Page 11 of Rough Start

“Get him a beer,” Max said to Wayne as they sat at the bar that was constructed from crates and tin siding. Wayne, a tall bald man with tattoos on both arms, opened the glass door refrigerator and retrieved two Coors then set them in front of both men. “Heard about last night,” Max said, taking a long drink.

“I figured you would,” Kye admitted as he wiped condensation from the bottle.

“You wanna tell me what happened?” Max wasn’t looking directly at him, but his profile was just as intimidating. Combined with Wayne leaning against the opposite wall staring at him, and Riggs and Hamilton just behind them, Kye felt surrounded.

“We went to the bridge like you asked,” Kye started. “Grier and I were ten miles on the New Hampshire side waiting to escort the truck, and the rest of the guys were on the home side waiting to relieve us. Three in, six out, just like you asked.”

“So, what went wrong?”

“Grier and I got nervous; the truck was late by almost an hour. I told Grier to wait while I looked ahead to see what the hold-up was. I wasn’t five minutes down the road when I saw the box truck pulled off to the side with its hazards on. I called Grier to tell the others to meet me down the road. While I waited, I checked out the truck. The cabin was empty, tires weren’t flat, and doors were left open. When I went around to the back, the roll-up door was open, but the cargo was intact.”

“What exactly did you see?”

“I climbed inside and there were the car parts, the ceramic crates with the hash, and wheel rims. Everything was there.”

“Everything?” Max asked and finally turned to fully face Kye. Max’s set jaw was the only inclination he needed to know this was a very serious conversation.

“I didn’t steal anything if that’s what you’re asking. Everything I was told would be in the truck was there.” Max eyed him for a moment then gestured for him to continue his story. “That’s when I heard the sirens. It was one set of blues, but I figured I’d better haul ass before they got there. I hopped out and moved the bike behind the tree-line when I heard someone moving around in the woods. Next thing I know there are gunshots. I got hit once, but I managed to get back to the truck and start it up. I didn’t look back, I just drove. Ten minutes later I was over the bridge with the others. I gave Grier the truck and made my way through town on foot.”

“Who shot at you, the blue?” Max asked with his arms crossed.

“I don’t think so; the squad car hadn’t reached us yet. He must have been county, though, because he didn’t follow me if he was looking for the truck. I knew that Grier would have a better shot at losing a tail than I would which is why I swapped him spots.”

“Grier knows the safe roads,” Max agreed. “What about the bike I lent you?” Kye dropped his eyes. “Still in the woods?”

“I didn’t get it behind the trees… It was still on the side of the road.”

“So, it’s in police custody then.”

“Do we know that for sure?”

“They were looking for the truck, I have no doubt about that. They would have been looking in that area. It’s right on the county and state line.”

“I’m sorry, Max, I made the call to jump in the truck when I was getting shot at.”

“Did you see who was shooting?”

“Yeah, sort of. It was some guy. No cut, so I don’t think it was another gang. Tall, bigger guy, real trucker looking.”

“He alone?”

“I don’t know. Bullets started flying, and I hauled ass. Could have been more, but I didn’t see any. Listen, I’ll pay you back for the bike. I’ll work it off…” Max held up his hand to quiet him. Using two fingers, he waved for him to follow, and they crossed the room to the back of the warehouse. Kye could feel his palms starting to sweat.

“You said you were hit,” Max stated as they entered the back hallway. “You go to the hospital?”

“No, no, I knew better than that. I, uh… patched myself up. Just grazed my leg.”

“Bet it hurts like a bitch,” Max said as he opened the door to outside where a large circle of men, all in Screaming Demon cuts, were standing. Kye froze. Max clamped a hand on the back of Kye’s neck and urged him forward. “You shoulda had that beer, kid, this isn’t going to feel good.” Shoving him into the center of the circle, the men descended.

Kye didn’t even have a chance to defend himself as each man took a turn throwing a punch. The first two were to his abdomen, the third took a cheap shot to his kidneys, but the fourth to his nose put him on his back. A kick to the wound in his leg made him cry out.

“Pick him up,” Max ordered, and two men grabbed each arm. Kye was bleeding from the nose, and he could feel his right eye swelling. Max stood in front of him and removed his leather jacket then handed it to another Demon. “You went on ahead to scout out the truck without backup, entered the cargo hold of a truck you knew had stolen parts and drugs without authorization, fled from a gunfight after getting yourself shot and left an unmarked bike on the scene…” Max cracked his knuckles before landing a powerful uppercut. “A bike with no plates, manufactured entirely of stolen parts, with no VIN. You risked all driving that truck back over state lines with a badge on your tail. You know what we do with guys like that?”

Kye was in no condition to answer as he hung limp between the two men who were now dragging him through the dirt toward the floodlights. He managed to lift his head, expecting to see himself at the wrong end of a gun; instead, he saw Max with his hand resting on the handle of a mint condition Shadow Chopper with the Screaming Demon emblem on the side.

“What do we do with guys like that?” Max asked again as he singlehandedly lifted Kye to his feet and clamped a jacket over his shoulder. “We recruit him,” he finished. “Welcome to the family, son.”

“Kye, this is ridiculous,” Eliana protested as Kye urged her forward as he stood behind her with one hand on her upper arm and the other over her eyes. “I’ve got midterms to study for…”