Page 37 of Sweet Revenge for the Bikers

“Enough that she isn’t safe outside the walls, and I gotta be honest, not sure she’d be safer inside yours. You got our message?”

“What the fuck do you think? Rocco’s preparing for fucking war over here. How’s your man? The one who got shot?”

“Stable for the moment. Been home lately?” Shadow asks casually.

“What the fuck’s that supposed to mean?”

Riptide speaks up. “The little gift package we dropped off wasn’t really our doing. He was waiting inside Melody’s house for her to come home. We just happened to fuck up his plans.”

Dad is quiet for a long while. “Explain.”

“Two days ago we escorted Melody to the house so she could pack a bag for herself. Two men repping the Devil’s Brigade were already there. It was a shoot first, ask questions later sort of situation,” Riptide explains. “Sorry about the flooring, by the way. It got a little messy.”

“Two? I only heard about Turk.”

“The other one’s still breathing,” Shadow answers. “What happens to him is above my pay grade for the moment. I have a question for you, Joker. How’d your daughter end up with the gun that was used to shoot our man?”

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Mad Dog laughs. “We’re not idiots either, man. Are you saying we should assume it’s hers?”

Long pause, long enough for me to worry. “No, but you’re not getting more out of me, not about that. Look, you already know who I am. I didn’t get here by being fucking chatty.”

Shadow rolls his eyes. “You don’t trust me. I don’t trust you. Yada, yada, yada. Our presidents are gonna have a chat sooner rather than later. What I really want to know is if you’re reasonable enough to deal with in case we need an inside contact.”

“Turn traitor or you’ll kill my daughter?” Dad asks with the same tone he’d use to ask about the weather.

“Dad!”

Rebel puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “It’s a valid question,” he says softly.

“I wanna talk to my daughter for a second. You still there, Dee?”

I cradle the phone between my hands. “Yeah, I’m here.”

“How’d you end up at the rally, Dee?” Dad asks.

“Um… I thought you wanted me there. Red sent me a message a couple days before saying it was a family day and he was asked to bring me.”

“I’ve kept you away from all of this shit your whole fucking life. Did you really think I’d send some random member to change that? Fuck!”

I feel so stupid. Like I’m ten again and wishing my dad had come to a dance recital. I just wanted to be chosen, and this is what it got me.

“You losing control over there, Joker?” Shadow taunts.

Dad’s frustrated snarl is clearly audible in the background. “Someone’s making a power play, and my job just got a fuckton harder. If you can buy me a couple days I might be able to do something. What would you want in exchange for your word that Melody’s kept safe and out of the way until this is over?”

The room is dead silent.

Shadow smiles. “The exact make of the round that killed your man Red. Happen to know it?”

“I can get it to you,” Dad answers after a moment.

“Good. Your daughter’s under our protection.” Shadow cuts off the call.

“Charming guy. He always treat you that nice?” Mad Dog asks.

“He’s just Dad. I don’t have anything to compare him to, you know? He’s never been mean or abusive or anything. He was fun when he was around, and I learned not to expect anything.” I should’ve remembered that lesson. “Do you think he did it?” I ask Shadow, searching his face for clues.