Page 14 of Chill’s Chance

Puma scowls at me. “I know you and Chill have a history and it isn’t any of my business. But let me tell you something about her you obviously don’t understand. She’s a fucking badass. She’s risked everything to help you find your son, and she’s risking more to help you stay out of jail. If you can’t appreciate that, then what the fuck are you still doing here?”

I raise my hands in capitulation. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I appreciate everything you and your club have done for me. I’m just frustrated that she refuses to accept my apology.”

Puma studies me for a long minute before answering. “I can’t tell her secrets. But I can ask you a question. Do you know why Chill left the service?”

“I don’t know. I assumed she left when she found out I was married. At least, that’s what I was told.”

“If you think Chill is the type of person to run away out of embarrassment or wounded pride, then you don’t know her as well as you think you do.” Puma says. “I told her I’d bring you to her, so let’s go. If it were up to me, I’d hand you over to the military myself. Do you ride?”

I’m processing his words and nod absently at his question. “Yeah, I have a bike in storage back in San Diego.”

“You can use a loaner. Let’s go.” Puma says, leading me outside. He takes me to a garage in the front corner. I see Dice and Wildcard working on a couple of bikes. Puma points to one of three Harleys sitting off to the side. “Keys are on the wall.”

He leaves me to select one and goes over to talk to Wildcard. “We’re heading to 1%. Anything I need to take care of while I’m there?”

“We have a guy staying in the watch tower who I think is a narc. It’s his first time visiting, but he claims to be friends with Stan out of Pittsburg. Wanted a pick-me-up.” I hear Wildcard say. “He said he has a business meeting he needs to stay awake for.”

“What did you do?” Puma asks.

“Sent him up some coffee.” Wildcard says, causing Puma to bark out a laugh. “We’re listening in, but so far he’s avoided our tags. We’ve tried our guys and Trouble’s. But I think he’s done his homework and knows our members on sight. Another reason I think he’s a narc. Spark is checking out his story. He smells like DEA to me.”

“Ok, keep me posted. If I have time, I may go visit him. Let him know I don’t appreciate the implication.” Puma says with a smirk as I push the bike over to join them.

“I could follow him.” I offer. “He won’t recognize me.”

Puma looks at me and nods. “Maybe. Let’s go see Chill and if all works out, I may take you up on the offer.”

I follow Puma out of the compound and for the first time in years; I feel something that I haven’t known I was missing. Freedom. Real freedom that you can only get when you’re riding. Even though I’m tense and don’t know what’s going to happen with my life, I’m happy. My son is safe and I’m getting some wind therapy. The powerful motor energizes me, making me feel capable of facing an unknown future.

When we pull up outside 1%, I take my time dismounting as I study the building. Most of the building is a long line of windows with a round tower toward the end. The gleam of chrome and windows showcases an oddly shaped work of art. When I dismount and look around, I see that we’re in a parking lot full of motorcycles. The multitude of bikes is like a wave hitting against an iceberg.

“I’ve never been here before.” I tell Puma.

He nods. “It hasn’t been here for long. After I took over the club, I wanted to find more legitimate ways to earn money. I figured only an idiot could lose money by owning a casino and I’m not an idiot.”

He leads me through the casino, which is decked out similar to the outside, chrome and glass with concrete floors and splashes of red. All around are elements of the biker lifestyle, with servers wearing jeans, leather kuttes and motorcycle boots. The kuttes have names stitched into the material and the 1% logo. Perched high above the crowds are vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles displayed in glass. The chrome sparkles under the lights. They embedded various motorcycle logos into the floor, etched into the concrete like ink on skin. We pass by a shopping area that offers a variety of styles from motorcycle grunge to high-end chic. I spot several jewelry stores, a couple spas and even a tattoo parlor.

We pass out of the public spaces and into the casino offices. The stark quiet is like a third person in our group as Puma leads the way through the maze of corridors until he comes to the one marked Head of Security - Chill. He knocks and opens the door for me when we hear her call out.

“Thanks.” I say to Puma as he moves to shut the door.

“Good luck.” Was his response. I can hear him chuckling as he closes the door.

What the hell?

CHAPTER NINE: CHILL

Seeing Hunter enter my office sends a mix of emotions through my system. Having him in Vegas pissed me off. All I wanted was for him to find his son and leave, quickly. But seeing him with his son has put a crack in the wall I built. In order to shore it back up, I need to get Hunter and his son a free pass to a new life elsewhere. This is where Spark and his findings come into play.

“Hunter.” I greet him with a nod. “Take a seat and let me tell you the plan.” I won’t share the entire plan with him, because I have secrets I plan on keeping, well, secret. But he needs to know enough to understand his role. “I’m calling Colonel Patterson. He wants to talk to you about your future. I don’t know if you planned on returning to the corps, but I don’t think that option is on the table.”

Hunter grimaces. “I can’t go back. Slade needs me. I should have left the service a long time ago. Slade needed me and I didn’t know it. I’ll never forgive myself for not being around enough to know they needed my help. I’ll just be grateful if I don’t have to go to prison.”

I nod. “I think I can make that happen. When I spoke with the colonel earlier, he said he’d find a solution.”

“Why would he do that?” Hunter asks.

“Let’s just say I have a certain amount of pull.” I tell him. “If you don’t know what to say, keep silent. If you have questions, wait until we’re off the call. Now, let’s see what he’s come up with.”

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