65
3035 Words
Salt Lake City, Utah
Twenty-one years later
Jordan (The Judge)
POPPING THE TAB on my energy drink, I stared at the warehouse in front of me. The one I had rigged with explosives. The owner of the building, a degenerate by the name of Gerald Piper, was due to arrive at any minute. The man was a sick bastard, involved with human trafficking and illegal porn. I’d been hired to not only take him out, but blow up his newly acquired warehouse in Salt Lake City. Although my knuckles itched to do some collateral damage to the prick’s face before ending his miserable life, he wasn’t my only target. There were other individuals who Gerald was scheduled to meet with. Two bikers from the “The Devil’s Sons” Club. The President, Bam, and his V.P., Digger. Apparently, they were silent partners who’d pissed off a rivaling club one too many times. Because the Feds were watching my clients closely, they had to keep a low profile, but wanted Gerald, Bam, and Digger wiped from the grid. Honestly, after learning about their history involving the exploitation of women, children, and farm animals, I’d have done the job for nothing. The world was pretty much f****d already, but it would definitely be a little more tolerable without those three scumbags. They deserved to suffer, and my only regret on this job was that their deaths would be swift and painless, unlike the unspeakable crimes committed by them.
Catching my reflection in the window of a nearby liquor store, I almost did a double-take. Currently, with the long, gray beard, bulbous nose, craggily skin, and a beat-up trench coat, I looked and smelled like a ripe transient. The kind that people went out of their way to avoid on the streets. It was one of many disguises that I’d used for jobs and probably the most effective. Even my own mother wouldn’t recognize me. Of course, she had no idea what I looked like anyway. Not after bolting when I was an infant. She’d been scared shitless of my old man, Acid, and had taken off, leaving me at the mercy of the sadist. But, it’s just like that old saying – “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Surviving a childhood with Acid had undoubtedly made me a tougher and more resilient person. It also made me cynical. I had no problem looking in the mirror every day. There were far worse assholes roaming the streets. If I could eliminate some of them and earn a fat paycheck at the end of the day, I had no trouble sleeping.
The sound of hogs in the distance got my heart thumping faster. Knowing that s**t was about to go down, I finished the energy drink and threw the can into the grocery cart I was pushing. Then I headed to the back of the warehouse, watching as two bikers rolled into the parking lot. As they parked their bikes, I pushed the cart slowly, pretending to look for more aluminum cans.
Ignoring me, the bikers got off their motorcycles, climbed the steps leading to the building’s employee entrance, and pounded on the door. After not getting a response, they turned around and scanned the parking lot, obviously looking for Gerald. When their eyes landed on me, I leaned down and picked up an empty soda can I’d planted earlier and tossed it into my cart. Then I began pushing it again, this time, talking to myself like a lunatic.
“f*****g crazy bum,” I overheard one of them say as a Caddy pulled into the parking lot. “He’s talking to himself. Next, he’ll be singing.”
“Hey, you, get the f**k out of here,” said the other guy, glaring at me. “Go on. Beat it before we beat you.”
Smiling, I took my cue and began to sing.
“I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time. I keep the ends out for the tie that binds. Because you're mine… I walk the line...”
“Can you believe this piece of s**t, Bam?” laughed the other biker. “He’s singing Johnny Cash.”
“Funny thing is, the fucker doesn’t have that bad of a voice,” remarked Bam, pulling out a cigarette.
I went on.
“I find it very, very easy to be true, I find myself alone when each day's through, Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you. Because you're mine… I walk the line…”
The Caddy rolled up next to the motorcycles and the engine shut down.
“What do you know, he showed,” mumbled Digger, staring at the car.
“Why wouldn’t he?”
He shrugged. “Never know with that asshole.”
A short, squat man carrying a briefcase got out of the car. He walked up the staircase and unlocked the door, not saying much to the bikers, who were still eyeing me.
“What, no encore?” asked Digger, when he noticed that I was no longer singing.
“Really? An encore? Get the f**k inside,” said Bam, pushing him into the building.
When the door shut behind them, I turned my cart around and walked away.
“As sure as night is dark and day is light,
I keep you on my mind both day and night.
And happiness I've known proves that it's right.
Because you're mine… I walk the line...”
Behind me I heard a loud explosion, as one of the men inside tripped a detonator. This was followed by another violent blast, one that made the asphalt under my feet tremble.
I smiled in satisfaction, knowing that three guys I’d just killed would be walking their own line… straight to Hell.
