Behind the Scenes: Book 0 (MC) (3 page)

Worcester is fuckin’’ crazy, we got two shot and the gang follows us down the big slab. Danny flips his bike around riding straight for them. Fuck. He doesn’t stop shooting until they’re all down. Crazy fuckin’’ Brother is lucky he didn’t get himself killed.

Back at the yard he helps Barrels in. I got Dante. Both arm shots. He settles Barrels then tells me he’s out. I let him go knowing he’s late for Rich.

Once Box gets them stitched up I head to Danny’s. He’s reading something and eating a bowl of cereal while Rich is in a walker rolling around the kitchen. I knock and he motions me in.

“Didn’t expect you Brother I would have made dinner.”

He’s always good like that. “I’m good.” Rich rolls to me and lifts his arms. I lift him up smiling. He’s a good kid. I’ve never heard him cry. “You all right Brother?”

He looks at me. “Yeah. I was pissed. Two more shot and I could see us getting it in the back. If I’m going it ain’t in the fuckin’’ back.”

I nod. Rich plays with my tags so I take them off and put them on him. He laughs and starts talking holding on to them. He kisses my chest making it hard for me to talk. Pres says he’s important to the Club. I wish I could see it but I need to clear the path for them. “You thinking about school?”

He looks down at the course book. “Yeah. Pres said I need to think about my boy. I got to do right by him. I want him to know every day that I’m here.” He looks up at me. “Pres will let me walk. I know you spent time grooming me but I need my boy to know I’ll be coming home every night. You’ve been the father I always wanted Axe this isn’t easy for me. My sister is still out there somewhere but you and the Brothers are all I’ve had. I gave Pres another six months. I’m going to start in September. He’s letting me walk but says I need to get my boy grown before I come back.”

All I can do is throw him chin. He finishes his cereal. “I think what you’re doing is good son. Your boy needs you.”

He nods looking relieved. “Thanks Brother. This is one of the hardest fuckin’’ things I’ve ever had to do. You can still come to dinner you know. I just won’t be at the Club.” I nod. He doesn’t stay there anyway. He won’t go with the whores and isn’t into the drugs. I’m lucky if I can get a beer with him.

“I’ll be here.”

He smiles. “Yeah? You can come anytime but we can make it the first Sunday of the month. If you get busy at least we have that.”

I laugh. “Yeah son. I’ll be here.”

He shows me the classes. He wants to be an architect. Fuckin’’ kids. He’s got it settled in his head and has been practicing on the computer with the drafting program. I just listen to my boy smiling.

We got training today. I like the easy days. When the Brothers leave for the Club Pres pulls up.

“Brothers I got the new cuts for Church.”

I look at Danny. I don’t know about new cuts. We walk over and he pulls a leather vest from his bag. Our colors are on it with a rocker under. “Fuckin’’ nice Pres but we just got new bikes. How the fuck we paying for all new cuts?” Leather yet?

He laughs. “Made a deal with Providence. They paid up front. Brothers should get that.”

We laugh. “Fuckin’’ Pres. Nice.”

He nods and Danny’s beeper goes off. Pres looks at me. Fuck. “I got to go.” He looks at me. “It’s for Rich.”

“I’ll ride with you.”

We ride to Darlene’s and I see the bitch on the step banging her shoe on the door.

Darlene looks out the window. I wave to her as Danny gets the bitch away from the house. Pres is just watching. Darlene comes out and stands close to me. “She’s crazy. I don’t know what she’s on but I wasn’t giving her the boy. He doesn’t need to be in a car with that.” I nod.

“You ever have another problem like this you call me. I’ll take care of it. I’ll talk to her now so it won’t happen again but if it does call me direct,” Pres tells her surprising the hell out of me walking to us.

Darlene nods. “Thank you. I need to get back in. My daughter is watching the kids in the back room.”

Pres hands her some money and gives her a card with his number. “Direct.” She nods and goes in.

“Thanks Pres.”

He walks toward Danny and the bitch. I watch him pull her away and talk to her. She has an attitude at first then settles. When she gets in her car she looks scared as fuck. I smile watching her leave.

“I don’t know what you said but thanks Pres.” He turns. “I need to check on my son.”

I come down the stairs and wait on my bike. “What did you say?”

