Page 8

After all the Saints showed up, we took it outside to the backyard. Every once in a while, we’d hang out here and barbeque, shoot the shit away from the clubhouse. It was mostly those in leadership, the motherfuckers that had to make the calls.

“What’s the next move?” Brick queried, kicking it off.

“Footage.” I looked at Breeze who was taking the lead on that. “When Alix brings his ass here, I need anything he can hack into and find. Motherfuckers shooting at me in broad daylight.”

“Told you they think we’re soft,” Brick muttered when Harlem slapped him in his stomach. “Fuck you.”

“I’m on it but we also need Eriqua and her girls to have their ear to the streets,” Breeze replied. “One of the bitches will be eager to talk shit. I’ll hit her up.”

“Fuck you will,” Brick boomed, sitting up. He rolled his neck around with slitted eyes. “I got that. E’s my responsibility. Before we put her or her girls on, we need that footage first. That arson report told us it was an explosion. What you have on that?”

“Detonator. Someone had to have watched her enter then triggered the explosion. Report stated traces of nitroglycerin were found in two locations, near the front and back doors of the building. Gee went through the back. As soon as the door opened, a timer started on the one she’d set off. They were trying to trap her ass if she ran out the front. By the time the firefighters arrived, the one near the front was located under the debris. Guess all that fucking water and other shit stopped that one from going off. Cost us a pretty penny to get that shit, but it was worth it.”

I watched as he spoke, his eyes staring off that filled with tears. He looked at us, then pinched his nose before he cleared his throat. He was taking this shit hard if not harder than I was. He and Gen were always cool though, sometimes too cool to the point he gave her man, Charles, ass the blues any time he came around. If he and Gen were fucking around, that would be a problem I’d have to check later. No one was good enough for my Genny. Charles was nothing but a pawn since he worked at the tax office. Plus, she ran that nigga. He probably didn’t even get the pussy.

“I say we find out who’s known for making that shit,” Breeze continued. He looked over his shoulder and nodded at Harlem. “Bring it here.” He went to a bag near his bike and brought it over. The entire time, Breeze watched him as he wiggled his fingers. Like me, he was ready to blow a motherfucker’s head off. He opened it up after he slid a glove on, then held it up.

“This is it. We find who made this, we find out who’s coming for us.”

“Maybe,” I chimed in, then looked at Germ.

“Any word on Alix?” His ass was still missing. He’d text back but he wouldn’t call. Maybe I was too hard on him, but I had to be. Bitches wanted us dead.

“He said he was on his way.” I looked at my watch. He was over an hour late since they were told to be here more than an hour ago. “Want me to call him?”

“Naw.” I needed to get back inside to the fiery beauty upstairs who peeked through the window. She quickly closed them and stepped away. Her shadow grew dim, causing me to chuckle. She was pissed Germ was here I’m sure, but like it or not, Germ was family and up next to become a Saint Rider.

“Alright, y’all. Keep your head on the swivel. No moves are made except I call it,” I reminded them, my eyes fastened to Brick’s. That cocky motherfucker smiled. “Breeze, good job, and make sure someone’s on that door at the hospital.”

“Lupe’s up next. Him and Krystian.”

“Alright then.” We dapped each other as the brothers began to depart when Germ approached me. That nigga could handle himself. I’ve watched him put in work. If he was in his feelings about his sister, I was prepared to stand my ground. I knew he could protect her. He didn’t need too though. The way I saw it, she was mine to protect when they came for me with her around. She could’ve been killed and there’d be no stopping me. The streets would have to bleed.

“What’s up, Germ?”

“She’s good?”

He tucked his lips, his chest heaving as he waited for an answer. Before he came over, he told me a little about their upbringing and her desire for him to go off to art school. I understood. Like I wanted better for Alix, she wanted the same for him.

“You know I got her though. She can come home.” Crazy thing was, my shit didn’t feel like home but the sound of it gave me a peace knowing she was inside.

“I can’t allow that. Not right now, but you’re welcome to come through. Holler at her before you leave.”

We slapped hands before he made his way inside. I sat out back and stared at the sunset. The orange and red bands bleeding into the evening sky most people thought was beautiful. Not me though. I hated when it became nighttime. I didn’t sleep well. Never did after my mother died, and now with Gen being hurt, that shit grew worse.

After I smoked out back and ran every scenario in my head as to who wanted to fuck with us and why, I came up with nothing. For twenty years, shit had been silent. Sure, we had our rumbles over the years about territory or stepping on each other’s toes when it came to how we took care of the brotherhood and families, but we settled our differences for the most part.

