Page 12

Gee pulled a fast one on me, and Rowdy Red had to pay for it. I knocked that nigga right in the mouth as soon as he wouldn’t give up where Gee was. Harlem had left shortly after I did when Rowdy Red came on duty. Gee was discharged, and Rowdy Red’s ass was right there when she was. She was carrying my unborn, my lifeline, and like it or not, shit between me and Truth was about to change. I wasn’t worried about Brick. Once Truth fell in line, he’d have no choice but to, but fuck him too. Gee was my responsibility and I was taking her off their hands.

“Still ain’t fucking with me?”

Rowdy Red with narrowed eyes tossed his head up. Fuck him. Gee was my fucking wife, but he was my brother. His loyalty should have started with me. He knew how I got down since he was the same way with his girl, Tyricka.

“Figured we were better than that.”

He spit on the ground near me, calling me out as his skin morphed into a crimson hue. The “Rowdy” was because that nigga was wild but the “Red” was because he had ginger-colored hair, damn near blond eyebrows, and a face littered with freckles. He wasn’t a bitch, though. Had to be one of the best to ever do it when it came to racing or killing a nigga at a moment’s notice. I didn’t want to fight his ass, though. I could admit I was wrong. But hey, love made you do stupid shit.

“Me too. The fuck you let Gee run you like that?”

“I had orders. I followed them. You know the issue is sometimes we think we’re bigger than the brotherhood.” He pulled on his spliff and handed it to me. Smoke seeped from his nose. He eyed me as I toked on it once then passed it back. “And you’re moving foul. You and Genny, nigga?”

“Fuck all that. She’s mine and we’re grown. I gave you an order.”

“I received another, and like it or not, that’s Beast daughter, Breeze. Prison be damned, he outranked you. You know he and my pops sitting on cell block C together. Genny is that nigga’s heart. Before I could even have the discharge papers brought, my pops hit my line. He was with Beast.”

I nodded since he was spot on. Beast was calling plays behind our back. Hell yeah, that was his daughter, but Gee was my baby, my life who was bringing another life into the world. She knew how to pull rank. I’d find a way to get her attention. I always did.

I extended my fist. He looked down and smirked, but he left me hanging.

“My apologies, Rowdy man.”

“Yeah, whatever.” After two hits to the spliff, he fist bumped me. That was his way of accepting my apology. “The fuck is she doing here?”

His brows crowded, and he looked at me. My eyes followed the direction he looked. I closed my eyes with a shake of my head. I’d ghosted Charlene more than a month ago. The only reason I didn’t change my number was because I ran too many businesses of my own to allow her to influence the moves I made.

“Fuck.”

“That’s on you. See your bitch ass at the finish line.” He sauntered off, walking toward his bike.

That shit was nice. He’d recently given it a paint job and threw spikes on the wheels. His exhaust pipe was longer and sleeker. Fucking show off. As they passed each other, Charlene tried to speak to him, but he pretended he didn’t see her.

I couldn’t lie, though. She was finer than a motherfucker in denim jean shorts and a denim vest with a blue and white tank. Her thighs were fucking smooth, and she wore her signature cowboy boots.

“You made it.”

“I did.” She swung her head to the left, then lifted one hand to reduce the sun in her eyes. “I’m helping Jayla. Remember? She’s over the grill with the sausage, burgers, hot dogs, and turkey wings.”

“I know.” I scoffed.

Jayla started out like her, a rumbler. Like I wifed Charlene as I tried to run away from giving Gee my heart, Beanie had wifed Jayla. She was cool and was always up to helping out. I looked around and smiled. The community came out and the park was filled with the club members from those managing rides and games to those just here to see if the biker they bet on would win.

“My money is on you if you need to know.”

“Appreciate that.”

Silence loomed, and she eventually stood in front of me. I glanced down at her and laughed. Charlene was like a beautiful painting on a wall, damn near flawless. Attention came to her easily, but once you really studied it, you recognized she wasn’t an original. She was a carbon copy, a wannabe, and one that didn’t lead. She followed.

