Page 44 of Towles

“Something wrong?” Ethan asked. “That white shit getting to you or wearing off?”

“Fuck you, Towles,” Tyson said. “I saw you kill that man.” He nodded at me. “Her husband.”

“Some men deserve to die,” Ethan said. “Men like you.” He faked a move toward Tyson, and Tyson froze. He glanced at the gun again.

Ethan rushed forward and brought a right hook against Tyson’s chin, knocking him into the wall. A picture of Paul and a business partner fell to the floor and broke.

Tyson, wobbly, climbed to his feet and held up his hands—a dead man walking. His eyes turned wild, and he looked toward the front door. Fear filled his eyes. I saw a black van pulling into the driveway through the front window. Two bikes rolled up behind it.

“You’re not going to die here,” Ethan said.

Tyson dove for the gun.

Ethan reacted faster, putting a size thirteen boot against the man’s face.

Tyson hit the floor with a loud thud, and his lungs emptied. “Motherfucker,” Tyson cried. “Rose. Help me, baby.”

“Take Rose outside, baby,” Ethan said.

Rose and I got up and walked to the front door. Beast, Diesel, and two Prospects entered the house.

“Going to need five bikes and five chains,” Ethan said.

Outside, Rose asked, “What’s going to happen?”

“I think they’ll take him out of the city and deal with him there.” I took Rose by the hand, and we loaded into my car, leaving Ethan to take care of club business.

“Tyson deserves whatever Ethan has planned,” Rose said. She started crying. “I didn’t mean for my parents to die.” She covered her face, and I reached over and put my hand on her shoulder.

“Rose, none of this is your fault, just like it’s not Ethan’s fault. He’s dealing with the problem the way it should be dealt with. When it’s over, you have to move on.” That was the kettle calling the pot black. Was I going to move on? No. I was staying. “You should move to Pine Bluff,” I said. “Ethan needs family close.”

Rose turned, wiping her tears. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“We can help you find a place to live,” I said. “You can start a new life here.”

Rose finally smiled. “I think I will.”

16

Towles

Idragged Tyson out of the house by his shirt and threw him into the van. He hit with a loud thud and groaned. I climbed inside the van and hit Tyson two more times, careful not to kill him. Never kill a man who is about to die.

Ashtray called the club and requested Big Kentucky and Watcher meet us at the usual spot. I let the other Prospect ride my bike behind the van. He did so nervously.

Tyson lay on the van’s floor, and I sat on one of the benches that lined both sides of the van. I wanted to kill him now, but I didn’t. I buried the anger deep enough to hold off but not deep enough that I couldn’t dig it up when we got to where we were going.

“Where the fuck are we going?” Tyson asked. He spat out blood and teeth. “Why didn’t you kill me?” I enjoyed the fear on his face. I hit him again and enjoyed that as well.

“This is a club problem,” I said. “You made it that way when you drove into our parking lot and forced Rose into the car. We have certain ways of dealing with trash. As you are now, you’re too big to fit in a trashcan.” I stepped on a couple of his teeth. “You’re not going to need those.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” He sat up and leaned against the opposite bench. He tried to take a swing at me but missed wildly. I chuckled at his “Oh shit” filled his eyes.

“Killed two old people and abused a woman,” I said. I fought back the tears because I didn’t want him to see the hurt he had caused. I tossed him against the back doors, and they flung open. Tyson hung halfway out of the van, his fingers bouncing against the pavement. Beast and Diesel followed behind, watching to see if I’d go ahead and toss his ass out the door. I left him that way until we turned off onto a dirt road.

When we stopped, I grabbed Tyson and tossed him from the van. Beast, Diesel, Watcher, and Big Kentucky waited. The Prospect climbed off my bike.

Ashtray held the five chains. “What am I doing with the fifth chain?”

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