I made my way inside, and before I could head to my room to shower up, I couldn’t help but want to see Merci. That kiss, the touch of her delicate fingers gliding down my dick and the way she hopped on that bike had me wanting to be around her. I kind of enjoyed that fucked up banter-like energy. It was also a way to hide how I really felt about her. I didn’t know much but what I knew was that she was loyal, and she rode for hers. That was more than enough in the life we lived. Before I could, Auntie Myanne voice called out to me, snatching me from my thoughts.

“Yeah, Auntie?”

“I asked is there anything you need, Emric?” she whispered. I could see the concern in her eyes, heard it in her voice. “Germaine’s gone. Said he’d hit you up later about this arrangement with his sister.” I nodded. I hoped he wouldn’t, and if he knew what was best for him, he’d stand down and listen to me. The decision was final.

“Naw but thank you.”

“Mhmmmm. Here.”

She handed me a few wipes to clean my hands and mouth. Angry or not, I could tell she was worried more than she cared to share. I expected that since she was the only mother figure we had. No questions asked, she stepped up and moved in to tend to Genny and Alix. Gen was ten and Alix was just a baby. He was the only one that heard stories about our mother. Brick was eighteen, and I was nineteen, young but forced to step it up, and step it up we did. Poor Auntie Myanne was sick of our asses.

“How is she?”

I cleared my throat, cleaning my hands from Breeze’s stupid ass. I’d scraped my damn hand, even forearm when I looked a little closer.

“Physically or mentally?” she whispered, covering my hand with hers.

“Both.”

I could manage the physical. Mental not so much, but I knew. I knew from the first time I laid eyes on her. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from me, even though they were filled with skepticism. Underneath that she wanted to know more. I won’t lie; I did too. The other bitches in there cackled, fighting for me to glance their way or a toss of the head. Not Merci, and that made me want her even more.

“She’ll be fine. I gave her a shot for that shoulder. Saw some inflammation.” She smiled.

“A firefighter. Has to have a lot of heart to do that job. She knew exactly what I was doing and even told me how much to give.” She snickered. “I like her, but…”

She sighed and took a seat next to me.

“Baby, mentally… she’s not good. It took some time to get her to calm down to undress and get in the water to bathe her. Then she fell asleep and woke up in a panic. More has happened to her than what happened today. A woman like that has a lot to unpack… lots of layers. Whoever wants to carry what comes with her has to have patience and huge arms.”

“Tell me about it.”

She playfully popped my arm, and I winced. Her and fucking Breeze.

“Oh, stop it.” She waved me off before I kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t,” she warned me.

“What?”

“Try to change the subject.”

“Man,” I drawled. This feelings shit was new for me and definitely about a woman. It didn’t matter though. Once Auntie My’s mind was made up, I had to hear her out.

“We both know that patience ain’t your forte, except with old ladies like me.”

I pinched her cheek and she giggled.

“Shoot, Auntie. Your ass ain’t old and you’re cute, too.”

“Boy, I know.” She stood up and twirled around with a little two step. “Would bring my little friend around, but I learned the last time. Brick terrified Mr. Gene. Never again.”

I wanted to tell her fuck Mr. Gene. He didn’t deserve my auntie’s good cooking or her time. He was an old pervert if you asked me. Sat on the front row at church and watched anything with a skirt walking by back in the day like he was falling out and catching the Holy ghost. Holy ghost my ass.

“I love and appreciate you, Auntie. For everything.”

“Even that ass whupping I owe you and Sahmeer?” she quizzed, and I hollered.

That nigga hated to be called his real name. Said it was feminine and shit like Emric. Beast played too much making me a junior. My mother was so in love with him, she cosigned that shit. I missed her, missed her so much.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I pulled her in for a hug, our bodies swaying as she rubbed my back. When I pulled back, I already knew what was coming. I could tell when she looked toward the stairs where Merci was.

“It ain’t like that.” I lowered my head, a faint grin forming.

“Lie to yourself if you want. I saw the way you looked at her when I walked in the room. You were terrified, sweating like she was in labor about to give birth to your first born, and she ain’t no better. The second you left, she practically sat up. Her eyes danced between me and the door as if she could see through it. Then she sat back and huffed, calling you a bully. Bully my ass. I could smell the heat between her legs.”

I shook my head and snickered. Auntie Myanne was crazy as hell. I smiled because the chemistry was there. I couldn’t ignore it if I wanted to. It’s the same reason why I wanted to knock that fucking smile off that firefighter’s face. She wasn’t mine, but she wasn’t his either.

For now, though, she might as well accept that it was my face she would see day in and day out until we found out who was gunning for us. I owed Germ that, and I owed her too. What she didn’t know was that I recognized her. She was the one that saved Gen’s life. That video footage kept rolling that Brick brought to me at the clubhouse that day. When I took a good look, it wasn’t a nigga that pulled Genny out. It was a woman. Breeze confirmed it when he returned to the warehouse and lifted the prints. Chief, once his palm was greased, gave up her name—Mercilyn Dubois. I didn’t even know that nigga Germ was Haitian.

