“Another surprise. I’m the new president of the Burning Saints, and I have the full backing of my club and its resources to destroy you and your club should I feel the need to do so. We’re also riding alongside the Dogs of Fire here in Portland, so you can tell your bosses that.”
“Fuck you all. I could just go to the cops. If I cooperate, and give up information about your clubs, I’ll get out in a few years, plus I’ll be protected by my people while I’m on the inside.
“Wrong again, El Dildo Supremo,” Clutch said.
“I’m reason number three,” Hatch said, stepping forward. “The Dogs of Fire don’t want you or your club in our town anymore, so from now on, whenever one of your club members gets arrested, which is gonna be a lot considering three of our new patches are in law enforcement—”
“Fuck you! You can’t—”
“Try me. I don’t bluff,” Hatch said. “We’ve got people in corrections as well, so when you or your people get arrested, whether they’re in county lockup, or sent up to Wapato or River, we’ll make sure Los Psychos boys are housed in Northwest Peckerwood territory. You’d be lucky to last three to five days, let alone three to five years.”
“Not to mention, if you did make it out, your left leg would be three to five inches shorter, and your asshole three to five inches wider,” Clutch added with a grin.
Viper spit at the ground but said nothing.
“We clear?” I asked. “You’re to go back to Los Psychos and tell them to get out of Portland or it’ll be war with the Saints, the Dogs, and everyone who’s made a friend of either club. Plus, if you do this, your family gets to live in peace without you, and you get to live, prolapsed anus free.”
“My crew?”
I snapped my fingers and Wolf rolled up a metal door, revealing Crush, who had been with Viper at the apartment, and Grover. They were standing with Goldie, each bound at the wrist. It made me sick to my stomach to see Grover tied up alongside that animal, but there was no coming back for him. Taking sides against your club is an unforgivable sin. Even though he was one of my oldest friends, and as much as it tore my guts inside out, I could give no mercy to Grover.
I crossed my arms. “As promised, you can walk away today, but if you try anything cute, I’ll end you. Same rules apply to them as you.”
“He’s not with us,” Viper said, motioning to Grover.
“According to him he is.” I looked at Grover. “That’s right isn’t it? You’re Los Psychos’ bitch now, aren’t you?””
“Come on, Minus. Don’t do this, man,” Grover said.
I raised an eyebrow. “I didn’tdoanything, Grover, you did.”
“Please, Minus. They’ll fucking kill me, man. They’ll cut me up.”
“You’d better listen to your guy,” Viper said. “If I bring him back with me…” he let his words trail off.
I shrugged. “Grover made his decision. He made his allegiance with you when he decided to take your money in trade for his club’s blood.”
“Shit, Minus. Please, brother,” Grover pleaded.
I stared directly into his eyes. “You’re not my brother anymore.”
Grover’s pleas turned to uncontrollable sobs. “Don’t do this to me,” he said in between sobs.
“Do what, Grover? What did I do other than love and protect you all these years?”
“What the fuck are you talking about, man? You weren’t even here!” He screamed through his tears. “You were off playing cowboy in Savannah with your new crew. You just split and left us all here, and now you just ride back into town and everybody starts sucking your dick, just likealways. You’re the fucking President now, and everyone knows it should be Wolf, or Clutch. At least someone that’s not a fucking runner!”
“Is that why you betrayed me? The club? Because you thought I ran out onyou? That’s the fucking reason why you betrayed your brothers? Why you put the woman I love at risk? Because I hurt your fucking feelings? I would have died for you Grover. I wouldn’t have given it a second’s thought.”
“Then let me come back with you to the Sanctuary, Minus. C’mon man, get me outta here. I want to go home.”
“The Sanctuary is for Saints. You chose to fly Los Psychos colors.”
“You know what’s gonna happen if I go back with them,” he said, the panic in his voice rising. “You know what they’ll do to me, Minus.”
I said nothing.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Minus. I swear to God.”