Claimed by Valiant

Chapter 3

Chief nods at me and motion the brothers to move. We drive off leaving Slick groaning and cursing in the dirt. Her body remains stiff and rigid as we drive on long open roads. We chose this meeting spot because of the privacy also the case we needed to dispose of a dead body then it was secluded enough with abandoned factory buildings and warehouses. The long drive was needed to clear my head but now I guess what I need is a stiff drink. I never predicted we would be taking a young lady home as leverage. We do not even know her name.

We drive for about twenty minutes before she gets tired of holding herself up and leans into me. Her small frame huddles close as she tries to protect herself from the breeze and adjust to the speed. I grab both of her hands and drape them along my waist to keep her from falling. She settles in and soon I feel liquid seep into my wife beater. She cries for some minutes and stops.

The freedom that comes from driving down open roads, the quiet rumble of your bike, the speed and thrill, the blood pumping in your ears as you control the engine. We pull into the compound after a long drive.

I find Caleb, Fin and Falcon seating outside drinking beers, the stand to their feet as soon as we pull in, one of the newest recruit runs inside to alert the others about our arrival.

Wrath and his old lady come out to meet us.

“Welcome back brothers. How was it?” Wrath asks making conversation. Sally hangs back watching everyone till her eyes curiously land on blue eyes behind me.

“The slick bastard didn’t show up with the money but we already knew we wouldn’t have it. Teacher has been trailing him for weeks, the places he has been are the strip club at 48th street and The masons. There’s no way he can cough up that amount of money so fast.” Chief says addressing everyone.

“Who’s the girl?” a small voice questions. All eyes turn to Pax, one of the newest recruits.

A foster kid to Mrs Middleton down the street, his tall gangly frame gave away his age, in his early twenties the young man was searching for a family and that brought him to the doorsteps of The Brotherhood. Many come to us like him, seeking community and looking for where the fit in, they would often try to find their people and some move on when they realize they can’t continue in this lifestyle, it takes grit and guts to earn your place here.

Pax asking the question turns every eyes towards her.

She looks so frightened, chief motions to me, I grab her arms and pull her in the direction of the office. I can’t help but notice how smooth her skin feels against my palm, she keeps her head down as her long tresses frame her face.

“oh oh it looks like we’ve got fresh meat. Hehehe.” Holly’s high pitched voice reaches me.

“what happened to her? Oh she looks a mess.” Another female voice hits me.

Blue eyes walks faster to keep up with my long strides, I usher her into the office and place her gently on the only couch there. Only the brothers that have earned their jacket can have access to the office, Slade, Riot, Teacher, Chief, Wrath, Jaguar, Lenon, Omen and Rider. They all gather around watching the chief waiting for him to start the meeting.

I stand in the corner, in the shadows, noticing how their eyes watch her, her slight frame, the way she’s cowering on the couch perhaps to retreat into herself. Chief looks around, grey weathered eyes counting every man.

“Where’s Zion?” he asks when he realizes his cousin is not in the room.

“He said he had an emergency.” Riot supplies.

“By emergency did he mean Avery?” Lenon asks suggestively. The chorus of laughter echoes till everyone settles. He knows better than disobey a direct order but recently whenever Avery is concerned he is a weak man. Never seen anyone lost over a woman and deeply obsessed than the young lad.

Chief starts to address the house.

“When Slick reached out to Riot to set a meeting I was hesitant, seemed like a trap so I had Teacher trail him, figure out his whereabouts or if it was a set-up. As expected he didn’t have the cash but he bartered her for his temporary freedom. She will be staying here for the main time.” Chief tells everyone. Wise eyes meet mine, I know he’s holding back something but that’s how it always is with our boss and one never really knows what he had cooking up.

“Chief, should I remain on his tail?” Teacher asks.

“Yeah, any useful information can be used to our advantage later.” Teacher nods.

“Word on the street is Slick now works for The masons, he tried to get in and is now a prospect.

“what? There’s no way they’ll accept him, he used to be one of us. How did he get them to let him in?” lenon asks surprised.

“By trading information, he’s selling secrets in exchange for immunity.” I speak up for the first time.

“I knew we should have put a bullet in his head.” Slade curses.

“He knows too much. Are you sure we shouldn’t track the bastard and make him pay for trading our secrets to the enemy?!” Lenon suggests.

The air is tense with brooding violence, lenon stands up and starts pacing.

“His time will come but for now we’ve covered our blind spot, there’s a plan and when the time comes his betrayal will be met with penance.” I tell the whole room quietly.

It goes deathly silent.

They believe. I have never said a thing I didn’t follow through on. Men like Slick never live a long life, their treachery catch up with them eventually.