The Biker in Lace

Chapter 8.

The flickering light from the lamp post paints a sombre picture of the man standing with his back against it. His right leg lifted to help support his weight against the post, his hands in his pockets, his eyes stained to his left boot tip as he listens intently to the girl standing a few feet away talking animatedly about a memory they share. Thoughts flashes through his head as he thinks about the memory she talks about. The times he teased her, made fun of her or even just tried to get her mad about something or another. In the past few hours they spent together he got to know her even better than the twenty odd years they know each other. Maybe they can even start to be friends from now on, but that is one thought he would rather keep to himself. Then just as the woman gets to the part about how she broke his nose the peace between them shatters like a glass as a third person speaks loudly.

“Guys, this is Amy.” Josh’s voice is uncharacteristically flat and annoyance seeps through every word. Instantly Bradly and Lacy knew the plan just changed dramatically. As the girl he introduced came into view.

“Bradley, Lacy.” She greets without their names being spoken once, showing Josh that she did know exactly who they all were.

“You’re the girl from earlier?” Lacy asks with a friendly tone as she looks at Amy. Remembering the redhead storming off when they left Dave’s house. “At Dave’s when we left. You were with Bradley at his bike.” A look of realisation dawns on Josh’s face as he recognises Amy for the first time.

“You knew who I was, didn’t you?” Bradley asks suspiciously as he finally finds his voice, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Yes, I followed you from the tattoo parlour.” Amy answers truthfully with a catlike smile showing that she thinks she is in control of the situation. “Did you really think we would not know the son of the man that betrayed my father?”

“What is your problem? You keep on insisting my father betrayed yours and I do not even know who your father is.” Josh snaps at Amy, the irritation still thick in his voice.

“Because he did!” Amy snaps back her eyes leaving Bradley’s instantly. Anger raging through her veins, furiousness edged on her face. “We need to leave my DAD is waiting.” She hisses as she emphasizes the word dad, turning around she starts stomping her way to the Beastly’s camp.

“Now what?” Lacy whispers as she walks closer to Josh.

“Ethan wants to meet us. I told him I was here to make a deal with him. You guys just need to keep pretending you are here on honeymoon.” Josh answers in a low whisper. “We need to keep an eye on Amy and try to find out why she is so hell bend on my father being the betrayer.” Josh’s eyes following Amy, a calculating look in his eyes.

“Are you coming?” Amy yells as she turns around to face the three friends. The self-satisfied look from earlier a faint memory as all traces of it disappeared.

*_*

“So, why are you here?” Ethan breaks the earie silence that equalled the thick smoky air. The yellow light from the camping light barely lightens the dark figure sitting a few feet from the three friends. The tension is thick in the tent and the feeling of severity elevated by the two bulky men standing near the entrance. The thought of being in an action packed mafia film runs through Lacy’s head. She could see it in her mind’s eye, the smoke filled room, the black and white scenery, the cigar dangling from the Mafia boss’s lips, his thick Russian accent and his black hat covering his eyes. The only colour illuminated is the single red flour in his right top pocket of his pitch black suite. Lacy almost chuckles at her vivid imagination just as Josh starts to speak, reminding her of the seriousness of their situation, the last bit of tipsiness evaporating from her foggy mind. This could go really bad, really fast she realises.

“I am here to do the deal that you offered my father.” Josh’s sentences are short and straight to the point. The urge to jump on Ethan and beat him to a pulp is overwhelming, but he knows that he would not stand a chance getting near Ethan with the amount of bodyguards always surrounding him. He knows the only way he would get revenge for his father’s death is by playing it cool and let Ethan get caught in his own game. If he can get him to confess or the evidence he can give it to Bradley’s father and if they can get him to do the deal, they can get him caught red handed. Even if it is not for the murder of his father, he will at least be caught for something and off the streets for a few years.

Smiling to himself Ethan gives a small chuckle shaking his head then running his fingers through his grey thick hair he frowns looking up at Josh, directing his questions only to him. “What deal would that be exactly?”

“The drugs.” Josh states confidently, something in the way Ethan reacted seemed off and puzzling, but Josh cannot show Ethan any doubt or the plan would definitely be a bust before it even really got anywhere. “We will run it for you.”

“Drugs?” The short word uttered in confusion slips from Amy’s lips, her eyes hopping from Josh to Ethan.

Another short laugh escapes Ethan’s lips; again he shakes his head, his eyes lingering on Josh as he looks at the young man standing in front of him. Pressing his fingertips together, his arms resting on the armrest of his camp chair, he continues. “We made a deal, son, but I am afraid to say it was not about drugs.''

“I don’t have time for games. I came to accept the deal. You wanted ‘Arch Angels’ to run your drugs, you got it. You wanted to use our club house as your base of operation, you got it. The same deal you made my father. Thirty present of all sales in return.” Josh states his voice emotionless even though his emotions are raging through his body. He hates the feeling of powerlessness that runs through his body. Ethan needs to take the deal, he just needs to.

