One Ride (The Hellions Ride) (7 page)

The car has four tattooed Hispanic men inside.  The guy in the passenger seat rolls down his window with a smirk of arrogance on his face.

“Can I help you boys with anything?”

The fucker actually chuckles at me.  My anger boils immediately.

“I’m Pablo.  We work for Mr. Delatorre.  Consider us quality assurance.”

“Well, Pablo.”  I stretch out his name, my annoyance evident in my tone. “I don’t know who the hell Mr. Delatorre is, or you, for that matter.  We are a corporate transport company.  Nothing we ship is for private individuals.  So, mister quality ASS….urance, you’re already fucking up your job.  If you would back your car up and pull away, you might have enough time to catch up to whatever truck it is you are supposed to be on its ASS for insurance.  This ASS has a delivery and deadline to make.”  I step back off the window and cross my arms over my chest.

“That’s your story…..mister….I didn’t catch your name.  What is it?”

“You didn’t catch my name because you have no need for my name, Amigo.  Now turn your fucking car around and be on your way.”  I start to walk away, but I’m halted momentarily as his last words are said out of the window.

“Mr. Crews, I know who you are.  We will leave you, as you have assured me our shipment is safe.  Your other boys better be as quick witted and quiet with details as you are.  See you around, Talon.”

I don’t look back as I hear the car start and then pull away.  I fill the truck up with fuel as I run my fingers through my long hair.  He called me by my given name, not Tripp.  My business lists everything as Tripp Crews.  The trucks are all unmarked, no business names, only our licensing numbers for the state Department Of Transportation checks.  Who the hell is Pablo?  What is he to Delatorre?  How much does he know?  Having someone we’re in Hellions business with know my real first name isn’t an issue.  Being confronted on a transport, however, that screams trouble.  Taking this job has become one huge mistake for the Hellions.  Shit just got real deep.  Fuck me.

One Threat

The weekends always pass much too quickly.  Savannah spent the entire weekend with Nick.  Glad that hookup is working out so well for her.  We’re getting ready for work.  My bestie has a glow and a smile on her face that I haven’t seen i
n a very long time.  Maybe Nick will be good for her. 

I’ve been on edge since the encounter with Mr. Felix Delatorre.  Part of me wants to tell my dad what happened, but the other part knows that would cause problems.  My dad is extremely over protective.  Delatorre is right; I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in his business with Amy.  She obviously didn’t use the card.  Maybe I misread her plea for help. 

All the way to work, I’ve been thinking of the situation with Felix.  The domino effect this would have on the Hellions business would not be good.  I don’t know how much money he spends for our transport and storage.  What I do know is my dad and his boys.  The minute I tell him Delatorre showed up at my doorstep, business ties will be severed.  That’s the least of what concerns me.  My dad going off the deep end, feeling that I am in some way threatened, that concerns me.   He and the other Hellions walk a fine line.  One wrong move, people are going to federal prison, not just an over nighter at the county jail.  Having a client dispute would run the risk of blowing the whole transport business wide open.

Gathering my resolve, I make the only decision there is to make.  Keep my mouth shut.  From now on, I’ll keep close to Hellion grounds, try not to be alone, and keep focused on everything surrounding me.  As much as my dad would make this problem go away for me, it’s not good for the Hellions as a whole. 

Even as a female, I know the club comes first.  That’s the first rule of being an ol’ lady: understanding the club is always priority one.  I’m no one’s ol’ lady, but I keep the club focus as my first priority.  There are more things to consider than my own insecurity here.  In time, I’m sure Felix Delatorre will tire of whatever cat and mouse game he’s attempting to play and move on.  People depend on the Hellions for a lot.  I won’t risk the security of the club, as a whole, for my own dumb decision to help a stranger.  Who knows, Amy might’ve been high that day.  It could’ve been a test against the Hellions and how much we’ll be involved in Felix’s business and personal life.  Either way, it was my mistake to reach out to her and it’s my mistake to face alone. 

Settling in at work, I’m busy catching up on messages from the weekend.  The door chimes, alerting me that someone has entered.  Once again, Amy is almost pushed ahead of Felix Delatorre.  The one person I want to not exist in my little bubble of the world is back in my very office.  Damn it.  The fresh bruises across Amy’s face are clearly evident now.  I no longer question what I saw on her before.  Her lip is swollen and cut like its healing from a recent altercation.  She’s in a mess, but what, if anything, can I possibly do?  What kind of man is Felix Delatorre to prance her around in public looking like this?  The abuse is obvious.  Is he not concerned with the ramifications of such behaviors?  Is he big enough that he truly feels above the law?

“Hello, Delilah.”  He snarls.  Clearly, he’s not happy about something.  The foreboding feeling that shit is about to hit the fan engulfs me.

“Mr. Delatorre, what can I do for you?”  I ask making sure to steady my voice to cold indifference.  Never let anyone see you are affected or vulnerable.  Weakness is like love, hold it close to your heart and only show it to those who will protect and cherish it.

“Where is your father?”

Before I can answer, my dad emerges from his office.  He must have been watching the camera monitors in his office. 

“Delatorre, what do you want?”

Felix leaves Amy standing off to the side as he approaches me.  He’s now standing to my right, inside my bubble.  He’s too close for comfort.  His arrogance and irritability is coming off him in waves.

“My shipment seems to have taken a detour, Mr. Reklinger.  I’m here to ensure that everything is on schedule.”

