“So you’ve got nothing?” Gaige asked.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Strokner said and adjusted his jacket again. “Just wondering what I get…”
Erik had enough. He stepped forward and pushed between Gaige and Miller. He reached for Strokner’s shirt and pulled the man close.
All the doors to the SUV opened.
“Easy now,” Strokner said.
“I don’t know who the fuck you are,” Erik said. “But let me introduce myself to you. I’m Erik. See my fucking face, man?”
“I see it.”
“A bomb went off that was supposed to kill Shay. I was in the car instead. I don’t know why I lived, but everyday I fight to stay alive. All I have are these goddamn scars to show the world.”
“Nasty,” Strokner said.
“Nasty is what I’m going to do to the person who did this. Nasty is what I’m going to do to anyone who refuses to help me, or fucks around. And if your guys want to kill, so be it. I want to die. I’m ready to die. I’ve faced death and I’d do it again.”
Erik pushed Strokner away. He stumbled back and put his hands out to keep his guys at bay. Gaige squeezed Erik’s shoulder. Erik was ready to fight. Ready to kill. Ready to die.
“A bomb did that to your face?” Strokner asked.
“I wouldn’t lie,” Erik said.
“Okay. All I know is that you guys are about to go up against something dark. Something really fucking dark. This isn’t a few guys on motorcycles looking to throw fists and call it a night. This is serious shit. I’d advise you look into Shay and his past. I don’t know anything for sure, but this is big.”
“You mean like a company?” Erik asked.
Strokner laughed. “Like the company your club runs?”
“It’s all a front,” Miller said.
“Everything is a front,” Strokner said. “We’re all killers on the inside. We like to fight. We like to win.”
“We need to dig,” Gaige said.
“Dig deep and fast,” Strokner said. “Whoever sent the finger to you means business.”
“I think the bomb in the car was the signal for business,” Miller said.
“Time to go,” Gaige said. He turned and pushed at Erik.
“Let’s do it,” Blaine said.
Erik eyed Strokner and watched the man slowly get back into the SUV. Gaige clamped an arm on his shoulder and said, “Come on, bro, we’re done here.”
“Are we?” Erik asked. “Or are we just making this mess bigger by the day?”
“That talk is best left for the table,” Miller said. “I’m giving the order right now, Erik. We leave.”
Erik backed away and got on his motorcycle. They were riding again, the dark night upon them, the air ripping across their face. They hadn't learned anything new. Erik already knew that they were dealing with something more serious when his life was almost taken by mistake. That didn’t mean for a second that Erik wished Shay had been in the car instead. He just wished he could go back and never have stuck his goddamn face in the car to check it out.
Then there wouldn’t be any scars.
Then there wouldn’t be any pain.
As they rode back into Frelen, Erik figured he would do what was best for himself and the club. When they got back to the clubhouse he planned to drink, smoke, and find a reliever for some fun. Sometimes it was best to leave the world outside.
At a four way intersection, Erik crept up next to Gaige and Miller. They waited and Miller nodded to go. They made it no more than a foot before a black pickup truck came flying through the intersection, disregarding the stop sign. Erik cut his bike sideways and bumped into Gaige’s motorcycle to keep him from getting tagged in the intersection.
“Fuck!” Miller bellowed.
Erik looked at the black pickup as it sped down the road.
He shook his head as he straightened his bike.
He hit the throttle and swore he heard Gaige screaming his name.
But fuck it. It was too late now. This was the perfect way to let off some serious steam.
The motorcycle roared with thunder and force. The gears shifted and the speed was intense. He was actually - and finally - excited about something. To his left and right he saw Gaige and Blaine gaining on him. They each took turns waving their hands but Erik didn’t care. Hell, even if it was Miller waving, Erik would have ignored him.
Erik focused on the black pickup. He was closing in on it by the second and when Erik was finally able to make a move, he went to the left, forcing Gaige out of the way. He moved alongside the black pickup, moving at a deadly speed. When he got to the driver’s window, Erik kicked the door of the truck. The driver looked at him and screamed 'fuck you'. Erik gave him the middle finger and pointed to the side of the road.