“Really?” Ethan asks intrigued. “Sounds like a nice deal. If only I was into the drug trade.” He sighs, shaking his head, a pitiful look edged on his face. “Real shame.”

“Stop the act. You are not fooling any of us.” Bradley speaks up for the first time, annoyed at the innocent act Ethan tries to pull off. They all know what he does for a living.

“I don’t know what deal you think Joshua made with me, but drugs were never involved.” Ethan insist while standing up, stretching to his full length. Ethan’s eyes burning into the young familiar eyes in front of him. He cannot wait to see the older pair again with his promise for filled.

“Like I said we are here for the deal.” Josh states without hesitation. “I did not come here just for you to pretend not knowing what I am talking about. I know you wanted to expand your business and here I am accepting the offer made to my father a year and a half ago.” Josh persists. He has to get this deal.

“I would not like to come this far for a lie either, but I can assure you I don’t know what you are talking about.” Ethan agrees, but still does not give in. “I don’t run drugs and I do not have plans to either.''

“So if there is no deal then why is Josh here?” Bradley asks strongly getting agitated with Ethan’s daft attitude towards them.

“So, can we make this deal or not?” Josh asks in an annoyed tone, if they can only get this deal done without a hitch the rest of the plan will fall in place in an instant. This has to be the hardest part, convincing Ethan that they are legit.

“I’m afraid not.” Ethan states as he turns around getting a beer from the bar fridge standing in the corner of the big square tent. All the hope Josh had of convincing Ethan shatters as the man continues after offering them each a beer. “You see, I don’t know what your father told you, but it’s clear to me that Joshua lied to you. There is no deal regarding drugs. You are wasting my time.”

“If you don’t want the deal then I guess I am done here. Come guys let’s go.” Josh‘s tone is flat and irritated. Turning around he starts to make his way away from the man that failed to convince him of his innocence. His father would not have lied to him about Ethan.

“I had no drug deal for your father, but I can tell you what deal we did make.” Ethan’s voice stops Josh in his tracks. Without turning around he waits for Ethan to continue. “Amy, get Clive.” His demand is short and leaves no space for resisting. Amy quietly nods and then just as quietly leaves the tent. “Josh I know you think I killed your father and I know you do not believe me about the deal, but I need you to listen and then you can decide what you want to do, just know I am doing this for your mother.” The tone Ethan used was intense as he desperately wanted Josh to believe him. He never meant him any harm or his father. He wanted him to know the truth and understand that what happened was not his doing. Joshua was one of his friends when they were younger and he wanted so desperately to tell Josh the history of their friendship, but unless Josh comes to understand that he did not kill Joshua, it would not matter what he tells him at all. Confusion sets in as Ethan mentions Josh's mother. What has this to do with her? He does not even know her.

“How do you know my mother?” Josh asks with a frown as he turns and looks at Ethan with even more suspicion then before.

“We will get to it just as soon as Clive gets here.” Ethan says as he motions for the three to sit on the camping chairs in front of him. “Are you sure you don’t want anything to drink?” He asks politely as he calmly drinks from his beer.

Clive and Amy enter the tent side by side. “You wanted to see me?” Clive addresses Ethan directly knowing that there is no use to beat around the bush. A chill runs down his spine as he knows exactly why Ethan would want him here. The time for honesty is finally here.

“John, Andrew leave.” Another demand leaves Ethan’s lips and again with no protest the command is honoured. After another few minutes of silence Ethan looks up from his chair where he sat again after Amy left. His expression is thoughtful and again he presses his fingertips together. His eyes finds Josh’s keeping it locked in. “Both Amy and Clive were present at all the meetings I had with Joshua and that is why I think it would be best if he talks to you as I can see you do not trust me.” Ethan finishes his statement, still looking Josh dead in the eye. “I know you only met Clive yesterday, but I do hope you would listen to him at least.” Standing from his chair Ethan walks to the tent opening before he turns to Clive again. “I’ll be in the beer tent, if you need me.” With that he leaves the five young people alone in the tent. For some reason Ethan looks defeated Lacy thought and that confuses her as to why Ethan would feel vulnerable.

“What the hell, man?” Bradley yells at Clive and takes a threatening step towards him. “We trusted you and you betrayed us to him!” Anger is edged on Bradley’s face. If there is one thing he cannot stand it is for someone to be two faced.

“I did not betray anyone!” Clive protests not backing away from Bradley and his threatening manner. “I brought you here like you wanted and I gave Ethan the opportunity to come clean to you, so Josh could know the truth about what happened to our father. He needs to know the truth.”

“Our father?” Josh asks in confusion as the two words that stuck in his head.

“So you played us?” Bradley asks while the words that Josh uttered slipped pass his fuming mind. He knew there was something about Clive that made him distrust him and like always he was proven right again. ‘This has nothing to do with the attention that Clive gave Lacy, but everything to do with the sleaze ball himself, It has nothing to do with jealousy. Nothing!’ He chants to himself.