“Told her if she didn’t stay the fuck away from here I’d tell him the truth about her.” I’m wondering if I need to know the truth. “You don’t need to know anything but your boy gets right. Every day it looks better for him.” I nod and watch him come down the stairs. “Don’t know how everyone misses he looks just like you. Must be the beard.” He says softly. I laugh. When we first met I was clean shaven. I haven’t shaved for years.

“He’s good.” He throws his leg over and smiles. The kid’s always smiling.

Pres heads to the Club and we go back to training. I finish a new set we started last week. He’s pretty good at the martial arts.

We grab a beer then he’s off for his boy.

Petey comes in with his crew. “Tiny’s doing good Axe. I need to cut Hammer loose. With Tiny I don’t need him but now he’s whining about our take being split for Tiny.”

I look around. “Hammer!” This is the kid I keep away from me. I never did like him.

“You’re off Transport. Tomorrow you ride my Teams.” He nods giving Petey a look. “You got a problem with a bigger take on the drug side?”

His eyes light up. Fuckin’’ greedy bastard. “No Axe. I’ll take it. Thanks Petey.”

Petey throws him chin and turns back to the bar. He’s got nothing for this kid. I turn back and Pres is watching me. He doesn’t look pissed but he’s not happy. “What?”

“He can take LP’s place.” Fuck. I nod.

“What’s wrong with LP?” Petey asks. He’s got a fuckin’’ big mouth. Shit.

Pres looks at him. “Old lady’s not right in the head. He’s raising his boy and running drugs. Just today we had to get the old lady away from the daycare. She’s not fit to care for a baby. Her head is fucked.” Petey nods and I’m thinking fuckin’’ Pres is a genius. “I’m letting him walk. He goes and we’re good. He didn’t know the kid would turn her bad.”

“That’s a good thing to do Pres.” He pushes away from the bar and I know it will be all over by the end of the night.

“We got to go talk to him,” he says to me.

I nod. “I need to get his pay and some money for school.”

“I have some for him too. Maybe he can find his sister.”

I go in the office and pull a brick for him then a bigger one from my trunk. With the books I’ve been writing and the bricks in my bag we make the ride to his house. The bitch is yelling outside the house in her underwear. When she sees Pres she runs in. Danny looks tired. “Pres, Axe I have no clue what to say so I’ll just say sorry you had to see that. She’s not right.” 

Pres puts his hand on Danny’s shoulder. “We got that today Brother. I didn’t know how far it went. You gave me six months but I’m letting you out today. You get this straight so you can go to school. Be here for your boy.”

Danny closes his eyes. “Thanks Pres.”

Rich rolls over to me. I hand the bag to Danny and lift him up. Rich watches Pres with a smile. “Your pay for the runs and some extra for school and living while you’re there. Put it to good use so you get through. I wrote all the shit I thought you could use. I can explain at dinner on Sunday. It’s the first.”

He smiles and does that half hug. “Thanks Axe. Looking forward to it.”

Pres hands him a brick. “Find your sister.”

Danny’s eyes are huge. “She’s in care. They won’t give details.”

“Then you wait until she’s out but you find her,” Pres says in that order voice. He’s not taking no for an answer. Danny nods. “I mean it. If they give you problems use the money for a lawyer and sue their asses.”

“I will Pres. Thank you.”

I kiss Rich’s head and hand him over to Pres then hug Danny the right way. “I’ll see you Sunday.”

He holds on for a couple of seconds. “Thanks Axe. I’ll be here waiting.”

I walk out and wait for Pres on my bike. He’s out. I’m so fuckin’’ glad he’s out. Pres comes down the stairs smiling. “He’s a good man. He’s putting the money away for when he needs it. Been saving from his take for school.”

I nod and start my bike. I can’t talk right now and need a minute. My boy will live happy. He’s going to school just like JJ. I wonder if he met JJ then drop it. He’s going to make a good life.

The common room is packed. Tiny whistles. Everyone shuts up. Pres laughs. “We got our youngest Officer here and he needs a beer.” The Prospects are running around handing beer out. “Now JJ spent four fuckin’’ years in school and brings us back a diploma and his knowledge. Use it Brothers. Kid’s smart as fuck.” We laugh. “The world is changing Brothers, we need to change with it. This is our start. A drink to your new Officer Ben James.” We take our drink and JJ gets slaps on the back.

