AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I lean back and stare at him. He seems to be having everything figured out.
“I’m not sure how you expect us to do this,” I finally say. What he is proposing that we do is way above our paygrade. Besides, anyone looking at us would know that we’re no cops.
“My connection at the Austin PD will also help,” Devereux starts laying out the plan. “But I need a group of people I can fully trust to extract Wrecker without raising any suspicions.”
“We’re all big men full of tattoos,” I make sure to point out. “I’m not sure what kind of cops you have in mind, but no way we look like them.”
“That should not be a problem at all, Mr. Hawk,” Devereaux assures me. “In fact, it will come in very handy, at least the size of you part.”
The more involved I get in this shit, the more I regret not having any of my club brothers with me. On top of that, this coming Thursday is my regular day to visit my mother. While she’s not quite sure who I am anymore, she somehow knows the schedule. The staff told me before that she gets restless when I don’t show up.
My relationship with my mother has always been on the complicated side. Unlike a lot of my brothers, I had a happy childhood. My father did accounting for the club, so he was always invited to certain events they had. That’s how I fell in love with motorcycles.
When I turned fifteen, they gave me a job cleaning the toilets at the club. I gagged the first time I walked into their bathrooms there, and I swore I’d never go back. But they were paying well, and I liked having my own money.
That became even more important once my father was involved in a car accident as he was driving home from work. He did not survive it, leaving me and my mother in a world of hurt. The life insurance he had covered the mortgage and any other debt my parents had incurred, but my mother had never worked before, and she had a hard time adapting to the culture in a work environment.
While she was struggling with part-time jobs, Prez started giving me more work to do at the club. Looking back now, I know he was paying me way more than what he should’ve for what I was doing.
He earned my loyalty and my willingness to join the club once I turned eighteen. Over the next couple of years, my pay went up significantly, to the point where I could support my mother. The relief on her face when I told her she could quit her job did things to me. I swore to take care of her until the day she died.
What I did not count on was her getting sick at a fairly young age. She was barely in her fifties when she started showing signs that something was not right. I spent a lot of time and money on doctors, having them run all the tests possible, until they had a diagnosis. Early onset dementia.
She cried when they told us. But she forgot about it relatively quick. I hired someone to live with her because I was too busy with the club. While she did not need permanent care yet, it made me feel better knowing she was not alone.
Two years later, that was not enough anymore. I found her the best facility money could buy, and that is where she’s been living for the last five years. The decline has not been as abrupt as I was expecting. Between the meds they give her and the activities she does there, she is well taken care of.
“Mr. Hawk,” Devereaux speaks again. “I spoke with your president about you.”
I blow some smoke to the side, a weird pressure in my chest distracting me for a second.
“I wanted him to know how much I valued your work.”
“Thanks,” I chuckle. It’s like we’re in some strange board meeting, proper businessmen and all.
“In exchange for everything you’re doing for me, I would like to offer you a monetary bonus.”
My hand freezes halfway in between the table and my mouth. I was about to take another pull from the cigarette. I become suspicious of his motives.
“All the money goes through the club.”
The tone of my voice should not leave any doubt that I am serious. Betraying the club is not an option for me.
Devereaux smiles, and this time it reaches his eyes.
“Your president did say that you will not fall for it. I appreciate loyalty when I see it. He is a very lucky leader to have someone like you on his side.”
It’s almost as if this entire conversation is actually a trap. I can smell it, but I don’t know what the purpose of it would be.
“With that said…” He leans forward, arms resting on the table between us. “You are in charge of the operation in Austin. You pull it off, I will pay all the fees on your mother’s care, for as long as she needs it.”
I lift my eyebrows in surprise. I spoke with my president about a higher pay for this job. He never really committed to it. I should’ve never asked for special treatment, knowing all council members get an equal cut. What Devereaux is offering me is something that is hard to say no to.
“I can’t accept without my president’s approval,” I inform him coolly. “I don’t do anything without the club’s approval.”
I lean back in my seat and relax my body, refusing to show any emotion. The offer is beyond tempting, but money is the eye of the devil. Once you say yes, it will haunt you. Jeopardizing my position within the club is not an option, even at the risk of not having to worry about paying for my mother’s care.
“He is waiting for your phone call, Mr. Hawk,” Devereaux smiles again.
