DESPERADO | Serpents of Western Rock Book #1

E L E V E N: Daddy Issues

   Ｖｉｐｅｒ:

I leaned back against the wooden chair at the club table. We had our weekly Friday "Church" meetings, and after losing the Romanian's guns, a potential cocaine selling threat, and my new duties to that scumbag, this meeting was more than needed.
   Dallas was sitting against the corner of his chair at the head of the long wooden engraved table. One of his arms remained on that chair while the other stretched out holding a cigar over a small glass tray.

   Roman sat beside him, looking deep in thought. Rocky and Skinner sat across from Axel and myself, Kai and Felix on the other end. Around the room stood Cobalt and our other men, including a few of Cobalt's nomads that have stuck around to help out the charter.
   "First things first," Dallas began knowingly, "our shipment was stolen. And if I find out there's another rat on our hands, you better just kill yourself now before I get to you."
   Shit, that started off great.
   Everyone's faces remained stone.
   "Now we have to sacrifice Sunday's freight to Kovacs and the Romanians. Not to mention the good business history we've had with him is now ruined," added Roman.
   Axel sat up straight, setting his hands on the table too. "So we have to make up the money we are losing on the next shipment."
   "And how are we gonna do that?" I groaned frustratedly.
   Silence.
   "How about we just take it back?" Felix concluded.
   We all turned to look at him, confused.
   "Here me out," he began, hands in the air, "the Romanians need their guns, there is no way getting around that. So yeah, we hand them over the haul we were gonna sell to the Texans. But look at the smaller picture here...we clearly have a rat..."
   "Who's already dead," Skinner hissed.
   "Let him talk," warned Dallas, eagerly listening.
   "But how do we expect to catch the potential rat?" He asked, ignoring Skinner. "We know where our shits been messed with before. The Outlaws." Felix had the poise of utter confidence. "Let's stop sitting around and fight back."
   Axel scratched his head, pondering for a moment. "You're asking for an all out turf war. We haven't fought back yet because we've been out of trouble for so long."
   "I mean, we aren't asking for shit. They started this war. They corrupted one of our guys and have been interfering with our business in our territory." Felix slid his palms up and down his thighs nervously. This is the most he's said at the table. This kid was truly stepping up. Maybe if he takes lead on this, Dal will patch him in. "So we teach them a lesson. Show them we can't be walked on. That we aren't gonna let them walk away without consequences."
   "Dal," I said directly, "kids got a point. I mean we can't sit around and let them launch themselves into our business and take what's not theirs over and over again. We know they've started a war, but we can't let them finish it."
   He only nodded, waiting for more input.
   Axel circled his short whiskey glass in the air and then set it down firmly. "So we show them who they're fucking with."
   "And then maybe find our rat in the process," Kai jumped in excitedly.
   "So we throw up our guns and we show them who's territory they're fucking around on," Dallas bellowed, every one shouting aye in agreement. "We show them who's running shit around here!" More yelling. "We aren't fucking weak. Thats where we are different. They are weak and stupid. They fucked with the wrong guys. TO WAR!"
More ayes and yelling. Everyone settled down eventually and Dallas cleared his throat after everyone had a moment to celebrate the start of war. "I've got a couple more things we have to discuss. Viper."
   I looked over at my Prez immediately, still caught up in the hidden excitement to fight these douchebags that call themselves an MC.
   "You've gotta follow through for Kovacs. We've gotta keep him in our good graces."
   Roman nodded. "I know we don't work for the guy, but he's one of the only big ring people doing business with us still. And that's after the Outlaws have fucked with everything. I gotta thank your dad for keeping that man happy for all these years. We don't wanna change that."
   Dallas took a large hit of his cigar and gradually let the smoke roll out of his mouth. "Not to mention, we keep him on our good side and nobody will fuck with us. Especially these Outlaw pigs." He yanked out a small piece of paper and slid it to me. "Here's the address he wants to meet you at tomorrow. He's gonna supply everything you need."
   I rolled my eyes. "So I'm a hit man for this guy now, fine. But what if he begins to ask for more favors? I'm not his little bitch."
   Axel could clearly hear the anger in my tone. I'm sure everyone could, but he's the only one who stepped in with assurance. "Don't worry, brother. You are doing him this one thing and that's all we agreed to. By the time he even has an opportunity to ask for another favor, we'll have the Outlaws out of our hair and business will surely be back up. We won't need his time or fucking money."
   "Absolutely." Rocky nudges my arm that I had reached over to ash out my cigarette. "Brothers stick together, especially in shit times like this."
   "Speaking of." Dallas wasn't done. "Anybody got anymore shit on this guy with the coke or is that done?"
   I shook my head. "Last time I saw him was at Rocco's like I told you. Same deal. Tried shoving that white onto that girl. Left at my demand."
   "The girl you were with last night?" That came from Cobalt.
   I wanted to jump over this table and hit him. The man was a dick. He belonged on the road as a nomad, not here. Now he's old and bitter, and doesn't like the fact he couldn't get a woman in her early twenties to squirm over his little pecker.
   "What?" Dallas questioned, stabbing out the thick roll of tobacco between his fingers.
   I looked down at my hands and fiddled with the titanium rings I wore. I recalled every moment from last night. I tried to stay away from her, but I couldn't. And then I snapped myself out of it. Sent her on her way. I wasn't proud of it. But I had no choice. "She came to King Cobra for the opening yesterday, looking for a job."
   "And then he took her to the back office and showed her who's boss. Saw it with my own eyes. " I slammed a fist down and Cobalt smirked.
   I was urgently on my feet, kicking the chair out from under me. Who the fuck did he think he was? And he spied on us? That fuck.
   Dallas grabbed my arm and stood before me, catching me so I couldn't pass behind him and strangle the guy. "Ignore him," he murmured patiently. "He's leaving soon."
   I walked back to sit, but not without my glare settling on Cobalt. "You're a sick fuck," I spit out, letting my anger fall from my head and fists down into my chest. I needed a fucking drink.
I spotted Skinner chuckling from across the table. What the fuck was so funny?
   Dallas sighed. "I had him keep an eye on her, Viper. Until we know who the guy is, I don't think you should be so close to this girl."
   I chuckled sarcastically. "Look," I hissed. "I've witnessed this guy the two times he had cocaine on him. He tries to get this girl to do it or whatever. She always shuts him down. She's never interested. Believe me. She isn't working with him." And for Dallas sending Cobalt to spy on her, he's doing a shitty job if I had her to myself at the waterhole.
   I also don't know what I was doing defending her. I didn't want her close. Cliche as it is, she wasn't safe around me, especially now.
   Dal looked unconvinced. "But we don't know that."
   "She just wanted a job, Dallas. Trust me, this girl isn't dangerous." Except when it came to making me feel actual emotions.
   He rose his chin at me. "She can have the job. Just so we can keep her close. But keep in mind, some people may not be dangerous. But danger follows. And he just so happened to be with her the last few times you've encountered him."

