants weren’t at home, but a few, including Raul’s, ended up with people inside. They always wore masks so identities weren’t a problem, but Zach wanted to make a statement. Killing might bring unwanted heat from other sources into the mix, so instead they cracked skulls, instilling fear into the community.

Zach liked the power that fear afforded him, much like his brother Zane had. It was turning out that Zach was just like his brother, but worse.

****

Lexi sat with Alice at one of the Tavern’s tables waiting for the meeting to be over. Lexi was anxious and Alice could tell.

“Sugar you need to calm down, for the baby’s sake. If you can feel it, he can feel it.”

“I know Alice, but I feel so bad for Raul. His family torn apart like this. I’m mad and I’m frightened for him.”

“The club will determine what’s going on and take care of it.”

“Yeah, that makes me nervous too.”

“Lexi, if you want to be a part of this life, you have to get use to all aspects of it, and this is one of them.”

“How do you get use to it Alice?” Lexi asked. “I mean, do you ever really get use to it?”

“Blaze has been a member of this club since before we were married and that’s been over 25 years ago. At first, I was like you, very apprehensive. I didn’t like the midnight runs and the danger that comes with our type of club. But as I got use to how the club worked, I found it was a family. These men would lay down their life for one another. There’s just a brotherhood here that you’ll never find anywhere else. Hell, most blood related families aren’t as close as this club.”

Lexi understood what Alice was saying. But the fear of something happening to Eli was still fresh on her mind. They had six months of peace and now a force was rearing its ugly head once again. She hoped one day she could be as calm as Alice, but it wouldn’t be today.

Eli and the rest of the members filed out of the meeting room. Eli walked over to Lexi and Alice’s table and said, “Babe, I hate to leave but we’ve got some work to do this evening.”

“Oh--what kind of work?” Lexi asked as she stood up from the table. Alice excused herself and walked over to Blaze.

“Nothing you have to worry about,” Eli said as he put his arms around her.

“But I do worry.”

“I’ll try not to be late.” He kissed her goodbye and left out the door. Lexi’s chest tightened and she told herself to breathe in and out slowly. She thought about what Alice had said and hoped someday she could be just as calm about these rendezvous’ the club went on.

****

The club roared down the freeway towards Marshall. The only intel they had was that Zach and his crew frequented several different bars in town. So that’s where they started. The first one nobody had seen Zach for a month or better. The second bar they wandered into they hit pay dirt.

Zach sat at a table in the corner of the bar with four other men. Eli, Blaze and two club members walked up to the table. The other members hung back but were still visible. The club wore their cuts and leather so they definitely stood out from the other regulars within the bar.

Zach looked up at Eli and the rest of the members.

“Is there something I can do for you men?” Zach asked.

“We’re here to deliver a message,” said Eli. “We know you and your crew are behind the home invasions around Carmel and Marshall and we’re here to tell you that it ends now.”

“First of all, you don’t tell me what the fuck I can and can’t do. Besides we’ve got better things to do than break into homes and steal televisions.”

“No, it’s you and your crappy ass gang alright and we’re here to teach your crew how it feels to be stomped on in your own space.”

At that moment, all hell breaks loose. The Hounds don’t have much time to react before the KOBMC pulls them from their chairs and into the back alley. Eli slams Zach’s head into the pavement, but it doesn’t faze him. Combat training has taught him well and he pummels Eli with numerous head blows before club members pull him off. Eli stands and spits blood from his mouth before walking over and punching Zach in the stomach three times while the KOB hold him. He falls to the ground clutching his stomach.

The members of Zach’s crew choose not to fight. They know they’re outnumbered, even with firepower.

“Remove your weapons and place them on the ground,” Eli said. The men do as they’re told. Zach stands and hesitates, staring a hole into Eli. Blaze hits Zach on the back.

“Remove it jackass,” Blaze said. Zach slowly pulls his gun out of his pants and lays it on the ground.

Eli walked up to Zach and says, “If I hear of anyone else getting hurt, you’ll be as dead as your brother.” At the mention of Zane, Zach’s eyes burn red.

“You’re the son of a bitch who killed him!” Zach yelled.

“No I didn‘t, but from what I know, he had it comin.”

Eli looked at the rest of Zach’s crew. “If you know what’s good for you, the rest of you will leave and never touch base with this idiot again.”

The KOBMC gathered up the guns on the ground and walked back to their bikes. All Zach could feel was pure hatred and he liked it. It made him feel powerful but it was also destroying him little by little. The more consumed by hate a man allows himself to feel the less rational he becomes, and Zach was heading there like a runaway train.

Chapter Four

When Eli entered the door, Lexi was there waiting anxiously. He had cleaned himself up the best he could, but Eli couldn’t erase the bruises on his face.

“Oh Lord, what happened?” Lexi asked as she cupped his face in her hands.

Eli took her hands in his and said, “I’m fine. It got a little rough. Believe me, I’ve had much worse.”

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“Come on, let’s go sit on the couch,” Eli said as he took her hand and led her to the living room.