For that reason alone, I’d forever be indebted to her.

“Go easy on her. You’d be surprised what storm is brewing in her head that you could calm… and vice versa. It’s not the storm that’s the problem. It’s how you weather it, how you still come out on top. Be her anchor, Em.” She looked up and gently stroked my cheek.

I didn’t know what the fuck that meant, but one thing was clear—I’d die before I allowed something to happen to her. I touched my lips and smirked. That kiss had lit a fire in me that only her mean ass could handle. I couldn’t act on it now, but when the dust settled, maybe just maybe, I try my hand at this dating thing or whatever the fuck they called it these days.

“As for Beast, there’s more to what you think. He’ll tell you when he’s ready.”

“How did you know about me and Merci or me going to see Beast? Did Breeze?—”

“Uh uh!” She lifted her hand with an arched brow. “I know what that scuffle was about. Two damn fools who are committed to fighting it out then pretending it didn’t happen. You’ll feel it in the morning.”

Shit, I felt it now.

“Make time to go see him, baby. You hear me? Beast is still your father.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What you do after he chooses to tell you is up to you since I’m sure he’s prepared to do so. It’s up to you. Remember, none of us are perfect, baby. Not even your mother.” She kissed me then left me standing there dumbfounded.

What did she mean by that? My mother? Hell yeah, I needed to take my ass to Brooksville and pay Beast a visit. It was overdue, especially since I was pretty sure at this point it wasn’t the DPs whose colors were blue and white. The motherfuckers passing by the warehouse and shot at me wore blue and white, even their vests were a dark blue leather, but I don’t recall their symbol which was that of a dog. After all the years you had to study motherfuckers, I would have caught that, and I didn’t. Sure, they could have switched that up to throw me off but unlike them, if I was going to strike and strike to kill, I had to be sure.

After a half bottle of whiskey and a blunt, I showered, threw on some shorts, and went to the den. I sat in the dark, hoping sleep would find me. I wasn’t worried about bitches coming out here for me. We had six prospects outside, and honestly, that was on Breeze. I could handle myself alone and would. I suppose I was more on edge because I had a guest I couldn’t stop thinking about. My cellphone rang, saving me from my thoughts. I wanted to take a walk up there and finish what we started. Well, what I started, what she wanted... just like me.

“Yo.” I picked up.

It was Alix. I’d been calling him all day and then he didn’t show up to the meeting. This disappearing shit with what was going on was pissing me the fuck off. I’d never whupped his ass but fuck that. He wanted me to knock him the fuck out.

“You have a problem sitting your ass down somewhere?”

“Truth, man. I’m good. Germ and Drake scooped me up from Hot Shots. I got caught up and had to make that money. You know how it is. I apologize.”

Hot Shots was a gaming shop. That’s how Germ and Drake fell on our radar, hanging out with Alix. I thought it was a good look since neither were ever known to fuck off in the streets on dumb shit or hang out with other clubs. They were young, hungry, and had a talent I invested in. Gaming was a hobby for them in their downtime, and I trusted them. It was Alix I wasn’t so sure I could trust.

“You heard what happened since you were nowhere to be found?” I wasn’t a fan of talking about Saint business over the phone, not of this nature. At this point, I couldn’t trust our fucking lines weren’t tapped.

“I did.” He cleared his throat but offered nothing else. However, once the silence got to him as I fought not to say some shit to push him further away, he made a dumb ass offer.

“We could slide tonight, Truth. I’m ready for whatever. It’s in my blood, bro. What’s the play?” That was the problem, he was ready and still no matter how much I tried to steer Alix from getting his hands dirty, he wanted in. I shook my head.

“Naw. We’re still trying to figure this shit out. Besides, I need to rest. Let me holler at Germ.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he mumbled.

“What’s up, Truth?”

“Get Alix to your crib and hit my line when you do. He’s upset with me. I get it, but for once, I’m allowing someone else to step in. He trusts you I guess, but I trust you too.”

“You do?” I could hear the smile in this nigga’s voice. I did trust his ass.

“Yeah. You think you can do that?”

“I got you. Alix is family.”

“Shit, we’re family. Saints for life.” He’d shown himself worthy, and even though we hadn’t voted, my vote was the last and final vote. Germ was a motherfucking Saint.

“Tell Merch I love her and I’m sorry I wasn’t…” He sniffled then coughed. “Tell her it won't happen again.”

He was right. It wouldn’t, because the next rounds fired off would be mine. I put that shit on everything I loved.