⇥ ❂ ⇤

   I pulled up to a torn down shack off by Wheeler Peak. Nothing else but desert surrounded this leaning pile of steel sheets that formed a tiny building. I threw up the kick stand and adjusted my cut, acknowledging the black BMW my bike was parked beside.
   I walked along the gravel and dirt until I reached the door. I debated on knocking but a voice called for me to enter.
   Inside was dark, but a set of windows pulled in just a enough light to see. A creaky old bed sat beside the windows and a tub and toilet across from it, shielded by a curtain. A little kitchenette was set up beside the entrance and a small table with two chairs sat in front of the sink. I looked up to see that tattoo necked Romanian standing there high and mighty in his expensive suit and tie.
   "Pleasure to see you again, Moartae." He reached out his hand but I only stared at it. I wish he would stop calling me that.
   "Okay," he continued to say through his thick accent. "I'll make this quick." He pulled out a blue folder and handed it to me. "Open it," he said, interlocking his fingers behind his back and walking in a slow small circle.
   It was a picture of a man. He had a round face with no scruff and a choppy head of hair.
   "That is my brother in law. Popa Vasile. In there is the name of the the hotel he's at for the next few days and his schedule. He flies out to Bucharest on Tuesday morning. And I am not to hear that he boards that flight."
   Over the papers I was looking at, Petre held a gun flat on his palm to me.
   I took it and examined it closely.
   "Serial number is gone, nothing at all can be traced to that gun. You don't have many rounds in there to make any mistakes. I want a bullet in his head and then shipped to me."
   "The gun?"
   "His head."
   I placed the weapon and the papers on the small table, throwing up my hands in disgust. "What the fuck, man?"
   "I like a trophy."
   I laughed. "A trophy for someone you didn't assassinate yourself?"
   The darkness in his eyes shot sharply through me. "Meet me here Tuesday, with the head. Dispose of the rest of him however you wish."
   I couldn't believe this.
   "Don't be scared," he said to me, padding my shoulder before he passed me. "If your father could do it, so can you."
   I scoffed.
   "Te voi vedea din nou, Moartea." And with that he was gone.
   I was beginning to think my dad killed more people for this guy than he did for the club. Maybe this is what got him killed.
   Maybe this is what gets me killed.
   When Kovacs peeled off into the distance, I found myself sitting on the abandoned and antique bed facing the bathtub. I studied the gun more, my mind lost in deep thought.
   I'm not my father, I'm not my father, I'm not my father, I'm not my father.
   I don't know who I was trying to convince. I felt the horrible knot in my stomach that wanted blood. Part of my sick brain wanted blood on my hands and the power trip that followed. And I hated that for myself. I wasn't always like this. Something about killing Barney, killing someone who was once a friend, sparked something in me. It woke up demons I didn't even know I had. And when I looked in the mirror, I began to see less of myself and more of my dad.
   He was a drunk, a drug pusher, a murderer, a sick bastard that fucked his way to bed every night. He wasn't really around when he was alive to teach me about life. I learned myself. I didn't hate my mom for leaving and starting her own family. I did hate her for leaving me behind without warning me of this life. But maybe she knew I wouldn't have listened. It's too late now for me anyways.
   I had to kill a man by Tuesday who I had nothing to do with. A man that is going to lose his life all because his brother in law doesn't like him. A man with a wife and probably a family. A man who, for all I know, could be a great guy. And I'm doing this as a returned favor to a man my father did shady business with. A father that I keep telling myself I wasn't like. But here I am, sitting here and flipping this gun hand to hand, anticipating the moment I see the shot that I take, wipe the life from this guy's body. And I was determined. That's what scared me. But I'm not my father. I'm not my father.