Page 76 of Red's Peril: Part 1

“You’re right there, Bro,” Wraith says, thoughtfully. “I really doubt the right woman is just going to walk into the club. We only get whores and hangarounds, and I’ve no fuckin’ time to meet any civilians.”

That ends that particular conversation. I go to get another beer, find myself catching up with my old friends, spend awhile joking with Beef, Rock and Dart. I find Peg’s his old self, morose and grumpy as normal, and Blade, well, he’s not changed one bit. Despite the reason why I’m here in Tucson, I enjoy catching up. And if I spend a moment looking up at the stars and relishing the fresh pine-scented air blowing down from the mountains, who can blame me? This was my first home after leaving Vermont.

When the party slows down, or more accurately, the participants have passed out, I follow Wraith up to his room on the compound where I’ll be staying. We’ve just fucked Pussy together, won’t be much different sharing a bed for the night. As old friends, there’s no awkwardness between us.

I thought I’d be envious seeing he’s still got what I lost, a suite with a bathroom and a balcony which, if it wasn’t dark, would give views to die for. But if tonight’s taught me anything, it’s not the facilities which make a club, it’s the members.

While I’ve enjoyed catching up with everybody, it was those chin lifts I’d shared with the likes of Twister, Indian, Crash, Shadow, Joker and all the Vegas members which had taught me home’s not so much a place, but the people who make up your family.

Much as I love Wraith, sometime over the past few years, the Vegas members have become just as, if not more, important to me.

I’m right where I want to be, and I have no regrets.

Whether my club will, when I take over the prez mantle, remains to be seen.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Rosa.” I speak into my phone as I glance at the screen checking the time. No one rings with good news at o’shit o'clock, or to put it more accurately, just going on three am.

“Brick’s gone.”

Sitting up, I throw off the covers and growl, “What do you mean he’s fuckin’ gone?” He seemed fine earlier today.

“The ambulance has just taken him to hospital. He… he can’t breathe, Red.”

I feel a wave of relief go through me. He’s not dead. Yet. “He’ll be fine, Rosa. They’ll get oxygen in him, then he’ll be right as rain—”

“Red, don’t be an asshole. You know as well as I do, this is the end. He left it too late.”

Fuck it.I think of the sealed envelope he left for me, his final instructions. Is it time for me to open it? Hell no, I don’t want to do that. I’ll hang on to hope.

“I need help, Red.” For the first time, I hear the catch in her voice. It’s unusual to hear anything other than strength in it. “I need to be with him, but I’ve got the boys—”

“You need someone to watch them?” I’m thinking fast. Asking would bring the person I’m requesting into the knowledge there’s something wrong with Brick. But maybe it’s time. “I’ll ask Tiff.”

“No,” she contradicts. “Get Titch. The boys respect him.”

“You don’t think they ought to go in and see their dad?” It could be the last opportunity they get.

“Yes, no. But I’d like to see how he’s fixed first. So I can prepare them.”

Only a few words, but it shows despite what she’s said to me, she too is hanging onto hope. “I’ll rouse Titch and bring him with me. Then I’ll drive you to the hospital.” My phone now on speaker, I’m halfway into my clothes. “We’ll be there as quickly as we can. Just hang on, darlin’.”

Brick and Rosa have a family suite at the club, but more recently they’ve spent most of their time at their house. The excuse was with the boys growing older they needed more space to themselves, the truth being, it was easier to hide Brick’s illness when he wasn’t always in sight.

“Red, I don’t know if I can…” Rosa lets out a sob which twists my guts.

“You can do this, Rosa.” I put my own pain to one side as I try to convince her. Over the past few months, I’ve really gotten to know her. We’ve shared a secret after all. Rosa has to be the strongest woman I’ve ever met, but everybody has a point where they break. And losing Brick will doubtless be hers.

“Please, Red. Hurry.”

And there’s the betrayal that Rosa’s not optimistic. She wants to get to say her goodbyes before he leaves this earth.

Hoping we’ve all got more time with him, that this is an interlude and not the final fall of the curtain, I end the call, pull on my boots and go down the hallway where I try the handle on Titch’s door. It’s unlocked so I enter, go to the bed, and shake the old man by his shoulders.

It takes a moment to rouse him. When he comes to, he’s got a gun in his hand.

“What the fuck? Who’s there? Are we under attack?”

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