Chalk by Lily J. Adams

Chapter Nineteen: Who's Up Next?

 

Chalk

 

Angie was with us at a Wheelz meeting explaining to the rest of the crew what happened with Rocky. We agreed when she ran this part of the story with the club that we would defend her if necessary. Now that part of the bargaining chip had come due. Her arm was in a blue sling and she looked miserable. “I was hit by Rocky. I know it was him because I saw him. I saw his slimy, weasley face. I wish I had my gun on me, but I didn’t at the time,” Angie spat out, running her fingers through her blonde hair.

“You have a gun, Angie?” I asked. I didn’t know why I felt so shocked. It made sense she would have one.

“Yes, I sure do. In my line of work one is needed. I would be dead in a morgue by now if I didn’t let some people know I was packing heat from time to time. I’ve had some serious situations, so this is on the lighter side,” Angie said as she pointed to her navy blue sling.

I shifted around in my seat a little as I studied her from across the room. I knew Lucy had to take care of her in the hospital and my stomach turned over. All of us were intertwined and hindsight is a beautiful thing. If I’d have known we would all end up working together, I never would have even flirted with Angie Carmichael. It went to show you never know what the future holds.

Hawk’s fingers were in a triangle, tapping away.

I knew he was working out a plan in his head. I could see the cogs turning over in his brain.

“I have time this week, Angie, I can run security on your place all week and then one of the other guys can take over from me. That good?” Hawk asked. “If Rocky knows where you live, then there’s every possibility that he knows where all of us live.”

Angie who had the tough, I’m-a-bad-ass-reporter look down pat, appeared to be quite shaken from the whole event. Her pale face, accompanied with the black circles under her eyes told the story. It didn’t make her look less attractive, just tired and fragile. “That works, and he probably does know where. The guy is an asshole. I couldn’t make out the gun, but I know it was a pistol. He was wearing all black too.”

My stomach churned. Like the guy outside of my house. All black. I pulled my mind back from its dark place. Doesn’t mean it was him, Chalk. A lot of people wear all black.

“I can do the following week,” Bear added. “We can see what’s shaking after that. Might have to dust off my military tactic playbook for this one,” he added in his deep, rich voice.

“You might.” Bones nodded at Bear. “Angie, is that it for now? We have some other sensitive club topics to discuss but if you wait downstairs, we should be down there in the next ten minutes.”

Angie pouted a little bit. “Yep. That’s all the information I have for now, but I will get more that’s for sure. Thanks guys.” Angie finished.

I could tell she wanted to sit in on the rest of the meeting. I was guessing Bones didn’t want to risk it.

Coyote, who’d been sitting next to Angie, helped her pull back her chair and get out of it. Angie saw her way out of the meeting room.

Bones got down to business. “So now brothers, we have more than one threat to take care of, so we’re going to need some extra help. I’ve hired extra security for Wheelz because the cartel has decided to up the last payments we have to make by 10%. I told them no. We are holding our ground. Clear?” Bones unveiled with authority. “We have to hold. We got Angie covered for now.”

Low supportive whispers and conciliatory head nods moved around the table.

“I’m sick of the cartel”. Maverick stated in disgust. “We never owed them any money in the first damn place and now, they have the nerve to be upping their price points. I wish somebody would take them all out.”

No one in their right mind would mess with the cartel, and if they did it would be a bloodbath for all involved.

Bones stared at him. “Well, it won’t be us. That’s not a fight we’ll start. We want to finish up our payments and focus on acquiring the casino.” He paused for a minute, cracking his knuckles. “The other issue is we’ve put in a bid for the casino and our offer has been countered. This is going to be a drag out fight. We are going to have to hold to see if we can win this. We have some clearance for extra funds coming, but I don’t know. It might be down to the wire.” His jaw went tight and his rigid posture showed that he was feeling the pressure. He’d been steady through every hurdle the club had gone through, but he seemed a little shaky as he talked about the casino.

“We can win it, Bones,” Smoke encouraged. “Let’s hold our position and come what may. We’ve come this far with the bid and hopefully, our good work there will be remembered.”

“Agreed,” Numbers confirmed. “We got enough in the tank if they keep going up in smaller increments. So far, the latest bid was five grand up on us. We can raise it a little. They play with us, we play with them.”

Bones got up from his chair. “Alright, I gotta go see my kid and I got a lot to take care of today. Stay strapped. If you need any hardware, come and see me. Extra security will be on the door from tomorrow night, so when you see the guys, be sure to introduce yourselves. I know in my gut that the cartel are going to try and hit us.”

The meeting adjourned and the first thought that came to my mind was Lucy and getting her out of that apartment. I didn’t want her there while this was going on. The guy in the sedan at the school, the bike outside my house. It was all connected. Had to be. I had to make sure my family was safe.

 

Sarah dozed on the rug in front of the TV while Lucy and I talked.

“Chalk – the cartel? Are you serious? This is crazy, they kill people,” she hissed as she motioned with her hands.

My body curved inwards towards her across the kitchen benchtop. “Baby, I’m aware, but there’s no way on this earth, I’m letting anything happen to you or my baby girl. I won’t.”

Her face was clouded in fear. “Maybe Sarah should come live with me, it will be safer. Just for a little while. Don’t you think so?”

“No. We are better off all together. I want you to come and stay with me. Stay here with me for a few weeks where I can make sure. If we’re scattered, then I can’t protect you,” I said resolutely as I grabbed her fingers in mine and clenched tightly. I could hear Sarah tossing and turning and I knew she would wake up soon. I wanted to get this off my chest before she did.

“Chalk. I’m scared,” Lucy said as her lips trembled.

I gathered her up in my arms. “Hey. Stay here with me. You don’t have to be alone. I don’t want you to be alone.”

She laid her head on my shoulder for comfort. “I guess if I stay here for a week or so that might work.” She breathed out a long sigh in hesitation.

“Good. We’re going to get your stuff today and bring it back here. It’s the best thing for right now.” She would be staying with me and I wouldn’t have taken no for an answer anyway. I had too much at stake.

“Who’s bringing their stuff? Mom, are you coming to stay here? Are you coming to stay here!?”

The sudden shriek of noise coming from the floor startled us both and I was ashamed to say an unconscious flinch made me clutch Lucy a little tighter.

“Hey baby!” Lucy smiled. “You’re awake. Yep. I’m going to stay here a while. Would you like that?”

“Yes! You can take me to school every day. Whoopee!” Sarah’s little nap had given her a spring of life and her jumping around in a frenzy combined with clinging onto her mother.

Lucy grinned. “Ok, ok calm down. Come on, let’s watch that show you wanted to see.” She redirected Sarah over to the couch.

One less thing for me to worry about.