They sat together with her head on his shoulder. Eli patted the round bump of Lexi’s stomach. “Have you thought of a name yet?” He asked.

“I’ve picked out two,” Lexi said. “What do you think of Brody or Brian?”

“I like Brody. It sounds like a strong name.”

“Then Brody it is.”

Eli and Lexi discovered the gender of their baby at their last ultrasound appointment. They were both ecstatic. Life had handed them some rough times, especially Eli, but now things were looking up. He hoped the meeting with Zach and his crew would cool things down with that problem and Lexi could relax the rest of her pregnancy.

Eli kissed Lexi passionately, and then led her to the bedroom. He loved her body and even with her round tummy, she was as beautiful as ever.

“I love you so much Lexi. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Lexi said as she playfully pulled off her maternity top and stretch pants. “Do I still turn you on?” Lexi asked as she glided her hands over her tummy.

“More than you know,” Eli said as he pulled her on top of his naked body.

They made love with Lexi on top, guiding the action as she rocked back and forth with Eli’s throbbing member in her soaking vagina. They both climaxed, first Lexi and then Eli, and then fell asleep in each other’s arms. The storm ahead would rock them to their core.

****

Several of the club members, including the VP Blaze and Laser, were to meet with a supplier of stolen goods out on Route 24 at an abandoned barn. Journey was to come but had to bail at the last moment, so they recruited one of the prospects, Rick, to fill in. It was their usual pickup. Blaze would bring the money and the club members would load the stolen goods into their own warehouse truck.

It was 2am when the KOBMC arrived at the location. They saw their supplier’s truck but not the suppliers themselves. Blaze and Laser parked their bikes along with two other club members. Rick drove the warehouse truck, parked it along side the bikes, and jumped out of the truck.

It didn’t smell right and Blaze quickly pulled his weapon. The other’s followed suit. It was dark, except for a lone security light on the barn that the KOB had installed. The light shone down on the supplier’s truck. Blaze, with gun drawn, walked sideways from the back of the truck to the front driver’s door. He pulled the door handle and opened the truck door, pointing his weapon up into the cab. When he looked in he saw the supplier sitting in the driver‘s seat, eyes wide open with a bullet hole on one side of his temple. Brain matter, blood and skull pieces were blown to the other side of the cab.

“Shit,” Blaze muttered under his breath. Before he could warn his club, the shooting started. Zach’s crew was lurking inside the barn and ambushed the KOB. Laser and the other two club members dove behind the truck where Blaze was located. Rick, the prospect was shot immediately in the throat and fell to the ground. Both sides fired repeatedly at one another, but Blaze’s group couldn’t see as well from the security light shining in their eyes. Plus they themselves were illuminating from the light, making them easy targets.

Blaze pulls the dead man out of the truck and jumps into the driver’s seat. He’s hoping the keys are still in the ignition.
Fuck me
he thought, they still are. He hunkers down and turns the key. The truck fires up. In the meantime, the other club members pull Rick behind the truck. The wound in his neck is bleeding profusely. Laser shoves a bandanna into the wound but it’s no use. Rick is bleeding to death.

“Get him in here!” Blaze yelled above the gunfire. He pulls Rick over him and into the cab where he laid half on the floorboard and half on the seat.

Blaze backs the truck up in front of the bikes to allow the remaining club members to get on their motorcycles and get out. Blaze looks over at Rick whose eyes are now open, blood still pulsing out of his wound.

“Damn it,” Blaze said, knowing Rick is dead.

He jumped out of the truck taking the keys with him and onto his bike. The guys roared off down the roadway with bullets flying after them. Fortunately, no one else was hurt and they weren’t followed.

They roared into the Tavern and warehouse parking lot. Blaze got off his bike and said, “What the hell just happened back there?”

“I don’t know boss. Was that Zach’s crew or another biker gang?” Laser asked.

“It was Zach’s crew…who else has a beef with us?” Lucky, one of the prospects’ said.

“Get a hold of Dog, Journey, and the rest of the club for an emergency church meeting. I’ll call Eli,” Blaze said.

Blaze dreaded calling Eli, but he had no choice. Their peaceful time had ended with Rick and one of their supplier’s deaths.

****

Eli knew when his cell phone rang at 4am it wasn’t good news. He listened to what Blaze told him and said he’d be right down. While he was putting on his clothes, Lexi rolled over and asked, “Where are you going?”

“It’s alright baby, go back to sleep. The guys just ran into a little trouble with the supplier tonight so they need me to help straighten it out.”

“This early?” Lexi asked half asleep.

“Unfortunately I don’t have a nine to five job.”

“Very true,” Lexi said.

Eli sat on the edge of the bed and brushed his hand through her hair. “I may not be back before you head to work.”

“Okay…you’ll know where I am then. Love you baby.” Lexi said sleepily.

“Love you too,” Eli said. He looked at her as she lie in the bed. He would do anything to protect her and their unborn child, even if it meant massacring Zach and his crew.