It was days like this that I truly loved my job…
Jessica
“I’M SO PROUD of you,” said my mother, Frannie, who was sitting across from me at Jake’s Steak House. After receiving a BSN Certificate from The University of Iowa’s Nursing School, I’d recently passed the state licensing test and we were celebrating quietly together over dinner. “I know I keep telling you that, but I can’t help myself.”
I smiled at her teary eyes. “It’s okay. It still makes me feel good to hear it, Mom.”
“Oh, before I forget.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a small gift-wrapped box. “This is from me and Slammer. He wanted to be here tonight, but…” she sighed, “unfortunately, he’s still in California with Tank.”
Slammer, my stepfather, was the president of a motorcycle club called the Gold Vipers, and his son Tank was the V.P. They were exactly what you’d imagine them to be like, too – rugged, cocky, and stubborn as all hell. I had to admit, they were also pretty bad-assed, which sometimes worked in my favor. Especially Tank, who stood well over six feet, had muscles the size of cantaloupes, and was covered in tattoos. Nobody messed with our family. Not recently, anyway.
“Are they still at that biker rally?”
“Yeah. He wanted to bring me so I could meet someone named ‘Bastard’,” she said, chuckling. “These men and some of their silly road-names.”
“He’s the founder of the Gold Vipers,” I said, remembering Tank talking about it.
Personally, I would never understand the club way of life. At least, what the benefits were for the women involved. It made me angry when I saw some of the wives and girlfriends wearing cuts that read “Property Of”. If that wasn’t bad enough, many of their men had no problem cheating on these same women with club whores. Those nonprofit sluts hung out at the clubhouse just to party and get laid. I thought it was deplorable but kept my feelings to myself. I wouldn’t dare debate about it with Slammer or Tank. They were too set in their ways and I was obviously an outsider.
What happens in the clubhouse, stays in the clubhouse – was one of their mottos.
My only solace in all of this was that Slammer claimed that he didn’t fraternize with the whores and from what I could tell, appeared to be deeply in love with my mother.
“That’s right. Slammer mentioned that he’s a decorated vet. He really looks up to Bastard,” she said, nodding toward the box. “Anyway, open it.”
“Thanks, Mom. You really didn’t have to do this.”
She waved her hand. “Oh, you deserve it. Heck, you deserve more than this. I just wish I could do more for you.”
“You always say that, but I don’t think you realize how much you do for me already,” I replied, unwrapping the box. “I mean, seriously, you’ve always been there for me and I couldn’t ask for much more than that, Mom.”
“That’s what we mothers do,” she said.
“Not every mother,” I said, thinking about the many conversations that I’d had with Adriana, about her husband Raptor. His mother had abandoned both of her sons, and although she was trying to make amends, it was still hard for Raptor to let go of the past.
“No, I suppose not,” she said, taking a sip of her drink.
When I opened the small jewelry box, there was a beautiful bangle bracelet with a circle in the middle that was made of tiny diamonds.
“Oh, my God, it’s beautiful,” I replied, taking it out of the box.
She smiled proudly. “I know how much you used to love wearing bangles. We almost bought you a watch, but I saw this and it screamed your name. I hope you’ll wear it.”
“Definitely. This is a gorgeous piece,” I said, although I hadn’t worn my other bangles in a long time. After being raped three years ago, I still didn’t like to draw much attention to my skin or body. My therapist said that I just needed more time to heal. That things would get easier. Sometimes, I wasn’t so sure.
“Adriana showed it to me. I guess it’s white-gold and those are real diamonds.”
“I hope you didn’t spend too much on it.”
“You’re worth it, honey, and don’t worry. Adriana gave us an exceptionally fair price for it. She’s such a nice girl.”
I liked her, too. In fact, we’d gotten to be very good friends over the last three years. “She is, and you both have wonderful taste.”
“Put it on,” she said, her eyes dancing. I knew how much she loved jewelry herself.
I put it on and thanked her again. “It’s beautiful, Mom. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. So,” she said, pulling a green olive out of her glass, “you’re going to be starting your residency soon?”
“Yes,” I replied. “In about a month.”
“You must be excited?” she asked, before popping the olive into her mouth.
I shrugged. “I’m a little nervous. I won’t lie.”
“It’ll be fine,” she said, reaching over to pat my hand. “And although I’m a little sad to see you moving so far away, it will give you a fresh start.”
“Shoreview, Minnesota is not that far. Only about five hours.”
She sighed. “Believe me – to a mother, it may as well be a continent away.”
Fortunately, I’d be moving in with her cousin, Cheryl, who was an R.N. at the hospital where I was doing my residency. I’d used her as a reference, wanting to get away from Jensen, the biker world, and the memories that still haunted me. From what I understood, Shoreview was a nice, quiet suburb… free of gang influence, strongholds, and vendettas.
