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“Sir, are you sure you want to approach Kennedy this way?” My Vice President, Dallas Marquez, advised. He was my daughter’s age, but wise beyond his years and neurotic just the same. He wasn’t so much neurotic as he was protective of everyone. Dallas felt he owed me a debt of gratitude after taking him in years ago after he broke his left leg. Yet, he repaid the debt just by filling in the void that was left when Char left for school. It was hard without her, but the house never felt empty for that year. Dallas lived there. When Austin and his newly wedded wife bought a four bedroom, Dallas moved in with them, stating he never felt like it was entirely his home since he was sleeping on my daughter’s bed.
It wasn’t until after Char left I saw the potential Dallas had to help me run the Nanuq Shila club. Older brother Austin’s nose was out of joint, but under certain circumstances he was too much of a loose cannon and needed someone, like Dallas, who could remain level-headed.
We were about ready to head into one of the aforementioned circumstances. Kennedy Townsend, the president of theAklark clubhad drawn the line when he posed a threat to my club after a few of my members instigated a simple altercation, which is common among rival clubs. However, Townsend’s men took it further and shot at one prospect. It wasn’t fatal, but it was the principle that drove me over the edge with the need to stop the fighting. I was a peaceful man and one thing I taught my men, as well as my daughter, is violence never solved a damned thing. Evil begets evil, which is tattooed on mine and Char’s forearms.
In the Nanuq Shila club, one law that is constantly instilled in my men is no violence should ever be used unless there is a need for it. Arguing about something as petty as whose bike or girlfriend is better doesn’t warrant the use of any weapon, especially a firearm.
“Marquez, it’s bad enough Ray was shot, but Townsend’s relentless threats to blow our club off the map were above and beyond tolerable. Who in the hell does he think he is? Genghis Khan?” I chuckled and stopped when Dallas didn’t see the humor in that. He was all business with this club and he made no jokes about this rival, knowing the threat was real and that Townsend and his men always followed through.
“Sir, he’s a former Marine and not a force to be reckoned with. I just don’t see anyone coming out of this skirmish unscathed.” He grumbled as he stuffed his guns in his bike’s saddlebag; before sliding the helmet over his head. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. I hope you change your mind because Townsend only plays with fire.” Dallas advised, and I wondered who was in charge. Me? Or this arrogant son of a bitch? I wasn’t offended so much as in awe and his leadership skills were bar none. If anything were to happen to me, there is no question Dallas Marquez could fill my shoes.
***
The Aklark club used the Townie’s Bar as a front for their club. It was safe since during the weekday they got few customers. Kennedy Townsend was a former Marine who, like me, retired in the town of Seward. There was a time we were congenial with one another, but then our clubs rivaled one another with only one rule. A rule that had not been broken until last week when one of ours was shot, though not fatally, thank God.
When we stopped, I was the first off my bike and approached the five other members. “Marquez, Stevens, err—Austin Marquez, Bateman and Hawk. You are to leave your weapons out here and let me do all the talking, Austin,” he shot a guilty smile before spitting to the side. Townsend owes me for his guys’ poor judgment, but we don’t need to do this violently.”
“Sometimes, Chief, things are better said with violence,” Austin gruffly answered and towered over me. He was an enormous man, but I’ve taken down bigger. “If they think so much as to lay a hand on my brothers or my Chief, I won’t hesitate to smash their heads in.”
I smirked at his threat. Austin was a handful and had bigger balls than his younger brother, but he had a sympathetic soul and always followed through with his threats.
The men followed me to the entrance, and I stopped to survey. None of them were packing heat or sharps. “Let me reiterate—I will do all the talking. You men get yourselves a beer while I have a chat with Townsend.”
Two of his men rushed us the minute we walked through the door. The smaller skinny one they call Gunny crossed his arms with a condescending expression. “Chief Dixon, was the Sarge expecting you?”
I held my hands up, moving my body to show them I had no holsters of any sort on my person. “No, Gunny, he wasn’t. But let me assure you, we’re not here to cause any trouble.”
Gunny moved around me, circling the men. “Okay, you’re clean. You five take a table. I’ll let Sarge know you’re here, Chief.”
Dallas groaned, “I swear the little weasel, Gunny, rubs me the wrong way.”
I gritted my teeth. “Who doesn’t rub you the wrong way, Dallas? Just lie low and ignore them if they cause any trouble. Remember Nanuq Shila, men take the high road.”
He shook his head as he wrangled the other four to follow him and I waited patiently by the bar for Kennedy. “I could only take one guess why you’ve graced us with your presence, Chief Dixon. We shot one of your men and you want some sort of apology, am I right?”
Kennedy Townsend wasn’t a big man in stature, but he made up for it with his muscles on top of muscles. He still wore the same high and tight, though riddled with streaks of salt and pepper. He was no older than I was at forty, but led a rougher life that aged him. “So, I hear your kid is away in Seattle, thinking of being a lawyer, I hear?”
“I supposed news travels fast in the small town. But I didn’t come here to talk about my kid.” Discussing my daughter was irrelevant to the purpose of my visit. I needed to understand what conspired before the Aklark men shot one of mine. “One of your men, not sure which one, came into one of the local establishments packing. Don’t you have the same rules as we do?”
“Not outside the club and if I’m not mistaken, my two members weren’t near your club. They’re allowed to carry weapons whenever they damn well please. It’s my understanding words were exchanged and one of your men, Ray? The one who calls himself Snaggletooth was shot in the shoulder. It wasn’t fatal, so I don’t get your beef with me about that whole skirmish. Men talk shit and carry out irrationally. I can’t be there to hold their hands. Nor are they to abide by your holier than thou rules.” Kennedy paused long enough to walk behind the bar to grab a bottle of whiskey.
“I don’t do hard liquor, especially when riding,” I told him.
“It’s not for you, my man. It’s for me and I wouldn’t offer my finest whiskey to the man I deem my enemy. So, are you finished wasting my time?” Kennedy asked as he poured himself a double shot, consuming it quickly before he exhaled.
“I’m not leaving until I get a formal apology and a promise this won’t happen again.”
Kennedy burst out laughing. “You want a formal apology? For what? I owe you NOTHING of the sort, Chief Dixon. You’ve been a pain in my ass for too long.” He rose from the stool, taking the bottle of whiskey with him.
Searing pain encompassed me while broken glass and hot alcohol showered me. But nothing prepared me for what happened next. As quickly as I heard the click of a cocked gun, quickly my world blurred and my head rested on the bar watching the whiskey slowly flow around me.
FOUR
MUSHU
This wasn’t happening, and it felt like being in the middle of a horrible dream. I sat in the waiting room of urgent care with the guys, waiting with pins and needles for the doctor to come out. Chief Dixon was shot the cowardly way, in the back, but we didn’t know the extent of his injuries or if he was even going to make it. I wasn’t there when it happened, but Dallas called me immediately and told me to get to the hospital post-haste. “Hey, Dall! Are you gonna call Char?”
“No.” He answered, burying his head in his hands before he raised his head to look at me. “You know her better. You need to call her. But not yet. Not until the doc comes out. I don’t think it’s a good idea alarming her.”
