Page 25 of Raze

“Look, Raze, I appreciate what you did to that son of a bitch who hurt her, but that was a long time ago and I offered you money.”

“And I wouldn’t take it. Friends don’t take money from each other, and that cunt deserved to die for what he did to your little girl and making her feel like it was all her fault.”

I see the anger stiffen his face and feel bad for taking him back there, but I need some security for my club.

“I get why you didn't want to help Cliff, but I’m not him. I’m back to try and fix the club.”

Paul’s immediate outright laughter pisses me off.

“It’s a hopeless cause, Raze, you might as well go back to wherever you disappeared to.”

“I ain’t doing that, I'm back in Long Beach and I’m gonna make things right.”

“Well, you sure as hell got your work cut out, do you know how many of your boys the state put away last year?”

“I’m glad you’ve been keepin’ in the loop.” I snigger at him when he slips up.

“Like I said, Raze, even if I wanted to help, I can’t. I’m retiring.”

“And what about this boy of yours?” I reach forward and pick up the photo frame, spinning it around so I can get a look at him. For a second it makes me think of my own dad but I quickly shake that thought outta my head.

“Raze, I don’t want Connor mixed up in all that. He’s a good kid.”

“He’s not a kid anymore, Paul, he’s a man. A lawyer and I’ll bet you’ve taught him everythin’ you know.” I spin it back round to face him. “Every man’s got the right to make his own choice. You may not believe me right now, but I came home to turn the club around and we will own these streets again. We’re havin’ a get-together at the club tomorrow night, have your son stop by.”

“You're not his kind of people, Raze.” Paul tries to sound assertive but he’s not in a courtroom and I’m not a fuckin’ juror.

“No, we ain’t, we’re the kinda people who deal with the shit that goes beyond the law. I don’t want any more of my brothers gettin’ locked up. I’m giving your son an opportunity to make some money and he’d be wise to take it.”

“Was there anything else?” Paul asks curtly.

“Yeah, I need you to get hold of that private investigator you used to use.”

“Who you looking into?” He picks up his glasses, rests them on his nose, and picks up a pen.

“His name’s Billy Skillet, he was locked up for rapin’ a young girl and her brother.”

Paul looks at me over the top of his glasses, and I try to tamp down the rage that thinking about it causes.

“And this Billy, is he still in prison?” he asks.

“No, he was released not long ago. I want to know where he is.” I get up from the chair and make my way to the door. “I’ll see your son tomorrow night.” I nod my head as I see myself out.

I arrive back at the club and take the gate down to the beach to avoid having to go through the clubhouse. I’m fully aware that the brothers will have an opinion on what I did to Griller last night, but they can keep it to themselves. Griller hit a nerve and the fact I lost control of myself is only evidence that I’m letting too much of this girl get inside my head.

“Raze.” I hear Polly call me from the clubhouse balcony as I pass it and before I can avoid her she quickly rushes down the stairs to stop me by the fire pit.

“I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity you're giving Sonny, he’s so grateful for it. D’ya know where he is right now?”

“No.” I shake my head looking up the beach and noticing the two runners who are staring into my hut as they pass it.

“He’s at the scrap yard, getting himself a chassis, he’s gonna start building his bike straight away. Sasquatch is gonna help him.” She sounds cheerful.

“That’s great, Pol.” I watch the way the two men laugh at each other and look back over their shoulders.

“I know he wouldn’t have been everyone's first choice of prospect but, he’ll work hard and he won’t let you down,” she assures me, just like she did the day I arrived.

“I know. It’s in his blood.” She blushes a little when I say that and offers me a sad smile.

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