I give him a hug. “Officers cut looks good on you JJ.” 

He gives me the biggest smile. “Thanks Axe. I know you helped get me in. I appreciate it. I’ll make you proud Brother.”

I have to smile at that. “I know you will Brother.”

“You heard from Knight?” he asks with concern in his eyes.

I nod. “Yeah Brother, he’s doing good. Got a friend that keeps an eye on him. Says he’s the best he’s ever seen.”

He relaxes. “I haven’t gotten anything in a while.”

“You will. He’s got a busy schedule. He’s with the SEALs now.”

He smiles. “Brother always surprises me.”

Pres talks to him and I turn for the door. It’s the first Sunday and I know my boy’s waiting for me.

Pulling up I laugh. He’s got the house looking good. Fuckin’’ kid is good with his hands.

“Looks good son,” I say looking up at him on the roof.

“I’ll be right down.”

I get Rich from the playpen. “You’re getting big little man.” He’s got my tags on and shows me. I kiss his head. “Yeah Rich from me to you. Wear them proud little man.”

Danny laughs. “He won’t take them off. I made it smaller so he doesn’t get hurt but he likes them on. I figure you wore them every day so he can too.”

“Maybe he’ll be a SEAL when he grows up.”

He smiles. “I’ll be proud if he is.”

“House is looking good. What are you doing on the roof?”

“Put a skylight in and added some glow stars for Rich. Come on I’ll show you his new room.” I follow him in and see he’s done more to the downstairs. He walks in the room and I laugh.

“Fuckin’’ kid.” Rich bounces in my arms so I set him down. He runs for his bed and climbs the ladder as if he’s been doing it for years. He’s going to be smart too. “You did good Danny. You’ll make a good architect. The details are incredible.” He’s got a replica of his truck with a slide coming off the roof. Rich slides down and laughs.

“It’s the first room I’ve done up here but it’s done. Watch this.” He turns the light off and the headlights show dim with a dim light in the cab. Stars are on the ceiling and walls and he points up. I laugh, he has a couple of stars on the skylight. That’s why he was on the roof. “I figure even if it’s cloudy he’ll have stars to look at.”

“Nice.”

“Come on Rich let’s make dinner.” He starts walking out and Rich runs to catch up. Danny holds his hand as he goes one step at a time down. He’s a good dad. I missed all this with my boy but he won’t miss it with his.

I help him get dinner cooking. He makes the same meal for all of us and I’m surprised. He just cuts Rich’s up small. “No more baby food?”

“No he’s got teeth and wants my food all the time. That stuff tastes like shit anyway, I don’t know how it can be good for him.” I smile. “Everything good with you?”

“Yeah, got a new Officer today. The kid that was in school is done. He’s been running with me and does good. He’s put on Prospects. Get the Brothers to act like Brothers and all that.”

He nods. “That’s good.”

“Yeah, you good in school?” He started early since he wasn’t working but he doesn’t talk about it much.

He smiles. “Got a friend going through the academy and I trade him. He’s coding my assignments and I’m teaching him to shoot straight. It’s been working well.”

I laugh. “Good deal.”

We talk and play ball with Rich then I head out telling him I’ll see him soon.

I don’t want to leave knowing my time is coming up but I do. Riding home I take the back roads thinking about the bed he made for his boy. He’s all in for his son and everything he does shows it. The bitch is never there on Sundays and I’m glad.

I pull into the yard and there’s a circle around what can only be a fight. Pres is on the step watching. I see Tiny in the middle then I don’t. I smile. Who the hell would fuck with him? I climb the steps and stand with Pres. “Who’s Tiny fighting?”

He laughs. “JJ and they’re done.”

“JJ? Tiny put his hands on a fuckin’’ Officer?”

He slaps my back. “Relax it needed to be done and JJ took the cut off so Tiny wouldn’t get shit for it.”

“Why they fighting?”

“Bitch been hanging around. She don’t stay for either but they need this. Shows for JJ. Brothers won’t fuck with him.”

I nod. JJ puts his hand out and pulls Tiny up. The Brothers make room for them. “Buy you a beer Brother.”

I laugh and JJ smiles at me. “Fuckin’’ kids.”

He throws me chin and walks in with his hand on Tiny’s shoulder.