Page 53 of Joyride
“Rascal,” Clutch says. “You down to ride?”
“Can’t, brother,” Rascal replies. “I got babysitting duty.”
“A prospect can handle her until you get back,” Bull tells him. I almost forgot about her. There’s a chick here from Colorado, staying with us for protection for the time being. I forget her name, but the two of them butt heads like nobody’s business. It’s entertaining some days.
Diesel turns to Saint, completely ignoring Hollywood. “Saint, you down?”
“Let's do this,” Saint says.
“Keep us updated with any information you get. Be smart,” Prez tells them.
“You got it, Prez,” Rascal responds. Bull dismisses everyone while he and Andrei hang back.
I head straight for the gym. I need to work out some pent up anger before I combust. I don't realize anyone is following me until I’m in the gym.
“Do you need something?” I turn to Raze and Kicks.
“We just wanna make sure you’re alright, brother,” Kicks says.
“What do you think?”
“I think a lot is goin’ on in your head that you aren’t saying,” Raze tells me. “You do remember the shit that happened with Minx, right? I’ve been in your shoes, man.”
I sit on one of the benches, letting out a heavy sigh. “It’s my fault she’s in this situation. If I wouldn’t have talked her into coming back with me, she’d still be safe in New Orleans.”
“None of this is on you. She didn’t come back because you talked her into. She came back because she fuckin’ loves you and you love her,” Raze says. “And Zack is a twisted asshole who will get what’s coming to him.”
“Not soon enough,” I mutter. I hop up and head toward the punching bag.
“Why don’t you and I step in the ring. It might help more than that old bag,” Raze suggests.
I quirk a brow at him. “You sure you wanna take that on with the mindset I’m in?”
“Nah, I was gonna offer up Kicks,” Raze says. Kicks looks like a deer in headlights, making us both burst into laughter. “I’m kidding. Sketch, have you seen some of the guys I’ve stepped into the octagon with? I’m not worried about it. If anything, I’ll bring out the punch mitts.”
“Yeah, alright,” I agree. “I’m in.”
The nice thing about our gym is we have a locker room, too. I try to always keep a fresh pair of workout clothes in my locker, along with a few different sets of gloves. I don’t fight for money like some of the guys do, but it’s a great workout. Especially for letting off some pent up emotions. We have a make-shift octagon and a shit ton of workout equipment. A handful of the guys are in here every day, like Raze, Saint, and Diesel. Then there are guys like me who only come in to let off some steam. Once I’m ready, I head back out.
“You ready to throw some rounds?” Raze is bouncing around in the octagon.
“Let’s do this.” I climb into the octagon with him. We start out with some combo call outs before I completely let loose. My anger takes over as I envision the punch mitts as Zack’s face.
Forty-five minutes later, Ranger’s voice pulls me out of my trance. “Sketch, Raze! Bull needs y’all back in Church.”
Dripping in sweat, I walk out of the octagon. Kicks hands me a towel and I don’t bother changing. I need to hear what Bull has to say sooner rather than later.
“Man, those punch mitts are shit.” Raze chuckles, shaking out his hands.
“You sure that’s what it was?” I smirk. He slugs me on my arm. When we walk through the Church doors, we both sober up. As soon as we sit down, Bull starts talking.
“Andrei took a chance and reached out to Big Vin. Turns out, he had no idea Zack threatened the Pakhan’s family, and he had nothing to do with that. Big Vin also informed him that Wren’s father, Steve, willingly offered her up as payment. Telling him she was a virgin and would make the perfect wife for one of his sons. He explained that he would try to reach out to Zack and attempt to reason with him.”
“What exactly does he plan to do? How are we gonna get Wren back,” I ask.
“I offered to pay Steve’s debt, and in return, Wren would be free of them,” Andrei explains. “Big Vin said he would much rather have the money but isn’t so sure Zack will agree to that. He’s become rather fond of her.”
“Fond of fucking beating her!” I roar.
