Page 63 of Sweet Pea

“The only thing you’re gonna do right now is keep your shit together,” Minus said. “You got me, Sergeant?”

“They killed Doozer, Minus. They cut his fucking heart out,” Clutch snapped.

“You think I can’t see that?” Minus asked. “Doozer’s death doesn’t change anything. We have to be smart.”

“Doesn’t change anything? How the fuck can you say that?” I challenged Minus, my rage reaching its boiling point.

“That’s enough, Pea,” Ropes admonished.

“Fuck that,” I snapped. “The Spiders killing Doozer changes everything. This is a declaration of war, plain and simple. Not to mention, who Wolf chose to take out. Doozer was my guy and Wolf fucking knew it. He did this to punish me, Minus. Doozer was my guy!”

“And this is my club,” Minus growled. “I’ll say the same thing to you as I said to Clutch. Sit down and don’t move a fucking muscle without my say so. This isn’t church and I’m not asking for everyone’s votes. I’m telling every Saint within the sound of my voice to stay cool and wait for further instructions before doing anything. Do you all understand me?”

Before anyone could respond, our attention was drawn to Trouble, who had frantically pushed her way through the crowd of Saints now gathered in the kitchen.

“Is it true?” Trouble screamed as she made her way to the counter.

“Trouble, don’t,” I said, trying unsuccessfully to shield her from the scene.

“No! Doozer!” Trouble cried out at the horror on display.

I pulled her near to comfort her but a sharp elbow to my ribs caused me to let her go.

Trouble stood trembling, her eyes locked on Doozer’s kutte. “Tell me where the Spiders’ club house is,” she said in an unsteady voice, to no one in particular.

“Going there would be a bad idea,” Minus replied calmly.

Trouble looked up at Minus, then to me before asking, this time very clearly, “Where are the Spiders?”

“They’re gonna pay,” I tried to reassure her.

“The only way they pay, is if we make them pay!” she yelled before bolting for the exit.

“Trouble, wait!” I called after her, but she had already managed to snake her way through the crowd and out the door.

“Goddammit,” I huffed.

I didn’t know Trouble well enough to know how she’d handle Doozer’s death. Hell, I didn’t know how I was gonna deal with it. I knew for sure I wanted blood, and clearly Trouble wanted the same. The question was, how far would she be willing to go to get it?

“Don’t worry,” Minus said to me. “We’re on full lock down. That means nobody in or out. They’ll stop her at the gate if she tries to do anything impulsive.”

I nodded, but his assurance didn’t make me feel much better. So far, one of the soldiers under my command was dead and another was unhinged.

“Officers, in the Chapel now,” Minus said. “Everyone else, find something useful to do.”

I spotted Spike and Tacky and waved them over to me.

“Find Trouble. Make sure she’s okay and report back to me as soon as you have eyes on her.” They nodded and took off, and I made my way to the Chapel with Minus and the other officers.

Minus began as soon as the door was closed, “Clutch, I want Eldie here to preserve Doozer’s...remains.”

“We’re not cops working a crime scene, Minus,” Clutch replied.

“Jesus Christ,” Minus bellowed. “Can anyone in this fucking club follow an order?”

The room fell silent at Minus’s uncharacteristic outburst.

“Listen to me very closely, every one of you,” he continued. “You’re not the only ones tore up over Doozer. I want to hit the Spiders back just as badly as you do, but that’s exactly what they’re expecting. We need to keep our cool and plan our next move carefully or we’ll play right into their hands.”

---