Page 21 of Colton (Raging Barons MC #17)
-:- COLTON -:-
It’s going to be a busy day. I somehow got pulled into helping Lincoln to build a shed at the house they are renting, and that they’ve put an offer on. They didn’t waste any time deciding to buy the place and eventually buy other fixer uppers for each of them.
The shed apparently is large, as they want it to hold their hogs, and the gear they have had delivered from storage. No idea where it originally came from and not going to ask.
Four hours later and this shed is built.
I’ve a nice bump and bruise on my hip and left leg.
If Arrow hadn’t let his end of the shed side go, I wouldn’t have been taken by surprise and literally flattened on the ground with the shed on top of me.
What the three of them thought was so funny I don’t know, but I slammed into Arrow when they got the damn shed side off of me.
Chasing Arrow around the shed had Lincoln and Bones guffawing. Well, until I rammed my shoulder into them when they were not ready. I took them down, and before they could respond I was on my feet, and after the next one.
We ended up covered in filth, but laughing our asses off. The neighbor had come out and sat on his porch, watching us with a huge grin on his face. All the while, he was smoking his pipe and drinking beer from a can.
Walking indoors, I check out the rooms that the trio, as I think of them have stripped to bare bones. When this place is finished it’s going to be new from top to bottom. Even the studs in the walls are replaced. New insulation and drywall will have the place solid for years to come .
“It’s gonna be a nice, solid home when it’s finished,” I say to Arrow who is standing beside me with his arms folded over his chest.
“We are not sure which of us will keep this one. May wait to see which of us it suits best when finished.” Arrow turns when Bones walks into the room, which eventually will be the kitchen.
“I like it, but I’m not sure it has a home vibe to me. So, it’ll be between Arrow and Lincoln, I’m reckoning.”
Thankfully, I’m not at work today, and I had my workout with Buzz early this morning.
Boy, he can punch. But he has a lot of style to his fighting, and I’ve learned a few tricks to add to my collection.
Following him around isn’t particularly teaching me much at this point.
He follows Axel and I follow Buzz, as I just said… boring.
Back at the clubhouse I take a seat in the kitchen, picking up the mug of coffee Bitty hands to me. They are all talking about taking the twins somewhere, but not sure Mia will be happy with the Three Stooges taking them out without brothers to watch them all.
I’ve seen Ed following the three of them around when he’s been here with Blake, and I’m not getting involved in whatever bullshit they’ll all get up to when nobody is looking.
We seem to collect old folks around here lately!
Three Stooges, Richard, who is Star’s father, plus Blake’s adopted PawPaw Ed, and her other clients, Pru, Audrey and Robert.
They all seem to gravitate to family cookouts here.
Not sure why, but my mind spins to where Nyx is working, and fuck, she works with four elderly ladies, who seem as batshit crazy as all the others. I wonder if it is a prerequisite of getting old, throwing inhibitions to the wind, and allowing your mouth to say whatever the fuck it wants ?
Axel takes a seat next to me and I shake my mind away from the crazy of being elderly. “You okay, Pres?”
“Why did Nell contact you when she wanted to do recon?”
Ah, just like Axel, right to the point. “Well, I’ve been spending some time over there at night. Fighting with the boys, as Nell calls them. I’ve picked up a few tips, too. Not just hand-to-hand, but weaponry. Tank and Richie have some mad skills.”
“Learn all you can, Colton. I know you are a lot older than my boys, but if one is to have their own chapter I want to be sure his enforcer is the best he can be. I chose you because you already have a relationship with the boys. You are young still, but are fearless and I’m positive will have my son’s back in any situation that arises. ”
Now, that is an enormous compliment from Axel, and he’s not one for throwing them out, so this is a biggie for me.
“I’ll watch those boys without being their enforcer.
I love them like brothers, and as you know, Pres, I didn’t have brothers or sisters.
I will watch over them because I have them in my heart, not because it’s a job. ”
Axel places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Thanks, Colton.”
That’s all he says, and all he has to say, before he gives me a nod and steps away from the table. Stopping, he gives me a serious look, another nod then walks out of the kitchen.
Meat, of course, has witnessed it all. He also gives me a nod before turning to the stove where he opens the oven door and takes out trays of pot pies. He makes so many kinds, but I avoid the ones that have spinach. Yucky stuff spinach, in my opinion.
I watch BS as he walks into the kitchen, and grin when I think about the pack of pencils I have purchased and left on his desk, all with a bow that Mia tied for me. No name, so he does not know who has left them, but I’m waiting for his reaction.
Taking a seat at a table two up from where I’m sitting.
