Arrow of Time (38 page)

“
Amphetamine. Not strong, just to clear your head, if you're interested.”

Dawg stared at it for a few seconds, grabbed it and took one of the pills and swallowed it down. Bear gave him a nod.

If he was lucky the effects would wear off in a few hours, so he could sleep that night. It was more likely that he'd fuck Edie silly, though. Dawg wasn't much for amphetamine or drugs other that pot, normally. But he needed a clear head now. He also needed to make sure he didn't fall asleep on the bike and cause a crash.

-o0o-

Bull was so fucking ready for this. They stopped outside the old garage. During the meetings with the cartel, they'd gone through the blueprints. He went first, opened the door and saw Jesus and his crew inside. With a nod he pushed the door open wider for the rest of them. Roberto smoothed out his white business suit, put on a smile, and walked inside next to Brick, and his two goons followed just behind him. The rest of the club and cartel followed.

The Àguilas had placed a table with a chair opposite Jesus, and they started when Roberto took the chair and Brick stood next to him. He held up his hand and goon number one put a thick file of papers in his hand.

“Mr. Sanches, if I understand my associate Mr. Baxter correctly, he explained the terms of your little gang’s demise the last time the two of you met.” He placed a set of photos in front of him. “At this very moment, The Marauders are burning down your buildings, killing or just chasing away your associates in them. The chasing away after removing their tattoos, naturally. We all know that the tattoos show that you're in a gang, and with the tattoos still intact, you're still a gang.”

“
What?” Jesus didn't seem to understand what Roberto was saying. “Who the fuck are you?”

“
That is not the correct question, Mr. Sanches. The important question is who I represent. At this very moment, I'm representing Mr. Baxter and Marauder Riders, since he's a very important business partner of mine. But if I tell you that my normal residence lies in Mexico, would that help you?”

Bull leaned forward a little to see Roberto's profile, and yes, the man was still smiling. And he was impressed. It was the most unpleasant smile he'd seen in a long time. He hadn't been crazy about the idea of having Roberto do the talking. He didn't like the idea of anyone talking
for
them, making it look like they couldn't take care of their own business. But Brick liked the idea. These guys would understand that he was from a cartel, just not which one, and Roberto had guaranteed that he'd point out that the Marauders did the eradicating.

Jesus was still staring. The little fucktard seemed to finally get it. He looked down at the table.

“What the fuck is this?”

“
This, Mr. Sanches,” Roberto said pointing at one of the pictures on the table. “Is your cousin, one of ten, if I'm correct. This is your grandmother, this is your uncle, another uncle, aunt, or... cousin.” He looked up, “it's hard to keep check of them, you have quite a few relatives.” He swept his eyes over the rest of the Àguilas members. “Naturally, I have one of these files on each and everyone of you.” He looked back at Jesus. “When
we
threaten someone, we make it our business to know
everything
about them. But I think that lesson comes a little to late for you. Wouldn't you say?”

The Àguilas seemed to break out of their trance, they started to move around and look at each other. Jesus was still dumbstruck, though. It took him a while before he opened his mouth.

“Whatever these rednecks are doing, we can do it for you,” he tried.

“
I very much doubt that, Mr. Sanches. These
rednecks,
as you so rudely refer to them, are spread all over the US. And they are also, as I pointed out earlier, tearing your gang to pieces at these very moment. You'd be surprised how efficient they can be.” He put another paper on the table. “Here is a list of all your locations that Mr. Baxter had the graciousness to give me. He's also very thorough with doing his homework, and I think you will find them all cleaned out by the time you leave this meeting. The ones still standing that is. My guess is that the ones in the slightly remote areas are already going up in flames.”

Jesus took the list with shivering hands and stared at it. Roberto looked up with interest at the sound of a phone ringing.

“I'd say that's the first one of them calling in.” When Jesus didn't move he gave him a nod. “By all means, it's rude to not answer, and it will also confirm that what I'm telling you is the truth.”

“
Speak,” Jesus said as he answered. He went pale and stared at Brick. It was at that moment he realized that the threats Brick had delivered at the previous meet hadn't been empty. He hung up without saying another word.

This was the moment Brick had talked about, the crucial part, because there were only two ways this could go down. Jesus could admit defeat and stand down, or go out fighting. Bull, and the rest of them, leaned towards him going down fighting. He didn't see a man so stuffed with pride going down any other way. They all knew it and were ready for it. And they'd been right.

Dawg was generally the sharpshooter of the club, but they'd all, himself included, ruled him out since he was so fucking tired he could hardly see straight. The second best was Mace, so it was Mace’s job to take out Jesus. The rest of them were to make sure that no one else got a chance.

The moment the gun left Jesus holster a shot was fired. Bull didn't bother to see if it was a hit, instead he swept with his gun over the rest of the little shits. About half of them were paralyzed in the position of reaching for their gun. The other half were just staring. Bull couldn't help the smile, Brick had been dead on with his calculations again. None of them had been able to pull out the gun.

“I do think there were some other matters to settle,” Roberto mused while looking at Jesus, clasping his upper arm with blood trailing though his fingers. Then he looked at Brick. “It was a matter of a dead member, if I'm correct?”

“
That score has been settled,” Brick answered, not taking his eyes from Jesus. Roberto knew very well that it had. They'd told him every detail of the meeting.

“
See,” Roberto held out a hand towards Brick. “So very efficient! Just working off tasks at the speed of light.” He looked at the other members of the soon to be gone Phoenix Águilas. “I suggest you boys
very
slowly, put your weapons down on the floor and slide them over to these gentlemen.”

