Page 19 of Truth

I shut it down.No one was moving in or out of the clubhouse. Security at our other businesses had to be increased and maintained around the clock. Breeze decided to put the prospects to work, and it was time they showed the fuck up. We couldn’t bitch up. Money had to be made. We had families to provide for, and the community relied on us. The sooner we could get back to that, the better, but I couldn’t risk any tragedies happening.

I sat quietly, wondering the next move to make. Although I’d hate to admit it, Beast would know. I remember watching him when I was younger. He was rarely annoyed, listened, and would wait to hear all the information whenever he had to deal with a pressing issue. He’d leaned forward, then he’d tap whatever was in front of him like the desk or the bar counter and nod his head. That was his way of thinking whatever he needed to think through something. That method of his stuck with me which made how he ended up in prison a mystery. That wasn’t like Beast but egregious or not, his track record before that day told me I needed his input.

“I need to take a ride to see Beast,” I announced.

No one was there but me and Breeze. Brick would rub that shit in. He said I didn’t respect what Beast brought to the SaintRiderz. I did more than he would ever imagine. I just wanted better for us, and better wasn’t being at war with other clubs, or worse, someone close to us dying like our mother did.

I’d never be the same, and that hit on Gen, according to the arson report we received, confirmed a bomb of some sort had been planted when they ruled out faulty wiring. Who the fuck around us had bombs? I didn’t trust Chief King who took bribes and shit from people, so I couldn’t trust that report at all or him.

“By yourself?” Breeze asked. He knew how tense shit had been between me and Beast long before the explosion.

“The fuck will he do to me in a prison?”

“Truth, man. I’m just saying… Shit is off. First, the explosion. Now, bikers trying to gun you down. If Beast?—”

My hand went around his throat before he swiped it down and punched me in the jaw. I stumbled and laughed, tasting the saltiness of blood. He moved to the left, and I tackled him. Both of us fell to the floor. He hit me with a right hook, forcing us to roll over. He pressed his elbow against my neck. My chest heaved a rough, laborious breath. He had me fucked up. I pretended I gave up the fight, and when he eased up, I flipped to my side and forced him into a headlock.

“If you ever fucking compare me to him, remember I don’t go down fast or easily. I have more than me to think of. I have my entire brotherhood—blood included. Beast not being here is his fucking fault!” I seethed.

Breeze’s teeth pressed against his bottom lip. He wouldn’t give up, and I didn’t expect him to. With an elbow to my stomach, he knocked the wind out of me. I rolled up, taking deep and slow breaths. He stood up with hands on both knees, trying to catch his breath. Sweat trickled down his face before he rose and swiped the blood from his nose.

“Are you two finished or what? I should beat both of your asses.” Aunt Myanne threatened us. She stood there with a lookof disgust on her face. “Since when does fighting each other solve anything?”

“It won’t.” I groaned then staggered as I tried to stand.

He didn’t let me struggle. He never would. I pinched my lips when he shoved his hand in my face, motioning for me to take it.

“Take his hand, Truth. Damn fool,” Auntie Myanne muttered. “When I come back, I expect you two to find your words instead of your hands.”

She looked at the table we knocked over along with a few pictures that were scattered across the floor.

“And clean this mess up.”

“It’s on me, Auntie.” Breeze fessed up, trying to catch his breath. “I said something I?—”

“Whatever it was, don’t let it divide you.” She halted him with her hand in the air. “Now, you called me over here to tend to your guest. If you think I have time to clean up your little bruises and scrapes, you’re wrong.”

Off she went, leaving us alone.

“One day, you’ll have to forgive him,” Breeze spoke. “The fuck knows what happened.”

“That means he did something that requires forgiveness or naw?”

Breeze nodded then took his shirt and pinched his nose.

“You got that.” He sniffed before he grinned and rolled his neck around. “Your ass snuck me. Have that same energy when we’re on that gravel.”

Yeah, the annual race fundraiser was still on. At least that was my vote, but the brothers had a say in it too.

Fuck! I was unraveling. I’d taken that shit out on the wrong person. I wasn’t Beast, and I didn’t want to be. That didn’t mean I didn’t question if I was cut out for this. We had OGs like Jake, Logan, Marco, even Paul that still were down for the Saint Riderz that could have been chosen. They accepted I was nextin line, but that didn’t mean their loyalty wasn’t to Beast. They played in the background, mentored the prospects and shit. I rarely asked them to kill a motherfucker but I knew they would if it came down to it. Still, they ran and told shit to Beast whether they were aware I knew it or not. However, when I spoke, they fell in line. That’s all that mattered.

“What’s your move after we meet?” I probed and he shrugged.

I knew he was in a fucked-up headspace. Genny was still at the hospital. She had complications right before her discharge. She had a faint spell. Doctors weren’t sure if her anemia was the cause. They administered a few blood transfusions, but within a week or so, she’d be released.

“Who’s at the hospital with her?”

“Logan… Harlem... Gave Rowdy Red some time off. Gen’s been cursing that nigga out.” Breeze laughed, but it faded quickly when he sat down and rubbed his eyes. He looked tired. Hell, we all were tired.

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