Page 13 of Fury
Ridiculous. He tried to snort a laugh, failing miserably when his ribs complained, his muscles seizing in a hard spasm. Frowning pulled every inch of his face painfully, so he let his features smooth out instead of scowling like he wanted. Blinking that one eye hard, he managed to gain another fraction of an inch open and the face above him resolved into someone he knew.
“Gator.” His voice was weird. Soft and wispy instead of hard and angry, which was how he felt inside. “Get me up.”
“Hang on, boss. Lemme make sure you aren’t broke up.” That preceded a painful process of touch and movement as his second’s hands pressed and pulled, ensuring Gabe wouldn’t permanently injure himself by moving.
“Get. Me. Up.” No mistaking the impatience in his tone, and Gator responded like Gabe expected, an arm around his shoulders lifting and twisting, pulling him a few excruciating inches. Back against the wall, he leaned where Gator put him, not trying to move beyond getting his eyelids open. Best he could do was the one eye, but he managed to get that working, at least. “Head.”
“Yeah, no doubt.” Gator had read the message in the one word. “Side of your face is busted, bruised to shit and swollen enough I expect it hurts like a bitch. What…?” His voice trailed off as he glanced around the alley. “Chismoso called me, or I’d have never found you here, Gabe. What in the fuck did you do to piss everybody off like this? I thought we were in line to join ‘em. This looks to be the opposite.”
“Breathing.” Clamping his teeth against a wave of nausea, Gabe said, “I’m talented like that.”
“You mean you smartassed your way into a fucking beating?” Gator shook his head. “What are we going to do now?”
Gabe let his head lean back against the wall, resting his eye for a minute. “We go on. I got what we want. Nothing less.”
“You mean you’re willing to do this again? You are one crazy fucker.” Gator crouched, one knee to the ground. “Stupid, too.”
“No, man. I got what we want.” He moved, bringing up one swollen hand to dig into the inside pocket of his vest. “Charter.” He battled a cough, and won, knowing how badly that would hurt. “Lexington.” Papers dangled from his fingers.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Gator took the papers, unfolding them, looking at the handwritten message, blinking in surprise. “Fucking insane, man.” Bringing the documents closer to his face, he asked, “Who the fuck’s Fury?”
“Lookin’ at him.” Gabe lifted his swollen lip, stretching the throbbing flesh tight, grinning through the pain. “Got our own chapter.”
***
Six months later
Fury blew out a frustrated breath at the idea of repeating himself yet again.Why can’t the man just listen?“I told you. No, I’m not opening a second chapter in Fort Wayne. I just expanded the territory for Lexington. Bought a couple of businesses up there. Not lookin’ to cause trouble for anyone, and Shooter gave a thumbs-up to everything. See, not out of line.” The last sentence was hissed, and he knew the man on the other end of the phone had taken the warning as he intended.
“Didn’t mean no disrespect, Fury.” Painter, an officer in the Cynthania chapter of Outriders, backpedaled quickly. “Not intendin’ no offense.”
“Not sure what business it is of Outriders if I did decide to work up a charter. Not like y’all got shit all to do with anything in Fort Wayne.” Fury bent double in his chair, leaning deep to pick up his coffee mug from the floor. Lifting it to his lips, he cautiously sipped at the hot liquid. “Not like y’all got shit all to say about Diamante, period.”
“Not true, man. You know it. We got a princess in town still. We’ll always keep tabs on Morgan’s girl.”
“She’s shacked up with a Rebel. Y’all lookin’ to poke that Bear? Everybody knows Mason’s got a hella hard-on for Outriders. If y’all are keepin’ track of what he now considers his, that won’t go over well with him. You and I both know it.” Fury shook his head and rolled his eyes, finding it hard to believe Morgan had gone that far.
“Still, she’s ours.” The words were said firmly, and Fury dropped his argument.No skin off my nose.
“Heard there’s a professional guy in the area.” Not a question, but he laid the statement out, knowing Painter wouldn’t be able to ignore it if he knew anything.
“Yeah, bastard is something else.” Painter laughed, the sound dark and fearful. “Woolfe is one scary motherfucker.” Silence then Painter offered, “They pulled him in because there’s something big going on up in Utah. Time and dime being spent up there like a bitch, and Shooter didn’t have anyone to spare to deal with that shit in the Fort.”
“What’s going in Utah?” Eyes up, he stared at the ceiling, tracking a crack across the stained paint. “I could give a hot shit about Shooter, but Utah’s interesting territory to be claiming.”
“Got some plans for a compound or something. They needed a show of force. Heard your boy hit the area with a hard splash, had to be expelled.” Painter chuckled, the sound grating on Fury’s nerves. “Sent him out of there like a snot rocket.”
“My boy?” With his ties to both clubs, Fury had no idea what Painter was talking about. Gator was the only one he really claimed as a friend and brother, and he was here in Fort Wayne.At my side, like he should be. “Whachu talkin’ about?”
“Lalo.”
Fury didn’t try to stop the growl clawing up his throat, hearing the insane voice in a dark alley shouting, “Again!” like beating him was a thrill ride on a county fair midway.
“Yeah, figured you’d have that response. He’s headed back Florida way, I understand.” Silence for a moment, then Painter tried to get them back on track,obviouslywanting the call to end. “Like I was sayin’, Woolfe is one scary fucker.”
Fury leaned back in his chair, taking another drink from his mug. “Any idea what he’s doin’ in the Fort?”
“Not a fuckin’ clue. Man’s a private contractor, so you know he’s got a job or he wouldn’t be in town. My advice? Keep your eyes open.”
