Page 2 of Clash

In a fit of frustration, I threw up my hands. “Forsaking the club in the process. This is bullshit and you all know it. Our Prez abandoned us when we needed him the most, taking two of our men with him. What happens if the Crows decide to attack us now, huh? Do you think we even have a fighting chance with three of our members missing?”

Skid took a step forward and cleared his throat. “Maybe I can help with that a little?”

All eyes turned to him as he pulled out his phone and fired off a text.

“Who the hell are you texting, Skid?”

My eyes narrowed as an amused smile quirked the corners of his mouth.

“Some reinforcements,” he said cryptically, just as his phone dinged with a reply.

“Well, while you fuckers figure all this shit out, I’m going for a goddamn drive.”

“Yeah, you need to cool off,” Ranger agreed. “Go take a ride; clear your head.”

In an angry huff, I stomped from the room, pissed off that my club was so eager to follow a man that was quick to abandon us all.

He left us for a girl?

Who the fuck does that to their own brothers?

He didn’t deserve that patch on his chest, and the way everyone kept backing him was maddening.

For twenty minutes, I found myself lost on the open road, doing my best to keep my head even though I was on the verge of losing it all.

My tank needed a splash, so I pulled into a gas station parking lot to fill up, and maybe grab something to eat.

The man behind the counter greeted me when I entered, but his eyes were trained on the head of a small boy, who was awkwardly staring at the candy bars in the candy section.

I grabbed a drink and a bag of chips, then rounded the corner to get a Snickers bar, when I saw the kid grab a bag of Skittles and shove it into his pants. He then grabbed a granola bar and did the same, stuffing at least seven things of food in his shirt and pants before eyeing the door.

The guy behind the counter and I shared a look, both of us knowing he was about to run.

He couldn’t have been more than five or six, and was seriously about to rob the store of all its sweets.

Where were his parents?

Why was he alone?

“Hey, kid, you gonna pay for all that?” I asked.

He jumped at the sound of my voice, cowering just a tad when his small eyes rounded and his gaze traveled up my long legs and up to my face.

A bag of chips plopped out of his shirt, and tears instantly formed in his eyes. You could tell that this was probably the first and only time he’d ever tried to steal something.

“Hey, don’t cry. Where’s your mom?”

The kid sniffed. “Around the corner behind the big dumpster.”

I fell to a knee, meeting the kid at eye level. “Does she know you’re here?”

He shook his head. “My mommy doesn’t sleep much anymore, so I didn’t want to wake her up because I was hungry.”He frowned. “I’m sorry, Mister. I wanted to pay, but I’m so hungry and have no money.”

“Tell you what, Kid. How about I pay for all this food, and maybe even some for your mom? Does that sound okay? That way, the man behind the counter stays happy, and you don’t get into trouble.”

“Okay.” He rubbed at his nose. It was red and dripping snot. He looked malnourished and a bit sickly, like he hadn't eaten in weeks.

After paying for the kid’s pocketed food, I followed him out of the store, holding a cup of coffee for his mom and a banana muffin, which he said was her favorite.