I smiled. “At least you have Slammer to keep you company.”
After I’d moved back home, Slammer and Frannie had gotten married and then he’d joined us. Although he spent a lot of time at his bar, Griffin’s, or the clubhouse, we were still walking all over each other in my mother’s townhouse. Although he never complained, I knew he was looking forward to them finally being alone.
“I know and you’ll have Cheryl. She’s excited to have you move in. Ever since her husband, Earl, died six years ago, she’s been very lonely.”
“He died of a heart attack, didn’t he?” I asked, vaguely remembering him. I knew he’d smoked a lot of cigars and loved telling jokes.
“Stroke, actually,” she replied, smiling grimly. “He was a nice guy. Made everyone laugh.”
The waitress appeared with our food and we began to eat. She’d ordered a salad while I’d gotten a cheeseburger and fries.
“That looks delicious,” she said, nodding toward my plate. “You’re lucky that you can eat what you want and not gain a pound.”
“Why didn’t you order one of these? You’re not overweight.”
“The moment a cheeseburger hits my lips, I put on ten pounds and my cholesterol skyrockets,” she said, pouring some kind of vinegary dressing onto her salad. “Wait until you’re my age. You’ll know what I mean.”
I smiled at her. Many people said she looked more like my older sister and I had to admit that I was grateful for her genes. Both of us were around five-six, with dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. “You should still treat yourself, once in a while,” I replied, knowing that she spent a lot of time doing yoga and Pilates. She’d also quit smoking a few months ago, and was now hounding Slammer to do the same.
“Thanks, honey. Still, once I cheat, I’m done for. I lost fifteen pounds since last winter, and I know how easily it is to slip and gain it all back.”
“I can tell. You look great.”
“I was thinking about joining your kick-boxing class,” she said and then took a drink of water. “You’ve really toned up.”
I’d noticed that my clothes had gotten looser, but hadn’t really thought about it. I’d been taking the weekly class more for the self-defense aspect. Not only did they teach you aerobics and kick-boxing, but they’d also incorporated some basic Tae Kwon Do moves. “It’s certainly an ass-kicker, but I love it. I’m going to miss the class when I’m gone.”
“I’m sure there are other classes in Shoreview.”
I nodded. “Actually, I was thinking of joining a Karate class.”
Her face lit up. “That’s a great idea. If you need money for it, let me know. Those programs can get expensive.”
“Thanks but, I can pay for it,” I replied. “I’ve been able to save quite a bit since you let me move back home.”
“Good. You’re getting paid for the residency, aren’t you?”
“Yes, thankfully.”
“That’s what I thought. How is your car running?”
I shrugged. “Fair.”
Her lips pursed. “Fair? How many miles are on it?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere over one-hundred-thousand,” I replied, a little embarrassed that I hadn’t been keeping track.
“You’ve been getting the oil changed when needed?”
“When is it needed?”
Her mouth opened in shock.
I laughed. “I’m kidding. Of course I have. Don’t worry about my car. I should get another couple of years out of it.”
She sighed. “Why don’t you just take mine?”
“No. You just purchased that thing last year and I doubt Slammer would be happy if you did. He paid for it, didn’t he?”
“He wrote the check but said it was my car to do with what I will,” she said firmly. “I’m sure he’d understand if I gave it to you, Jessica. He adores you.”
“Right,” I said dryly.
“I know he’s a man of few words, but he really does. In fact, he’s just as proud of you as I am. Tank as well. He thinks of you as his little sister and is always asking about you.”
I had to admit, Tank, as intimidating as he was to everyone else, had a soft spot and was one of the only guys that I truly trusted. Of course, we weren’t dating either. That helped. “Still, that Lacrosse was expensive. I don’t need something like that, although I appreciate the offer.”
“Well, if that car gives you any trouble at all, you call me and we’ll get it taken care of. Or, just buy you a new one.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Hopefully, it won’t conk out on the way to Minnesota.”
I grunted. “Hopefully.”
Just then, her cell phone went off. She picked it up and checked her messages.
“Who is it?” I asked, noticing the smile on her face.
“Slammer. He’s here.”
“At home?”
“I mean he’s here. At the restaurant. With Tank.”
I stared at her in confusion. “I thought he was still in California?”
She giggled. “So did I. Come on,” she said, sliding out of her booth.
“Where? We have to finish our food,” I replied, staring at her in confusion.
“He wants us to meet him in the parking lot.”
“Why?”
She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the booth. “I’m not sure. We’ll be right back,” she told the waitress.
“Oh, okay,” replied the waitress, looking a little doubtful.
- Writer
