Page 31 of Tank’s Weakness

Pulling up to the construction site, I turn off my bike.

Crow looks over at me from the roof of the house. I give him a nod to come meet me.

He says something to the guys before he climbs down from the roof and heads my way. “What’s going on?”

He knows as well as I do that I don’t stop by in the middle of the day unless it’s club business.

“I need Hanks.”

“Got it. Anyone else?”

I shake my head. “Tell him to suit up. He won’t be coming back today.”

His face hardens. He gets what I’m saying. As the enforcer, I am sent out when shit is going wrong. When someone is in trouble.

“Understood.”

“Do you need extra help?” I ask as I realize that I’ll be leaving him shorthanded.

“Nah, I can handle it.”

“Cool.”

He walks back to the jobsite as I lean against my bike, taking out a cigarette. I smile when I think of how Delaney told me smoking is bad for me. The way she made me pick up my cigarette butt the night we met.

Instead of lighting up, I put the cigarette back in the pack and slip it back into my pocket. She didn’t demand I quit, but if she doesn’t like it, then I can abstain for a while.

Hanks looks nervous as he walks over to me. He has his cut on, which means he stopped at the work truck where they keep their cuts while they work.

“Hey, man. What’s going on?” he asks.

“Let’s take a ride.”

He swallows hard. He knows he fucked up. He’s trying to figure out how badly in his head. The ride will keep him on edge. He will wonder how much I already know. Hopefully he will slip up and tell me it all before I have to get too violent.

Climbing onto my bike, I lead the way. Hanks follows, not once veering off. I’m sure he has considered the merit of running, but he’d be excommunicated from the club. He needs to take his licks like a man. It’s only his first offense. The club will likely vote to keep him on but still punish him.

After riding all the way out to our property in Jay, I turn off the engine. No one is around, but I knew that it would be empty. Smoke wouldn’t have sent me without clearing the place.

Walking away from the driveway, I take him over to look at the pigs. They are interesting creatures. They will eat just about everything.

“So, Hanks. Why don’t you tell me why we are here?” I start, turning to face him.

He is sweating profusely. To be fair, it is Florida, so it is often hot, but his sweating has nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the reason we are here.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

I punch him in the gut, not giving him a minute to lie to me again. “Choose your words carefully. You know I don’t fuck around.”

Then again, maybe he doesn’t know. I haven’t had to enforce much down here. He’s a newer member, not one from Boston. He hasn’t seen me truly lose my shit.

“Fuck, okay.” He coughs, still bent over. “It’s the gambling. Right?”

I snort. “You mean, running illegal poker games behind the club’s back. Bringing heat onto us that we don’t fucking need for pennies.”

“Running it? No. I don’t fucking run it.”

I grab his head, smashing it into my knee. I hear his nose break, blood spraying everywhere.