Today is a new day, a new week. For many of us, it’s a fresh start over, following the weekend. But for some, it’s just another fucked up day reminding us of what we lost, what we gained and what we want but will never have. Such is life.
For my brother Bull, it’s the second.
His dark grey eyes that once creased whenever he smiled, which used to be every fucking time, now pointed to the cemented basement floor as if it had all the fucking answers to why his life turned out so wrong.
Why did he lose the one thing he wanted for years, yet only got two months with? His dead wife, Nakita.
At 33 and 6 feet of solid muscle, not to mention the biggest guy in the club, including our Mother chapter in Houston, you’d think a man like him would’ve moved on, or at least found a woman to warm his bed.
But he doesn’t touch any of the girls. They all offered, he just doesn’t give a crap.
My eyes settle to what he does give a crap about, that’s dangling from his hand, weed.
He smokes 24/7.
I don’t mind it now and again. I ain’t judging but for a guy who is road captain and spends a majority of his time handling our trips, it’s dangerous, meaning I got to keep an extra eye on him.
I don’t like it but a part of me understands.
“Put that fuckin’ shit out, it’s the fuckin’ morning brother. Jesus fuck.” Killer however doesn’t. He’s the only one. But then again that’s who he is.
Bull pinches the end of the joint so quickly, I feel bad for the man.
Killer is one brother you don’t push, especially in the morning.
The basement is our place where we handle church.
A year back we installed handprint security to the entry door. No unwanted guests allowed.
Unless you one of us, and I mean a full patch member, only then you can enter. It was Killer and Storm’s idea. Best thing ever invented.
Venus walks in carrying three coffee mugs on a tray. She hands me mine, a black sugarless delight. I inhale my coffee bean medicine.
Snake takes his and saddles next to me on the wheeled office chair he purchased last Christmas. One for each of us.
“Checked out the new girl. Cute. Gave her kitchen duty. She doesn’t look like no beggar to me man.”
I grunt.
The scar under my eye pulls taut at the mention of her. Shit, I need to get my head out of the gutter, literally.
This morning was a new day. A good day. Had my cock sucked by my woman, then had fine pussy also from my woman.
Beggar wasn’t even on my mind. She wasn’t even a thought.
“Beggar, ha, out of all the damn names in this world she chose Beggar, might as well tattoo I’m stupid on her fucking forehead.”
“She ain’t stupid, asshole,” Storm glares from across me.
I swallow a sip of coffee, realizing I just said that shit loud. But I’m not going to regret it, fuck no, they don’t call me Zero for anything.
“You know she’s actually lived on the street her whole life, you telling me she went to school.”
Storm’s nostrils flare, his jaw practically ready to pop and I don’t fucking like it.
I put my cup on the table on the left. Pinning him down with my narrowed glare. VP or not I’ve had enough of his shit.
“Enough both of you.”
We both turn our heads to the fading man we call our President. I resume my position as before and pick up the red mug with my coffee. Storm doesn’t look at me after that and I do the same.
Once the room quietens, I turn behind me to see if the others have arrived.
The basement has two windows, one above Bull’s head, the other on top of Knight and Venus who are sitting close to the steps next to the three freezers we keep our meat in.
My vision darts past the blue painted walls, Texas who’s wearing his cowboy hat, and Spade saddled next to him one row up from me until it stops on Killer.
He’s partially hidden in the shadows. Just like me. But I sit down. He has one leg on the wall, his face an impenetrable mask.
Killer is way younger than all of us in this room at just 23. But his eyes say they’re ancient.
He served his country at eighteen, joined the navy at just sixteen became a special ops member at 20.
I play with my tongue ring as I stare at him, ignoring the other voices.
He’s fully dressed this morning, lip ring, eyebrow piercings. The thought makes me smile.
Yesterday Beggar must’ve fallen for his charm as many did, but today she’ll meet the Killer.
She’ll be running back to the streets soon enough. Where she belongs.
The thought leaves a foul taste in my mouth. I know I’m talking crap. I wouldn’t let her get as far as the front gate.
Killer drops his leg and takes a step into the light, his arms crossed over his black t-shirt chest and smirks at me.
I ignore him, with a shake of my head and focus on the Prez. I can’t help it, I like the kid.
Rounder pierces the knife in the black oak table signalling church in session. We all straighten to face him, except of course Storm who moves to the vacant seat next to Prez.
I slip my cut on, and so does all the others.
“Did the girl sleep well?” Rounder asks to no one in particular.
“Yup got her next to Zero’s room down the hall.” Venus answers.
“Let’s cut to the chase, Beggar saved Falon’s life, and from what Killer says, also saved my babies pride, now that shit is an act of a true Satan Sniper.
We need people like her. So we vote.
The choices are simple, she either gets patched in first then undergoes training. Or she prospects and becomes a member after.
The third option, and this one I thought about but disagree with, is we set her up with a job and give her a place of her own.”
His body racks with a series of coughs as he finishes.
Venus walks over and gives him a bottle of water from the packs on the floor near the freezers.
I watch his eyes soften at the Doctor. It’s hard watching him fade away.
Rounder has been our man, our leader since forever. When he decided he wanted to move here, we didn’t question him, we just followed.
I’ve served under him in Iraq and on ops all over the world. It’s a shame to see him come to this.
“We don’t know anything about her. I have Snake looking into her, so far, he got nothing, it’s almost like she doesn’t exist. But we’ll find something.”
He clears his throat, after handing us that bit of information. That sound isn’t too good, in fact, it’s bad, very fucking bad.
“Let’s vote,” Rounder says in a phlegm filled voice.
Ten minutes later the Prez has his answers.
“Bull, Texas, Killer, Venus, Spade and Storm voted no to full member.” He hits his chest, reading on.
“Zero suggests a job and partial hang on.”
The Prez locks me with a fuming stare, his teeth grinding together,
“She saved my daughter.”
Yeah, if he was his full self, I’ll be under his boot by now.
“She can barely stand to be touched, how is she going to go through the program? I’m not comfortable training her in combat if she’s going to freak every time, I touch her.” Spade voices this from behind me.
I’m not surprised he got there without me hearing it. He loves sitting in the same seat. Next to the stairs.
“Afraid she’ll hurt your balls?” That comes from Snake.
“Nah man, I’ll lose them.” They all laugh at that, even the Prez.