“Say, let me get ready. See you later?”

She clapped her hands and smiled.

“I’ll make sure to win.”

“It's for the city. You know I’ll always support the city but you better win.” She nudged me in the arm and I smirked.

“Alright.” I wasn’t chit chatting with her worrisome ass.

“Hey.” She stopped me when I went to walk away. “We are okay, right?”

“Shit, as good as we can be.”

This shit was old, and whether or not I wanted to admit it, I missed my wife more than anything here. I still planned to win this race, and when I did, I’d do my victory lap then put my ear to the streets about Jenson’s ass if he or his flunkies didn’t show up.

Once I looked at her, I realized I didn’t believe in coincidences. Charlene was up to some shit. I needed to keep her close because it was no longer about me. I had a baby on the way.

“Breeeeeze!” Teenie sang as soon as she saw me. She looked at Charlene and rolled her eyes.

“Hey, I’ll see you around.” She scurried off, and I chuckled. Teenie’s ass was a fucking bully.

“Tell the trash man to take out all the trash, Breeze.”

I laughed. “I don’t know what you talking about.”

“Anyway, I see you.”

I smiled as she drug her finger down my Yamaha. I fucked with nothing but the best. Truth loved his Harley Davidson, but I loved Yamahas the way I loved my wife. They were fierce, smooth, fast, and easy to ride with a little kick to them.

“Go easy on my baby.”

“Pfft. Biscuit’s big ass?”

She narrowed her eyes, and pouty lips formed. Shit, he was big, but he was fast with his hands and light on his feet.

“I’m fucking with you. Line us up. I’m ready to show these niggas why the Saints run these streets.”

“Okay!”

She wagged her tongue then waved at someone behind me. I looked over my shoulder and thought I caught a glimpse of someone quickly lowering their head. I tried to follow the top of his head, but he was lost in the crowd.

“Truth!” I reached over and dapped him up.

This nigga pulled up like someone had put Gatorade in his fucking tank. His beard looked like he hadn’t combed it in a few days, and his eyes looked like he hadn’t rested. Auntie My told me to watch him for her, but Truth was stubborn as hell like Gee. They all got that from Beast.

“The fuck going on?” He settled himself on his bike and revved up the engine.

“Not shit but me and this ass whupping I have coming for y’all ass,” I bragged. I had won the last three races and had plans to win the fourth.

“Imagine that.” He looked around, and like me, he was watching the crowd. “See anything off?”

“Naw.” I hesitated, processing the dude that ran off. “Yeah, maybe, but the brothers are in position, especially the OGs who’d rather talk shit than race anyway, all except Jake and Logan. I have them on each corner then near each ride and tent, even Germ and Drake are managing the flow of traffic of the crowd. Krystian and Harlem gave the other prospects their posts. Maybe the bitches fucking with us won’t take the bait and come out.”

“Or maybe they will. Let’s do what we came here to do.”

“Alright, y’all.” Teenie took the mic and announced to the crowd. “Welcome to the Saint Riderz annual race fundraiser. Now, before I have Cookie drop this bandana, remember to place your bet on the best biker! It’s not too late. Make your way over there to the table and be generous. Remember, all proceeds go to the Scotland Park Community Center. Thanks to you, Truth, and the Saints for making this event possible.”

Her ass then looked at Biscuit and threw him a kiss.

“Baby, it’s okay if you don’t win. I’ll still ride on the back of your bike.”

Biscuit blushed then dragged his hand down his mouth. He and Teenie had come a long way. I knew she liked bitches in the past, but once Biscuit put it down on her ass and made her remember how good dick was, she was all in. I wanted that for Gee if her stubborn ass would stop playing.

“Alright, y’all!” Cookie hollered after Teenie passed her the mic. “Here are the rules.”

She looked around, put her fingertip in her mouth, and giggled.

