Page 3 of Claymore
“Goodnight, Ella!”
I hung up the phone.
I looked out the hallway window to see Ink pulling up. His tattooed arms and bulky build clear as day in the warm hue of the porch lighting. I carefully walked back down the stairs, hearing the muffled chatter coming from the living room. When I walked in, everyone shut up. My little brother stood there next to Tank, and all I could see was concern on their faces.
“What? What’s with the looks?”
“Claymore, I have to ask, don’t you think it’s a little strange that Ella decided to help us and then a few weeks later, the Kings are in our territory looking for their president?” asked Ink.
“I don’t think it’s strange at all. It’s not like Ella’s hiding him out or something. She wants to see him gone just as much as we do. I don’t even really know why, but I do know that’s the truth,” I asserted.
“I don’t trust her. It’s Ray’s sister after all. They’ve had contact in the past—who’s to say they won’t have contact again? You may have convinced her, but I’m not holding my breath that she won’t double-cross us,” said Tank.
“She needs our protection. That’s why she accepted this little arrangement. Ray’s done some fucked up shit in the past, to us, and to her. I’ll protect her and when the time comes, she’ll help us sink that fucker.”
“Just watch your back, okay?”
“Yeah, I will.”
I gave an exasperated sigh, narrowing my eyes as I headed into the kitchen to grab something to eat. Every time I moved, there was an unrelenting pang of pain that rippled throughout my entire body. I shook my head, taking out the cold pizza box, and scarfed down a few slices. I heard footsteps approaching, and in came Ripper with that thick head of dark hair and those calm, collected eyes.
“They’re giving you hell, huh?”
“Yeah, they are. I mean, I get it. They don’t want any surprises. We’ve dealt with Ray and his shit for way too long. We all just want this to be over,” I said.
“You really think Ella can do this? From what I saw, she seemed to be living a pretty normal life.”
“We don’t know everything. We don’t know what it was like for them growing up or who the hell Ray was before he became President of the Freeway Fucks. It may look like a normal life, but it’s far from it. Trust me. Ella and Ronnie got some things in common.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
“They’re both stubborn as hell. Ella thinks that if she just lays low, the Kings won’t get to her. She accepted protection and won’t let me help. The Kings are looking for their damn Kingmaker. She’ll see that soon enough.”
“Let me guess, she thinks you’re overbearing?”
“Better than a brooding motherfucker like you,” I teased.
He laughed, patting me on the back before he took off.
***
I barely got an hour of real shut-eye when the sun spilled into the guest bedroom, waking me up. I knew there was no way I’d be able to head home in my condition last night, but I expected to wake up feeling a little better at least. I groaned, tossing the flimsy sheets from my bare legs, feeling the ache in my stomach only worsen. I shook it off, showering and changing my bandages on doc’s orders.
I got dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and an old white T-shirt. I looked around for my leather jacket when I realized the thing was a goner. It was probably tossed somewhere in the back lot of the Tavern, but I didn’t care. It was too hot for a leather jacket anyway. I pulled my lengthy blond locks back into a low ponytail, getting it out of my face. I ran my fingers over my beard, feeling the scruff get worse, as it was desperately in need of a trim.
I skipped my morning cup of joe, heading straight for my bike that Wrench fetched for me last night. Before I could get the engine running, I heard a voice behind me.
“Didn’t the doc tell you to take it easy?”
I looked Ink straight in the face, blowing a little air out of my nose, shaking my head.
“No can do, little brother. Trouble never sleeps or rests, or whatever. Look, it’s not like I was shot, okay? I got the pain meds, I changed the bandages. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you going to Sedona now?”
“You bet I am. I promised Ella I’d watch out for her. She won’t answer my calls much so I have to go see what’s going on.”
“Be careful. The last thing we’d want is for Tank to be right about all this.”