“And what exactly does your presence in my office do for your transport?  Riddle me that, Delatorre?”

“I have men following each vehicle.  My presence here is only brief to make sure my message is clear.”  He steps closer to me, bringing the back of his hand up to stroke my cheek.  I back away.  “Tsk, Tsk, Delilah, remember I know how to get to you day or night.  Do not shy away from me.”

Before I can reply, my dad has Delatorre against a wall, by his throat.  I watch in shock as Delatorre squirms against my dad, gasping for air. 

“Let me make my message clear, mother fucker.  You ever lay one fucking finger on my daughter again I’ll cut them all off and feed them to you for dinner.  Business is business.  You stay the fuck away from my family.  Your shipment’s on its way and I’ll say when the fuck you’ll get it now.”  My dad drops his hand from Delatorre’s throat, and shoves him roughly one last time.

Felix, the sick fucker, laughs.  That’s right, laughs in my dad’s face.  “Oh Roundman, your code of honor to protect your women is such a joke.  I’ve already been to your precious Doll’s home.  Fuck with my transport, I will get to her again.”  Looking at me, he continues.   “Fuck with my personal life again and you won’t see another day.”

My dad pulls the .357 Magnum from my desk drawer.  Shit is seriously about to hit the fan.  Amy screams in fear.  Delatorre quickly backhands her.  She falls to the floor, holding her already battered face.  Blood trickles from her now reopened lip wound. 

“You’re a dead fucker, Delatorre.  Let me make this clear.  Get the fuck out of my office.  You won’t know when or where, but I promise you if it’s the last mother fucking thing I do, you’ll pay for threatening my daughter.”

“I will leave for now.  Be warned, yourself.  Don’t fuck with my transport, Reklinger.  If I don’t have my shipment in Virginia on time, and complete, your daughter isn’t going to be the only one I’ll fuck with.  I will take every single one of those bitches you Hellions keep so close.  Each time they cry out for one of you Hellions, I will make them choke on my dick, while I carve my name across their breasts.  Then while they bleed out, my boys will fuck them in every way imaginable.  Their torture and deaths will be on your shoulders, and I will make it slow and painful.  And your precious Doll here, will watch each and every single one of them all the way until their last breath.”

He yanks Amy up from the floor by her hair, half dragging her out of the door.  My dad lowers the gun and glares at me.  He’s more than ready to kill Delatorre, but won’t because of my presence. 

“Did you know he knew where you lived?”  I don’t answer.  I don’t know how to answer. My dad is red with rage.  I’m scared to move.  This man, burly, big, and scary has always been my teddy bear, until this very moment.  My body is trembling as the adrenaline is slowing down.

“Answer me Doll.  Fucking answer me!”  My dad roars, slamming the drawer shut.

“Yes.”  I whisper.

“And you didn’t fucking tell me?  Shit, Doll, do you know what he could’ve already done to you?  Damn it to hell!  He knows more about all of us then I realized.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy.  I didn’t want you to flip out and get into trouble.”  I say weakly.

“Flip out and get into trouble?  Fuck me, Doll.  You never put yourself in danger for me or any fucker!  Damn it.  Stay put.  You go nowhere alone, and you stay here on the compound.  Are we clear?”

“Yes, sir.”  I answer.  Tears flowing down my face as the fear sets in.  After giving my dad the rundown on exactly what happened with Delatorre at my front door, including my evening with Alton, I’m overwhelmed with thoughts of what will happen next.

His last words before walking into his office are on repeat in my head.  “What’s done is done, what’s been said, can’t be unsaid.  This fucker found my daughter.  This fucker came to my territory and threatened the people I love.  This fucker is going to the ground.”

Hanging up the phone, I run my fingers across my jaw.  Damn it, I don’t know what went down, but shit got serious.  Roundman is calling for a meeting in the cave.  An off schedule sermon with zero notice means trouble.  Considering our encounter with Don Juan Pablo and his troop, I would say we’re in some shit.  And they would be my target numero uno. 

“What’s going on Tripp?”  Tank asks.  “I just got a text from my crew that sermon has been called immediately.  That means as soon as we pull in, everyone is waiting in the cave for us.  We’ve been followed.  And now you’ve got the look like someone killed your damn dog.”

“I don’t have a clue man.  Roundman said hold the shipments tight.  Call the crew to catch up and every patched member is required at sermon.”

“Hammer down son, let’s get home.”  Tank replies as he pushes the gas pedal.  Due to our lack of knowledge of what is contained in the trailer, we can only exceed the speed limit in places we know we won’t get pulled over.  Although we have most of the police stations in our back pockets and on our payroll, there are always those one or two cops that want to do everything by the books.

***

Pulling into the lot, we quickly unhook, and secure our trailer.  My crew arrives, as well as the other two transport trucks.  We make our way inside the cave.  The room is bland, void of real decoration outside of the black and red of our colors.  The flags on the walls are Hellions insignias, and the few pictures in frames are our Hellions history living on through captured memories of previous events.  In the middle is a long rectangular table that seats sixteen.  Chairs along the walls fill the remaining space, with a large standing safe in the far back corner. 

Tank is a Haywood’s Landing Hellion; he’s the Road Chief to be exact.  He takes his place at the long rectangular table.  Officers only at the table, patched members take the side seats along the walls of the room.  I take my seat beside Rex, four places down from Tank and six places down from Roundman.  As Prez and VP of our chapter, we get table seats.