I guess that’s called maturing. I feel older than twenty-nine. I think every year is like a dog year in this life. You age twice as fast as a normal person, ‘cause the things we see would turn a civilian’s hair white.
“Yeah. I could see that. How’s the boy doing? It has to be his last year.”
“Yeah man, he’s chomping at the bit to patch in, but Mama Bear put her foot down. He has to have his degree first.”
“It ain’t a bad move.”
“No. It helps with the image we’re trying to present, and having something to fall back on is always a plus. I remember those lean years when we were hurting for money back in the day. We want our people skilled so that doesn’t happen anymore.”
I nod my head. “Stone’s doing good things for the mother charter. We’re coming out of the dark ages.” We’d been shaken by betrayal and attack, but it only made us stronger. I think back to Psycho, a former enforcer. May you rest in peace, wherever you are, brother. He was someone I looked up to. Cool, collected, and skilled with a knife, his fists, and torture methods he had a way of compartmentalizing.
You’d never guess the family man was so dangerous. Losing him hurt. It opened my eyes to the fact that the Kings weren’t indestructible. When you’re riding in formation with your brothers on all sides, and living in a town that bends to your will, it’s easier to forget that.
“He is, and it’s about time. The next generation was hungry for change.”
“How’s your Old Lady?”
“Good. She should be showing up soon. Her and Ruthie were doing some more baby shopping.”
I laugh. “It seems like it’s in the water. You ready to be a Daddio again?”
“Yeah man, Bolton was the only good thing that crazy bitch of mine gave me. Having one with Blue now is a completely different experience.”
I nod my head. Daughter of one of our deceased Enforcers, Psycho, Bluebell always had a good head on her shoulders. I couldn’t say the same for her older sister, Calla. Currently serving time for drug trafficking, the junkie, and mother of Shadow’s first child, Bolton had caused nothing but grief. It was her fault the reaper came for her old man in the first place. Her and her shady mother. Just thinking about how it all went down made me snarl.
“You heard from Calla?”
Shadow sighs. “She places phone calls to Bolt, but he denies them. She also sends letters he doesn’t open. I’m not sure if she’s sincere and getting her shit together now that she’s detoxed in jail or trying to stir the pot. With a baby coming in a few months, I don’t have the time or patience to try and figure it out. She’s gotten enough from me over the years.”
I nod my head in agreement as I remember one of her full-blown tantrums in the clubhouse. She’s embarrassed the fuck out of herself many times over the years.
“Prison might’ve been the best thing to happen to her. Nothing puts reality into perspective than the loss of freedom,” I say.
“You’re right about that. I got to say I was shocked you didn’t ride out with Warp.”
I chuckle. “You and everyone else, but they don’t have the balls to say it out loud.”
“You thinking bout sticking around here? Cause we could use you for sure.”
“I might be.”
“If you do, there’s not one person here who wouldn’t vote yes to accept you. Especially after what happened with the Ab, and expansion of different businesses. We need someone watching our backs.”
“You think we’re going to have trouble with other M.C.’s?”
“I think jealousy is a hell of a motivator. We’re making more money than we ever have, and people are going to start taking notice and testing us. It starts petty and grows if you don’t squash it immediately. There’s a lot of little crews popping up and trying to make a name for themselves. The quickest way to do that is to strike out at the big boys.”
“If you have more balls than brains, maybe,” I mumble.
“Didn’t we all at their age, though?”
“Suppose you could be right on that.”
My phone buzzes. I take it out of the pocket in my cut, and my mood lightens.
“I gotta take this. I’ll catch you later.” I nod as I walk away from the clusters of conversations.
“Hey, Blanche.”