BS takes out a pencil from the top pocket of his shirt.
He snaps it in half, and then sharpens one end to an acceptable point, and a straight cut on the other.
Once both halves are done, he places one smaller pencil back into his pocket and the other behind his ear.
Once BS has cleaned his shavings, he turns and gives me a wink. “Thanks, Colton.” Then he saunters out of the kitchen.
Meat chuckles and I roll my eyes, because honestly, BS must have a camera in his office to know it was me that left him the pack of pencils. Next time I might get him some with unicorns, or My Little Pony on them. Yeah, that’s a thought!
Before I hand my mug over to Bitty, who is hovering around my table my phone pings, and I quickly check who is messaging.
Target: Thursday recon. I’m taking ‘Reaper’
Colton: OK. Do I need anything?
Target: No. I’ll send you the details later
Colton: OK
Well, that’s interesting. Recon with Target and he is taking his sniper rifle, that he calls ‘Reaper’. In fact, it has an etching of the Grim Reaper on it. I’m gonna prove to Target I deserve to own one and have a scythe etched onto it.
Two hours later, and a session in Specs' office with Specs and Buzz, I’m well versed on each of the businesses and what Buzz looks for when he has to go to any as the Enforcer of the club. It’s interesting to see Buzz knows every entry, exit, window, cabinet…well, anywhere danger could lurk.
My mind is aching with all the information I’ve been given, and have to remember.
Buzz has a smirk on his face because he knows this is going to be a hard lesson if I don’t get it right.
He’s bound to test me, and if I fail, he’ll more than likely give me a beat down on the following Sunday training session.
Taking a bottle of water from behind the bar, I open the cap and take a healthy drink. I’m not drinking enough and need to stay hydrated. Stitch has given us all a yearly check and told me I need more fluids, so I’m doing my best to drink eight bottles of water a day.
Noise outside has me quickly rushing out of the common room and front door. I come to a stop when I see Web’s father standing inside the compound gate. How the fuck is he inside the gate?
Buzz steps beside me and gives me a flick of his head to deal with whatever the fuck this is. “What are you doing here?” I ask as I step toward the asshole. Now, Web isn’t here, but even if he was, I wouldn’t let this piece of shit speak with him.
“I want to speak to Chris. He has to sort out a problem.”
“Oh, yeah! That problem being cash, I presume? Don’t tell us you need cash to bury your wife because we know she had already paid for her own funeral.
” I stand within two feet of him at this point, and stare into his face, showing no sign of fear.
He still thinks we are little boys and he can boss us around.
But if that’s the case, he can think again.
“There is more that needs doing, apart from her funeral cost. ”
Now, he’s blustering, and he knows that I know it. “Yeah, like what? Beer, women, rent?” Now, Web told me his father had sold the house for cash to pay his gambling debt, so had to rent the place back from the buyer.
I can see the asshole getting angry, but he is looking from me, to Buzz, Meat, BS, Stitch and even PT. This fucker isn’t looking so brave when he faces all of us. He doesn’t reply to my question, but looks like he could throw a punch at any moment.
“Yeah, you want to throw a punch? Go for it, I’ll give you one free.
Then I’ll take you down like the fucking rat you are and then I’ll bury you where no-one will find you.
If anyone even cares to look for you that is.
” I’m pushing this fucker to make the first move, but he’s not brave enough. A coward is what he is.
Buzz steps up beside me, “You are nothing to Web. Yeah, he’s not Chris anymore. You chucked him out and left him to fend for himself. He’s one of us now, and you can’t have him. He’s not giving you a fucking dime, and if you try again, Colton here won’t need to bury you because I’ll do it.”
Web’s father takes a huge step back, putting space between us. He looks like he’s going to run in a minute. That will be fine, as long as he stays away from Web.
A flash passes us all, and I along with everyone else am shocked, stunned, then amused.
Axel has thrown himself at this fucker, punched him three times before he places his foot on the downed asshole's chest. “You come here again, or near one of my boys and I’ll make sure you disappear never to be seen again.” Yeah, you guessed that he has that feral look on his face, but this time he’s not grinning, which makes this even more frightening.
“You left your son to rot, and I’m more than happy to make you pay for that.
Web is mine, he belongs to the club, and everything and everyone in this club is mine.
I’ll cut you to shreds if you try getting near what’s mine again. ”
As soon as Axel lifts his foot, the asshole jumps to his feet. Well, jumps is said loosely. He staggers to his feet, then rushes out of the compound.
Axel smacks his hands together as though that’s business done, and we all, like sheep, follow him back into the clubhouse where he hands us all a beer from behind the bar.