Page 14
LOU
Ajax was furious and followed me back to the house on his bike to talk to Mick. We entered the house and found Mick sitting on the couch in her pajamas with a schoolbook in her lap and watching music videos on TV.
Mick closed her book when Ajax sat down on the couch beside her.
"Oh boy. I'm in trouble, ain't I?" she asked.
I sat on the chair and kicked off my shoes, upset that the outfit I bought didn't entice Ajax when I showed up at the clubhouse earlier.
"You're not going to hang around Sheila anymore. I forbid it," Ajax said.
"Why? Just because her stepdad is pissed off that you and the Berzerkers kicked his ass?" she asked, her brows narrowed, looking just like him at that moment.
"There's more to it than that."
"Like what?"
"It's dangerous, Mick! I'm not bullshittin' around! I've been in club life since I was your age, and nothing good ever comes out of it, especially for females! You're my kid, and it's my job to keep you safe!" Sadness and anger filled his eyes, hoping Mick would understand.
She stood from the couch and grabbed her books. "It's hard to make friends in school, and Sheila is my only friend! She's my best friend!"
"Don't back talk me, goddammit!" Ajax shouted, standing and stepping into Mick's space.
But she didn't flinch. "You don't know what it was like back in Baltimore living with my mom! I've seen some bad things and done things to survive! Hiding in my bedroom and locking the door when she brought people over to binge on liquor or drugs. When I got older, I could sneak out of the house and be out on the streets or with homeless people. I've stolen money and robbed food from convenience stores, but I had to. My mother didn't give a shit about me! I'm surprised I even exist 'cause she probably tried to abort me but failed!"
Mick started to cry, stormed into her bedroom, and slammed the door shut.
Ajax swore all the existing curse words and made up a few more of his own as he paced back and forth in the small living room. I stood, walked over, and hugged him.
"All I ever had to do since I was a kid was take care of myself, to stay alive,” he said. “Then, I found the Berzerkers MC, Kage, and his brother, Stryker, from Baltimore. I thought wearing the VP patch was about being at the top. I had the biggest fuckin chip on my shoulder and was better than any of the other brothers in the club. But Rubik beat the living hell out of me and kicked me off that high horse.” He sighed. “Diezel accepted me into the Richmond Chapter, and I've realized that wearing the Berzerker patch has nothing to do with ego or pride. Rubik is a good man who protects those he loves: the club, his Ole Lady, Marie, and her kid. I was lost and found my way here.” He squeezed me tighter. “I found you and Mick. You're my family. The club is my family, and I'll kill anything and anyone who wants to hurt those I love."
He stepped back. “Here I want you to take this and put it somewhere,” he said, reaching into his rags, pulling out a revolver and placing it in my hands. “It’s a snub nosed Smith and Wesson .38 revolver. There’s no serial number on it so it’s untraceable. It’s got a kick, and it’s loud when it’s fired.”
The gun felt warm and heavy as my palms became sweaty. I just kept staring at it, not knowing what to do. It felt so foreign to me.
“Have you ever shot a gun before, Lou?”
“No. I’ve always been afraid of them.”
“Don’t be afraid because it can save your life. I can’t always be with you and Mick, so you’re going to have to protect both of you. I hope it never has to happen, but it doesn’t work that way in my world. Just hold the grip with both hands, aim the barrel at what you want to kill, and squeeze the trigger. I’ll take you over to the clubhouse and let you practice.”
I walked to the kitchen, placed the gun inside my purse, then walked back and placed my hands on Ajax's handsome face. "Let's go away, disappear, and start a new life somewhere else."
He leaned away. "The club is my life, Lou. I'd never leave my brothers. That would be death."
I broke down and cried as Ajax walked past me and out the door.