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Even when I’d been beaten twice, and one was so severe I’d ended up on life support, no one had come. Well, revenge was a bitch. My mother had been shunned, not so quietly, by the charity boards she loved to boast about. My brothers and sisters had been ripped apart for their part in snobbishly ignoring my existence too.
The university had settled out of court, but the prison and cops had fought my lawsuits and lost. Dramatically failed in full view of the nation. Wrongful arrest and hate crimes were shouted from the front of newspapers. In the end, they paid me off to shut the shit down. They didn’t want the aggravation my lawsuit was causing. Which meant I got more than expected. It amused me how much they were willing to pay to make me disappear, but I had demanded one thing. A public apology for my arrest.
The detective who’d arrested me and made racial slurs had been fired, and I’d sued him too. And again, I won. Of course, his pay-out was minimal in the scheme of things, but I’d made my point. Not every fucking black guy is a gangbanger. Like not every white guy was a stuck-up asshole with a superiority complex. So, after bumming around travelling for three years, I was searching for somewhere to settle and build a home.
The bar I was sitting in was full of happy, chatting people letting their hair down on a Saturday night. I’d stayed for the rally at Sturgis and then moved here to have a nosey. Might as well check around Rapid City for a job and house. RC was as good as anywhere. I was rootless, with nowhere to call home, so it didn’t matter where I ended up.
“Need another one, dude?” the bartender asked.
“Yeah, I’ll take a beer. What’s it like living here?” I inquired curiously.
The guy wore a leather cut with Rage MC proudly printed on it. His name was Mac, and for a biker, he seemed decent.
“Has its difficulties. You moving here?” Mac urged.
“Don’t know. I’ve been wandering for years. Feel it’s time to settle down and make a home. But haven’t got a clue what I’m looking for,” I answered honestly.
“Seems you have a story, my friend,” Mac replied astutely.
“Ain’t we all?” I shot back, letting out a huff.
“Yup, sure have. Rapid City is decent to live in, crime’s mainly low, and we don’t have issues with major corruption. My MC works with the cops to help keep the streets safe. And a five miles radius around Rage is crime free. Don’t stand for shit happening on our patch,” Mac said, watching me.
“Unless you’re running the crime?” I inquired.
“Rage is clean. In the past, we were a one percenter club, but not anymore. Now we ensure our city stays clean and remains that way. Women can safely walk down the street, and kids can play freely. Yes, we have crime, but Rage and several other communities chase anything organised from our city. We like an easy life.” Mac grinned ruefully.
“That smile, bud, says more about the bullshit of a simple life than your words,” I replied. Mac threw his head back and laughed.
“Ain’t kidding, man. We’ve recently started finding our old ladies, a biker’s soul mate. And they come with their own pack of trouble. Swear those girls were dipped, tarred and feathered in drama.” Mac grinned.
“And you wouldn’t change it,” I answered.
Mac’s gaze drifted away.
“Haven’t found my own yet, dude, but if she comes with the shit my brother’s women did, I can’t wait!” he said, maintaining his smirk.
“Like a feisty woman?”
“Who doesn’t? So what’s your story? Don’t think I didn’t notice you turned the conversation on me,” Mac said.
“Same old. Black man wrongly arrested at uni and thrown in prison for six months. Luckily, this guy had money and sent a PI to prove his innocence. Got released and sued the ass off those who majorly fucked up my life. Been wandering ever since, and now looking for somewhere to settle,” I answered honestly.
“That sucks. Life has a nasty, spiteful habit of kicking you in the bollocks.”
“Don’t it just. So, I landed here today, thought I’d have a drink, find a place to eat and then book a hotel. Simple, really,” I said.
“What were you at uni for?” Mac asked.
“I was in my last year of medical training. Had two months before I qualified as a full-fledged surgeon and then had a nice warm placement lined up. Two fucking months,” I answered, shaking my head.
“Fuck! And you can’t return?”
“Nah. See, my dad was the brightest, shiny thing in surgery in his day. So his kids had to follow him. Egotistical much? Four sons and two daughters following him weren’t enough. He had to have me too. Truth be told, they disowned me even though they knew the charges were fake. Walked away without looking back because of his precious reputation,” I responded bitterly.
“No way you let that slide?” Mac asked, already knowing the answer.
“The fuck I did. Once I proved my innocence and got out of prison. I fucking shouted it from the rooftops. A reporter was waiting for me on release. I showed my father how much his rep was worth when people walked away from him in disgust just like he had left me. Sued the prison because I was beaten twice by officers and nearly died the second time. Sued the cop who wrongly arrested me and sued the police station, the state, and the uni. Won every case and set me up for life. And you know what? Having money doesn’t mean shit because I’m lost. Don’t know what to do.”
