Sheppard and I begin stacking the crates by the truck while the prospects, Otis and Bulldog, stand watch. A young, pimple-faced kid with an old cap and jeans comes over to us. He can’t be over fifteen years old, but he walks with confidence. He asks, “You guys need any help?”
“Nah man, we got this. Thanks, though. Why don’t you go help my guys keep a look out? We should be done here in a minute,” I say to the kid, wondering what the hell he is doing here with these guys. I can tell this kid has no business running with these pricks.
When we are almost done, Otis calls over to me, “Hey, Ace? I think someone is out there.” He points his finger to a light shining through the window. One of the Diablos also sees the light and quickly pulls out his weapon.
“We got company!” the red-bearded Diablo shouts. The Diablo crew starts moving to the windows with their guns drawn.
“Let’s get moving guys!” I shout to my brothers. “Get in the truck. We need to get out of here before all hell breaks loose.”
Sheppard and I quickly start gathering the guys up into the trailer. As we are loading up, gunfire explodes throughout the warehouse. Total chaos surrounds us. The gunfire continues as the Diablo crew shouts back and forth.
“It’s the cops! You gotta take him out!” one of the Diablos shout. “Shoot the motherfucker, and let’s get the hell out of here!”
Things go to shit fast. Several of the Diablos continue to fire shots at the cop outside, and I know we have to get out now. It won’t be long before more cops arrive. As I lift the door, I see a cop look at me with his gun pointed right at me.
“Watch out, Ace!” Sheppard screams, and I feel a crushing pain as the smoldering metal erupts in the middle of my chest. I look down and see warm blood flow down my shirt. I instantly feel weak and drop to the ground. Oh, shit. How did I fuck this up so bad? I can hear the Diablos continue to shoot at the cop, as Sheppard pulls me into the truck. I know Sheppard is trying to talk to me, but as we pull out of the warehouse, everything goes black.
Chapter 7
Bishop
The guys had gathered at the clubhouse immediately after Bishop shared the news about Ace. He’d died just as they’d pulled out of the warehouse. Bishop had called everyone in to the clubhouse to let them know what had happened, and the news hit them hard. They had lost brothers in the past, but never like this. The Diablo’s negligence had cost them one of their best men, and there would be a reckoning.
“I’m gonna get those motherfuckers if it’s the last thing I do,” Sheppard shouted as he threw his beer bottle against the wall. “They’re gonna pay for this shit. They’ll wish they’d never crossed paths with the Devil Chasers!”
“I can’t believe those goddamn idiots were actually drinking during a delivery in the middle of the damn hood. They deserve to be taken out just for being so damn stupid,” Doc bellowed.
“Damn straight, brother. I say we ride out tonight and take their whole club out. We’ll send them straight to hell one by one!” Bulldog growled and slammed his fist through the wall. His fuse was about to blow.
Pops was one of the older brothers and always tended to voice his opinions at the wrong time. He was set in his ways, and he didn’t care who he pissed off. He turned to Bulldog and said, “He should’ve never opened that gate without checking things out first. That was a rookie mistake, and he should’ve known better.”
Doc clenched his fists, and stepped face to face with Pops. “You best shut your goddamn mouth before I knock you on your ass, old man.”
“Is that so? I’d like to see you try, motherfucker,” Pops sneered.
Bishop knew things were about to head south if he didn’t intervene. “Fucking STOP! You need to pull your shit together. I know that you’re all pissed. Hell, I’m pissed. But we’ve gotta handle this the right way and keep a level head. They’ll pay for their fuck up tonight, one way or another. We’re done dealing with those assholes. Anyone that had doubts about ending our arrangement with them should know now that this was the final straw. Not only are we done with them, they’re going to pay for this shit tonight. Ace will not die in vain,” Bishop said with determination.
Shortly after Bishop spoke, the guys began to settle down and spent the rest of the night together drowning their sorrows. As the morning light began to creep through the clubhouse window, Renegade and Pops began drinking again. Several of the other members were in their rooms sleeping off their hangovers.
Bishop knew he needed to help his brothers make some peace about what happened, but it was going to be hard facing them. He had to find the right words to say to them.