Page 7 of Cyrus
4
Cyrus
“Cyrus,you’re really fucking up my plans, bud. You said you were only gonna be gone a couple of days. Now you tell me you don’t know when you’ll be back.”
It’s the club president, Chester. He doesn’t like it when his perfectly laid plans fall apart.
“Maybe you should just go ahead and do it without me.”
I can practically hear him shaking his head over the phone. I clench my fist and stop myself from telling him where he can shove his job.
Chester only cares about two things. Himself, and money.
Yeah, he’s been good to me. And we’ve known each other for nearly three decades. But I’ve had enough of working for him.
“No can do, Cyrus,” he says. “You’re just gonna have to drop whatever it is you’re doing out there and come back. You said it was only a fall. Your mom’s operation went fine. What’s holding you up? There’s work to be done, bud. There’s money to be made. Get your fucking ass back now, or I’ll send a couple of the boys up there to come and get you.”
I punch the wall so hard my fist bursts through the plywood. It’s my mom’s house. I’m gonna have some explaining to do about that one.
“You send anyone to come get me, Chester, and they’ll be coming home in body bags.”
“You threatening me?” Chester’s voice has taken on a dark tone. I’ve heard it before. A lot of times. And I’ve always said I’d never want to be on the receiving end of it. But right now, I don’t give a fuck. I have bigger things to worry about.
“I’m just telling you how it is, Chester. I appreciate all the things you’ve done for me. Having my back all these years. But it’s been a two-way street, you know. It’s not as if I haven’t done my fair share. And I’m starting to think I’m through with all this stuff. I’m through with the club. And if you don’t like it, you can go to hell.”
It feels good to finally get that off my chest. I’ve been thinking it for a while, but when I met Billie, I knew it was the right thing to do. Even if things don’t work out between me and her, I’m never going to be able to find a good woman and settle down while being a biker. The two things just don’t go together. Like strawberry cream and tacos.
“Maybe you just need to take a while and think about it, bud. Clearly, your mom getting hurt has shaken you up more than you realize. I don’t want you making any rash decisions. Once you're out, you're out. There ain't no coming back. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even let you leave in the first place. But, you’re right, we’ve been through it together. Thick and thin. I just don’t want you making any decisions you might come to regret later down the road.”
I take a little time to think about my next words. It ain’t easy leaving something like this. My whole life revolves around the club. The boys. I don’t even have any money saved up.
And Chester does have a point. We have been through a lot. He may be a heartless son of a bitch, but he deserves the truth. It wouldn't feel right otherwise.
“It ain’t about my mom,” I say. “I’ve met someone.”
Chester laughs so hard I can practically hear the whiskey spilling out his nose. “You have to be kidding me! This is about a chick! God damn, Cyrus. There’s plenty of those back here. I can set you up with two or three real nice ones tonight. They’ll do things to you, Cyrus, you didn't even know was possible.”
I pull my head away from the phone in disgust. He doesn’t get it. None of them will. That’s another reason I have to make a clean break.
“It ain’t like that, Chester,” I say. “This one’s a keeper. I think she's my soulmate.”
