“Who says she doesn’t? She’s on her own at college, and I hear the parties can be pretty wild,” Axe teased.
Jerry stiffened. “Shut the fuck up. No one’s messin’ with Kylie at college.”
Jax cuffed Jerry’s shoulder. “Maybe she’s messin’ with someone.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Jerry shoved Jax who, smile gone, puffed up his chest and moved into Jerry’s space. “What the fuck?”
Jerry, tense and rigid, said, “Just shut the fuck up ‘bout Kylie. She’s not a whore. She’s not doin’ shit at college.”
Axe smiled. “Sounds like you got some personal information. You wouldn’t be checking on her, would you?”
Jerry pushed away from the bar. “I’ll see you all tonight.” He stormed off.
“Fuck, he has been stalking her. Well, I’ll be damned.” Axe took a long pull of his beer while the other guys snickered.
“He has it bad.” Chas shook his head. “He’s also got a death wish.”
“Last thing I’d wanna do is fuck with Banger.” Axe popped the top off his beer.
“Now, tell us what’s goin’ on with your woman, and how we can help,” Jax said.
Axe clapped Chas and Jax on the back. “This shit started when Baylee was eight years old…”
Chapter Twenty-One
Standing in the alleyway, smoking joints, the Insurgents brothers cussed up a storm as they waited for the three Skull Crushers to show up.
“They’re late. When they get here, I get the first punch.” PJ inhaled deeply. “Fuck, this is good stuff.”
“You know we only cultivate the best,” Chas said as he lit up another roach.
Everyone stiffened and grew silent as a slight clack on the concrete reverberated against the brick walls. Rock stealthily crept toward the alley’s entrance then hid behind a commercial dumpster as a lone figure entered the alley. When he passed Rock, he stopped and surveyed the area then moved on. Before he passed the second dumpster, Rock was on him, pounding him to the ground, his knee pushing into the man’s back.
“Where are the other fuckers?” Rock slammed the guy’s face into the pavement.
“No. Stop. It’s me, Rodney. Stop.”
Axe came over and, with his boot’s toe, he turned the man’s face sideways. Even though it was a dark, moonless night, Axe could see the blood flowing from Rodney’s face. In the darkness of night, it appeared as misshapen birth marks.
“That you, Rodney?” Axe asked.
“Yeah. Get him off me. I can’t fuckin’ breathe.”
Rock jumped up, his thick fists gripping Rodney’s shirt, taking him up with him as he rose. “Didn’t know it was you,” he said when he set Rodney on his feet.
“What the hell you doing here?” Rags asked as he and the others approached the wiry man.
“Came to update you on the Skull Crushers.” He darted his eyes from one member to the other.
Rodney had been an informant for several years for the Insurgents. He was a pothead, and he ran in junkie circles. If someone new was dealing in Pinewood Springs, he’d know it. In exchange for information, the brothers papered his wallet and gave him prime weed. They had a working relationship, but Rodney was never a part of the club. If he betrayed them, they’d slit his throat in a second.
“So, what’s the word?” Axe asked.
“They split. They got word you were aiming for them, so they got out. Went back south, as I heard it. They had a few meth deals, but they skipped.”
“Who told them?” Rock leaned down and put his face an inch away from Rodney’s. “It wouldn’t have been you, would it?”
“No. No way. Absolutely no way.” Rodney stepped back from Rock, bumping into Chas’s strong chest.
“You wouldn’t be fuckin’ us around, would you?” Chas stared at him. “You didn’t tip them off for a few baggies of crystal, did you?”
“Fuck no. Shit, guys, we go back some years. I never did you no wrong. No way. No fuckin’ way. I heard they split from some junkies who wanted more crystal. They said they weren’t around, but would let them know when they’d be back. I’m cool, guys. I didn’t do you no wrong. I swear.”
“He’s cool,” Jax said as Rodney’s shoulders slumped.
“If we find out you’re shittin’ us, you’re a dead man.” Rock punched Rodney in the kidneys.
The man howled and doubled over. Axe threw five crisp one hundred dollar bills along with a paper bag filled with quality marijuana. “You did good, man. Later.”
The members shuffled out of the alley, their boots clicking on the pavement. As they rounded the corner, Axe saw Rodney, bowled over, collecting his pay and weed.