“I did not want to play anyone I wanted this to end. I know you think Ethan is the bad guy, but he is not. He did not kill our father…”

“You said it again…” Josh interrupts Clive; his face is contoured into confusion as he looks at Clive to explain. “Our father… You said it twice… Why?”

“Because that is what he is.” Amy says from behind Clive where she quietly looked on as Bradley and Clive almost jumped each other. “That was what the deal was about. Your mother wanted to reunite the two of you, but your father did not want to let Clive near you. My father promised your mother he would get the two of you together again.”

“What bull are you conjuring up? I know Josh all my live and he has no brother.” Lacy steps in, not believing anything the red headed snake, she imagines Amy to be, hisses at them. She doesn't trust Amy and the reason why she can for the life of her not pin point.

“We’ll apparently he has and was never told by the ‘oh-so-trustworthy’ parent he had.” Amy spits back, getting defensive towards Lacy.

“Stop it. Clive, what happened at the meetings? For now I just want to know about the meetings and he knows everything that happened and I need to know what he knows. So, please guys calm down.” Josh stops the bickering by being the calm and reasonable one he always is in chaotic situations. Even though the furious stares continues Lacy and Bradley keeps quiet letting Clive tell his side of the story.

“The meetings were about us being reunited, not drugs like you were informed. What happened was our mother wanted us to be reunited after we were separated when Josh was born. Ethan got your father to meet us so we could discuss how we would explain to you why you do not know about me. Joshua was all for us being reunited again or so he said. Then he came alone the night he was supposed to bring you to meet me. He told Ethan that he would not bring you to us if he did not pay a huge sum of money. Ethan new how important this was to our mother so he decided to pay him the money…” Clive looked down at his feet as he remembered all the feelings he had the night Joshua betrayed Ethan. A sad look spread across his face as he looked up at his brother.

“I knew from the start that Joshua would never recognise me as his son he even told me to my face that I was nothing, but a bastard child our mother used to get to him. So, from the start all I wanted was to see my brother again. I vowed to pay back every cent Ethan paid to Joshua, but Ethan said no. He said money could never buy family, but to keep his promise to our mother he would give his last cent. Joshua left with the money and a promise to bring you to us the next night. The next morning we got news from Dave that Joshua was killed and the last people that saw him was us. We later heard that Joshua told everyone that Ethan wanted to make a deal with him for drug trafficking and that he refused to accept Ethan’s deal.” Clive finished with a big sigh as if the weight of the world was in his last few words.

“Why would Uncle Joshua lie to Josh about the deal and ask money for his own son to meet his brother? It still does not sound like Uncle Joshua to me.” Lacy asks more to herself then the others around her.

“Do you really believe this bull?” Bradley asks lifting his opinion. “You know your father better than anyone of us; do you really think he would be so deceiving and cruel?”

“I don’t know… I know only what my father told me.” Josh says dropping his head into his hands as tiredness folds its big black arms around his aching head. “If it is true, where is my mother?”

“She is at home waiting for Ethan to bring back her lost son. He did not want to tell her you are here, before he knows what you are going to do.” Amy answers quietly. Knowing that the news Josh had to hear must be hard to except neither she nor Clive wants to push Josh into anything.

“He never talked about her.” Josh says thinking to himself. “I don’t know what to believe or what to do.”

“I cannot give you all the answers I know you would want, but I can take you to our mother if you decide to go. The only other people that we know of that knows the truth about me and our mother are Lacy’s parents.” Clive steps closer to Josh, lifting his hand he slowly drops it again after letting it hover over Josh’s shoulder too afraid of rejection from his brother.

“I need to think.” Josh says walking blindly past Clive and Amy towards the exit. Just as Lacy walks past Clive he grabs her arm holding her back.

“Please look after him.” He pleads quietly in her ear. Hope laced in his eyes as he looks at her. He likes Lacy and really wishes that she would not turn her back on him for not being honest from the start. They would have never have believed him if he just came out and said he is Josh’s brother from the start.

“I have to go.” She whispers not ready for her emotions to be out on display, she had to be there for her friend, but she too had to think about what they were just told. The information that her parents knew about Josh’s mom and brother did not sit well with her, but she decided to give Josh the choice of what to do about it. Clive presses his lips to Lacy’s temple before he let her go, his eyes never leaving her back as she walks out of the tent.

“You like her.” Amy teases as she bumps her shoulder to his arm.

“She’s married.” Clive replies his eyes still on the opening in the tent. He really hopes Josh can find it in his heart to give them a chance. He knows his mother really wants him to get to know his brother.

“Don’t tell me you believe that nonsense!” Amy says with shock as she looks at Clive with doubt in her eyes.

“I was there. I saw the certificate. It’s legit.” Clive says walking out of the tent into the darkness of night to be by himself. Hoping again that Lacy would not hate him for this. Maybe there would still be a chance for them in the future when everything is settled and Bradley lets her go. Never in his life did he want to lose a bet this badly.