After looking at the bikers already pointing guns at them, and then at their bleeding leader, they did. Bull hadn't been sure about this part, but Brick had said that most of them would still be in a state of shock and would obey. He'd been right again. Sometimes Bull felt like fucking kissing his president. None of the Marauders picked up the guns, just kicked them further back. They didn't lower their guns, either, but kept the aim, making sure they kept their eyes on everyone.

Roberto turned around and was on his way to walk out, then snapped his fingers, turned abruptly again and pointed at Brick.

“
There was one more thing you wanted, wasn't there. Remind me.”

“
His ink,” Brick growled, took three long steps, grabbed Jesus by the neck, lifted him up and slammed him down on the table, face first. “I'm going to carve it off you arm,
puta
. And then I'll kill you.”

“
Yes, I have a white suit and... you know,” Roberto said as he smoothed out creases only he could see on the previously mentioned white suit. “But, keep in mind, we have your names, addresses, the addresses of your families in Mexico, and as I'm sure you will be even more aware of at the end of this day, these boys retaliate hard and fast. There is a reason we chose them as business partners. They're just the best there is. I'd suggest that you all move out of Phoenix as soon as possible. I'd say that even Mexico is a better option, because if you walk out of here alive, you'll be open season to anyone wearing a Marauder's patch.”

Bull lowered his gun and walked over to the table along with Mace. They took on arm each, pinned Jesus down and when he started to scream, Bull clearly heard someone throwing up.

-o0o-

Most of the kids had gone to bed, and the women were sitting around, worrying. Dawg had looked more dead than alive when he left, I didn't think he'd gotten more than maybe two hours of sleep, and going into something half asleep wasn't a great thing. He'd told me that he'd need to sleep when he got back, so no kids in the bed. Eliza had pouted a little and then happily skipped after Vi who offered to share hers.

We all knew that whatever was going to happen, was going to happen today.

When the members of the other charters started to drop in, I kept an eye open for Dawg, but he was a no show. They all seemed pretty pleased, even the ones with injuries. There were some gunshot wounds and cuts. When I started to help treating them, Lanie looked at me with big eyes.

“How the fuck do you know about gunshot wounds?”

I shrugged and shook my head, basically trying to say that it was a long story and I'd explain some other time. She didn't get it, though.

“Edie?”

“
I've been in conflict areas. I've seen them there and... I... tried to help the best I could.”

“
What conflict areas? You never mentioned
conflict areas
when you wrote to me.”

“
No, because you'd freak out, like you're doing now. Different ones.  Most of them in Africa.”

As far as I could tell, there was nothing terribly serious. They had two women who were nurses. One female and one male doctor as well, so from what I could tell, they'd been prepared for this. The biggest difference between these gunshot wounds and cuts and any other I had treated was the wounded in this case were in a great mood. Talking, laughing and so pumped up on adrenaline, and possibly other things, it was insane. There was no need for comfort at all. Two of them suggested that a blowjob was a great pain relief, but when I said I was spoken for they immediately backed off. Only downer was when one of them asked by who and I said Dawg, he gave me an amused nod and said 'so you're the one who fucked up the chicken salad'. I figured he was fine and left him sitting in an armchair.

I washed my hands and found myself standing next to Chuck, the president in Englewood. I'd met him after the funeral.

“
You're doing good, girl,” he said and took along swallow from his whiskey.

“
Thank you,” I mumbled. “Just trying to keep myself occupied.”

“
They'll be fine,” he assured me and patted me on my shoulder. “Brick is always two steps ahead when he needs to, so no worries.”

I nodded and kept trying to get the blood off my hands. I turned around when I heard the door open a cheer erupted. Brick was the first though the door, then Bull and they kept pouring in, all of them looking okay and with big smiles across their face. And then I saw him. His eyes scanned the room and when he saw me he halted for a second before walking towards me fast. He didn't look tired at all and I assumed it was adrenaline. His hands grabbed my ass and he lifted me up, giving me a deep kiss.

“You okay?” I mumbled when I managed to catch my breath.

“
I'm perfect.”

Bottles of whiskey were brought forward, then glasses, and everyone had one. Apparently this day I couldn't
not
have a drink. Brick pointed that out as he handed it to me. The room went quiet and every pair of eyes turned to Brick. He was holding his glass over his head and had his other arm around Lanie's waist.

“
I can honestly say that I have never, not once, been so proud of being a member in this club, this
family,
as I am today.” He raised the glass. “Marauders!”

“
Marauders!” The rest yelled. and we all emptied our glasses.

The very next second I had Dawg's tongue in my mouth again and he started to back me up towards the dorms.

“Hey,” Brick laughed as we passed him, “go easy on her!”

“
Not a chance in hell,” Dawg growled, still holding on to my face.

Just kissing, on our way to the room, he made sounds I'd never heard him make before. And he was eager like a horny teenage kid, I was stunned and very, very turned on.

Once we were in the room he pushed me against a dresser and tried to unbutton my shirt while still having his tongue in my mouth.

“
What the fuck!” He muttered, breaking the kiss and looking down at my shirt. “It's like fucking Fort Knox,” he growled and finally simply ripped it open.

I grabbed his face and forced him to look at me. His eyes were black. I could literary not see anything of his iris.

“What are you on?”

“
Speed.”

“
Oookay,” I said, still panting a little from the kissing. “I hope you have lube, cause if you actually manage to get it up, it's going to take forever.”