“There are no rules! Just don’t kill anybody! When I drop this, do your thing!” She held up the bandana, and at the count of three, she dropped it.

“Let’s go!”

The engines roared like a huge sea of raging storms. The smell of burning asphalt and smoke filled the air as we all took off. Truth veered to the outside and rode the side while I maintained my stance in the middle. I bobbed and weaved around Harlem and Rowdy Red and laughed. Rowdy Red revved his engine up and veered to the left while Harlem rode next to me, neck and neck.

To my right were Krystian, Rollo, Lupe, and a few others. Lupe was the shit when it came to racing. He was the one to watch. His souped up Kawasaki shot past me, his engine emitting a heavy stream of smoke. I didn’t need to see him, though. I needed to see the fucking finish line.

The course was ten blocks up, five over, then ten blocks back. Once I caught up with Lupe who’d passed me, I flipped up my middle finger and kicked my speed up a notch. My tires barely kissed the pavement as I pushed my shit harder, faster, feeling the wind and heat rip past my face. The crowd cheered loudly, names of bikers were being called out from the rumblers, brothers, down to the kids who thought we were bad asses. We told them differently, but the bikes were the draw. They’d do anything to sit on one of them. The sound of an engine growled, and within a split second, someone zipped in front of me.

Fucking Truth. It was tough to get around him when Jake and Logan crisscrossed as if they were in cahoots with Truth’s ass. I had something for them though. I pulled back, granting myself the ability to see ahead, and when I saw a small opening to my left, I gunned my shit. As soon as I slipped through, I popped my front wheel up and barreled through the finish line.

The celebratory cheers felt good, but I had one focus, and that was to see who wasn’t cheering. I leaped off my bike and yanked my helmet off when my eyes locked in on the bitch I knew couldn’t wait to be seen with me—Charlene. It was strategy over everything and today was purely strategy since I wanted motherfuckers to think they’d catch me off guard.

She stood near the crowd anxiously with a broad smile on her face. Something was off when her eyes danced around as if she was looking for someone. A few girls, girls I guess she came with, egged her on as they nudged her in the back. She seemed to perk up, however, when she started walking toward me.

“Handle your business,” Truth whispered, pulling me in for a hug. “They’re here. We have eyes on some shit that don’t add up,” he added, and I quickly looked around.

“Who?

“Hells Devils.” He grinned and I knew we were about to fuck some shit up. “Not Jenson but definitely a few of his.”

“Why ride when y’all need me here?” I spat, wanting in on the action.

“Focus and take that ride, Breeze. The rest is on us, but don’t trust this bitch. She’s here with them. When you get the call, bring her with you,” he instructed me as she approached us.

“Fuck it,” I grumbled when Truth dapped me up. I could tell he was doing everything he could to remain calm at the sight of her.

“Truth! It’s good to see you. How are you?”

“Good before your ass showed up,” he muttered and she gasped. I hollered when this nigga looked at her like she had shit on her face before he walked off.

“Damn, he’s still rude as hell.”

“Lene, you here for me or Truth?” I asked, extending the helmet in my hand.

“You, baby.” She grinned as the other brothers approached me, slapping hands or giving me dap, even Biscuit.

“Aye, next time it might be you,” I teased them.

“So, at least mine ain’t going home with a former fucking rumbler.” Teenie lifted one eyebrow, daring Charlene to speak whose eyes bucked.

Truth walked by again and scoffed, giving her the evil eye when one of her friends screamed her name, getting her attention.

“See y'all when I get back!” she screamed at her homegirls.

“She may take a minute, though. Probably will see y’all tomorrow.” I looked over my shoulder, and her cheeks hiked from excitement.

“I would love that.”

What I would have loved to do was go home and fuck my wife, but duty called. That was confirmed when that same motherfucker from earlier looked at me and smiled with a nod of his head. Charlene quickly looked away, wrapping her arms around my torso. It was then I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. She and that nigga were here together.

Damn, Charlene’s ass was a motherfucking snake. Game on, motherfuckers. Game on.