Page 114 of Army
“I don’t think so, but I wasn’t wearing my cut.”
There’d been a strained tension between Army and Crow since the member had arrived in Durango, but the fact that Crow was willing to fight by Army’s side meant a lot to him.
Army saw Eagle’s SUV pull into the parking lot and he let go of the curtains and turned around. “They’re back,” he said.
The two entered the room and dispersed cans of energy drinks around the room. “The chick at the counter was ready to jump Eagle’s bones,” Sangre said as he popped the top on the can.
“You can hook up with her after we beat the Pistons’ asses,” Jigger said.
“She’s cute but too skinny. I like a woman I can grab onto.” Eagle opened a drawer and took out a 9mm and stuck it into his jeans pocket.
“Are we ready to rock and roll?” Goldie asked as he rose to his feet.
“Yeah,” Army replied.
“Let’s go kick some Piston ass,” Muerto said, opening the door.
The men laughed as they walked out of the room and into the parking lot. They’d driven to Durango in two SUVs for obvious reasons, and Army slid into the front seat of the one Sangre drove.
“There’s no way the lazy asses are gonna get there two hours before the fight.” Cueball offered a joint to Army who took it with a jerked of his chin.
“I could wait all night if it meant beating the shit outta Shark or one of the other assholes,” Diablo said as he cracked his knuckles.
“Is the deal with the fuckers and the 39thStreet shits still going down next week?” Ruger asked.
Army blew out and smoke billowed around him. “According to Lil’ Donnie it’s a go.”
“The fucking Pistons have been a real pain in the ass. It’s time we get rid of them for good,” Diablo growled.
“Like we did with the asshole Skull Crushers,” Cueball added. The men grumbled their agreement as the car drove further away from the lights of the city.
Army pointed his finger to the left. “Turn here.”
The night before, the men had agreed to park the two cars in a neighborhood six blocks away from the old ballpark and walk to it. Sangre pulled over then turned off the ignition. The men filed out of the car, and Army shoved his hands into his pockets in an attempt to warm them up a little as the group of men made their way to the field.
It was a starless, moonless night. Streams of gray clouds stretched over the sky giving it a hazy, ominous feel; in the distance, the city lights ebbed to a mere inkling. A trembling gush of wind rattled the trees’ branches as the Night Rebels approached the field.
After securing the area, Goldie, Jigger, and Eagle disappeared behind the tall evergreens; Crow, Brutus, and Muerto found bushes in which to crouch down low; and Sangre, Diablo, Cueball, and Ruger found refuge under the bleachers. Army stood by a rusting chain-linked fence and waited. Memories of playing baseball at the park swirled in his head. In his mind, the rotting bleachers were new and clean, and his mother sat in the middle of them in her bright yellow sundress cheering him on. He’d been nine years old the summer he’d joined the baseball team—The Tigers. His father had made it to a couple of his games that summer, but his mother hadn’t missed one. Afterwards, she’d have the team over to their house and serve lemonade and freshly baked cookies. Once the summer had ended and the trees had begun shedding their leaves, his mother ran away from the family … fromhim.Army shook his head and banished the images to the back of his mind.I need to stop thinking about shit and focus.An eerie stillness settled over the field as he waited for Shark to show up.
A half hour later, Army heard movement in the dry leaves. His body tensed and he placed his hand on the gun in his waistband. His eyes scanned the area looking for raccoons, skunks, or possum, but he didn’t see anything and he knew that the Pistons were getting into position. He strained his ears to figure out where they were hiding, but it had grown quiet again except for the occasional hoot of a hidden owl. Army crouched down, his senses on high alert, his gaze darting all around.
At exactly eleven o’ clock, slapping footsteps echoed angrily into the emptiness of the night, and Army stood up and walked slowly toward Shark.
“You alone?” Shark asked.
“Same as you,” Army answered.
The two men glared at each other for several minutes, then Shark shuffled his feet on the dirt and looked down as if he’d dropped something. Army didn’t follow his gaze; instead he kept it focused on the asshole. Shark bent down then lunged forward toward Army, but he’d anticipated the move and jumped back, and then followed up with a fist to Shark’s jaw. Adrenaline surged through Army, his pulse a steady drumbeat.
Shark raised his clenched hands, but Army ducked forward and down, Shark’s fist just missing the side of his face. Army moved to the right and his left foot stepped into a hole and he stumbled. Shark lifted his muscled arms straight in the air, brought them down on Army’s shoulders, dumping Army on his ass.
“You’re fuckin’ dead,” he hissed as he glared at Army with cold brown eyes.
Shark kicked Army, digging the toe of his boot into Army’s side. “You think you can fuck my sister?” he gritted, bringing his heel down on Army’s stomach.
Fuck!Army winced in pain and he sucked in a deep breath then exhaled. He looked up in time to see Shark’s boot ready to come down on him again, and with the speed of light, Army grabbed Shark’s foot and twisted it hard then pushed back. Shark groaned in pain as he stumbled backwards, and Army jumped up quickly and lunged at Shark with both fists swinging. Army landed a hard blow to Shark’s jaw and he staggered back, and then Army drove his fists over Shark’s face before quickly bringing his knee up and thrusting it hard into Shark’s groin.
“Fuck you!” Shark gasped as he bowled over, his hands flying to his crotch.
